This article will help you to remove and decode the GlobeImposer ransomware variant using .write_me_[btc2017@india.com] file extension.
A ransomware virus, part of the infamous Globeimposter ransomware variants has been encountered by malware researcher R0bert R0senb0rg (@drProct0r). The virus is still believed to be decryptable and uses the same wallpaper as the original GlobeImposter ransomware viruses. In this ransom note, the virus demands to contact the e-mail btc2017@india.com in order to pay a hefty ransom fee to restore the files that have been encrypted by making a ransom payoff. Luckily for victims, this variant of GlobeImposter is also decryptable. If you are one of the victims of GlobeImposter, we strongly suggest that you read the following material to learn how to decrypt files encrypted by this virus without having to pay the ransom.
Threat Summary
| Name | GlobeImposter |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Encrypts the files on the computers it has infected, after which sets a ransom note as a wallpaper and demands a payoff to be made for the decryption of the encrypted data. |
| Symptoms | The files’ default extension is changed to .write_me_[btc2017@india.com]. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss GlobeImposter. |
More About the .write_me_[btc2017@india.com] Virus
Being a typical GlobeImposter ransomware variant, this malware is spread primarily via spam e-mail messages. The ransomware may hide behind seemingly legitimate e-mail attachmeents, that pretend to be invoices, receipts or other important files. The messages in the e-mails are usually created in order to convince the victim into opening the attachment. They often pose as legitimate companies, such as FedEx, PayPal, eBay, DHL and others.
Either way, once the user opens the infection file of the ransomware, it connects to a remote host and downloads the malicious files of GlobeImposter into the victim PC. The primary infection file is an object with the following technical details, according to it’s VirusTotal profile:
After having infected the computer, this GlobeImposter variant may obtain Read and Write permissions by tampering with crucial Windows processes. Besides Read and Write permissions, GlobeImposter may also begin to modify the shadow volume copies and delete them as well as tamper with the Windows Registry Editor in order to create value strings with custom data within them. This eventually leads to the malware being ran on Windows boot.
The main activity of GlobeImposter, however is to encrypt the files on the computer infected by it. The virus may scan for and encrypt files with the following file extensions:
“PNG .PSD .PSPIMAGE .TGA .THM .TIF .TIFF .YUV .AI .EPS .PS .SVG .INDD .PCT .PDF .XLR .XLS .XLSX .ACCDB .DB .DBF .MDB .PDB .SQL .APK .APP .BAT .CGI .COM .EXE .GADGET .JAR .PIF .WSF .DEM .GAM .NES .ROM .SAV CAD Files .DWG .DXF GIS Files .GPX .KML .KMZ .ASP .ASPX .CER .CFM .CSR .CSS .HTM .HTML .JS .JSP .PHP .RSS .XHTML. DOC .DOCX .LOG .MSG .ODT .PAGES .RTF .TEX .TXT .WPD .WPS .CSV .DAT .GED .KEY .KEYCHAIN .PPS .PPT .PPTX ..INI .PRF Encoded Files .HQX .MIM .UUE .7Z .CBR .DEB .GZ .PKG .RAR .RPM .SITX .TAR.GZ .ZIP .ZIPX .BIN .CUE .DMG .ISO .MDF .TOAST .VCD SDF .TAR .TAX2014 .TAX2015 .VCF .XML Audio Files .AIF .IFF .M3U .M4A .MID .MP3 .MPA .WAV .WMA Video Files .3G2 .3GP .ASF .AVI .FLV .M4V .MOV .MP4 .MPG .RM .SRT .SWF .VOB .WMV 3D .3DM .3DS .MAX .OBJ R.BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL .DMP .DRV .ICNS .ICO .LNK .SYS .CFG”Source:fileinfo.com
After the encryption process has completed, this GlobeImposter ransomware variant adds it’s distinctive file extension which makes it possible for the encrypted files to look like the following:
Luckily files, encrypted with the .write_me_[btc2017@india.com] file extension are decryptable, meaning that you can get your files back for free without having to pay the actual ransom. But before actually decrypting your files, we strongly advise you to remove the .write_me_[btc2017@india.com] file virus from your computer first, because the decryption should be done on a clean PC.
GlobeImposter Ransomware – Removal + Decryption
Before beginning to decrypt the files enciphered by this virus, we advise you to remove the virus from your computer, preferably by following the instructions below.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove GlobeImposter from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of GlobeImposter from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove GlobeImposter from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase GlobeImposter from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall GlobeImposter from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove GlobeImposter from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate GlobeImposter from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove GlobeImposter from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove GlobeImposter
Step 2: Uninstall GlobeImposter and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by GlobeImposter on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by GlobeImposter there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of GlobeImposter from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall GlobeImposter and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove GlobeImposter via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove GlobeImposter files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as GlobeImposter, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove GlobeImposter from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase GlobeImposter from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall GlobeImposter from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove GlobeImposter from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the GlobeImposter will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate GlobeImposter from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
