How to remove XSMB ransomware

Easy guide to delete XSMB ransomware

XSMB ransomware, also called .XSMV file virus is a dangerous computer infection that hackers use for encrypting the files stored on the targeted files, making users inaccessible to them until they use the unique decryption tool, which is not free. The crooks demand huge amount of sum as a ransom to provide this decryptor and also threaten the users that if the payment is not done within time, all their files will have been deleted. In this article, we learn how to get the files back in the original accessible condition without negotiating to these evil people and how to remove XSMB ransomware.

What is XSMB ransomware?

XSMB ransomware is a deadly computer infection that infiltrates in targeted PC without users’ consent and encrypts all stored files, including images, audios, videos, documents, presentations etc. After being encrypted, the files become inaccessible for the users. All the encrypted files will get .XSMB extension. For example, a file named 1.jpg would appear as 1.jpg.XSMB. After this process is completed, the ransomware leaves a ransom note that informs the users about the attacks and instructs them to pay for the decryptor that the crooks behind XSMB ransomware have, if they want the data back.

The ransom note contains the email address belongs to the crooks for the contact. It states, the crooks have the decryption tool that helps in decrypting the locked files. The note mentions the Bitcoin address where the payment is to be done. It gives a limited time to pay the ransom by threatening that the data would be deleted if users miss the ultimatum. Prior to the payment, it offers them a free decryption service – they can send a small size encrypted file having no valuable information for the test of the decryptor that it is really working. By this, the crooks try to gain users’ trust and encourage them to pay the ransom.

Threat Summary

Name: XSMB ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description- Deadly malware threat which aims to encrypt users’ crucial files and then ask them to pay off for the decryption key/tool.

Extension-  .XSMB

Symptoms: Users can not open files available on their desktop, previously functional files now have different extensions, A ransom demanding message is displayed on the desktop screen. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: Torrent websites, spam emails, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

Should I pay the ransom fee?

We highly recommend not negotiate to the crooks under any circumstances. These people will never provide you the decryptor even if you fulfill all their demands. They only aim to extort money from you. Once received, they will disappear leaving you without your files. Thus, you will experience financial loss and will have the files remain in the encrypted form. There are many data recovery alternatives possible for the data recovery. Therefore, without thinking much of about the data decryption, try to remove XSMB ransomware from the system to prevent many more risks that it may cause if presents for the longer time. Below the post, you will see step by step manual malware removal guide as well as automatic malware removal instruction to perform the malware removal process in your device.

Data recovery alternatives

At present, no decryption tool is available that can decrypt the XSMB ransomware encrypted files. Therefore, you have to use existing backup for the data recovery. Remember, this backup file should be the one that was created before the files encryption and stored on some remote location at the time of the ransomware attack. If you have no such file, check whether Volume Shadow Copies are available on the device. Shadow Copy is automatic backup cloud created by OS for short time. In some cases, ransomware viruses delete this option by running PowerShell command. The required steps regarding checking the Shadow Copy option available for you is not are provided below the post in the data recovery option. If you find this backup cloud is deleted on your device, you should use any data recovery tool for the data recovery. Nowadays, such tools are designed with special functionality added. So, there is a hope of getting the files back using them.

How XSMB ransomware infect your device?

Various deceptive techniques are used to spread this infection. Most commonly, it infiltrates in through spam email attachments clipped somewhere on the emails’ content. Such emails are designed such a way that they seem legit to the users. However, there must be an attachment. Such attachments could include any files like Ms Word, PDF, documents, executable or any archives or links for such files. The malware payload is included within such files. If such infectious files are opened, the users are asked to enable macros command. One more click leads them to the malware download in their device. Therefore, you should be cautious when see any attachments on each email you receive, especially to the one whose senders’ addresses seem suspicious. In some cases, you can’t decide whether the emails that appear are legit or not. Try to investigate them on Internet and see whether any related campaigns on treads in worldwide. You should always try not to click any attachments provided on them. If this seems necessary, firstly scan it using some reputable tools that detect and delete the malware.

Remove XSMB ransomware

Manual malware removal guide is provided below in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble during removal process. You can use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove XSMB ransomware from the system.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove XSMB ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete XSMB ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove XSMB 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 XSMB ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with XSMB 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 XSMB 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 XSMB 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 XSMB 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 XSMB 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 XSMB 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 XSMB 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 XSMB 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 XSMB 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.