Lalabitch ransomware / virus (Removal Instructions) - Aug 2017 update

Lalabitch virus Removal Guide

What is Lalabitch ransomware virus?

Lalabitch continues spreading using a new file extension – .lalableep

Lalabitch ransom demands

Lalabitch is crypto-malware that seems to be associated with the HiddeTear [1]open source ransomware project. Malware uses Base64 encryption system and might append either .lalabitch or .lalableep file extension. Unfortunately, there’s no way to recover files encrypted by this malware.

Nevertheless, cyber criminals offer to purchase their decryption software for 0.5 Bitcoins; it’s not recommended to do it. It may lead to money loss, so you should remove Lalabitch virus as soon as possible. For that, you may make use of FortectIntego or Malwarebytes.

The increasing popularity of Base64 encryption

While HiddenTear, an open-source threat, remains one of the most popular patterns for crypto-malware, more and more viruses using Base64 encryption. It is not so exquisite as standard AES or RSA encryption algorithms. Thus, it gives more chances for data recovery.

Speaking of its malware, it does not possess any extraordinary features. The ransom note entitled as lalabitch.php and provides teh following information:

Your site is locked with Lalabitch Custom encryption method.

Please pay 0.5 BTC to 18LbTxonanfMoh43t47Pjvdox7z2HFaiM9 for the Decryption key.

Or else, in 12 hours all of your files in this website will be deleted
[lalabitch2017@yandex.com]

In general, it is possible to prevent the encryption of files. Once you notice lalabitch.exe file on the Task Manager, restart the device. Less complex viruses do not maintain file encryption process in offline. Though Lalabitch malware seems rather an average virus, you may attempt to interfere with the operation procedure.

Observing the current hike in bitcoin price, the developers are not modest. At the moment, 1 bitcoin equals to 2600 USD, so 0.5 bitcoins amounts for $1 263.60 dollars. However, as was the case with NotPetya[2], when one of the email domains was shutdown, there are no guarantees that the perpetrators will return the files even when you remit the payment. Thus, focus on Lalabitch malware.

New variant of Lalabitch ransomware aims at web servers

The new version of Lalabitch aims at WordPress website. Malware researchers called it “EV ransomware.”[3] Malware still demands 0.5 Bitcoins and threatens to delete files if they do not receive the money within 12 hours.

The malware spreads via compromised WordPress websites and encrypts these files:

  • .php
  • .png
  • 404.php
  • .htaccess
  • .lndex.php
  • DyzW4re.php
  • index.php
  • .htaDyzW4re
  • .lol.php

This variant of Lalabitch locks files with .EV or .lalableep extension. However, the analysis revealed that authors of the ransomware do not have working decryption software. Therefore, you should not pay the ransom and sponsored further cyber criminals’ projects. Thus, the only thing to do after the attack – get rid of the malware

Ransomware distribution strategies

Most prevalent method to infect a device makes a victim open a corrupted link or spam email attachment. The latter method is especially preferred by the developers of more elaborate virtual infections such as Locky or Cerber. They usually target victims with subpoenas or fake invoice messages.

Less developed malware tend to limit themselves to distribution methods via corrupted torrent file files, or links to gaming sites. There is also a risk to encounter malware by enabling an infected browser extension or application. In order to prevent Lalabitch hijack, retain vigilance and enforce protection of the computer.

Lalabitch also aims at web servers. In order to launch this kind of attack, the malware takes advantage of compromised WordPress websites. In order to avoid such attack, you have to make sure that all the plugins and website components are created by reputable developers and are updated. What is more, you should obtain a firewall and create backups of databases and files regularly.[4]

The image displaying Lalabitch ransom noteLalabitch virus requires quite a large amount of money in exchange to your files.

Uninstall Lalabitch ransomware ASAP

When it comes to ransomware, ordinary uninstallation methods will not be effective. Such threats should only be dealt with the assistance of cyber security applications. Such software does not take too long to remove Lalabitch virus.
If you cannot run the application, use below instructions. Then you will be able to get rid of the malware. Only when Lalabitch removal is finished, you can proceed to data recovery. This ransomware may not be prevalent in the Anglo-Saxon region, but in far East Asia as well, for instance, China[5].

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Lalabitch virus. Follow these steps

Manual removal using Safe Mode

Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.

Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking

Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment. 

Windows 7 / Vista / XP
  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list. Windows 7/XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot. Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options. Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings. Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking. Enable safe mode

Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes

Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

Step 4. Delete virus files

Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):

    %AppData%
    %LocalAppData%
    %ProgramData%
    %WinDir%

After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.

Remove Lalabitch using System Restore

You can perform System Restore in case Safe Mode does not grant you access to an anti-spyware application.

  • Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
    Windows 7 / Vista / XP
    1. Click Start Shutdown Restart OK.
    2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
    3. Select Command Prompt from the list Select 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'

    Windows 10 / Windows 8
    1. Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
    2. Now select Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
    3. Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window. Select 'Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt'
  • Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
    1. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter. Enter 'cd restore' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    2. Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again.. Enter 'rstrui.exe' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    3. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of Lalabitch. After doing that, click Next. When 'System Restore' window shows up, select 'Next' Select your restore point and click 'Next'
    4. Now click Yes to start system restore. Click 'Yes' and start system restore
    Once you restore your system to a previous date, download and scan your computer with FortectIntego and make sure that Lalabitch removal is performed successfully.

Bonus: Recover your data

Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove Lalabitch from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.

If your files are encrypted by Lalabitch, you can use several methods to restore them:

Data Recovery Pro solution

This utility might be useful when restoring damaged or lost files. It might help you retrieve lost emails as well.

  • Download Data Recovery Pro;
  • Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
  • Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by Lalabitch ransomware;
  • Restore them.

How practical is ShadowExplorer?

This tool employs shadow volume copies for data restoration. Since there is no information that the malware deletes these copies beforehand, you might stand a chance.

  • Download Shadow Explorer (http://shadowexplorer.com/);
  • Follow a Shadow Explorer Setup Wizard and install this application on your computer;
  • Launch the program and go through the drop down menu on the top left corner to select the disk of your encrypted data. Check what folders are there;
  • Right-click on the folder you want to restore and select “Export”. You can also select where you want it to be stored.

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Lalabitch and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes

How to prevent from getting ransomware

Access your website securely from any location

When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.

If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.

 

Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks

While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.

Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection. 

 

About the author
Gabriel E. Hall
Gabriel E. Hall - Passionate web researcher

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