Green Blood EXPOSED: .tgbg Files and !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt
Written by: Lapain Epuran
Published on:
You open Documents the way you did yesterday. The first photo should still be 1.jpg. The vacation shot should still be vacation.jpg. The invoice should still be invoice-2026.pdf. The tax sheet should still be taxes.xlsx. Instead every familiar name has a second ending tacked on. 1.jpg is now 1.jpg.tgbg. A small text file with a name built from exclamation marks, !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt, is sitting in the same folder, as if it has always belonged there.
The photo will not open. Spreadsheet software asks for a file that is still listed. The first instinct is to double-click the text file, because it is the only name that still looks like English, and because the exclamation marks are already shouting.
That hour is the trap. This page is for that hour. It is not a miracle key. It is a map of the names in the folder, so the flyer does not become your incident plan.
Encrypted files after Green Blood. The .tgbg names and !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt are the tell.
Overview
Green Blood ransomware is a file locker that wants a conversation more than it wants a clever color. The lock is the extra ending on photos, invoices, and exports. The conversation is !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt. The squeeze is a Recovery ID that looks like a ticket, a Machine ID that is blank, and a Proton inbox. If you are staring at a pile of .tgbg files and that note, you are in a ransom incident, not a broken disk and not a browser pop-up.
The first tell is the rename. Green Blood does not hide the original filename behind a code. It keeps the old name and the old type, then hangs .tgbg on the end. In the sample used for this page, 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.tgbg. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.tgbg. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.tgbg. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.tgbg. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.tgbg. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it.
Windows may now call the type a TGBG File and offer a useless “choose an app” box. An app cannot talk locked bytes back into a JPEG. Double-clicking 1.jpg.tgbg does not open the photo. Spreadsheet software does not open taxes.xlsx.tgbg. A video player does not open family.mp4.tgbg. The listing still has one object per file. The shock lands because the names still look like yours. The lock is in the content, not in the label.
The second tell is the note. After the files are locked, the malware drops !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt into the same folders. README sounds like documentation. RECOVER sounds like a fix. The exclamation marks make the name sort to the top of a listing and look like an alarm. Put them together and the first English you can still read after the photos break is a sales flyer. The flyer is meant to be opened. It is not meant to be trusted.
The body of that sample talks like a recovery desk. It shouts ALL YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED! It prints a Recovery ID as GREEN-BLOOD–, with the extra hyphens sitting on the end of the brand. It prints a Machine ID line that is blank. In that sample the field is a hyphen, not a serial. Contact is the inbox thegreenblood@proton.me. The subject it wants you to use is already written as – – PAYMENT INQUIRY. Then it warns you, in capitals, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DECRYPT FILES YOURSELF!
Notice what the sample does not give you. It does not fill the Machine ID. It does not print a ransom figure. This page will not invent a machine ID for you, and it will not invent a bill. If your copy of the note has a filled Machine ID, that string is yours. The published sample does not hand one out as a quote. If your copy never names a price, it never names a price. Do not ask the inbox what the “real” number is. Asking is how a blank invoice gets filled.
This is also not LockBit Green, and it is not Green_Ray. Shared color words create bad triage. A folder of .tgbg names plus !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt is this locker. It is not a LockBit family incident that happens to use the word green. It is not Green_Ray. Match the artifacts you can see. The extra ending. The note filename. The Recovery ID printed as GREEN-BLOOD–. The blank Machine ID. The Proton inbox. Those marks belong to this strain.
That is the whole costume. A locked folder of .tgbg names. A note named !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt that shouts the files are encrypted. A Recovery ID printed as GREEN-BLOOD–. A Machine ID that is blank. A Proton inbox as the checkout. A subject line already written as a payment inquiry. A warning not to decrypt the files yourself. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to mail that inbox today because a text file told you to.
The .tgbg name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. This one uses .tgbg. The extra cruelty is how readable the listing stays. You do not have to decode anything. You can still see 1.jpg inside 1.jpg.tgbg. You can still see the invoice year. You can still see the word taxes. The familiar words are still in the folder. The files are not familiar anymore.
Do not treat that readable name as a fix. Do not strip .tgbg off the end and expect Photos or Excel to open the file. Do not run a bulk “extension fixer” you found in an ad. The name is a label. The lock is in the content. Editing the label can make a later trusted tool have a harder time matching the file to what it was. Leave the locked copies as they are until you have a clean machine and a plan that does not start in a criminal inbox.
The extra ending also does advertising. Anyone who sees vacation.jpg.tgbg next to !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt can pretend they already have your case. A later fake helper will quote the extension back to you as if that were expertise. The extension is public. It is sitting in the folder. Quoting it proves nothing except that they can read a listing.
!!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt is a sales floor, not a help file
The instruction sheet is a plain text file named !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt. It is dropped where the locked files live, so you cannot miss it. Double-clicking it opens Notepad. That is why a panicked first click feels like opening the help page. It is not help. It is the demand, written so it looks official enough to follow.
The filename is built to look like an alarm and like paperwork at the same time. Three exclamation marks at the front. README. RECOVER. FILES. Three more marks at the end. Plenty of real software drops a readme. This one uses that habit against you. The marks push the file to the top of a folder. README wants trust. RECOVER wants a job. Together they read like a safety card. They are a checkout flyer.
Keep the note as evidence. Do not treat it as a to-do list. Do not tidy the filename. Do not shorten it to “the readme” when you write the incident down. Copy !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt the way you would copy a serial off a stolen laptop. That string is how a responder matches this locker. It is not a coupon you redeem in mail.
ALL YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED is a shout, not a diagnosis
The note opens with ALL YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED! Capitals are not a lab result. They are a closer. The line is there so you skip the idea that Windows glitched, that a thumbnail cache died, or that a photo app needs an update. The shout is meant to finish the argument before you have even read the Recovery ID.
People hear that sentence and start hunting a matching “encrypted files decryptor” in ads. That search is the next trap. A tool that promises to reverse a shout because a ransom note printed it is selling the same fear in a different window. Leave the locked files alone. You do not need to argue with a flyer. You need to stop treating the flyer as a technician.
The shout also does not prove every copy of every file is already gone. It does not prove they are watching you type. It does not prove a backup on a disk that was unplugged is locked too. It is pressure in a costume you cannot close with one click. A folder can be left for later. A sentence in all caps sits in your head while you look for a charger, while you call a friend, while you try to remember whether last night’s backup finished. That is the point.
GREEN-BLOOD– is branding, not a ticket you redeem
The sample prints the Recovery ID as GREEN-BLOOD–. Read that string exactly as it sits on the page. The brand is in the words. The extra hyphens are on the end. It looks like a case number that was cut off, or like a form that still needs a suffix. That unfinished look is useful to the people who locked the files. An unfinished ticket makes you want to finish it.
This page will not invent a longer Recovery ID to put after those hyphens. The printed sample is GREEN-BLOOD–. If your copy of !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt shows that same string, copy the file as evidence. Do not tidy it. Do not add digits so it looks more professional. Do not accept a longer string from a comment, a Telegram channel, or a “helper” who already knows the extension. Anyone can read .tgbg off a screenshot. Handing you extra characters does not prove they can reverse the lock.
A Recovery ID that is mostly a brand name also does advertising. Anyone who sees GREEN-BLOOD– can quote it back to you and sound like they already opened your case. Quoting a public string from a ransom note is not expertise. It is reading. Keep the string in the incident record. Do not send it to thegreenblood@proton.me to “activate” it. A Recovery ID in a ransom note is evidence. It is not a password you redeem in Proton Mail.
The blank Machine ID is empty on purpose
The sample note leaves the Machine ID blank. In that copy the field is printed as a hyphen. That gap is the hook. A filled ID would look like a serial they already collected. An empty ID looks like a form you failed to complete. People try to complete forms. They hunt forums. They ask a stranger for “the real ID.” They type a Windows product key. They type a hostname. They wait for a later mail that claims to hold the missing line.
This page will not invent a Machine ID to put in that blank. If your copy of !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt is empty there, it is empty. Copy the file as evidence. Do not fill it in so the flyer looks complete. Do not hash your computer name. Do not send a hardware serial to “prove you are real.” Real is already proven by the locked files on disk.
A blank Machine ID also gives copycats a job. They will sell the missing string. They will say the published sample was incomplete and they have your unique ticket. They will ask you to mail the inbox first, then paste what they send. That is still the same shop, or a second shop standing in the same doorway. The original flyer left the field empty. Do not finish it for them.
thegreenblood@proton.me is checkout, not a help desk
The printed inbox is thegreenblood@proton.me. That is the aisle. A private mail address on a well known encrypted-mail service looks like a ticket window. It is still a door they own. Mail would seem safer than a chat because you already know how to send mail. That habit is why the line works. The address is still theirs. The first message is still a negotiation.
Do not mail that inbox because !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt told you to. Do not open a fresh Proton account “just to see if it bounces.” Do not send a screenshot of Explorer to prove you are a victim. Do not attach 1.jpg.tgbg as a sample. A sample is how a locked photo becomes a conversation. A conversation is how a demand appears. The note already told you the door. Walking through it is the product.
The local-part of the address is branding, the same way the Recovery ID is branding. Anyone can stand up a lookalike inbox after a wave of locked folders. Writing the first message does not start a warranty. It starts a thread you cannot enforce, on an account they can delete, with a price they never printed on the page. If a later stranger quotes thegreenblood@proton.me so they sound close to the case, they read the same note you did. That is not a recovery team.
The subject line is a script they wrote for you
The note already writes the mail subject as – – PAYMENT INQUIRY. That is not a courtesy. It is a filter. If you copy that subject, their inbox can sort you as a customer before they even open the body. The hyphens at the front look like a field that still needs an ID. The words at the end already admit you are there to pay. The note wants you to send that admission with the first click.
Do not use that subject. Do not “fix” it by putting GREEN-BLOOD– in front of the hyphens. Do not invent a Machine ID to drop between them. The sample left those marks as they are. Filling them is how a blank form becomes a ticket in their queue. A subject line that says PAYMENT INQUIRY is a checkout aisle with the lights already on. Stay out of that aisle.
If someone later tells you the “correct” subject is different, they are still selling the same door. The printed sample is – – PAYMENT INQUIRY. Keep that string in the record. Do not mail a corrected version. Do not mail a test with a blank subject “just to see.” Any first message is the product.
Do not attempt to decrypt is a leash, not advice from a friend
The note ends the pitch with DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DECRYPT FILES YOURSELF! There is a narrow truth hiding in that line, and it is not theirs. Do not run random decryptors from ads. Do not bulk-rename the pile. Do not feed 1.jpg.tgbg into a website that promises to unlock files in the browser. Those steps can damage files. The note uses that risk as a leash. The rest of the sentence is meant to leave only one remaining aisle: their inbox.
You can respect the files without obeying the people who locked them. Keep the copies. Do not follow !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt as a playbook. A warning not to decrypt yourself is not a warranty that they can decrypt. It is not proof they still have a key. It is not proof they will send one if you write thegreenblood@proton.me.
People hear that warning and go looking for a “safe official Green Blood decryptor” that is not the inbox. Ads will meet them there. A later helper will say they have a private tool, and that the warning only applies to amateurs. That is the same shop in a different window. Official recovery desks do not live in a Proton address printed by the locker. They live in the reporting pages and the decryptor lists that already exist for every strain.
This is not LockBit Green and not Green_Ray
Green is a crowded word in ransomware. LockBit Green is a different family costume. Green_Ray is a different locker. Shared color does not make a shared key, a shared inbox, or a shared decryptor. If your search history still has those older titles, close them. You are in a different case.
A stranger who only knows the word green can point you at a LockBit guide and call it done. A stranger who only knows Green_Ray can sell you a decryptor that has nothing to do with your folder. Match the artifacts you can see. The extra ending is .tgbg. The note is !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt. The Recovery ID in the sample is GREEN-BLOOD–. The Machine ID is blank. The inbox is thegreenblood@proton.me. Those marks belong here. A LockBit leak site does not. A Green_Ray note does not.
If you actually have two problems, treat them as two problems. An old browser nuisance that used a green brand is a cleanup. A pile of .tgbg names is a ransom incident. Do not let the older word steal the hour you need for isolation, backups, and a report.
How The Ransomware Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Brand the names with .tgbg. Drop !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt. Shout that everything is encrypted. Print a Recovery ID as GREEN-BLOOD–. Leave the Machine ID blank. Point the scared person at thegreenblood@proton.me. Hand them a subject line that already says PAYMENT INQUIRY. Warn them not to decrypt the files themselves. Then wait for someone else to sell the missing ticket. Here is that package in the order it usually lands.
1. One reachable account is enough
Someone on the machine still has a session the attackers can use. That can be a stolen remote-desktop login, a phishing mail from last month, or a share that was never meant to be open. This page will not walk through those paths. The part you can see is the aftermath: one account was enough, and the note now speaks as if the whole disk is already theirs.
From the chair in front of the screen, it feels sudden. From the crew’s side, !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt is the last page of a longer stay. CISA warns that a ransomware event can be the noisy end of an earlier compromise. That is why “reboot and hope” is a poor first move on a business network. The locker may be the only thing you can see. It may not be the only thing that is there.
2. Files pick up .tgbg and stop opening
The locker walks the folders it can reach and rewrites the files it cares about. Documents, images, archives, and exports are the usual targets because those are the files people miss first. When it finishes a file, it leaves the old name in place and hangs .tgbg on the end. That is why 1.jpg is still readable as 1.jpg.tgbg.
The operators want you to inventory the damage in seconds. They want you to see the vacation photo, the invoice, the tax sheet, and the family video in one glance. A coded filename can confuse you. A readable filename makes you feel the theft. If only one folder looks wrong, do not assume the rest of the disk is safe. Ransomware walks trees. It hits Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads, and any drive letter it can reach, including a USB stick you forgot was plugged in. Unplug extra disks. Do not plug in the backup drive “just to check.” Checking is how the backup gets the same .tgbg ending.
Shared folders make the scene look bigger than one PC. A mapped drive, a NAS share, or a user profile that syncs to a server can carry the new ending across the office in one pass. That is why a note can shout that all files are encrypted and sound plausible even when the hit is a six-person shop. A single unlocked account on a share is enough for that sentence to land.
3. The note turns a break-in into a ticket
Once the names are branded, the malware needs a voice. !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt is that voice. It sits in the same folders as the locked files so the first sort puts help next to harm. On many machines a text file with a capital name and a row of exclamation marks stands out. You open it because it looks like the only thing that still speaks English.
The body is built to finish before a relative walks into the room. All files encrypted. Recovery ID printed as GREEN-BLOOD–. Machine ID blank. Mail this Proton inbox. Use this subject. Do not decrypt the files yourself. Each beat closes a door. The shout closes “maybe Windows just glitched.” The Recovery ID closes “maybe I can file this under a normal ticket.” The blank Machine ID closes “maybe I can finish this myself tonight” by handing you unfinished homework. The inbox closes “maybe there is a local tool.” The subject line closes “maybe I can write a careful question” by already naming payment. The decrypt warning closes “maybe I should try a repair utility.”
Notice what the note does not give you. It does not give you a company, a refund policy, or a way to prove the other side will ever send a key. It does not give you a printed ransom figure. It does not give you a filled Machine ID. It gives you a tone that says this is already decided. That tone is the product. Read the file as a sales flyer. Then close it. Keep it on disk.
4. The Recovery ID is printed as a brand with extra hyphens
After the shout, the note prints Recovery ID: GREEN-BLOOD–. The operators want that string to feel like the start of a case file. It is a brand name with punctuation glued on. It is not a serial generated from your disk. It is not proof they have a private key sitting in a drawer with your name on it.
Do not treat the extra hyphens as a prompt to complete the ID. Do not ask a forum what “should” come after GREEN-BLOOD–. Do not paste the string into a search box next to the word decryptor and click the first ad. The string is an identifier for a responder. It is not an invitation you are required to accept. Save it. Stay out of the inbox.
5. The Machine ID stays blank so you will try to finish it
The Machine ID line is empty in the published sample. That is a closed loop dressed as a form. They ask you to bring an identifier they never issued. The feeling is that you missed a page. You did not miss a page. The sample is the page.
People try to invent the missing ticket. They use a Windows product key. They use an email address. They use the last digits of a phone number. They use a folder path. Each of those gifts is extra data the crew did not have to steal a second time. Do not build them a Machine ID. Do not send hardware details to prove you are real. If a later copy of the note on your disk actually contains a string on that line, keep the file. Do not send the string. An identifier in a ransom note is evidence. It is not a password you redeem at thegreenblood@proton.me.
6. The inbox is the first door they want you to walk through
The recovery steps in the sample start with mail. Write thegreenblood@proton.me, the note says. Mail feels ordinary. Ordinary is the point. You already have an account. You already know how to attach a file. The flyer wants that habit for the operators, not for you.
Do not mail that inbox. Do not send a test file. Do not ask what they want. A price is how the rest of the script starts. Once you are in the thread, the blank Machine ID has something to attach to, and the Recovery ID has a customer. Silence is not rude here. Silence is how you stay out of their queue.
If someone later says they will “talk to Green Blood for you” by writing that address, that is a broker pitch. Brokers need you in the same funnel. You do not owe them a seat. Report the incident through official desks. Let counsel decide if contact is ever required for a specific legal reason. That decision is not yours to make from the Documents folder at midnight.
7. The subject line turns the first mail into a payment
The printed subject is – – PAYMENT INQUIRY. The note does not ask you to describe what happened. It does not ask you to request a decryptor. It hands you a checkout label. If you copy it, you arrive as a buyer. That is why the line exists.
Do not send that subject from a personal account. Do not send it from a work account. Do not send it from a throwaway. The first mail is the product whether the subject is copied or rewritten. The printed line is evidence of how they want you to talk. It is not a template you are required to use.
8. The decrypt warning closes the last local door
After the lock, the note warns you not to decrypt the files yourself so the rest of the flyer feels like math you cannot beat at the kitchen table. That speech is older than this strain. It is there so you skip backups, skip reporting, and skip the person who would tell you to leave the share alone until it is contained.
There is still a useful rule inside that scare. Do not run mystery apps that asked for admin rights because a text file shouted. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.tgbg back to 1.jpg. Do not upload the family video to a stranger’s “unlocker.” You can leave the files untouched without mailing the crew. Untouched files are how a later trusted tool still has something to work with. Mailed files are how a demand appears.
9. Color-word cousins will steal the hour if you let them
Search results for a green locker fill up with LockBit Green writeups and Green_Ray writeups. Those pages are about other costumes. They will quote other extensions, other notes, other inboxes. If you follow them, you will spend the first hour in the wrong family. The hour after a lock is for isolation, not for collecting every green brand on the internet.
Stay with the artifacts on your disk. .tgbg. !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt. Recovery ID printed as GREEN-BLOOD–. Machine ID blank. Contact thegreenblood@proton.me. Subject – – PAYMENT INQUIRY. A warning not to decrypt the files yourself. If a later helper cannot name those marks, they do not have your case. They have a color.
10. Third parties will sell a conversation, and payment closes nothing
After a ransomware incident, search results fill up with companies that say they can decrypt Green Blood or “all .tgbg files.” Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt so they sound close to the case. They will quote GREEN-BLOOD– so they sound inside the operation. They will offer to fill the blank Machine ID. They will ask for a sample file, a remote-access session, or a deposit. They may even tell you to mail thegreenblood@proton.me with – – PAYMENT INQUIRY, because the note already prepared you to do that.
A demo that “unlocks one file” is not proof they can unlock the vacation photo. Anyone can open one junk file they control. Anyone can send you a Proton address that accepts mail. An accepted mail is not a JPEG coming back. If a later message skips the printed inbox and asks for coin over ordinary email, that is still the same market, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. Do not answer. Do not help them set a price the original note left unprinted on purpose.
Paying a stranger for a private key is not a guarantee. The people who send the note can take the money and disappear. They can send a string that only makes a decryptor show an error. They can come back later and lock the same machine again. Empty ID fields make that outcome easier, not harder. You cannot leave a review on a blank line. Mailing the inbox is the free version of the same dead end. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no printed ransom figure. Starting a thread does not rebuild a JPEG. It only keeps you in their story while the rest of the disk still needs a real plan.
The No More Ransom project puts the rule in plain language. Paying is not guaranteed to bring the files back, and you should not pay. That is the line on the official landing page run with Europol and the project partners. Use that page. Do not use !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt as a vendor. The CISA StopRansomware Guide is blunt about clocks and inboxes like this. Paying does not ensure the files come back, does not ensure the systems are clean, and does not buy you a ticket that was ever yours.
What To Do If Your Files End in .tgbg
Do not mail thegreenblood@proton.me. Do not use the subject – – PAYMENT INQUIRY. Do not invent a Machine ID to finish !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt. Do not send a sample file. Do not ask what they want. If you already opened the note before you stopped, close it. If you already sent a message before you found this page, stop there. Do not send a second file. Do not pay a deposit to “hold the original price” for anyone who quotes the note.
STEP 1: Use Rkill to terminate suspicious programs.
In this first step, we will download and run Rkill to terminate suspicious programs that may be running on your computer.
RKill is a program that was developed at BleepingComputer.com that attempts to terminate known malware processes so that your normal security software can then run and clean your computer of infections. When RKill runs it will kill malware processes and then removes incorrect executable associations and fixes policies that stop us from using certain tools.
Download Rkill.
You can download RKill to your computer from the below link. When at the download page, click on the Download Now button labeled iExplore.exe. We are downloading a renamed version of Rkill (iExplore.exe) because some malware will not allow processes to run unless they have a certain filename.
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new page from where you can download Rkill)
Run RKill.
After downloading, double-click the iExplore.exe icon to kill malicious processes. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder. The program may take some time to search for and end various malware programs.
When it is finished, the black window will close automatically and a log file will open. Do not restart your computer. Proceed to the next step in this guide.
STEP 2: Use Malwarebytes to remove Ransomware and Unwanted Programs
In this second step, we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present on your computer.
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
Done? Click “Dashboard” in the left pane to return to the main screen.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take several minutes. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, your PC is clean and you can continue with the next steps in this guide.
STEP 3: Use HitmanPro to remove Rootkits and other Malware
In this third step, while the computer is in normal back, we will download and run a scan with HitmanPro to remove Trojans, rootkits, and other malicious programs.
HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner — it’s designed to catch what your main antivirus might have missed. Instead of relying on a single detection engine, it checks the behavior of files in the locations where malware usually hides. Anything suspicious gets sent to the cloud, where it’s analyzed by two of the best antivirus engines available: Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
Good news: scanning is completely free, with no limits. You only need a license when it’s time to remove what was found — and even then, you can activate a free one-time 30-day trial to clean your PC at no cost. (A full license is $24.95 per year for 1 PC.)
Download HitmanPro
Click the button below to download HitmanPro. Remember — the scan is free, so you have nothing to lose by checking your PC.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file: “hitmanpro.exe” on 32-bit Windows, or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” on 64-bit Windows.
If a User Account Control pop-up asks whether HitmanPro can make changes to your device, click “Yes” to continue.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts
On the HitmanPro start screen, click “Next” to begin the system scan. No lengthy setup required — it goes straight to work.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
HitmanPro will now check your computer for malicious programs. This usually takes just a few minutes thanks to its cloud-based scanning.
Review the Results and Click “Next”
When the scan is done, HitmanPro will show you everything it found. Click “Next” to remove the detected threats.
Click “Activate Free License”
To remove the malicious files, click the “Activate free license” button. This starts your free 30-day trial — no payment details needed — and unlocks the full cleanup.
When the removal is complete, HitmanPro will show a summary of everything it cleaned. Click Next, then click Reboot if prompted. If there’s no reboot prompt, just click Close — your PC is clean.
STEP 4: Use AdwCleaner to remove Malicious Browser Extensions and Adware
In this next step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and unwanted browser extensions from your computer.
AdwCleaner is a free on-demand scanner that specializes in adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars — the exact threats that mainstream antivirus programs often miss. It also includes tools that repair the damage malware leaves behind, like hijacked browser settings and malicious policies. It’s a quick scan that’s well worth running.
Download AdwCleaner
Click the button below to download AdwCleaner — it’s free, portable, and requires no installation.
Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe“. There’s no installation — the program starts right away.
If Windows asks whether you want to allow AdwCleaner to run, click “Yes“. When the license agreement appears, click I agree to continue.
Enable “Reset Chrome policies”
This setting removes malicious browser policies — a trick malware uses to lock your browser settings so you can’t change them back. Click “Settings” on the left side of the window, then turn on “Reset Chrome policies“.
Start the Scan
Click “Dashboard” on the left side of the window, then click the “Scan” button.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
AdwCleaner will now check your computer for adware and other malware. This usually takes only a few minutes — it’s one of the fastest scanners around.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan finishes, AdwCleaner will list everything it found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the malicious items at once.
Click “Continue” to Finish the Cleanup
Save any open work first — AdwCleaner needs to close your open programs before it can clean. When you’re ready, click the “Continue” button.
AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. If it asks you to restart your PC, allow it — your computer will be clean when you log back in.
STEP 5: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner
This final step involves installing and running a scan with ESET Online Scanner to check for any additional malicious programs that may be installed on the computer..
ESET Online Scanner is a free second-opinion scanner that performs a deep, full-system check for viruses, trojans, rootkits, and other malware. We use it as the final step because it’s thorough — if anything slipped past the previous scans, ESET will find it. A clean result here means your computer is malware-free.
Download ESET Online Scanner
Click the button below to download ESET Online Scanner.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click “esetonlinescanner.exe“.
Install ESET Online Scanner
On the start screen, select your language from the drop-down menu and click Get started.
On the Terms of use screen, click Accept.
Choose your preferences for the Customer Experience Improvement Program and the Detection feedback system (either choice is fine), then click Continue.
Start a Full Scan
Click Full Scan — this checks your entire computer, not just the common hiding spots.
Select Enable for Detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications — this lets ESET catch adware and bundled junk programs, not just viruses. Then click Start scan.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
ESET will now check every file on your computer. Because it’s a full scan, this can take a while — often an hour or more, depending on how much data you have. Leave it running in the background and check on it from time to time.
Review the Results
When the scan completes, the Found and resolved detections screen appears. Any threats found were automatically cleaned and quarantined — there’s nothing extra you need to do. Click View detailed results if you want to see exactly what was removed.
If ESET found nothing — congratulations, your computer has passed the final check and is malware-free.
STEP 6: Restore the files encrypted by ransomware
Unfortunately, in most cases, it’s not possible to recover the files encrypted by this ransomware virus because the private key which is needed to unlock the encrypted files is only available through the attackers. However, below we’ve listed three options you can use to try and recover your files.
Make sure you remove the malware from your computer first, otherwise, it will repeatedly lock your system or encrypt files. If you suspect that your computer is still infected with malware, you can run a free scan with Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
Option 1: Search a decryption tool for this ransomware
The cybersecurity community is constantly working to create ransomware decryption tools, so you can try to search these sites for updates:
Option 2: Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free to recover the encrypted files
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free can restore files and repair corrupted files with simple clicks. Its powerful scanning algorithms can identify and retrieve huge file type library, including all of the popular video files, audio files, photos, and document formats. While the free version only allows you to recover 2 GB of data, this can be helpful to see if the recovery is possible and restore back the most important files from your computer.
Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free.
You can download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free by clicking the link below.
Double-click on the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free setup file.
When EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
You may be presented with a User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow EaseUS to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation begins, click on the “Install Now” as seen in the image below.
When your EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation completes, click the “Start Now” button to start the program.
Select a location to start recovering the encrypted files.
Choose the drive or folder where you are the encrypted files that you want to recover and click “Scan“.
Wait for the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan to complete.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will now scan your computer files that can be restored. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Find the files you want to recover.
When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan is finished scanning it will show a screen that displays the files that can be recovered. This tool can recover a lot of data, use the “Filter” button to quickly filter specific file types and find the files that you want to recover.
Click the “Preview” button or double-click on a file for a full preview.
Select your files and click “Recover”.
Finally, select the the files you want to recover and click “Recover“. Choose a safe location to save all the files. The free version only allow you to recover 2 GB of data, however, this will allow you to recover the most important files and see if EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can correctly recover them.
Option 3: Try to restore your files with ShadowExplorer
This ransomware will attempt to delete all shadow copies when you first start any executable on your computer after becoming infected. Thankfully, the infection is not always able to remove the shadow copies, so you should continue to try restoring your files using this method.
Download ShadowExplorer.
You can download ShadowExplorer from the below link.
Double-click on the ShadowExplorer-x.x-setup file to start the installation process, then follow the on-screen promts to install this program.
Select snapshot date.
Open ShadowExplorer and then from the top bar select the drive where the files that you want to save are located, then select from the snapshot available one previous to this infection.
Export the files that you want to recover.
Once you have found a copy of the original file or folder, right-click on it and the select “Export”. A window will prompt you where you want to save the file or folder.
Then stay with this strain. The generic steps above are the floor. The extra work below is how you keep Green Blood from turning into a second loss. Do not mail that Proton inbox.
Keep every .tgbg name exactly as it is. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.tgbg back to 1.jpg, or vacation.jpg.tgbg back to vacation.jpg, or invoice-2026.pdf.tgbg back to a normal PDF, or taxes.xlsx.tgbg back to a spreadsheet, or family.mp4.tgbg back to a video. Stripping the extra ending is not a repair. It can make a later trusted tool worse, not better. The original name is already sitting in front of .tgbg. You do not need to edit it to know what you lost.
Keep !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt with the locked files. Do not “clean up” every copy of the note. Do not fill in the blank Machine ID so the flyer looks complete. Keep the contact marks as identifiers: the Recovery ID printed as GREEN-BLOOD–, and the inbox thegreenblood@proton.me. Those artifacts are how you prove this was this strain and not a different locker that only sounds similar. They are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out. Do not mail that inbox.
Do not mix this incident with LockBit Green or Green_Ray. A shared color word is not a shared locker. If a stranger only quotes the word green, ask which artifact they mean. The note filename and the .tgbg ending are the marks that matter here.
If Windows still offers to pick an app for the .tgbg type, decline it. There is no player for that ending.
A shout in the note is not a reason to skip the CISA ransomware reporting page or a report at the FBI IC3 desk. The files are already locked. Another night of panic will not change the bytes in vacation.jpg.tgbg.
The Bottom Line
Green Blood ransomware is a locker with a readable filename and a text note that wants a conversation. It keeps the old name and appends .tgbg. In the sample this page uses, 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.tgbg. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.tgbg. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.tgbg. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.tgbg. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.tgbg. The note is !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt.
The note shouts that all files have been encrypted. It prints a Recovery ID as GREEN-BLOOD–. The Machine ID line is blank. Contact is thegreenblood@proton.me. The subject it wants is – – PAYMENT INQUIRY. It warns you not to decrypt the files yourself. It does not print a ransom figure. This is not LockBit Green. This is not Green_Ray. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain.
Do not pay. Do not mail that inbox. Do not invent a Machine ID. Do not rename the pile in bulk. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in .tgbg, plus !!!READ_ME_TO_RECOVER_FILES!!!.txt with a Recovery ID printed as GREEN-BLOOD–, a blank Machine ID, and a Proton inbox, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone offers to fill the blanks.
10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams
Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.
Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.
Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).
If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.
Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.
Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.
If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.
Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.
Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.
If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.
Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.
Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.
If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.
Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.
Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.
If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.
Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.
Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.
If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.
Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.
Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.
If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.
Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).
Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.
If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.
Back up important files and keep one backup offline.
Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.
If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.
If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.
Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.
Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.
These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.
Hello! I'm Lapain Epuran, your go-to source for detailed and honest product reviews. From tech gadgets to miracle cures, I provide insights to help you make informed choices. Join me as we discover what's truly worth your time and money.
