Do you know what Gingerbread Ransomware is?
Gingerbread Ransomware is a very old ransomware infection that might still be making rounds here and there, depending on whether users encounter the websites related to its distribution. Although the program is rather old, it can still bite you pretty hard, as it can encrypt your files and leave you hanging. Paying the program is not an option because it is so old its website does not work anymore. You need to remove Gingerbread Ransomware from your computer and then either look for a public decryption tool that would help you restore your files, or simply transfer copies from an external hard drive.
This program is very similar to the Kolobo Ransomware we have described previously, and so they function in a similar manner, too. The criminals behind this infection come forth with a ridiculous story that they need money for rent as they now have to live on their own and they cannot afford to support themselves. Of course, if someone wants to receive charity perhaps they should address NGOs and non-profit organization, rather than terrorize innocent users. Although we think that you would never feel sorry for these people and you would not feel inclined to pay the ransom fee.
There might be many ways how this program could enter your computer. Security experts say that it could spread through spam e-mail campaigns. The spam emails that carry the malicious installer generally look like messages from official institutions. For example, it might seem that you received a notification from a bank or some online store. That is why it is always a good idea to keep track of your online purchases and other accounts. Of course, if you get a message from a bank you do not recognize, it is clear that it is a scam, and you should never open it.
What’s more, it is not just the email campaigns. There might also be website Exploits out there, waiting for you to fall into the trap and click some add or a download link, thus initiating the malware download. To avoid this, you need to be really careful and attentive whenever you access unfamiliar websites and file-sharing pages. When a page generates a lot of pop-ups, you should be wary of that because you can never know what content those pop-ups may have, and what websites they might be promoting. As you can probably tell, in the worst-case scenario, you could end up getting infected with Gingerbread Ransomware.
Now, what happens when this program enters your system? Of course, Gingerbread Ransomware will scan your computer searching for the files it can encrypt. When all the compatible files are located, the program uses the XOR and RSA algorithms to lock up your files. When the encryption is complete, the infection displays a ransom note on your screen entirely in Russian. This means that the program primarily targets computers users in the Russian-speaking countries, but it might find its way into your computer too, especially if you stumble upon the installer file on some random website.
As mentioned the ransom note comes with a pathetic story about a gingerbread man who is poor and needs money to sustain himself. The message also comes with an email address you are supposed to use to contact these criminals, but since the program is more than three years old, it is very unlikely that anyone would answer at the other end. Hence, you need to deal with this on your own.
Seeing how this program is so old, it should be possible to acquire a public decryption tool to restore your files. However, if none is present, you can delete the infected files and then look for healthy copies in your external hard drive, inbox, or cloud storage. Quite often, users have a lot of their files saved in other places, but they do not realize that.
As far as the ransomware removal is concerned, you can delete Gingerbread Ransomware manually by removing the files associated with this program. On the other hand, it is a lot better to use a licensed antispyware tool that would delete the malicious files and then safeguard your system against similar intruders in the future.
How to Remove Gingerbread Ransomware
- Press Win+R and type %AppData% into the Open box. Click OK.
- Go to Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
- Delete the ie_updater.exe file. Press Win+R again.
- Type %AppData% into the Open box and click OK.
- Locate the ie_updater.exe and delete it (if present).
- Go to the Downloads folder.
- Remove recently download files.
- Scan your system with SpyHunter.
In non-techie terms:
Gingerbread Ransomware is an old, but dangerous infection that can block you from accessing your files, demanding that you pay a ransom fee. You should never do what a ransomware program expects you to do because that would not solve anything. You need to protect your financial security and your system from malicious exploitation by deleting the unwanted program right now. For that, do not hesitate to invest in a licensed antispyware tool.