How to remove 21btc Ransomware

Easy methods to delete 21btc Ransomware (Dharma Ransomware’s variant) from PCs

Threat Summary

Threat Name: 21btc Ransomware, .21btc File Extension Ransomware, .21btc File Virus

Threat Type: Ransomware, File Virus, Crypto-Malware, Files Locker

File Extension: “.21btc”

Ransom note: “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt”

Cybercriminals email ID: “[email protected] and [email protected]”

Description: This dubious file virus encrypts/locks all types of files stored in machine and demands ransom payment for decryption.

Distribution methods: Malicious emails and attachments, suspicious hyperlinks, fake software updaters, installers and downloaders.

Motives of attackers: Aims to collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive information and shares these collected data to illegal ones.

Ransomware removal method: To remove 21btc Ransomware or similar infections, we recommended you to scan your computer with powerful antivirus software.

Data recovery solution: After ransomware removal, you can restore all locked files by using some powerful data recovery software.

How did Ransomware install on computer?

Ransomware and other similar malware are distributed through “Email Spam Campaigns”, “Malspam Campaigns” – the mostly used mechanism cybercriminals to spread malware or viruses in your computer. They send spam emails in your mailbox which contains some false-positive emails along with suspicious hyperlinks and/or attachments. They use “Urgent”, “Official”, “Important”, “Priority” and/or other similar keywords as subject/title of emails as proof that they are genuine senders. The attachments file can be Microsoft Office Documents, PDF, RAR, ZIP, JavaScript and/or other formats of files. Once opened, it executes encryption module and starts locking all files stored in your computer. On other hand, Ransomware-type malware can also be distributed through fake software updaters or illegal activation tools.

What is 21btc Ransomware (Dharma Ransomware’s variant)? What it does?

21btc Ransomware or “.21btc File Virus” is very dangerous file virus that is belongs to “Dharma Ransomware” family. This nasty ransomware operates by encrypting/locking all types/formats of files stored in your computer hard drive, by adding victim’s unique ID, cybercriminals’ ID, and appending .21btc File Extension. For example, it renames “1.png” filename to “1.png.id-C279F237.[[email protected]].21btc”. After encryption process is completed, “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” text files as ransom notes are dropped into each folder of your computer that contains encrypted files. It demands certain amount of extortion money to decrypt your files. But it is bogus at all. You should never trust on them and avoid paying any amount of ransom money to them at any cases.

The ransom-demanding “FILES ENCRYPTED.txt” ransom note states that all files of your computer have been locked including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other files of your computer, and you need to pay certain amount of extortion money to decrypt your files. The ransom note also states that in order to renames locked files manually, uninstall ransomware, or use third parties’ decryption software/keys for data recovery, you will lose your all personal files & folders of your computer permanently. It claims the only way to decrypt all files locked by ransomware is to purchase & use its decryption keys/software within 12 hours.

As proof that they have right decryption keys/software, they provide initially free decryption service for some locked files and ask you to send 2-4 encrypted files on email address presented in ransom note. After successful free decryption test, attackers behind this ransomware attack forces you to pay demanded ransom money to decrypt rest of the locked files. Keep in mind that they are not going to decrypt/recover your locked files even when ransom money is paid. So, we recommended you to please avoid paying any amount of ransom money to them to decrypt your files. As per our research, the only way to decrypt or recover your locked files is to restore them from a backup. But before that, it is important to remove 21btc Ransomware and all related components from System as soon as possible.

Let’s take have a look at message displayed on ransom note:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

Don’t worry,you can return all your files!

If you want to restore them, follow this link:email [email protected] YOUR ID –

If you have not been answered via the link within 12 hours, write to us by e-mail:[email protected]

Attention!

Do not rename encrypted files.

Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.

Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.

Prevention tips: How to protect your System against Ransomware?

• Create backup or keep backup of your all personal files stored in your computer on some safe external storage or on cloud storage.
• You should keep up-to-date all software installed in your computer including Operating System (OS), antivirus software, and other legitimate software.
• Scan the PC for malware or viruses regularly with powerful antivirus software.
• Any hyperlinks and/or attachments presented in spam or irrelevant emails must not be opened/clicked.
• Hover your mouse over any hyperlinks before click and double-check if the hyperlinks are belongs to some trustworthy sources.
• You should try to block the senders’ email addresses from sending spam or irrelevant emails.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove 21btc Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete 21btc Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove 21btc Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete 21btc Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with 21btc Ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to 21btc Ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove 21btc Ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of 21btc Ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by 21btc Ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like 21btc Ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by 21btc Ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with 21btc Ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove 21btc Ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.