Gingerbread Ransomware - How to remove

Gingerbread ransomware was discovered the other week, that is, around the 7th to 13th of November, 2016, by a cyber tracker JAMESWT from MalwareHunterTeam. This crypto-locker is written in Delphi programming language and it is aimed at the Russian-speaking users. The title of the file encrypting program comes from the tale of the Gingerbread Man, which has different plots, but the character is the same – the man made of gingerbread. Different antivirus applications detect this encrypting virus under the following names: Trojan.Encoder.293, Trojan.Encoder.293, Trojan.PWS.Siggen1.27658, trojandropper.msil.fatext.a, Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Crypmod.wqw, Trojan.Agent!zfHiAmmPg6o, Trojan:Win32/Malagent!gmb, Gen:Variant.Zusy.84683 (B).

The Manner of Operating of Gingerbread Ransomware

Gingerbread crypto-malware is designed to use the two-layered encryption, combining XOR and RSA ciphers. It scans the Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos directories for document, audio, video files, images, etc. to be encrypted. On an interesting note, this new ransomware virus has many different contact e-mail addresses, which serve as the additional filename extension as well. Some of the e-mails of Gingerbread crypto-virus: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], etc. Consequently, the encrypted files are renamed something like [email protected], if the unencrypted file was named as Report.pptx and the contact e-mail provided in the ransom note was [email protected].

As usually, when the encryption has been finished, the victim is displayed the ransom message. The background image of Gingerbread encrypting malware’s note is the colorful picture depicting the Gingerbread Man:

The ransom note by Gingerbread file encrypter contains the following note in Russian:

Файлы зашифрованы!
Колобок ушел от бабушки и от дедушки, и обнаружил,
что у него нет денег даже квартиру не снять! Долго думал колобок, захотел
повеситься – но не смог. И всё, на что он может рассчитывать – на Вашу помощь!
 Помоги колобку, а он вернет тебе файлы! Отпиши на эти данные, указав
идентификатор:
Почта – kolobocheg@ао1.com Идентификатор – k1
За дополнительной информацией – http://www.filesencoded.com

Its English translation is the following:

The files have been encrypted!
Gingerbread pie left his grandmother and grandfather and found out
that he doesn’t have any money even for an apartment to go to sleep over! He tried to find a solution – but he couldn’t. So, he needs your help! Help the Gingerbread and he will help you to return Your files! Send the following information including the identification:
Mail: kolobocheg@ао1.com Identification: k1For additional information – http://www.filesencoded.com

All the specific information, as regards the ransom and its transfer, is supposed to be provided via the contact e-mail given. We advise you not to write the hackers behind the e-mail provided not only because Gingerbread ransomware seems to be inactive currently, but also because you would better saved the money for the Christmas presents than rewarding these cyber yardbirds for the problems they have forced you to experience.

If, Anyway, Gingerbread Ransomware Has Visited Your PC

If your computer has gotten infected with Gingerbread encrypting malware, you must make the copies of the infected files and remove the ransomware automatically with one of the following anti-virus programs: Spyhunter or Hitman. While the first part of the recommendation is rather an obligation, the second part can be understood as a mere recommendation. Here, we imply that manual removal of Gingerbread can be performed. Just you need to know that it is more risky than the automatic one, implemented by the professional anti-spyware software. The manual instructions are rendered below.

The solutions for the restoration of the data are the following: backup (unmapped removable drives), system restore (Shadow Copies) and data recovery tools (e.g. Recuva, software by Kaspersky Lab, etc.).

You should remain cautious, as it is more likely that the Gingerbread virus will be started to be spread again prior to the notification about such an event issued by the cyber security researchers. Gingerbread ransomware is a trojan virus, thus, it can stay hidden in the spam e-mails, free downloads, infected advertisements, compromised websites, etc.

How to recover Gingerbread Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Gingerbread Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Gingerbread Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Gingerbread Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Gingerbread Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Gingerbread Ransomware tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Gingerbread Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.