_readme.txt is a message from the ransomware operators informing the victim about the ransomware attack. In the notification, they will also state that the victim must pay ransom fee so they could send across a decryption tool. In a desperate attempt to scare the victim and make them pay the ransom fee, they will warn that the ransom fee is non-negotiable and inability to pay it would cause permanent data loss. To facilitate further discussions and ransom payment, two email addresses would also be forwarded to the victim. The first email is support@bestyourmail.ch and the provided alternative is datarestorehelp@airmail.cc. If a victim decides to write them using either, the cybercriminals would respond by stating the specific amount of money that must be paid as ransom and the strict terms that must be adhered to. Firstly, they will state that ransom fee is $980 but they are willing to grant the victim 50% price slash provided they can pay it within 72 hours of being told to do so. This brings the ransom fee down to $490. However, once the 3 days ‘grace’ elapses, they automatically revert to the initial ransom fee demand i.e. $980. To complicate matters further for the victim, the cybercriminals do not accept standard money transfer or bank payment. Instead, only cryptocurrency transfer to their wallet address is acceptable. The reason for this is quite obvious; they insist on receiving funds via crypto because it does not give room for their actual identity to be revealed. The challenge here is that not everyone is well informed about the use of crypto and the victim may not even know how to go about it at that point. Nevertheless, ransomware attack victims are warned not to comply with cybercriminals’ demands. They should never write or respond to their messages following a ransomware attack. Top global cybersecurity agencies including the FBI share this opinion. You can check some of the reasons they gave as written below:
Paying ransom fee encourages these cyber rogues.Ransom payment is prohibited by law.It will end in double loss for the victim because cybercriminals are unlikely to provide reliable decryption tools as promised.More funds in the hands of criminals aid them in expanding their capacity to cause more harm.Victims that pay ransom are often targeted again in the future.
Additional risks and the importance of malware removal
EEBN ransomware virus is often accompanied by other equally dangerous malware, RATs. This is an acronym that stands for Remote Access Trojans. They’re used covertly by cybercriminals in stealing confidential personal information like banking details, software login credentials, and browsing history among others. Therefore, it is very important to get rid of this malware once it is found in any computer. To remove EEBN ransomware, use instructions provided below for guidance. Do not forget that using a genuine antivirus solution is a highly recommended option, however, you should also try RESTORO (secure download link) to scan your computer and fix the virus damage caused on Windows OS files.
Ransomware Summary
REPAIR VIRUS DAMAGE See the screenshot below to understand how encrypted files look like.
Methods ransomware authors use to spread the virus
The cybercriminals’ main objective is to infect computers and encrypt files found in them. Once they achieve that, they would demand ransom while promising to provide decryption tools for it. To succeed in their plan to infect many computers, the cybercriminals typically pirate software copies, particularly those in high demand, and upload them to online torrent platforms. They also make it free and easy to download. This makes it attractive to unsuspecting users who may assume they’ve got a good deal. To such individuals, it makes no sense to go to the official pages of the original copyright owners, where they have to pay certain fees when they can easily download the same free of charge. Unfortunately for them, it is a bait that could lead to disaster. They may end up infecting their computer with ransomware virus.
Avoid pirated software at all costs
Malicious online torrent platforms and P2P sharing, as well as careless opening of emails and attachments are some risk factors that should be avoided. It is recommendable to ONLY seek for software contents via the official channels endorsed by the copyright owners. We compiled some of the typical popular software contents often cloned by cybercriminals and used in spreading malware:
Cubase;Microsoft Office;Corel Draw;Adobe Illustrator;AutoCad;VMware Workstation;Fifa 20;League of Legends;Microsoft Office;Internet Download Manager;Adobe Premiere Pro.
It should also be noted that those using illegal ways to download software contents are hurting the IT industry. When you patronize cloned versions of software contents, you deny the original content developers their due reward. When they make profit, they would be encouraged to invest more in research and development, and end users would be better for it. Another reason why should only download software legally is because you won’t be at risk of suffering data loss, extortions and possible blackmail etc.
Safe way to remove EEBN ransomware virus
As stated earlier, it is crucial to remove EEBN ransomware virus as well as other malware that was possibly installed during the security breach. However, it should be done safely by first setting up your computer via Safe Mode with Networking. Before that, ensure you already have reliable antivirus software handy. Having ensured that your computer no longer has EEBN ransomware virus in its system, there are other things you will need to do as listed below:
Download RESTORO and use it to repair virus-damaged Windows OS files and clean up malware remains.Immediately replace all passwords used before the ransomware attack.Use your backup to replace lost files.If unfortunately there is no backup, you may consider checking this guide for available data recovery solutions. However, stay away from rogue online sites claiming they have a solution for you, or you might fall victim to scammers.Report to any relevant government agency close to you.
OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system: GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs. Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer. Read full review here. RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically. RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them. Read full review here.
Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking
Before you try to remove EEBN Ransomware Virus virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, if you prefer a video version of the tutorial, check our guide How to Start Windows in Safe Mode on Youtube. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users Now, you can search for and remove EEBN Ransomware Virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable security program such as INTEGO Antivirus. For virus damage repair, consider using RESTORO.
Method 2. Use System Restore
In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won’t be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future.
Alternative software recommendations
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense If you’re looking for an all-in-one system maintenance suite that has 7 core components providing powerful real-time protection, on-demand malware removal, system optimization, data recovery, password manager, online privacy protection and secure driver wiping technology. Therefore, due to its wide-range of capabilities, System Mechanic Ultimate Defense deserves Geek’s Advice approval. Get it now for 50% off. You may also be interested in its full review.
Disclaimer. This site includes affiliate links. We may earn a small commission by recommending certain products, at no additional cost for you. We only choose quality software and services to recommend.
Decrypt EEBN files
Fix and open large EEBN files easily:
It is reported that STOP/DJVU ransomware versions encrypt only the beginning 150 KB of each file to ensure that the virus manages to affect all files on the system. In some cases, the malicious program might skip some files at all. That said, we recommend testing this method on several big (>1GB) files first.
STOP/DJVU decryption tool usage guide
STOP/DJVU ransomware versions are grouped into old and new variants. EEBN Ransomware Virus is considered the new STOP/DJVU variant, just like BPTO, ISWR, ISZA, BPSM, ZOUU, MBTF, ZNSM (find full list here). This means full data decryption is now possible only if you have been affected by offline encryption key. To decrypt your files, you will have to download Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP DJVU, a tool created and maintained by a genius security researcher Michael Gillespie. Note! Please do not spam the security researcher with questions whether he can recover your files encrypted with online key - it is not possible. In order to test the tool and see if it can decrypt EEBN files, follow the given tutorial.
Meanings of decryptor’s messages
The EEBN decryption tool might display several different messages after failed attempt to restore your files. You might receive one of the following messages: Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [example ID] This message typically means that there is no corresponding decryption key in the decryptor’s database. No key for New Variant online ID: [example ID]Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible This message informs that your files were encrypted with online key, meaning no one else has the same encryption/decryption key pair, therefore data recovery without paying the criminals is impossible. Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future. If you were informed that an offline key was used, but files could not be restored, it means that the offline decryption key isn’t available yet. However, receiving this message is extremely good news, meaning that it might be possible to restore your EEBN extension files in the future. It can take a few months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. We recommend you to follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here. We strongly recommend backing up your encrypted data and waiting.
Report Internet crime to legal departments
Victims of EEBN Ransomware Virus should report the Internet crime incident to the official government fraud and scam website according to their country:
In the United States, go to the On Guard Online website.In Australia, go to the SCAMwatch website.In Germany, go to the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik website.In Ireland, go to the An Garda Síochána website.In New Zealand, go to the Consumer Affairs Scams website.In the United Kingdom, go to the Action Fraud website.In Canada, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.In India, go to Indian National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.In France, go to the Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information.
If you can’t find an authority corresponding to your location on this list, we recommend using any search engine to look up “[your country name] report cyber crime”. This should lead you to the right authority website. We also recommend staying away from third-party crime report services that are often paid. It costs nothing to report Internet crime to official authorities. Another recommendation is to contact your country’s or region’s federal police or communications authority.