Btcware Ransomware Removal Guide

Btcware Ransomware is a new variant of Crptxxx Ransomware, a malicious application that was designed to target and encrypt your personal files and then demand that you pay money for the decryptor to get your files back. If your PC becomes infected with this malware, then you should not hesitate and remove it immediately because paying the ransom is not something you should do. There is a real possibility that the cybercriminals behind it will not keep their word and send you the decryptor. So in addition to losing your files, you might also suffer a financial loss. To find out more, please read this whole article.

Since Crptxxx Ransomware was distributed using malicious email spam, we think that the same should be true of Btcware Ransomware. While there is no concrete information as of yet, we think that this ransomware might also be distributed via malicious emails. These emails should feature the ransomware’s main executable in an attached file. While the file is an executable, the developers might trick you into thinking that it is a Word document or a PDF file by adding an additional extension. The file should be zipped, and if you extract and run it on your PC, then this ransomware will start encrypting your personal files. Note that the infection can be stopped, provided that your computer has a powerful anti-malware program on it.

If your PC becomes infected with Btcware Ransomware, then it will go to work immediately and start encrypting your files. It should use either the RSA or AES encryption algorithm. It should create a public encryption and private decryption keys. The private key is sent to a remote server because research has shown that it is not stored locally. While encrypting your files, this program is set to append the files with a ".btcware" extension. Our analysis has shown that this particular ransomware is capable of encrypting hundreds of file types, but is set to skip Windows and Internet Explorer folders so that you could be able to use your PC post encryption.

Once the encryption is complete, Btcware Ransomware is set to drop two files. First, it will drop a file named "#_HOW_TO_FIX_!.hta" in each folder where a file has been encrypted. Then it will drop a file named "#_HOW_TO_FIX_!.inf" (note the different extensions). The latter file is set to open on each system startup. It features the ransom note that provides you with instructions on how to pay the ransom. However, the note does not state how much you have to pay, so we think that the sum can vary between cases. Briefly, the note provides you with a link to a website that you have to visit and enter your unique ID number found inside the ransom note and then you should be able to pay the ransom and potentially receive the decryption tool. However, we want to point out that you might not receive the tool or it might not work, so you have to take that into account.

We hope this article has been informative and now you see that you cannot trust this program’s developers to deliver on their promise to give you the decryption program once you have paid. They have got you in their grip, but you should not comply with their demands especially if you do not have any valuable files. If that is the case, then we invite you to remove Btcware Ransomware using our guide or SpyHunter – our featured anti-malware program.

Delete Btcware Ransomware manually

1. Press Windows+E keys.
2. In the File Explorer’s address box, enter %APPDATA% and hit Enter.
3. Find biznet.exe, right-click it and click Delete.
4. Then go to the desktop and delete "#_HOW_TO_FIX_!.hta," and "#_HOW_TO_FIX_!.inf"
5. Close File Explorer.

Delete the malicious registry keys.

1. Press Windows+R keys.
2. Type regedit in the box and hit Enter.
3. Go to SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
4. Find btcware, right-click it and click Delete.
5. Then, go to the following keys and delete “^#_HOW_TO_FIX_!\.inf$”
   • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   • %USERPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   • %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
   • Close the Registry Editor.