Ribd Ransomware - How to remove

Ribd is file-encrypting ransomware. It attacks Windows computers and spreads with infected and pirated software. Most likely, Ribd is downloaded with other malware that causes all sorts of side effects, including pop-up ads in the browser.

Ribd encrypts files and then changes their names to include the extension “ribd”, which makes this infection very identifiable. It’s important to remove Ribd as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to fix the encrypted data.

In short about Ribd:

Threat type	Ransomware, trojan.
How Ribd works	It spreads with pirated software, it encrypts files and changes their names.
How to recover from the infection	Explore your options of getting your files back, reset your passwords.
How to remove Ribd	Remove Ribd and other malware (with Spyhunter or other antivirus tools), repair the settings that ransomware broke.

How to recognize Ribd ransomware

Ribd is file-encrypting ransomware. Once it’s on a computer, it encrypts files – documents, pictures, music, archives, etc. This destroys the data inside the files, making them useless.

There’s one way to undo this. You need the decryption software and a unique decryption key. The developers of Ribd are the only ones who have their victims’ decryption keys and they’re holding them for ransom. Ribd’s ransom note, _readme.txt, asks from $490 to $980 in exchange for your unique decryption key. This is how the cybercriminals behind Ribd make money.

You can recognize Ribd ransomware by the extension that it gives to the files that it encrypts: ribd. It adds this extension to the names of your files as a marker to know which files have been encrypted. And if you had backups stored on the infected computer, Ribd deletes those.

Ribd ransomware spreads with pirated software:

• cracked copies or Windows, Office, and similar programs
• pirated games
• unofficial “free” copies of various commercial software.

Sometimes, multiple malware infections are bundled together. It’s common for Djvu ransomware, which Cadq is part of together with Cadq, Ygkz, and other variants. Based on that, it’s very possible that Ribd is bundled with other malware. When this happens, you might notice a few other effects besides losing access to most of your files:

• Task Manager not opening
• some websites not loading
• advertising spam
• hacked online accounts.

How to restore your data

Check your files first. Ribd might have missed a few folders and left them untouched.

Also, check out the  decryptor by Emsisoft. There’s a small chance that your files could possibly be decrypted with the decryption key of another victim. For now, put the encrypted files on a backup of some sort.

Overall, if you didn’t have backups of your files, your options for getting your data back are very limited.

• • You can try a file recovery program (like EaseUS) to undelete your files. Since these programs often offer free scans, you have nothing (besides time) to lose by trying them.
  • You can try manually repairing your encrypted files (DiskTuna has a few guides). For the sake of speed, ransomware like Ribd only encrypts large files partially. This leaves some of the internal data untouched, even though the files are broken. It might be possible, maybe, to turn that data into a working file.

Be wary of people promising you to fix your files. They might be scammers. There’s no miracle fix for Ribd ransomware – cybersecurity researchers have examined Djvu as much as possible, but the ransomware is secure.

How to remove Ribd ransomware

Remove Ribd and other malicious files and programs. Based on what we’ve seen from other Djvu ransomware, it’s likely that Ribd is installed together with other malware (trojans, spyware, adware). All the malicious items need to be removed.

Use safe mode, get a good antivirus scanner (like Spyhunter), and remove all the infections. The instructions are below. You’ll also find instructions for how to fix the hosts file – a file that Ribd ransomware might have filled with illegitimate entries in order to block cybersecurity sites (including this one). You might also need to repair your Task Manager.

After that, reset your passwords so that if your credentials were stolen, they won’t be able to be used. This is especially important if spyware was installed with Ribd. (Also, some modern ransomware infections do also steal files, so resetting your passwords is even more important.)

Important -- edit the hosts file to unblock security websites

TL DR : The hosts file is edited to block security sites Before the virus can be removed, it's necessary to fix the hosts file (the file which controls which addresses connect to which IPs). That is the reason the majority of security websites is inaccessible when infected with this particular parasite. This infection edits this file to stop certain websites, including anti-malware download sites, from being accessed from the infected computer, making browsers return the "This site can't be reached" error. Luckily, it's trivial to fix the file and remove the edits that were made to it.

Find and edit the hosts file

The hosts file can be found on C:/Windows/System32/Drivers/etc/hosts. If you don't see it, change the settings to see hidden files.

1. In the Start Menu, search for Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, find Appearance and Personalization.
3. Select Folder Options.
4. Open the View tab.
5. Open Advanced settings.
6. Select "Show hidden files...".
7. Select OK.

Open this file with administrator privileges.

1. Open the Start Menu and enter "notepad".
2. When Notepad shows up in the result, right-click on it.
3. In the menu, choose "Run as administrator"
4. File->Open and browse for the hosts file.

The hosts file should look like this: Delete additional lines that they connect various domain names to the wrong IP address. Save the file.

Download and run the antivirus program

After that, download antivirus programs and use them to remove the ransomware, the trojan, and other malware. Spyhunter (https://www.2-viruses.com/reviews/spyhunter/dwnld/).

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Ribd Ransomware 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 Ribd Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Ribd Ransomware

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 Ribd Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Ribd Ransomware 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 Ribd Ransomware 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 Ribd Ransomware 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.