The Bully Ransomware (lerchsilas125@gmail.com)

The Bully falls within the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of such sort encrypts all the data on your computer (photos, documents, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, creating the read_it.txt text files in each directory with 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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The bully virus: what is known so far?

The bully will add its extra .HAHAHAIAMABULLY extension to the title of every encoded file. For example, an image named “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.HAHAHAIAMABULLY”. Just like the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will be altered to “table.xlsx.HAHAHAIAMABULLY”, and so forth.

In each folder with the encrypted files, a read_it.txt text document will be created. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to purchase the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can get this decryptor after emailing lerchsilas125@gmail.com. That is pretty much the scheme of the malefaction.

The bully Summary:

The read_it.txt document accompanying the The bully ransomware states the following:

the bully ransomware
oh no it seems like your files has been STOLEN and ENCRYPTED!!! to decrypt your file pay us all your lunch money at lerchsilas125@gmail.com
_________________________
WARNING!
do not try to decyrpt your files with 3rd party decryotors or your files will be gone and u might get scammed

In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the The bully looks like. Each filename has the “.HAHAHAIAMABULLY” extension added to it.

An example of encrypted .HAHAHAIAMABULLY files.

How did The bully ransomware end up on my PC?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most exploited methods for hackers to have the The bully virus working in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer file transfer.

• If you access your mailbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is strange to you, be wary of opening those letters. They are most likely to have a malware item enclosed in them. Thus it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus scheme. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your machine disguised as something else. For example, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some service. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that encodes your data. Since the installation wizard can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the stuff you’re downloading. The optimal thing is to trust the software companies’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never guess what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the The bully virus will probably deploy Vidar Stealer on your PC to get access to credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove The bully 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 The bully 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 “The bully” 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 The bully 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 criminals would decode several of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption program. As The bully virus is a relatively recent ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the anti-ransomware tools are frequently upgraded, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Sure thing, if the hackers succeed in encoding victim’s critical files, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still risky. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports of malefactors just vanishing after getting the money without even writing back.

The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud drive or at least on an external drive. Surely, that might be insufficient. The most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.

There are other ransomware products, besides The bully, that work similarly. For instance, Defi, King, Tyson, and some others. The two major differences between them and the The bully are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: documents become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes appear in every directory containing encoded files.

Some lucky victims were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decryption key to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.

How сan I avert ransomware injection?

The bully ransomware has no superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can defend your system from ransomware infiltration within three easy steps:

• Never open any emails from unknown mailers with strange 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 likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the questionable email with caution. A fake letter will surely contain mistakes.
• Avoid using cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, possibly under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, as trojans may also have the functionality you need. You can try searching for information on this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.
• And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect armor for your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.HAHAHAIAMABULLY” files first. Then you will be able to open them.

🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?

If the “.HAHAHAIAMABULLY” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the The bully virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?

Of course not. The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.

With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your PC off the actual threats. The ransomware that has attacked your device is most likely still functional and launching checks from time to time to arrest any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been said above, the The bully malware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide malefactors with easy access to your computer after some time.

🤔 What actions should I take if the The bully virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a flash memory drive with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or imported into your PC. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 And what should I do now?

Some of the blocked files can be found elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your important files by email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to send those pictures back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a notebook, mobile, external storage, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery programs¹ to get your lost data back since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.

1. Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2024.