Bitrix EXPOSED: .bitrix Files, a Pop-Up Note, and Bitrix@proton.me
Written by: Lapain Epuran
Published on:
You open Documents the way you did yesterday. The first photo should still be 1.jpg. The second picture should still be 2.png. 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.bitrix. 2.png is now 2.png.bitrix. You double-click anyway, because the old names are still sitting in front of that extra ending, and nothing opens.
Then a window appears over the desktop. It is not a text file in the folder. There is no README sitting next to the photos. The listing is only locked names. The demand is a pop-up. The first line shouts that all your files have been encrypted. A line under that says Your personal ID KEY, then a hyphen, then a Copy to clipboard control. The recovery step is an email address. The last line warns you not to try decrypting anything yourself.
That is the trap, not a glitch.
This page is for the hour those .bitrix names appear and that window takes over the screen. It is not a miracle key. It is a map of the trap, so the pop-up does not become your incident plan.
Documents after Bitrix. The .bitrix names are the tell. The note is a pop-up, not a text file.
Overview
Bitrix ransomware locks the files first. Then it keeps the old name and hangs .bitrix on the end. Then it throws a pop-up window and talks like a recovery desk. The window is a storefront. It shouts All your files have been encrypted! It prints Your personal ID KEY :- and offers Copy to clipboard. It tells you, For decryption contact Email: Bitrix@proton.me. It ends with DO not try to decrypt it yourself, otherwise recovery will be impossible !!! That is the whole costume. There is no printed $ amount. There is no wallet. There is no Session ID. There is no onion site. This page will not invent any of those to finish the pitch.
If you are staring at a pile of .bitrix files and that pop-up, you are in a ransom incident, not a broken disk and not a Bitrix24 outage. The folder is the evidence. The window is a checkout. Stay with the folder, not with the script.
The name is the other trap, and it lives in search. Bitrix24 is a real company. It sells collaboration software. It did not ship this locker. It does not recover photos from a Proton mailbox. The people who locked your files borrowed a short, famous name, stuck that name on the extra ending, and put the same name on a Proton.me inbox. That is name-and-inbox impersonation. A panicked search for Bitrix, or a first glance at Bitrix@proton.me, is supposed to feel like vendor support. It is not.
This locker is also not the older Xbitrix.com crypto con already covered on this site. That post is a different scam with a different spelling. A search result that says Bitrix is not a match just because the letters overlap. If someone later quotes a Bitrix24 product page, or that crypto-con writeup, as if it already solved your folder, they mixed the names. Keep the extension. Keep the pop-up. Keep the Proton address. Those three marks are how you tell this incident apart.
The first tell is the rename. In the documented sample used for this page, 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.bitrix. 2.png becomes 2.png.bitrix. The same extra ending lands on other everyday files in the same hour. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.bitrix. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.bitrix. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.bitrix. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.bitrix. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it. Windows may call the type a BITRIX File and offer a useless choose an app box. An app cannot talk locked bytes back into a JPEG.
The second tell is the note, and the note is not a file. After the files are locked, the malware shows a pop-up window. Plenty of lockers drop a .txt in every folder so you have something to screenshot later. This one puts the demand on the glass. That is why the Documents listing can look like nothing but .bitrix names. People hunt for HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt, README.txt, or a desktop html file, then tell themselves this cannot be ransomware because the note is missing. The note is not missing. It is the window in front of you.
The body of that window is short on purpose. All your files have been encrypted! Your personal ID KEY :- Copy to clipboard. For decryption contact Email: Bitrix@proton.me. DO not try to decrypt it yourself, otherwise recovery will be impossible !!! There is no printed deadline. There is no test decrypt. There is no second inbox. There is no chat handle. There is no Bitcoin line. The pop-up does not need extra theater. A locked folder plus a Proton address plus a scare line about recovery becoming impossible is already a shop.
The personal ID KEY line is part of how the sample actually looks. The published window prints Your personal ID KEY :- and a Copy to clipboard control. This page will not invent a long ticket to fill that hyphen. A blank or hyphenated key is not a missing password you should complete. If your own pop-up on disk still shows a string on that line, treat it as evidence for a report, not as a login. Do not paste it into a form a stranger sends back.
That is the whole pitch. A locked folder of .bitrix names. A pop-up that talks like a recovery brief. A Copy to clipboard button next to a personal ID KEY. One Proton inbox wearing the Bitrix name. A warning that DIY decryption will make recovery impossible. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to mail Bitrix@proton.me today because a window told you to. There is no reason to pay a $ amount someone later invents.
The .bitrix name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. This one uses .bitrix. 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.bitrix. You can still see 2.png inside 2.png.bitrix. 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 .bitrix 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 Proton inbox.
The extra ending also does advertising. Anyone who sees 1.jpg.bitrix 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. Keep one untouched .bitrix sample for a responder. That sample is how they match the strain. It is not a coupon you redeem by mailing the pop-up.
The note is a pop-up window, not a text file
The ransom note is a window that appears after the lock. It is not HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt. It is not README.txt. It is not a file you can pin to an email by dragging it out of Documents. That is why this strain is easy to misread. A folder of .bitrix names with no flyer on disk still has a flyer. The flyer is the pop-up.
The first line is a shout. All your files have been encrypted! Capital attention does that work. The exclamation mark does that work. Together they make an inbox visit feel like the only adult move left. Under that shout sits Your personal ID KEY :-, then Copy to clipboard, as if you already have a ticket and only need to carry it to the next counter. Then the recovery step: For decryption contact Email: Bitrix@proton.me. Then the closer: DO not try to decrypt it yourself, otherwise recovery will be impossible !!!
Keep a screenshot of that window if you can do it from a still-running session without clicking Copy to clipboard and without opening mail. Then close the pop-up. Do not treat it as a set of steps you should follow. Do not tidy the wording when you write the incident down. Copy the lines the way you would copy a serial off a stolen laptop. Those strings are how a responder matches this locker. They are not a coupon you redeem by mailing Bitrix@proton.me.
Bitrix@proton.me is not Bitrix24 support
The only contact in the window is Bitrix@proton.me. Proton.me is a consumer mail host. Real vendor desks do not recover locked family photos from a Proton address that happens to start with the same letters as their product. Bitrix24 did not ask you to write there. Bitrix24 did not encrypt 1.jpg. The criminals chose that mailbox so the first search, and the first glance at the From line, would look like a company you already half-know.
That is the impersonation mechanism, and it is worth saying plainly. They steal the Bitrix name in three places at once. They use it as the locker label. They append it as .bitrix. They put it on Bitrix@proton.me. Name, extension, inbox. Three hits on the same borrowed brand. A victim who already uses Bitrix24, or who simply googles the word after the pop-up, is supposed to feel they found the official desk. They found the people who locked the disk.
Do not mail that address to confirm it is fake. Do not mail Bitrix24 support from the infected machine with a locked sample attached as if they can reverse a locker they never built. If you need to warn a workplace that uses Bitrix24, say the ransomware borrowed the name. Do not say Bitrix24 attacked you. Do not file this as a Bitrix24 outage. Keep the company and the locker in different sentences.
Your personal ID KEY is a ticket, not a password
The sample prints Your personal ID KEY :- and then offers Copy to clipboard. Plenty of lockers print a long victim ID so you feel tagged. This window makes the ID feel like something you are supposed to pick up and carry. Copy to clipboard is a shop trick. It turns a scare line into a button you can press with a thumb.
This page will not invent an ID to fill that hyphen. A blank or hyphenated key is not a hole you are supposed to complete. Do not type your name, your email, or a made-up code onto that line. Do not let a later helper fill it for you. If your own pop-up shows a string, keep it as evidence and do not use it as a login. Do not paste it into a decryptor you just downloaded. Do not read it out on a call with someone who found you through a search ad.
A filled key, when you actually have one on screen, is an identifier for a responder. It is not a password you redeem by mailing Proton. It is not proof that a stranger already called the crew. Copy it into the incident record. Then leave it alone. A hyphen with no ticket is also an identifier. It tells a responder this sample matches the published window, not a different locker that prints a long code on every machine.
DO not try to decrypt it yourself is a scare line
The last sentence of the window is a threat dressed as advice. DO not try to decrypt it yourself, otherwise recovery will be impossible !!! It wants you to freeze. It wants you to skip backups that were never mounted. It wants you to skip a trusted decryptor project later if one appears. It wants the only remaining move to be mail.
You do not need to argue cryptography with a pop-up. The window does not even name a cipher. It does not print AES, RSA, or a key length. It just says encrypted, then says DIY will ruin everything. That pair is the pitch. Leave 1.jpg.bitrix named as it is. Leave 2.png.bitrix named as it is. The scare line is part of the sales floor. It is not a recovery procedure.
There is a narrower truth inside the shout, and it is not the one they meant. Random repair tools, bulk renames, and one-click unlockers from ads can damage locked files. That is why you keep a clean .bitrix sample. That is why you do not strip the ending tonight. It is not a reason to obey Bitrix@proton.me. It is a reason to stop clicking and start an incident, not a checkout.
This locker borrowed the Bitrix name
Bitrix24 is a real company with real customers. This page is not a review of that product. This page is not a claim that Bitrix24 encrypts files, steals photos, or runs a Proton help desk for ransom. The overlap is the costume. Criminals reuse famous short names because famous short names travel in search and in panic. A folder of .bitrix files plus Bitrix@proton.me is the costume on disk.
If a search ad, a forum reply, or a paid helper says they already covered Bitrix and then quotes a CRM feature, a Bitrix24 login reset, or the Xbitrix.com crypto con, they are not talking about this folder. Ask for the extension. Ask for the pop-up text. Ask whether the contact is Bitrix@proton.me. If they cannot say those three things, they are reading a different story, or they are guessing.
Keep the spelling when you write the incident down. Bitrix ransomware. Files ending in .bitrix. Pop-up note. Bitrix@proton.me. That is the label a responder can match. Bitrix24 is the other story. Xbitrix.com is another story still. Mixing them is how you follow the wrong steps and miss the window sitting on your desktop.
How The Attack Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Hang .bitrix on the old names so the listing still looks almost like yesterday. Skip the usual text note so people hunt for a flyer that is not there. Throw a pop-up that shouts All your files have been encrypted! Print Your personal ID KEY :- and a Copy to clipboard button. Point the scared person at Bitrix@proton.me. Warn them that DIY decryption will make recovery impossible. Borrow a real company’s short name so the inbox looks like support. Skip the price. Skip the wallet. Skip the onion. Skip the Session ID. Then wait for someone else to sell the missing string.
1. The lock appends .bitrix so you can still read the old name
This locker encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then rebrands them just enough to scare you and not enough to hide what you lost. That is why 1.jpg is still readable inside 1.jpg.bitrix. That is why 2.png is still readable inside 2.png.bitrix. The operators want you to inventory the damage in seconds, then feel that the only next step is the window. A coded filename can shock you into stopping. A filename that still says vacation or invoice lets you keep clicking until the pop-up does the talking.
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 a copy just to check. Checking is how the extra copy gets the same .bitrix ending.
Double-clicking a .bitrix file does not bring the photo back. The thumbnail may already look broken. Excel may ask for a workbook that is still sitting in the same folder, only the bytes inside are no longer a workbook. That broken open is the first proof. The second proof is the pop-up with Bitrix@proton.me on it. Together they are enough. You do not need to mail Proton to confirm what you are looking at.
Leave 1.jpg.bitrix named as it is. Leave 2.png.bitrix named as it is. Leave vacation.jpg.bitrix named as it is. Leave invoice-2026.pdf.bitrix named as it is. Leave taxes.xlsx.bitrix named as it is. Leave family.mp4.bitrix named as it is. People who are used to other lockers will hunt for a README and then decide this is not ransomware because they cannot find one. The missing text file is the design. The pop-up is the note they chose instead.
2. A pop-up window replaces the usual text note
Once the files are locked, the malware needs a voice. Other families drop a .txt into every folder so the first sort puts help next to harm. This strain puts the voice on the glass. A window is harder to ignore than a file. A window also leaves less evidence in the listing, which is why a later helper can claim they need you to forward mail before they can identify the case. You already have the case. The names end in .bitrix. The window names Bitrix@proton.me.
The body is short enough to finish before a relative walks into the room. Encrypted. Personal ID KEY. Copy to clipboard. Proton mail. Do not try to decrypt it yourself. Each beat is a closed door. Notice what the window does not give you. It does not give you a company that actually unlocks files. It does not give you a refund policy. It does not give you a way to prove the other side will ever send a key. It does not give you a $ amount. It does not give you a deadline. It does not give you a test decrypt. It gives you a tone that says this is already decided. That tone is the product. Read the window as a sales flyer. Then close it.
Do not photograph the pop-up and send it into a group chat with locked files still attached. Do not print it and leave it on the kitchen table as if it were a bill. Do not rewrite it into a tidier README so a later tool can ingest a text file this strain never dropped. The ugly window is the identifier. Keep the shout. Keep the Copy to clipboard line. Keep the Proton address. A responder who sees that exact set can match this locker without guessing from the word Bitrix alone.
3. All your files have been encrypted! is the opening shout
The first line of the window is a headline, not a technician. All your files have been encrypted! names a lock before it names a person, a price, or a process. You are supposed to feel finished before you have even reached the email line. Capital letters do that work. The exclamation mark does that work. Together they make a Proton visit feel like the only adult move left.
The shout also travels. Search ads will recycle it. Commenters will paste it. A later Bitrix helper will recite All your files have been encrypted! so they sound close to your Documents folder. Reciting a headline is not a decryptor. It is proof they can read. Keep the line as an identifier when you describe the incident. Do not treat it as a lab report you have to obey by paying.
If you later find copies of files on a cloud account, a mail draft, or a USB stick that was not mounted, those copies are not proof the criminals failed. They are copies you still control. Do not upload those copies to a stranger who offered to check whether they match the lock. Do not mail them to Bitrix@proton.me as a test. The first sentence of the window already wants that conversation. Do not start it.
4. Your personal ID KEY wants a Copy to clipboard click
After the shout, the window rests on Your personal ID KEY :- as if a hyphen were a ticket. Copy to clipboard sits next to it like a gift. You are supposed to feel incomplete without that string in your pocket. You are supposed to paste it into the first mail you send. The missing or hyphenated ticket is the product. It turns a pop-up into a form you think you already started.
Do not click Copy to clipboard just to see what happens. Do not invent a key because other ransomware families use one. Do not save a screenshot, crop it, and post the crop in a public forum with the rest of the window still readable. If a later message says it can recover your personal ID KEY for a small $ fee, that is a second shop standing in the same doorway.
If your disk copy actually shows a string after Your personal ID KEY, keep it as evidence and do not use it as a login. Do not paste it into a form. Do not read it out on a call. A key that unlocks a criminal mailbox thread is still a criminal mailbox thread. A hyphen with nothing after it is not a broken page. It is how this sample looks.
5. For decryption contact Email: Bitrix@proton.me is the door
The recovery step in the window is mail. For decryption contact Email: Bitrix@proton.me. That is the whole door. It looks like support because support uses email. Criminal shops use consumer inboxes too, because a Proton thread is where a copied ID KEY becomes a login and a scare line becomes a chat they control.
Do not mail that address. Do not create a throwaway Proton identity just to see. Do not send a screenshot of Explorer to prove the lock. They already chose .bitrix. They already chose the pop-up. A photo of 1.jpg.bitrix sitting next to 2.png.bitrix does not make you a verified customer. It makes you a person still following the flyer.
If someone later says they will talk to Bitrix for you through that same inbox, 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, and it is not Bitrix24’s help desk either.
6. DO not try to decrypt it yourself closes local help
The last line of the window is the lock on every other door. DO not try to decrypt it yourself, otherwise recovery will be impossible !!! Other families print a countdown. This one prints a curse. You are supposed to feel that opening Photos again, or copying a file to a second PC, or waiting for a public tool, will burn the only key. The line is there so mail feels safer than patience.
Do not add a DIY disaster that has not happened. Do not run a random unlocker because the pop-up dared you not to. Do not strip .bitrix in bulk because a forum said renaming is harmless. Do not format the disk tonight because the window said recovery will be impossible. Leave the locked files. Keep a sample. Close the pop-up. The curse is a sales paragraph. It is not a forensic report.
The useful version of that warning is smaller. Do not feed locked files to unknown repair software. Do not overwrite the only copies you have. Do not test a decryptor on every file at once. Keep at least one untouched 1.jpg.bitrix or 2.png.bitrix aside. That is care for later. It is not obedience to Bitrix@proton.me.
7. No wallet, no onion, no printed $
The sample has no printed $ amount. It has no 0.5 BTC line. It has no Bitcoin address. It has no Session ID. It has no onion site. It has no 48-hour clock. It has no 7-day key threat. It has no unlock three files demo. Those missing lines are not a kindness. They are a shorter path to Proton. Other families use timers, wallets, and proof so you feel managed. This window skips the theater and names an inbox that looks like a vendor. You are supposed to feel that waiting is already a mistake, even though no fuse and no price were printed.
Do not add those missing pieces yourself. Do not send a small file because a later message offered a test decrypt the original pop-up never printed. Do not start a personal countdown because a forum post said they only wait two days. Do not invent a $ figure in your head and decide it might be worth it. Do not invent a wallet because you assume ransomware always has one. Do not invent a Session ID. Do not invent an onion URL. The published window did not print them. Leave them uninvented.
Silence is not rude here. Silence is how you stay out of their queue. A relative, an insurer, or an incident lead can still talk on a phone. The people who locked the files do not get a seat in that call. The people who borrowed the Bitrix name do not get a second copy through a test file you attached.
8. The Bitrix name is borrowed from a real company
Name-and-inbox impersonation only works if the name already means something. Bitrix24 already means something to a lot of offices. The locker does not need to break into Bitrix24 to use that fact. It only needs the short name on the extension and the same short name on a Proton mailbox. A victim who has a Bitrix24 tab open on another monitor is supposed to feel this is related. It is related the way a fake invoice is related to a real brand. The brand is the bait. The brand is not the attacker.
Do not smear the company in the incident record. Write that ransomware used the Bitrix name, the .bitrix ending, and Bitrix@proton.me. Write that Bitrix24 is a separate product and is not this locker. If your workplace actually runs Bitrix24, treat that as a coincidence of branding unless you have a separate, real reason to think the collaboration suite was involved. A pop-up on a home PC is not evidence that Bitrix24 was breached. It is evidence that criminals can spell.
Search will keep mixing these stories. Product pages, login-reset guides, and that older Xbitrix.com crypto con will keep appearing next to this locker. A helper who only knows Bitrix24 features is not close to 1.jpg.bitrix. A helper who only knows a crypto website is not close to this pop-up. Quote the extension, the window text, and the Proton address back to them and stop. If they change the subject, they were never matching your disk.
9. Third parties will sell a Bitrix conversation
After a ransomware incident, search results fill up with companies that say they can decrypt Bitrix or all .bitrix files. Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote 1.jpg.bitrix so they sound close to the case. They will mention the pop-up. They will mention Your personal ID KEY. They will mention Bitrix@proton.me as if they already called the original crew. They will ask for a sample file, a remote-access session, or a deposit.
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 thread that makes a shop window appear. A shop window is not Photos opening vacation.jpg again. If a later message skips the original inbox and asks for coin over ordinary mail, that is still the same market, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. Do not answer. Do not help them set a wallet the public window never printed. Do not help them fill the personal ID KEY the sample left as a hyphen.
A real public decryptor, when one exists, shows up on an official project page that already existed before your incident. It does not need a Proton visit. It does not need a $ send. It does not need you to complete Your personal ID KEY. If the pitch is we can decrypt, pay us first, you are still in the market the ransomware created. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Until a trusted project publishes one, treat any site that says we already have the Bitrix key as a second sales pitch.
Watch the name mix in those pitches. Helpers who only say Bitrix24 are often recycling a product page. Helpers who cannot tell a pop-up from a text file are not close to this folder. Helpers who talk about a wallet, a Session ID, or an onion this window never used are reading a different locker. Quote the pop-up back to them and stop.
10. Payment and mailing that Proton inbox close nothing
Paying a stranger for a private key is not a guarantee. The people who send the pop-up 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, still hanging .bitrix on the names. A mail thread makes that outcome easier, not harder. You cannot leave a review on a criminal inbox.
Mailing Bitrix@proton.me is the free version of the same dead end. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. 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. Paying a $ amount they never printed in the original window is still a payment to the people who locked family.mp4. It still funds the next copy of the same locker. It still does not produce a warranty. It still is not a Bitrix24 ticket.
If this is a company machine, tell counsel and your incident lead. If this is a home PC, tell the people whose files lived on it. Change passwords from a clean device. Watch bank and email alerts. Opening that Proton inbox again is not useful work. It is the checkout, even when the window never printed a $ price, a wallet, a Session ID, or an onion address.
What To Do
Do not pay. Do not mail Bitrix@proton.me. That address is not Bitrix24 support. Do not invent a wallet, a Session ID, an onion URL, or a $ amount to finish the pop-up. Do not type a string from Your personal ID KEY into an exchange, a wallet checker, or a form a stranger sends back. Do not send proof of payment. Do not send a test file. If you already opened the window before you found this page, stop there. Do not pay a deposit to hold a key for anyone who quotes the pop-up. Do not treat a Bitrix24 product page, or the older Xbitrix.com crypto con, as a fix for this folder.
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.
Keep every .bitrix name exactly as it is. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.bitrix back to 1.jpg, or 2.png.bitrix back to 2.png, or vacation.jpg.bitrix back to vacation.jpg, or invoice-2026.pdf.bitrix back to a normal PDF, or taxes.xlsx.bitrix back to a spreadsheet, or family.mp4.bitrix 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 .bitrix. You do not need to edit it to know what you lost.
Keep a .bitrix sample with the locked files. One untouched copy of 1.jpg.bitrix or 2.png.bitrix is enough to show a responder the ending. Do not clean up every locked file in a panic. Do not invent a text note this strain never dropped. Do not fill in a personal ID KEY so the pop-up looks complete. The hyphen, or the string on your screen, is part of how you prove this was this strain and not a different locker that only sounds similar. Keep the contact marks as identifiers: the pop-up shout, Your personal ID KEY, Copy to clipboard, Bitrix@proton.me, and the line that says DO not try to decrypt it yourself. Those artifacts are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.
Do not mail Bitrix@proton.me. Do not ask a friend to write them just to see. A Proton address wearing the Bitrix name is still a ransom door. It is not Bitrix24 support. A calm inbox is still the people who locked the files. If a later message quotes the pop-up and offers the real wallet, that is still the same shop. If a later message skips the original inbox and asks for a $ amount over ordinary mail, that is still the same shop, or a copycat standing in the same doorway.
Do not pay. Do not invent a price. Do not invent a wallet. Do not invent a Session ID. Do not invent an onion site. If someone claims they can already decrypt Bitrix files for a fee because they can recite All your files have been encrypted! and Bitrix@proton.me, they are selling a report, not a key. If they mention Copy to clipboard as proof they already called the crew, they read the same window you did. Do not answer. Do not complete their checkout. Do not help them fix the flyer.
If Windows still offers to pick an app for the .bitrix type, decline it. There is no player for that ending.
The Bottom Line
Bitrix ransomware is a locker with a readable filename, a pop-up instead of a text note, and a checkout that points at Bitrix@proton.me. It keeps the old name and appends .bitrix. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.bitrix. 2.png becomes 2.png.bitrix. The note is a window that shouts All your files have been encrypted!, prints Your personal ID KEY :- with Copy to clipboard, names that Proton inbox, and warns that DIY decryption will make recovery impossible. There is no printed $ amount. There is no wallet. There is no Session ID. There is no onion site. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Bitrix24 is a real company and did not ship this locker. The impersonation is the name, the .bitrix ending, and the Proton address used together. This is also not the older Xbitrix.com crypto con.
Do not pay. Do not mail Bitrix@proton.me. That is not Bitrix24 support. Do not invent a wallet, a Session ID, an onion URL, or a $ figure. Keep a .bitrix sample. Do not rename the pile in bulk. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in .bitrix, plus a pop-up that names Bitrix@proton.me, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone offers to fill a hyphen, and before anyone hands you a Bitrix24 product page as if the extra ending did not matter.
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.
