Troldesh ransomware has already been detected and identified by Russian researchers as a file-encrypting threat. As STF researchers enclosed earlier this year, Troldesh attacks the system and encrypts the user’s files, adding an .xtbl extension to them and even renaming them completely. In exchange for their decryption, cyber criminals are demanding a ransom fee. According to new security reports, the ransomware is still active and targeting users across the Internet.
Troldesh is now known as .xtbl ransomware and Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A. Some users refer to it as ‘.xtbl virus’.
Unfortunately, if infected users do not have their files previously backed up, the chances to restore them are minimal.
Description of Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A
Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A or just Troldesh is most likely distributed through spam email messages or attachments. It appears that cyber crooks are relying on the users’ unawareness. Security researchers highlight the importance of classifying or filtering email messages, and never opening the ones that seem suspicious. For the sake of security, emails sent by unknown email addresses are not to be trusted. Instead, they should be deleted permanently and immediately.
After the ‘.xtbl virus’ is executed after opening a corrupted email message, files on the system will be encrypted and the .xtbl extension will be added to them. Typically for ransomware, after the encryption has been done, the victim is left with a ransom message. Moreover, the user is being redirected to a ‘readme’ text for further information.
The requested amount of money may vary from 118 euros to 200. Supposedly, after the fee is paid, a unique key is sent to the target so that they can safely restore their files. According to some researchers, if present on the PC, Shadow Copies may be used to restore the data without paying the ransom.
Removal of Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A
Security specialists usually don’t recommend paying the fee (unless the files are very important), since it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be put back to normal.
If your system does have Shadow Copies, the following removal manual can be followed. In future, always remember to store crucial information on an external device. This is the best measure against ransomware.
Stage One: Remove Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A
1. First and most important – download and install a legitimate and trustworthy anti-malware scanner, which will help you run a full system scan and eliminate all threats. 
Spy Hunter scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the anti-malware tool.Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool / How to Uninstall SpyHunter
2. Run a second scan to make sure that there are no malicious software programs running on your PC. For that purpose, it’s recommended to download ESET Online Scanner.
Your PC should be clean now.
Stage Two: Restore the Encrypted Files
Option 1: Best case scenario – You have backed up your data on a regular basis, and now you can use the most recent backup to restore your files.
Option 2: Try to decrypt your files with the help of Kaspersky’s RectorDecryptor.exe and RakhniDecryptor.exe. They might help you in the process but keep in mind that they were not specially designed to encrypt information that was decrypted by this particular ransomware.
Option 3: Shadow Volume Copies
1. Install the Shadow Explorer, which is available with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows XP Service Pack 2.
2. From Shadow Explorer’s drop down menu choose a drive and the latest date you would like to restore information from.
3. Right-click on a random encrypted file or folder then select “Export”. Select a location to restore the content of the selected file or folder.
Remove Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A Automatically with Spy Hunter Malware – Removal Tool.
Spy Hunter scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the anti-malware tool.Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool / How to Uninstall SpyHunter
Milena Dimitrova
An inspired writer and content manager who has been with SensorsTechForum since the beginning. Focused on user privacy and malware development, she strongly believes in a world where cybersecurity plays a central role. If common sense makes no sense, she will be there to take notes. Those notes may later turn into articles! Follow Milena @Milenyim
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Attention! SensorsTechForum strongly recommends that all malware victims should look for assistance only by reputable sources. Many guides out there claim to offer free recovery and decryption for files encrypted by ransomware viruses. Be advised that some of them may only be after your money.
As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources.
How to recognize trustworthy sources:
- Always check "About Us" web page.
- Profile of the content creator.
- Make sure that real people are behind the site and not fake names and profiles.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.
- Guide 1: How to Remove Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A from Mac OS X.
How to Remove Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A
Step 2: Uninstall Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A 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 Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A 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 Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A 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.
Step 4: Scan for Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A.
Ransomware infections and Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Get rid of Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A 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 Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A 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 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A.
Ransomware infections and Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A FAQ
What is Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A ransomware and how does it work?
Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files.
Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithm how to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
How does Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, containing virus attachment.
This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users.
After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.
Another way, you may become a victim of Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to open .Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A files?
You can't. At this point the .Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.
How Do I restore ".Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A files.
These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How do I get rid of Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A ransomware virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like Ransom:Win32/Troldesh.A ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.
What to Do If nothing works?
There is still a lot you can do. If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:
- Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
- Try to contact your friends, relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
- Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re-downloaded from the web.
- Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
- You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.
More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.
