How To Remove Better Call Saul Ransomware (Virus Removal Guide)

  Category:  RANSOMWARE | 21st November 2023 | Author:  CSI TEAM

The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Is A Type Of Ransomware Trojan That Encrypts The Victim's Files, Demanding A Ransom Of $1000 AU For The Restoration Of Access To The Encrypted Files. A Notable Concentration Of 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Infections Has Been Observed In Australia. What Distinguishes The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware From Various Other Active Ransomware Trojans Is Its Incorporation Of Numerous References To The Breaking Bad Television Show And Its Spin-off, Better Call Saul.

In The Event Of A 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Infection, PC Security Analysts Recommend Wiping The Infected Hard Drive And Subsequently Restoring The Encrypted Content From A Backup. Unfortunately, Decrypting The Files Encrypted By The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware May Prove Challenging Without Access To The Decryption Key.

Unusual Characteristics Of The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware

Named After The Television Show Better Call Saul, This Attack, Known As The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware, Incorporates Various References From The Breaking Bad Universe. The Ransom Note Associated With This Ransomware Features The Logo And Content Related To Los Pollos Hermanos, A Fictitious Chicken Chain Prominent In Breaking Bad.

Additional Nods To Breaking Bad Include The Language Used In The Ransom Demand, Making Mention Of 'the One Who Knocks,' A Renowned Line From Breaking Bad's Protagonist.

While The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Is Not The First Ransomware Threat Associated With Breaking Bad, It Distinguishes Itself By Connecting This Attack To Encryption Ransomware Rather Than Computer Blockers Or Browser Hijackers.

'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Variant May Be Distributed Using A File Named 'PENALTY.VBS,' Often Found In Corrupted Email Attachments. In The Case Of The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware, These Emails Might Include A PDF File, Acting As A Distraction While The Attack Occurs In The Background.

Demanding A Significant Ransom: The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware

The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Exhibits A YouTube Video That Provides Instructions On Purchasing BitCoins, An Anonymous Online Currency Frequently Employed In Such Attacks. As Outlined In The Ransom Note Associated With The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware, Users Are Required To Pay $1000 AU In BitCoins To Regain Access To Files Encrypted By This Threat.

Over The Past Few Years, These Attacks Have Seen A Substantial Increase, Making Them Quite Prevalent Today. To Avert 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Attacks, It Is Advisable To Refrain From Clicking On Unsolicited Email Attachments And To Cultivate The Ability To Identify These Threats In Various Contexts.

Unraveling The Operations Of The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware

The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Heavily Relies On Social Engineering Tactics. Enclosed Within A Corrupted ZIP Archive, The File Linked To The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Is Activated When Users Open This Email Attachment. Subsequently, The Ransomware Commences A Search For Files On The Victim's Computer To Encrypt. Utilizing AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Encrypts The Victim's Files, With The AES Key Itself Being Encrypted Using RSA.

The Inclusion Of Multiple Layers Of Encryption Renders It Exceedingly Challenging For Users To Decrypt The Affected Files Without Obtaining The Decryption Key From The Individuals Responsible For The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware.

The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Looks For The Following Types Of Files On The Victim's Computer:

.ai
.crt, .csv
.db, .doc, .docm, .docx, .dotx
.gif
.jpeg, .jpg
.lnk
.mp3, .msi
.ods, .one, .ost
.p12, .pdf, .pem, .pps, .ppsx, .ppt, .pptx, .psd, .pst, .pub
.rar, .raw, .rtf
.tif, .txt
.vsdx
.wma
.xls, .xlsm, .xlsx, .xml
.zip

Upon Identifying Files With Matching Extensions, The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Proceeds To Encrypt Them And Presents A Ransom Note Featuring Breaking Bad-themed Content, Along With A YouTube Video Offering Instructions For BitCoin Purchases.

Notably, The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Is Linked To A YouTube Video Incorporating Music From A Fictional Radio Channel Within The Grand Theft Auto Video Game Series, Further Connecting It To Breaking Bad. Despite The Playful Elements Integrated Into The 'Better_Call_Saul' Ransomware Attack, It Poses A Genuine Threat To The Files Of Computer Users.

Remove Malware From Windows?

Remove Malware With Malwarebytes?

Reset The Internet Browser?

Remove Malicious Extension From Internet Browser?

Protect Data With VPN Software?

Remove Malware With Avira Anti-Virus Prime

Remove Malware With SpyHunter 5?

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How To Remove Malware From Windows?

Removing Malware From A Windows Computer Involves A Combination Of Using Antivirus Or Anti-malware Tools, Performing System Scans, And Taking Manual Actions To Eliminate The Malicious Software. Here's A Step-by-step Guide:

1. Disconnect From The Internet:

• Disconnect Your Computer From The Internet To Prevent The Malware From Communicating With Its Servers And To Avoid Further Infection.

2. Boot Into Safe Mode:

• Boot Your Computer Into Safe Mode To Minimize The Chances Of The Malware Running During The Removal Process.
  • Restart Your Computer And Press The F8 Key Repeatedly Before The Windows Logo Appears. From The Advanced Boot Options Menu, Choose "Safe Mode" Or "Safe Mode With Networking" If You Need Internet Access.

3. Update Your Antivirus Software:

• Ensure Your Antivirus Software Is Up-to-date. If You Don't Have One Installed, Consider Using Reputable Antivirus Or Anti-malware Tools Like Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, Or Others.

4. Run A Full System Scan:

• Perform A Full System Scan Using Your Antivirus Or Anti-malware Software. Allow The Program To Quarantine Or Remove Any Detected Threats.

5. Use Anti-Malware Tools:

• Consider Running Additional Anti-malware Tools To Ensure Comprehensive Scanning And Removal. Tools Like Malwarebytes, Spybot Search & Destroy, Or AdwCleaner Can Be Effective.

6. Remove Suspicious Programs:

• Open The Control Panel And Go To "Programs" Or "Programs And Features."
• Uninstall Any Programs That You Don't Recognize Or That Seem Suspicious.

7. Clean Up Browser Extensions:

• Malware Can Sometimes Affect Browsers. Check Your Browsers For Unwanted Extensions And Remove Them.
  • For Chrome: Settings > More Tools > Extensions
  • For Firefox: Add-ons > Extensions
  • For Edge: Menu > Extensions

8. Check System Startup Programs:

• Review The Programs That Start Automatically With Windows.
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc To Open Task Manager.
  • Go To The "Startup" Tab And Disable Any Suspicious Entries.

9. Clear Temporary Files:

• Use The Built-in Disk Cleanup Tool To Remove Temporary Files.
  • Press Win + R To Open The Run Dialog, Type cleanmgr, And Press Enter.

10. Reset Hosts File:

• Malware May Modify The Hosts File. Reset It To The Default.
  • Open Notepad As An Administrator (right-click And Select "Run As Administrator").
  • Open The Hosts File (usually Located At C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) And Remove Any Suspicious Entries.

11. Change Passwords:

• Change Your Passwords For Sensitive Accounts, Especially If You Suspect They May Have Been Compromised.

12. Reconnect To The Internet:

• After Completing The Above Steps, Reconnect Your Computer To The Internet And Monitor For Any Signs Of Abnormal Behavior.

13. Update And Patch:

• Ensure That Your Operating System, Antivirus Software, And Other Important Programs Are Up-to-date With The Latest Security Patches.

14. Consider Professional Help:

• If You're Unsure About The Removal Process Or If The Malware Persists, Consider Seeking Professional Help.

Remember To Maintain Good Security Practices, Such As Keeping Your Operating System And Software Up-to-date, Using A Reputable Antivirus Program, And Being Cautious When Clicking On Links Or Downloading Files From The Internet. Regularly Backing Up Your Important Data Is Also Crucial To Mitigate The Impact Of Potential Infections.

Remove Malware From Malwarebytes

If You Have Malwarebytes Installed On Your Computer And It Has Detected Malware, Follow These Steps To Remove The Malware:

Using Malwarebytes:

1. Open Malwarebytes:

   • Double-click On The Malwarebytes Icon On Your Desktop Or Locate It In Your System Tray And Open The Application.

2. Update Malwarebytes:

   • Before Scanning, Ensure That Malwarebytes Has The Latest Malware Definitions. Click On "Update" Or "Check For Updates" Within The Malwarebytes Interface.

3. Run A Threat Scan:

   • Click On The "Scan" Tab In Malwarebytes.
   • Choose The "Threat Scan" Option.
   • Click "Start Scan."

4. Review Scan Results:

   • After The Scan Is Complete, Review The Results. Malwarebytes Will List Any Threats It Found.

5. Quarantine Or Remove Threats:

   • Click On "Quarantine" Or "Remove Selected" To Move The Identified Threats To Quarantine.

6. Reboot Your Computer:

   • Some Malware Removals May Require A System Reboot. Malwarebytes Will Prompt You If A Reboot Is Necessary.

7. Check For Persistence:

   • After Rebooting, Open Malwarebytes Again And Run Another Scan To Ensure That No Additional Threats Are Present.

8. Monitor For Issues:

   • Keep An Eye On Your Computer For Any Signs Of Persistent Issues Or Unusual Behavior.

Additional Steps (if Needed):

• Clear Browser Data:

  • If The Malware Affected Your Web Browser, Consider Clearing Your Browser's Cache, Cookies, And Other Data.

• Reset Browser Settings:

  • As Mentioned In A Previous Response, Resetting Your Browser Settings Can Help Eliminate Any Unwanted Changes Caused By Malware.

• Review Installed Programs:

  • Check Your List Of Installed Programs And Uninstall Any Unfamiliar Or Suspicious Software.

• Change Passwords:

  • If There's A Possibility That Sensitive Information Has Been Compromised, Consider Changing Your Passwords.

• Update Operating System:

  • Ensure That Your Operating System And Other Software Are Up-to-date With The Latest Security Patches.

Screenshots Of Malwarebytes Security Solution

If The Malware Persists Or If You Encounter Difficulties During The Removal Process, You May Want To Seek Assistance From The Malwarebytes Support Community Or Consider Running Additional Scans Using Other Reputable Antivirus Or Anti-malware Tools. Remember To Keep Your Security Software Updated And Practice Safe Computing Habits To Minimize The Risk Of Future Infections.

Malwarebytes Is A Leading Cybersecurity Solution Dedicated To Protecting Users From The Ever-evolving Landscape Of Digital Threats. With A Proven Track Record In Malware Detection And Removal, Malwarebytes Offers Cutting-edge Technology To Safeguard Computers And Devices Against Viruses, Ransomware, And Other Malicious Software.

Boasting A User-friendly Interface, Malwarebytes Provides A Seamless Experience For Both Novice And Advanced Users. Its Real-time Protection Capabilities, Coupled With Powerful Scanning Algorithms, Ensure That Users Are Shielded From The Latest Cybersecurity Threats. Malwarebytes Continually Updates Its Extensive Malware Database, Enabling Users To Stay Ahead Of Emerging Risks And Vulnerabilities.

Beyond malware Detection, Malwarebytes Offers Additional Features Such As Web Protection And Anti-exploit Technology, Fortifying Defenses Against Malicious Websites And Zero-day Exploits. The Software's Lightweight Footprint Ensures Minimal Impact On System Performance, Delivering Robust Security Without Compromising Speed.

Whether Used As A Standalone Solution Or In Conjunction With Other Cybersecurity Tools, Malwarebytes Remains A Trusted Ally In The Battle Against Cyber Threats. As A Proactive And Responsive Cybersecurity Partner, Malwarebytes Empowers Users To Navigate The Digital World With Confidence, Knowing That Their Data And Devices Are Safeguarded Against The Latest And Most Sophisticated Threats.