The Ebaka virus falls within the Phobos ransomware family. Ransomware of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and appends its own extension to every file, creating the info.txt files in each directory which contains the encrypted files.
Ebaka virus: what is known so far?
☝️ Ebaka is a Phobos family ransomware virus.
The scheme of renaming is this: id[xxxxx].[contact-email].Ebaka. After the encryption, a file entitled, for example, “report.docx” will be changed to “report.docx.id[1E857D00-3323].[datadownloader@proton.me].ebaka”.
In each folder that contains the encrypted files, a info.txt file will appear. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can obtain this tool after contacting datadownloader@proton.me by email. That is it.
Ebaka Overview:
| Name | Ebaka Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | Phobos ransomware |
| Extension | .Ebaka |
| Ransomware note | info.txt |
| Contact | datadownloader@proton.me |
| Detection | Ransom:Win32/Filecoder.AA!MTB Virus Removal, Ransom.Cryfile.16953 Virus Removal, Trojan:MSIL/FormBook.AFM!MTB Virus Removal |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .Ebaka extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Ebaka virus |
The info.txt document accompanying the Ebaka ransomware states the following:
!!!All of your files are encrypted!!! To decrypt them send e-mail to this address: datadownloader@proton.me. If we don\'t answer in 24h., send e-mail to this address: datadownloader@tutanota.com
In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Ebaka looks like. Each filename has the “.Ebaka” extension appended to it.
That is how encrypted “.Ebaka” files look.
How did my computer get infected with Ebaka ransomware?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.
There are currently three most exploited methods for evil-doers to have the Ebaka virus working in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer-to-peer networks.
- If you access your mailbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a malicious file attached to them. Therefore, it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
- Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan virus model. A Trojan is a program that gets into your computer disguised as something else. For example, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. However, what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful program that encrypts your data. Since the installation wizard can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the things you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software developers’ official websites.
- As for the peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is done.
How to remove ransomware?
It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your data, the Ebaka virus will most likely deploy Vidar Stealer on your computer to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Remove Ebaka 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 Ebaka 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 “Ebaka” 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 Ebaka 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 tamperers would decode few of your files to prove that they indeed have the decryption program. Since Ebaka virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software developers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the decoding tools are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.
Sure thing, if the evildoers do the job of encoding someone’s essential data, the hopeless person will probably comply with their demands. Despite that, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After obtaining the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about ransomware developers simply vanishing after getting the money without even writing back.
The best solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external drive. Of course, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your drives with the antivirus program after the OS restoration.
Ebaka 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 Noose, Zeroguard, Xrp, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Ebaka are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: documents become blocked, their extensions altered, ransom notes are created in every folder containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate people were able to decrypt the blocked files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the criminals mistakenly send the decryption code to the victims in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ technology to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How to avert ransomware injection?
Ebaka ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.
You can armour your PC from ransomware infiltration taking three easy steps:
- Ignore any emails from unknown senders with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, check all elements of the questionable email with caution. A hoax email will surely have a mistake.
- Never use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojans are often distributed as a part of cracked products, possibly as a “patch” preventing the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are very hard to distinguish from reliable software, because trojans may also have the functionality you need. Try searching for information on this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the best solution is not to use such software.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a powerful shield for your PC.
FAQ
🤔 Are the “.Ebaka” files accessible?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.Ebaka” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?
Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.
🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Ebaka malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
Of course not. Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with active viruses. The ransomware that has infiltrated your system is probably still functional and launching checks from time to time to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the infection. As it has already been said, the Ebaka ransomware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide malefactors with easy access to your PC in the future.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Ebaka ransomware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
In such a case, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your system. To block this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Some of the encrypted 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 images or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to send those images back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try to do it again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, phone, external storage, etc.
HINT: You can employ file recovery utilities2 to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the video below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you can do it only after you eradicate the virus with an antivirus program.
