BlackByte Ransomware is one of many ransomware strains that utilize double extortion tactics to compel payment from victims. What are double extortion tactics, you may ask? Well, in most cases, hackers will encrypt your files, and they will remain locked until you crack and make the ransom payment. When dealing with hackers that employ double extortion tactics, if you fail to pay, the hackers will reveal sensitive stolen information on what is called a “leak site.”
BlackByte Ransomware infects users’ computers and then locks the victim’s files with a virtually uncrackable AES symmetric-key algorithm. BlackByte Ransomware also modifies the original names of the locked files by appending the telltale ‘.blackbyte’ extension. The hackers behind Blackbyte then leave a ransom note with instructions for payment inside a file named ‘BlackByte_restoremyfiles.hta.’
According to the instructions in the ransom note, the operators of BlackByte Ransomware give their victims 3 days to pay the ransom. After that, it is said that the victims’ private information collected in the hack will be posted on a dedicated auction site. The website is hosted on the TOR network.
Like most ransomware operators, the hackers behind BlackByte offer to unlock 2 encrypted files to prove their ability to decrypt all locked files. However, the files must meet two requirements – they should not contain any important information and must not exceed 3MB. The email address the attackers use is ‘blackbyte1@onionmail.org.’
How Do I Remove Blackbyte Ransomware?
Although it may seem that the easiest way to deal with a BlackByte Ransomware attack is to pay the hackers, this is never recommended. Nothing is guaranteed when dealing with criminals, and paying them just encourages them to seek more victims. Instead, you should scan for and remove elements associated with BlackByte Ransomware with the help of a reputable malware remediation tool.
