Relatively recently, the latest pest appeared on the Internet - the XTBL ransomware virus. For many users, it has become a real headache. The fact is that in essence it is a ransomware program, to cope with which is not so simple. But let's see what can be done and what actions to take is highly discouraged.
What is an XTBL virus?
The fact that computer viruses exist, no one needs to explain. Today they can count hundreds of thousands. But one of the most global problems was the recent emergence of the XTBL virus, remotely encrypting data on a user computer terminal.
Frankly, many IT giants such as Kaspersky Lab or ESET were simply not ready for such an epidemic, because they had never encountered anything like it before.
Of course, in the virus signature database of any corporation that develops anti-virus software, there are a lot of templates by which you can track suspicious files and malicious codes, but as it turns out, this does not always help.
A similar situation was observed when a well-known and sensational virus appeared in the past called “I Love You”, which simply deleted multimedia contents from infected computers. The XTBL ransomware virus acts in a similar way and is a rather unusual modification of the trojan, combined with extortion of funds.
How does a virus enter the system?
With regard to penetration into the system, several important aspects can be noted here. The fact is that a virus with the XTBL extension as such does not manifest itself. Most often, the threat comes in the form of an e-mail message with attachments of the archive type or .scr type (the standard Windows screensaver file extension).
Based on this, you can advise never to tear off attachments containing such files, even if they came from a reliable source. In an extreme case, if there is an installed full-time anti-virus scanner, you just need to check it for the content of threats before opening the attachment.
What do the effects of the virus look like?
The consequences, alas, are extremely sad. If the user has "caught" such an infection, you need to be extremely careful.
The virus itself remotely encrypts user files on the computer (most often it concerns photos or music) with renaming names to a set of letters and numbers and using the .xtbl extension.
But that is not all. After the encryption process is completed, the user is issued a system message stating that the files on the computer have been encrypted. In order to get the so-called file decryptor after the XTBL virus, the user is asked to pay a tidy sum (usually around 5000 rubles) and send the code to email addresses like deshifrovka01@gmail.com, deshifrovka@india.com or decoder1112@gmail.com.
As already understood, this is not worth it. In the end, you can just spend the money, and in return not get absolutely nothing (in fact, this is what happens).
Independent attempts to get rid of the virus
Unfortunately, the technology by which the virus works with the XTBL extension has not yet been thoroughly studied, so there is no need to talk about any active actions.
The trouble is different: an independent attempt to rename infected files or change the extension only leads to the fact that all information will be immediately deleted. For example, you tried to change a file like 12345і8758av9gs5764.xtbl, which used to be a photograph. After renaming, naturally, the Enter key is pressed to confirm the completion of the operation. The file is immediately deleted, no matter what, and not to the "Recycle Bin", but from the hard drive without the possibility of recovery. Using specialized data recovery utilities also does not guarantee a positive result.
Antivirus Utilities
Not everything is simple with antiviruses either. Today, there is a real threat posed by the XTBL virus. No one knows how to decrypt data after its exposure. Note that even Kaspersky Lab experts honestly admitted that they currently do not have an effective means to combat this unexpected threat.
Although in some respects the XTBL virus behaves like an ordinary trojan, nevertheless its effect is in many ways different from the standard scheme. Even an attempt to search for a virus file in the system using a standard scanner or in manual mode, as well as subsequent removal, only leads to the fact that the virus creates its own copy, disguising itself as system or user files. In this case, finding it on a computer becomes just a Sisyphean labor. Moreover, the virus itself is protected against such interference.
Online scan
As for online decryption, only one thing can be said: at the moment, none of the developers have absolutely no means for this. So, if you are offered to use the services of a web resource, you can be sure that this is a complete divorce.
In the priority of creating an antidote for all IT giants, this problem is a priority. But it is not all that bad.
Can I find the file decoder after the XTBL virus?
As it is already clear, today at least some little working means to protect against this virus does not exist in nature. However, you can try to prevent the actions they perform.
So, for example, if the beginning of the encryption process is noticed, it can be quickly completed in the process tree using the standard “Task Manager”.
There may be another situation when an XTBL virus is already present on the computer terminal . How to remove it? This can only be done using the standard antivirus (but by no means manually), although this action is not a guarantee that the user will get rid of this pest.
If nothing helps
In extreme cases, if nothing helps at all, you can use programs like Rescue Disc with antivirus software to remove the trojan . It's not about decryption now. At least to remove the XTBL virus in a still, so to speak, unfinished form before starting Windows, you can use utilities such as Rescue Disc.
You can remove the pest itself. If it comes to the effects of the Trojan, alas, nothing can be done yet. Apparently, the XTBL virus belongs to a new generation of pests for which the medicine has not yet been created, although all efforts are aimed at this.
According to the latest information, the developers of Kaspersky Lab anti-virus software have announced that in the near future a tool will be found to combat the newly-detected computer pest. Well, ordinary users can only wait and hope that the new drug will be as effective as possible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is worth saying that, unlike standard encryption methods, this virus does not use algorithms such as AES. That is why deciphering data after exposure to the virus is as difficult as it was during the Second World War, messages from the German Navy using Enigma encryption technology.
But do not despair. It seems that in the near future a solution to this problem will be found. The main thing here is not to panic, not to turn off the computer and not to rename files. It’s better to wait for the official release of the antivirus solution, otherwise you can spoil everything yourself.