How to remove HARDBIT ransomware

HARDBIT ransomware can cause users to lose all their data from encryption

HARDBIT ransomware locks users' files using complicated encryption^[1] algorithms. The affected files are appended with the .hardbit extension, unique ID, and the cyber criminals' email address. If a file was previously named picture.jpg, after encryption, it would look something like this – picture.jpg.[uniqueID.[boos@keemail.me].hardbit.

Ransomware infections can result in permanent data loss if users do not have backups. The main goal of this malicious program is to extract money from victims for a decryption key. When the encryption process is completed, a pop-up named Help_me_for_Decrypt.hta, and How To Restore Your Files.txt are generated on the machine.

The ransom note

The full message in the Help_me_for_Decrypt.hta pop-up reads as follows:

HARDBIT

!!ALL YOUR IMPORTANT FILES ARE STOLEN AND ENCRYPTED!!

All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC.
If you want to restore them, please send your ID for us

Our contact information is written in file (HOW TO RESTORE YOUR FILES).
Please read this file carefully so as not to make a mistake.
You have to 48 hours(2 Days) To contact or paying us After that, you have to Pay Double.
We need your ID and your ID is written below the help file
Please do not touch the Key written under the help file in any way, otherwise the consequences will be with you

Introducing TOX messengers
•You can download and install TOX message from this link hxxps://tox.chat/
•Our ID in TOX: 77A904360EA7D74268E7A4F316865F1703D 2D7A6AF28C9ECFACED69CD09C8610FF2C728E6A33.
•We are ready to answer your questions!
•If you have information about the company and its servers, share with us in TOX and receive a share from us when they pay. Don't worry, your identity will remain hidden.

Is there a guarantee for decryption after payment?
•Before paying you can send us up to 2 test files for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 1Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)

Attention!
•DO NOT trust anyone except the email and the TOX ID that is in the help file, otherwise we will not be responsible for the consequences.
•DO NOT rename encrypted files.
•DO NOT try to decrypt or manipulate the files yourself.
•Do Not contact intermediary companies. They don't do anything special, they just message us and give us money and get the key, but if our price was $50,000, they will charge $70,000 from you.
•Do not pay any money for the test file.
•Before manipulating the files, be sure to make a backup of them, otherwise it is your responsibility.

HARDBIT ransomware also changes the desktop wallpaper and puts this message on the screen:

HARDBIT
!!ALL YOUR FILES ARE STOLEN AND ENCRYPTED BY HARDBIT RANSOMWARE!!
Don't worry, we will return all the files to you, you just need to contact us and send us your ID
Note that your files are stolen before encryption and if you don't contact us, we will sell them on the deep web and dark web.

Cybercriminals give victims 48 hours to contact them. Otherwise, they will double the price for the decryption key. The ransom amount is not specified in the note. It is likely that the price is negotiated privately when victims contact the threat actors. They also offer to decrypt 2 files for free to appear trustworthy.

We strongly suggest you not contact cybercriminals because they cannot be trusted. Many previous ransomware attack victims say that they never received the promised decryption tools after sending the money. Besides, by paying, you are supporting this malicious activity.

Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to decrypt files without cybercriminals' help. That is why it is a good idea to always back up your data. There is also a third-party recovery solution that helps in some cases. We provided instructions for it below. We recommend trying to use it first to see if it can recover your data.

Distribution methods

Cybercriminals usually spread ransomware through Torrent websites and peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms. Many people go looking for “cracked: software^[2] to install. However, platforms that distribute them are unregulated, so it is impossible to know if the packages you are downloading do not contain any malicious files.

You should also be careful when using your email. Threat actors can create convincing letters that look like important messages from well-known companies. They include malicious links or infected attachments. Once opened, they launch the malicious program.

The most important thing you should do to keep your system secure is to keep it updated.^[3] Hackers can use software vulnerabilities to deliver their malicious programs. Software developers regularly release security patches that should be installed as soon as they come out.

Start the removal process

The important thing to do is to disconnect the affected machine from the local network. For home users, disconnecting the ethernet cable should do the job. If this happened at your workplace, doing that might be complicated, so we have instructions for corporate environments at the bottom of this post.

If you try to recover your data first, it can result in permanent loss. It can also encrypt your files the second time. It will not stop until you remove the malicious files causing it first. You should not attempt removing the malicious program yourself unless you have experience. Manual removal of ransomware is extremely complicated and is suitable for people with advanced IT skills.

Use anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to scan your system. This security software should find all the related files and entries and remove them automatically for you. In some cases, malware does not let you use antivirus in normal mode, so you need to access Safe Mode and perform a full system scan from there:

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 10 / Windows 8

1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
   
2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
5. Click Restart now.
6. Select Troubleshoot.
7. Go to Advanced options.
8. Select Startup Settings.
9. Click Restart.
10. Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Repair corrupted system files

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required, are nothing unusual after a malware infection. These types of viruses can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged by malware, antivirus software cannot fix it.

Manual troubleshooting of such damage is also very complicated and can take a long time. This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could prevent yourself from having to reinstall Windows completely.

• Download the application by clicking on the link above
• Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
  
• If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
• Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
• The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
• Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
• You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
• If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.

Try recovering data with third-party software

Only hackers hold the decryption key, which can unlock your files, so if you did not back them up previously, there is a good chance that you will never get them back. You can try using data recovery software, but keep in mind that third-party programs cannot always decrypt files. Whatever the situation may be, we suggest at least trying this method. Before you proceed, copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another external storage device. And remember – only do this if you have already removed the HARDBIT ransomware.

Before you begin, several pointers are important while dealing with this situation:

• Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it – use a USB flash drive or another storage.
• Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.

Install data recovery software

1. Download Data Recovery Pro.
2. Double-click the installer to launch it.
3. Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
4. As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
5. Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
6. Press Next.
7. At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
8. Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
9. You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
10. Press Recover to retrieve your files.