ALBABAT Virus 🔐 (.ABBT Files) — How to Remove?

The Albabat virus belongs with the ransomware type of infection. A harmful program of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (images, text files, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, leaving the README.html files in each directory which contains the encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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Albabat virus: what is known so far?

Albabat will add its own .abbt extension to the name of every encoded file. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.abbt”. In the same manner, the Excel sheet with the name “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.abbt”, and so forth.

In every directory with the encrypted files, a README.html file will be found. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can obtain this decoding tool after contacting albabat.help@protonmail.com via email. That is it.

Albabat Overview:

In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Albabat looks like. Each filename has the “.abbt” extension added to it.

An example of encrypted .abbt files.

How did my computer get infected with Albabat ransomware?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

Nowadays, there are three most popular ways for hackers to have ransomware working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer file transfer.

• If you open your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is strange to you, beware of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a harmful item attached to them. So it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan horse model. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your computer disguised as something different. For example, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some service. But what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful program that encodes your data. As the update file can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the things you’re downloading. The optimal way is to trust the software companies’ official websites.
• As for the peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never guess what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded files with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is done.

How to remove ransomware?

It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Albabat virus will probably install Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Remove Albabat with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Albabat as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Albabat” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Albabat and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Sometimes racketeers would unblock few of your files so you know that they do have the decryption program. Since Albabat virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. However, the decoding tools are constantly upgraded, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Sure thing, if the tamperers do the job of encoding someone’s critical files, the hopeless person will probably comply with their demands. However, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still risky. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports of ransomware developers just disappearing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.

The optimal solution against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud storage or at least on an external storage. Of course, that might be not enough. The most crucial thing could be that file you were working upon when it all started. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.

Albabat is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. Examples of those are Rapid, Tutu, Isak, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Albabat are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: files become encoded, their extensions altered, ransom notes are created in every folder containing encoded files.

Some lucky users were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decoding key to the victims in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a criminals’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.

How to avert ransomware infection?

Albabat ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can defend your computer from its injection in three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown senders with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the suspicious email with caution. A fake email will always contain mistakes.
• Do not use cracked or unknown software. Trojan viruses are often shared as an element of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, untrusted programs are very hard to tell from reliable software, as trojans may also have the functionality you need. Try to find information about this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.
• And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect shield for your system.

FAQ

🤔 How can I open “.abbt” files?Can I somehow access “.abbt” files?

There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.abbt” files are decrypted.

🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. The rest of the methods require patience.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Albabat virus?

Of course not. Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with actual threats. The ransomware that has infiltrated your system is most likely still active and running scans every so often to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the initial attack. As it has been said above, the Albabat ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide hackers with easy access to your computer after some time.

🤔 What to do if the Albabat virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.

In such a case, you need to have a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to do the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your PC. To suppress this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Some of the blocked files can be located elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your critical files by email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to give those images back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud drives might have all those files as well.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, phone, memory stick, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery utilities¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the virus with an antivirus program.

1. Here’s the list of Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.