BitRansomware File Locker - How to remove

BitRansomware is a malicious program that may also be known as ReadMe, MME, and other names.

BitRansomware spreads with hacked, pirated programs. Once it’s downloaded, it encrypts files, corrupting the data inside them and preventing them from being opened.

The people behind BitRansomware ask their victims to contact them. They want to be paid a few hundred dollars in exchange for fixing the locked files.

About BitRansomware:

Type of threat	Ransomware, trojan.
How BitRansomware infects computers	It spreads with infected installers, it encrypts files and changes their names, is leaves instructions to contact the cybercriminals who are responsible for this attack.
How ransomware spreads	It’s bundled with pirated programs, it’s downloaded from suspicious, unsafe websites.
How to delete BitRansomware	Use antivirus apps to remove ransomware (Spyhunter, others), or reset your PC to remove all files and programs.

How BitRansomware breaks files

BitRansomware encrypts files and changes their names

BitRansomware is a malicious program that infects Windows computers and encrypts files. When it runs on a computer, BitRansomware takes pictures, documents, spreadsheets, and various other files, and runs an encryption algorithm on them. Encrypted data can’t be read, and as a result, the locked files do not open.

To mark the locked files, BitRansomware changes their names – it adds a new file extension. For example, a file might have been called this:

document.docx

After BitRansomware locks it, the same file might appear like this:

document.docs.MME

BitRansomware has been seen using ReadMe and MME as labels for locked files (How to Make Windows Show File Extensions). Because of the name change, Windows thinks that the files are a new, unknown file type and displays their icons as blank pages.

After that, BitRansomware creates a ransom note called Read_Me.txt. This note instructs victims to use the Tor browser to open a support ticket if they want to get their files back. What it doesn’t say is that the victims are asked to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the criminals who are responsible for BitRansomware. Only after that do the extortionists consider sending the tools to fix the locked files.

Attention!

All your files, documents, photos, databases and other important files are encrypted

The only method of recovering files is to purchase an unique decryptor. Only we can give you this decryptor and only we can recover your files.

The server with your decryptor is in a closed network TOR. You can get there by the following ways:

—————————————————————————————–

1. Download Tor browser – https://www.torproject.org/
2. Install Tor browser
3. Open Tor Browser
4. Open link in TOR browser: http://mmeeiix2ejdwkmseycljetmpiwebdvgjts75c63camjofn2cjofn2cjdoulzqd.onion/?101DUGIKLXZ
5. and open ticket

—————————————————————————————–

Alternate communication channel here: https://yip.su/2QstD5

It spreads with infected installers

BitRansomware makes money from ransoms. It makes money for its creators, as well as those who spread it to computers.

One way in which BitRansomware infects Windows PCs is by being hidden in the installers of other programs. Legitimate developers would never hide ransomware in their programs. It’s people who contribute to pirating sites and who maintain fake download sites that do this.

In short, if you pirate software – download free (cracked, “activated”) versions of expensive commercial programs, you risk getting ransomware on your computer.

One big problem is that people sometimes disable their antivirus when they download pirated programs. They do this to stop security programs from interfering with software cracks. Then, when the installer is infected with malware, it is able to infect the computer more easily.

Can you fix the locked files?

The operators of BitRansomware want money in exchange for fixing the files. But cybercriminals can’t be trusted to deliver a well-functioning decryptor, or even to deliver anything at all. So, paying is very risky.

But without the decryption tools and, most importantly, the unique decryption key, there’s no way to decrypt the files. Encryption is used legitimately to protect private data and it works very well. Criminals such as the creators of BitRansomware, Loki Locker, Hoop, etc. abuse encryption to make money, and unfortunately, it works – there’s no easy way to just break encryption.

Luckily, if you had backups of your files, you can restore them. And if you didn’t, there are still a few ways to try and get back some of your data.

How to remove BitRansomware

Scan your computer with an antivirus program (Spyhunter, others) and remove all ransomware and other malware that may be detected. BitRansomware is flagged by antivirus scanners as Ransom, Trojan, Filecoder, Malicious, and similar names.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover BitRansomware File Locker encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before BitRansomware File Locker has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of BitRansomware File Locker

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to BitRansomware File Locker. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore BitRansomware File Locker affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually BitRansomware File Locker tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover BitRansomware File Locker encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.