Another variant of the many Troldesh ransomware variants leaving the e-mail [email protected] has been detected in the wild. The ransomware virus is reported to use an advanced AES encryption algorith with 128-bit strength, the decryption for which is reported to be next to impossible. The ransomware has been reported to spread via several multiple ways by ESG malware researchers. It may also drop a ransom note where it may leave instructions on how to decrypt user files after the affected users pay a ransom payoff, which is usually in BitCoin. We advise you to read this article to learn how to remove [email protected] Ransomware from your computer and restore your encrypted files.

UPDATE! Kaspersky malware researchers have released a Shade decryptor which can decode files encoded by the the Shade ransomware variants. Since this includes the .xtbl file extension, we have created instructions on how to decrypt your .xtbl files. The instructions can be found on the link below:
Decrypt Files Encrypted by Shade Ransowmare

Threat Summary

Name	[email protected]
Type	Ransomware
Short Description	A variant of the .XTBL ransomware viruses. Encrypts files with a strong encryption and drops a ransom note with payoff for decryption instructions.
Symptoms	After encryption the ransomware may steal information and appends .xtbl extension after every file.
Distribution Method	Spam Emails, Email Attachments, File Sharing Networks.
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by [email protected] Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join our forum to Discuss [email protected] Ransomware.
Data Recovery Tool	Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive.

[email protected] Ransomware – Distribution Strategy

For it to infect users, the virus may utilize several different technologies. No matter what type of technology it uses, whether it is remove brute forcing to control the computer, Exploit Kits, JavaScript or directly inserting obfuscated executables, the infection may proceed in two main ways.

One scenario is if the user clicks on a malicious URL that may cause a browser redirect and the infection of the user PC via a JavaScript or a drive-by-download.

Another scenario is for users to open a malicious e-mail attachments that may be obfuscated from their antivirus and cause the infection. Such attachments usually exist in several different forms, but most of them resemble either Microsoft Office documents or Adobe Reader PDF files.

[email protected] Ransomware – How Does It Work?

After the [email protected] Ransomware has infected your computer, the virus might connect to a remote location and send the following information to the attackers:

Windows version.
IP networking information.
Antivirus software is installed.

Based on such information the actual payload may be dropped in concealed form that prevents detections from any antivirus software that might be installed on the user PC. The malicious files may be dropped in several Windows locations and under different names:

Typical to the XTBL ransomware variants is to also drop ransom note type of files in the Startup folder of Windows to make these viruses run when Windows boots up. Here is the default location of the folder:

→C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

In addition to having done this, the [email protected] virus may also execute a privileged command in Windows command prompt, called “vssadmin delete shadows” that will delete the Windows Shadow Volume Copies without the user even noticing it has happened.

When it has been executed and started to encrypt files, [email protected] ransomware may look for a pre-programmed set of file extensions that it will encode:

→ .odc, .odm, .odp, .ods, .odt, .docm, .docx, .doc, .odb, .mp4, sql, .7z, .m4a, .rar, .wma, .gdb, .tax, .pkpass, .bc6, .bc7, .avi, .wmv, .csv, .d3dbsp, .zip, .sie, .sum, .ibank, .t13, .t12, .qdf, .bkp, .qic, .bkf, .sidn, .sidd, .mddata, .itl, .itdb, .icxs, .hvpl, .hplg, .hkdb, .mdbackup, .syncdb, .gho, .cas, .svg, .map, .wmo, .itm, .sb, .fos, .mov, .vdf, .ztmp, .sis, .sid, .ncf, .menu, .layout, .dmp, .blob, .esm, .vcf, .vtf, .dazip, .fpk, .mlx, .kf, .iwd, .vpk, .tor, .psk, .rim, .w3x, .fsh, .ntl, .arch00, .lvl, .snx, .cfr, .ff, .vpp_pc, .lrf, .m2, .mcmeta, .vfs0, .mpqge, .kdb, .db0, .dba, .rofl, .hkx, .bar, .upk, .das, .iwi, .litemod, .asset, .forge, .ltx, .bsa, .apk, .re4, .sav, .lbf, .slm, .bik, .epk, .rgss3a, .pak, .big, wallet, .wotreplay, .xxx, .desc, .py, .m3u, .flv, .js, .css, .rb, .png, .jpeg, .txt, .p7c, .p7b, .p12, .pfx, .pem, .crt, .cer, .der, .x3f, .srw, .pef, .ptx, .r3d, .rw2, .rwl, .raw, .raf, .orf, .nrw, .mrwref, .mef, .erf, .kdc, .dcr, .cr2, .crw, .bay, .sr2, .srf, .arw, .3fr, .dng, .jpe, .jpg, .cdr, .indd, .ai, .eps, .pdf, .pdd, .psd, .dbf, .mdf, .wb2, .rtf, .wpd, .dxg, .xf, .dwg, .pst, .accdb, .mdb, .pptm, .pptx, .ppt, .xlk, .xlsb, .xlsm, .xlsx, .xls, .wps.Source:fileinfo.com

This is usually done to avoid any critical Windows files being encrypted and hence prevent Windows from ever starting again.

The files which are encrypted by the [email protected] ransomware virus are left with a quite long file extension. It may either be the .xtbl or .CrySiS file extension and in addition to that it includes:

Unique alpha-numerical identifier.
The e-mail address [email protected]

Files that have been encoded with this file extension may look like the following example:

[email protected] Virus – Conclusion, Removal, and File Restoration

As a bottom line, there are many variants of this virus and malware researchers feel convinced that it may be sold directly as a pack of tools for infection and distribution in the deep web forums. Not only this, but the virus is also reported to be a part of a RaaS (ransomware as a service) scheme, and it might also have various modifications, depending on each variant. Either way, researchers strongly advise not to pay any ransom asked by cyber-criminals and wait for a decrypter to be released.

To completely delete [email protected] virus, it is strongly advisable to follow the removal instructions posted below. They along with some of the information in this article may help you locate and delete the files and objects associated with [email protected] ransomware. In case manual removal fails or you feel like the virus is still on your computer, it is them almost a must to download and install an advanced anti-malware software on your computer or reinstall it and copy the files to another carrier.

If you want to restore your files, you may want to use the alternative tools in step “3.Restore files encrypted by [email protected] Ransomware”. Bear in mind, that you should make copies of the encrypted files, just in case direct decryption methods damage them in a way.

Manually delete [email protected] from your computer

Note! Substantial notification about the [email protected] threat: Manual removal of [email protected] requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.

1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove [email protected] files and objects

2.Find malicious files created by [email protected] on your PC

3.Fix registry entries created by [email protected] on your PC

Automatically remove [email protected] by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

1. Remove [email protected] with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

2. Back up your data to secure it against infections and file encryption by [email protected] in the future

Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup .

To back up your files via Windows and prevent any future intrusions, follow these instructions:

1. For Windows 7 and earlier

1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10

1. Enabling the Windows Defense Feature (Previous Versions)

1-Click on Windows Start Menu

2-Type Backup And Restore
3-Open it and click on Set Up Backup

4-A window will appear asking you where to set up backup. You should have a flash drive or an external hard drive. Mark it by clicking on it with your mouse then click on Next.

5-On the next window, the system will ask you what do you want to backup. Choose the ‘Let Me Choose’ option and then click on Next.

6-Click on ‘Save settings and run backup’ on the next window in order to protect your files from possible attacks by [email protected].

1-Press Windows button + R

2-In the window type ‘filehistory’ and press Enter

3-A File History window will appear. Click on ‘Configure file history settings’

4-The configuration menu for File History will appear. Click on ‘Turn On’. After its on, click on Select Drive in order to select the backup drive. It is recommended to choose an external HDD, SSD or a USB stick whose memory capacity is corresponding to the size of the files you want to backup.

5-Select the drive then click on ‘Ok’ in order to set up file backup and protect yourself from [email protected].

1- Press Windows button + R keys.

2- A run windows should appear. In it type ‘sysdm.cpl’ and then click on Run.

3- A System Properties windows should appear. In it choose System Protection.

5- Click on Turn on system protection and select the size on the hard disk you want to utilize for system protection.
6- Click on Ok and you should see an indication in Protection settings that the protection from [email protected] is on.

Restoring a file via Windows Defense feature:
1-Right-click on the encrypted file, then choose Properties.

2-Click on the Previous Versions tab and then mark the last version of the file.

3-Click on Apply and Ok and the file encrypted by [email protected] should be restored.

3. Restore files encrypted by [email protected]

Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools

Vencislav Krustev

A network administrator and malware researcher at SensorsTechForum with passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cyber security. Strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.

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[email protected] Virus Remove and Restore .XTBL Files

Threat Summary

[email protected] Ransomware – Distribution Strategy

[email protected] Ransomware – How Does It Work?

[email protected] Virus – Conclusion, Removal, and File Restoration

Manually delete [email protected] from your computer

Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode

Find malicious files created by [email protected]

For Newer Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

For Older Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Fix registry entries created by [email protected] on your PC.

Automatically remove [email protected] by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

Remove [email protected] with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

Restore Files Encrypted by [email protected]

Remove [email protected] Using Other Alternative Tools

Vencislav Krustev

Subscribe to our newsletter

Quick Removal Menu…

Hey you,BE IN THE KNOW!

Threat Summary

Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode

For Newer Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

For Older Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

Vencislav Krustev

Subscribe to our newsletter

Quick Removal Menu…

Hey you,
BE IN THE KNOW!