Bricks EXPOSED: .bricks Files, #HowToRecoverFiles.txt, and brunobiden76@gmail.com
Written by: Lapain Epuran
Published on:
You open Documents the way you did yesterday. The first photo should still be 1.jpg. The second shot should still be 2.png. The invoice should still be invoice-2026.pdf. The tax sheet should still be taxes.xlsx. Instead every familiar name has an inbox and a second ending tacked on. 1.jpg is now 1.jpg.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. 2.png is now 2.png.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. A small text file named #HowToRecoverFiles.txt is sitting in the same folder, as if it has always belonged there. The desktop wallpaper may already look wrong.
That is the trap, not a glitch.
This page is for the hour those names appear. It is not a miracle key. It is a map of the trap, so the note does not become your incident plan.
Encrypted files after Bricks. The .bricks names, the brunobiden76@gmail.com tag, and #HowToRecoverFiles.txt are the tell.
Overview
Bricks ransomware locks the files first. Then it keeps the old name and the old type, hangs the inbox brunobiden76@gmail.com in brackets, and appends .bricks. Then it drops #HowToRecoverFiles.txt, swaps the desktop wallpaper, and talks like a recovery desk. The note is a storefront. It shouts that all your files have been encrypted and stolen. It tells you to avoid antivirus and data recovery companies. It points you at brunobiden76@gmail.com and brickscold6@gmail.com. It claims the stolen copies already sit in an online cloud and will leak to the Deepweb and Darkweb after 72 hours if you do not write. There is no printed $ ransom. This page will not invent a wallet, a Session ID, an onion, or a victim $ figure to finish a sentence the note never printed.
If you are staring at a pile of .bricks files and that text note, you are in a ransom incident, not a broken disk and not a Windows pop-up. The folder is the evidence. The note is a checkout. Stay with the folder, not with the script.
The first tell is the rename. In the sample used for this page, 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. 2.png becomes 2.png.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it. Windows may call the type a BRICKS 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. After the files are locked, the malware drops #HowToRecoverFiles.txt into the same folders and changes the wallpaper so the whole screen is a billboard. HowToRecoverFiles sounds like a guide. The hash in front looks like a ticket number. 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.
Bricks sits in the Proton family of lockers. The brand on the file ending can change. The sales floor stays familiar: a readable name, an inbox baked into the filename, a text note, a wallpaper, a leak clock, and a pair of mailboxes. A different word on the extension does not make a new rescue. It is still the same kind of shop with a new sign in the window.
That is the whole pitch. A locked folder of names ending in .bricks, with brunobiden76@gmail.com sitting in the middle of each one. A #HowToRecoverFiles.txt file that talks like a recovery brief. A wallpaper that repeats the same two inboxes. A 72-hour leak threat. A warning not to use antivirus. A warning not to call a recovery company. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to mail those inboxes today because a text file told you to.
The .bricks name plus the inbox is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. This one uses .bricks and also stamps [brunobiden76@gmail.com] into the filename. 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.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. 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 .bricks off the end and expect Photos or Excel to open the file. Do not delete the bracketed inbox because it looks ugly. 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.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks next to #HowToRecoverFiles.txt can pretend they already have your case. A later fake helper will quote the extension and the Gmail tag back to you as if that were expertise. Both strings are public. They are sitting in the folder. Quoting them proves nothing except that they can read a listing.
#HowToRecoverFiles.txt is a sales floor, not a help file
The ransom note is a plain text file with a name that sounds like documentation. #HowToRecoverFiles.txt wants the first click after the panic. Plenty of real software drops a how-to. This one uses that habit against you. It is meant to be the first English you can still read when the photos will not open. The hash at the front is costume. It looks like a case ID. It is not a case ID you can redeem.
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 paperwork. How To. Recover Files. A .txt ending Windows already trusts. Paperwork is easier to obey than a threat.
Keep the file on disk. Then close it. Do not treat it as a set of steps you should follow. Do not tidy the filename. Do not drop the hash so it “looks cleaner” in a screenshot. Copy #HowToRecoverFiles.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 by mailing brunobiden76@gmail.com or brickscold6@gmail.com.
Encrypted and stolen is a shout, not a lab report
The first line of the sample is not a diagnosis. It is a headline. All your files have been encrypted and stolen! does the same job a fake breaking-news banner does on a supplement page. It names two disasters in one breath so the rest of the flyer feels like the only adult in the room. You are supposed to stop thinking and start obeying. Encryption is the lock. Stolen is the second bill. Together they are meant to make a backup feel useless even if you have one.
The shout is also a brand. Later search ads will quote it. Later “helpers” will paste it so they sound close to your folder. Anyone can copy a headline. Copying All your files have been encrypted and stolen! does not mean they can reverse .bricks. It means they read the same note you did, or they read a screenshot of it.
If the shout is sitting in more than one folder, that is normal for this family. Lockers drop the same text in many places so you cannot miss it. Finding five copies is not five incidents. It is one incident with a loud flyer. Keep one clean copy as evidence. You do not need to open every copy. You do not need to compare them in mail to brunobiden76@gmail.com.
Avoid antivirus is a storefront rule
The note says if your files are valuable to you, avoid using any type of antivirus, it may delete the files!! That line is not care for your photos. It is care for their storefront. A scan can remove the locker, the wallpaper helper, and leftover tools that are still running. The locked copies are already locked. A security tool does not magically decrypt 1.jpg.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks by deleting it, and it is not a reason to sit still while the original malware keeps walking the disk.
People hear “it may delete the files” and freeze. That freeze is the product. You are supposed to leave the infection in place so more folders pick up the same .bricks ending, and so the note stays the only English on the desktop. Isolate the machine. Keep a sample of the locked files and the note. Then clean from a plan that does not start in their inbox. Do not feed the locked copies to a mystery “decryptor” an ad promised because the note told you antivirus was the enemy.
Data recovery companies are painted as the enemy so their inbox looks safe
The next paragraph tells you to avoid data recovery companies and personal intermediaries because only we are able to open your files and they will scam you. That is a classic isolate-the-victim move. If every other adult in the room is a scam, then brunobiden76@gmail.com starts to feel like the last honest desk. The people who locked the files are not an honest desk. They are the people who locked the files.
Some recovery shops really will overcharge you. Some will fail. Some are a second scam. That does not make the original crew a vendor. It does not make their Gmail a warranty. It does not make a 72-hour leak threat into a service-level agreement. Talk to counsel, an incident lead, or a person you already trust. Do not let a ransom note pick your advisor by naming the rest of the market as the enemy.
brunobiden76@gmail.com and brickscold6@gmail.com are checkout, not support
The printed contacts are brunobiden76@gmail.com and brickscold6@gmail.com. Email 1 and Email 2. That is the aisle. A private inbox puts you in a room they own, on an account they can delete, with a thread they can screenshot and reuse. Email would feel like a ticket. This email is not a ticket. It is how a locked photo becomes a negotiation.
Do not open a fresh mail account because the note said to. Do not send a test file to prove you are a real victim. Do not paste a folder listing into a new message. Do not argue about a price that has not even been printed. Those addresses belong to the people who locked the files. Writing them is the product.
The handles are branding, the same way .bricks 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 conversation you cannot enforce. The second inbox is not a safety net. It is a spare checkout so you still write if the first Gmail bounces.
72 hours is a leak fuse, not a kindness
The note claims the crew uploaded all your files to a online cloud, using that grammar, and that if you do not contact them they will be leaked to the Deepweb and Darkweb after 72 hours, with a possibility of misuse of your information. That is the second squeeze. Even a shop that can restore files from backup still feels that sentence in the stomach. The clock is there so you skip backups, skip reporting, and skip the person who would tell you to isolate the share.
Believe the risk enough to treat it as a possible breach. Tell counsel and your incident lead if this is a company. Change passwords from a clean device. Watch bank and email alerts. Do not believe the promise enough to buy a deletion you cannot verify. There is no named public leak site in the facts used for this page, and this page will not invent one. A missing leak blog is not proof the copies were never taken. It is also not a reason to start a chat. A 100% leak promise with a 0% way to confirm deletion is still a sales paragraph.
The wallpaper is a billboard
After the lock, the desktop can change. The wallpaper sample used for this page is short. Email us for recovery: brunobiden76@gmail.com. In case of no answer, send to this email: brickscold6@gmail.com. Your unqiue ID: then a blank. That misspelling is printed. Do not “correct” it in a screenshot. Do not fill the blank because a later helper offered a number. A wallpaper is not a help desk. It is a full-screen ad for the same two inboxes already sitting in #HowToRecoverFiles.txt.
If the wallpaper is already up, photograph the screen from a phone if you need a record, then stop decorating. Do not click around looking for a hidden Restore button in the image. Do not type the blank ID into a form a stranger sends. The ID line is costume. The sample leaves it empty. Empty is empty. This page will not invent a victim ID to make the costume look finished.
Bricks is a generic label, not a construction brand
The word bricks is ordinary English. Construction companies use it. Toy companies use it. A masonry supplier did not encrypt your photos. LEGO did not encrypt your photos. A brick-and-mortar shop with a similar name did not drop #HowToRecoverFiles.txt on your desktop. This locker borrowed a short, searchable word so the folder looks branded and so later search ads can ride the same word. Do not take that out on a real business. Do not call a toy company “for the decryptor.” Do not pay an invoice that uses construction letterhead and a .bricks file as proof.
When you describe the incident, be specific. Say the files end in .bricks. Say the filename also contains brunobiden76@gmail.com. Say the note is #HowToRecoverFiles.txt. Say the second inbox is brickscold6@gmail.com. Those marks separate this strain from a building-materials site, a kids’ brand, or some other malware that only happens to share a common word. A generic name is a tracking problem. It is not a reason to smear a company that builds actual walls.
No wallet, no Session, no onion, no printed $ ransom
Plenty of lockers print a Bitcoin address, a chat handle, or a Tor site. The sample used here does not. It names two Gmail addresses and a 72-hour leak. It leaves ID system as a dash. It leaves the wallpaper ID blank. There is no printed $ figure to recite at the kitchen table. That absence is not mercy. A missing price means the first mail you send becomes the quote. A missing wallet means someone else will try to sell you one.
This page will not invent a wallet string, a Session ID, an .onion link, or a victim $ amount to make the flyer look complete. If a later message adds those pieces, that person is rewriting the note so they can stand in the aisle. Keep the original file. Do not tidy it. Do not fill the blanks. A completed-looking screenshot is how a second shop proves they “already know your case.”
How The Attack Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Brand the names with [brunobiden76@gmail.com] and .bricks. Drop a how-to that shouts encrypted and stolen. Scare you off antivirus and recovery companies. Point you at two Gmail inboxes. Start a 72-hour leak clock. Change the wallpaper. Leave the ID blank. Then wait for someone else to sell the missing $ figure.
1. The lock keeps the old name and brands it with an inbox
Bricks encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then appends [brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. That is why 1.jpg is still readable as 1.jpg.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. 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. The inbox in the name does extra work. It turns every listing into a reminder of where you are supposed to write.
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 .bricks ending.
Double-clicking a renamed 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 extra ending plus the Gmail tag. Together they are enough. You do not need to mail brunobiden76@gmail.com to confirm what you are looking at.
2. #HowToRecoverFiles.txt turns a break-in into a ticket
Once the names are branded, the malware needs a voice. #HowToRecoverFiles.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 sorts near the top, especially with a hash and a HowTo in the name. You open it because it looks like the only thing that still speaks English.
The body is short enough to finish before a relative walks into the room. Encrypted and stolen. Avoid antivirus. Avoid recovery companies. Contact Email 1 and Email 2. Then the 72-hour leak. Each beat closes a door. The shout closes “maybe Windows just glitched.” The antivirus scare closes “maybe I should scan first.” The recovery-company scare closes “maybe I should call someone.” The two inboxes close “maybe there is a local tool.” The 72-hour line closes “maybe I should wait overnight” by handing you a fuse.
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 $ amount. It does not give you a wallet. It does not give you a test decrypt. It does not give you a filled unique 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.
3. Encrypted and stolen is the opening shout
The first line of the sample is a headline, not a technician. All your files have been encrypted and stolen! names the lock and the leak in one breath. You are supposed to feel outmatched before you have even reached the contact line. Capital letters do that work. The stolen claim does that work. Together they make the inbox feel like the only adult move left, even if a backup still exists on a disk that was never mounted.
The shout also travels. Search ads will recycle it. Commenters will paste it. A later “Bricks helper” will recite it 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 diagnosis you have to obey. Do not treat the stolen claim as proof you must pay. A claim is a claim. Paying does not verify a deletion you will never see.
4. The antivirus scare protects their flyer
After the shout, the note rests on a warning: avoid any type of antivirus, it may delete the files. That pair is meant to end the conversation you have not even started. If a scan is “dangerous,” then their mail is the only aisle. If a scan is “dangerous,” then leaving the locker running starts to feel like care. It is still a sales paragraph. It is not a lab report. It is not a reason to skip copies that were never mounted. It is not a reason to skip a trusted decryptor project later if one appears.
You do not need to argue malware removal with a text file. You need to stop treating the file as a technician. Leave 1.jpg.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks named as it is. Leave #HowToRecoverFiles.txt where it is. Then isolate and clean on a plan that is not theirs. The antivirus scare printed in that note is part of the pitch. It is not a recovery procedure.
5. The recovery-company scare isolates you
The note says only we are able to open your files and they will scam you. “They” is every person who is not the crew. Family. A local shop. An incident lead. Counsel. The line is built so you feel foolish for asking anyone else. Isolation is how a locked folder becomes a private checkout. Private checkout is how a $ demand can still appear later, even though the original flyer never printed one.
Do not let that sentence pick your team. If this is a company machine, tell the people whose job is the incident. If this is a home PC, tell the people whose files lived on it. A second opinion from your own side is not a scam. A Gmail from the people who wrote #HowToRecoverFiles.txt is not a second opinion. The CISA StopRansomware Guide is blunt about this kind of squeeze. Paying does not ensure the files come back, does not ensure the systems are clean, and does not ensure anyone on the other side keeps a promise.
6. Two Gmail inboxes are the door they want you to walk through
The recovery step in the sample is mail. Contact methods. Email 1: brunobiden76@gmail.com. Email 2: brickscold6@gmail.com. That is the whole door. It looks like support because support uses email. Criminal shops use email too, because a thread is where a price becomes a negotiation and a locked photo becomes a sample they asked you to attach.
Do not write those inboxes. Do not create a throwaway account “just to see.” Do not send a screenshot of Explorer to prove the lock. They already chose the extension. They already chose the note name. They already stamped brunobiden76@gmail.com into every filename. A photo of #HowToRecoverFiles.txt sitting next to 1.jpg.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks does not make you a verified customer. It makes you a person still following the flyer.
If someone later says they will “talk to Bricks for you” through those same addresses, 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 72-hour leak clock rushes the decision
The 72-hour leak is there so you skip backups, skip reporting, and skip the person who would tell you to isolate the share. A timer turns a weekend into a crisis. The correct first hour is slow on purpose. Unplug. Take the share offline. Write down what still works. That work does not get cheaper because a page said the Deepweb gets a copy on Thursday.
People pay timers with attention first, then with money. If the note can own the next three days, it does not need a printed $ figure. You will ask for the figure yourself. That is the design. Put the clock down. The files are already locked. Another 72 hours of panic will not unlock them. A leak threat can still be a real breach. Treat it as a breach. Do not treat it as a coupon that expires unless you mail brickscold6@gmail.com.
8. The wallpaper and blank ID keep the costume official
A changed desktop is how the locker occupies the whole screen, not just the folder. The wallpaper repeats Email us for recovery: brunobiden76@gmail.com, then the spare inbox, then Your unqiue ID with a blank. The typo and the dash are part of the sample. Do not invent a filled ID. Do not invent a serial because a comment said every victim gets one. Empty is what the flyer printed.
The same blank shows up in the note as ID system: then a dash. Two empty ID fields are not a puzzle you solve by mailing the crew. They are leftover costume from a template. Filling them in a public screenshot is how copycats build a fake “your case” page. Leave the blanks. Keep the files. The costume does not get more true if you complete it for them.
9. Third parties will sell a Bricks conversation
After a ransomware incident, search results fill up with companies that say they can decrypt Bricks or “all .bricks files.” Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote #HowToRecoverFiles.txt so they sound close to the case. They will mention the 72-hour leak. They will mention brunobiden76@gmail.com as if they already called the original crew. They will ask for a sample file, a remote-access session, or a deposit. They may also lean on the generic word and pretend they represent a construction brand or a toy company. They do not.
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 wallet string that makes an exchange window appear. An exchange window is not Photos opening 2.png again. If a later message skips the original inboxes 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 invent a $ ransom the original note never printed.
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 deposit. It does not need brunobiden76@gmail.com. It does not need brickscold6@gmail.com. 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 Bricks key” as a second sales pitch.
10. Payment and mailing those inboxes close nothing
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. A mail thread makes that outcome easier, not harder. You cannot leave a review on a criminal inbox. There is still no printed $ figure in the sample, which means the first number you hear will feel personal. Personal is the point. It is still a ransom.
Mailing brunobiden76@gmail.com or brickscold6@gmail.com 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. 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.
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 those inboxes again is not useful work. It is the checkout, even when the original flyer never named a $ amount.
What To Do If Your Files End in .bricks
Do not pay. Do not mail brunobiden76@gmail.com or brickscold6@gmail.com. Do not invent a Bitcoin address, a Session ID, an onion, or a victim $ figure to finish #HowToRecoverFiles.txt. Do not send proof of payment. Do not send a test file. If you already sent a message before you found this page, stop there. Do not pay a deposit to “hold the 72-hour leak” 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.
Keep every .bricks name exactly as it is. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks back to 1.jpg, or 2.png.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks back to 2.png, or invoice-2026.pdf.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks back to a normal PDF, or taxes.xlsx.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks back to a spreadsheet, or family.mp4.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks 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 the Gmail tag and .bricks. You do not need to edit it to know what you lost. Keep one locked sample with the note. That pair is evidence. It is also what a later trusted decryptor would want to see.
Keep #HowToRecoverFiles.txt with the locked files. Do not “clean up” every copy of the note. Do not drop the hash. Do not fill in a wallet so the flyer looks complete. The contact marks are identifiers: brunobiden76@gmail.com, brickscold6@gmail.com, the encrypted-and-stolen line, the antivirus scare, and the 72-hour leak. Those artifacts are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.
This locker is not a construction brand and it is not LEGO. Do not call a masonry supplier, a building firm, or a toy company because the files end in .bricks. Do not pay an invoice that uses that confusion on purpose. When you report the incident, use the strain marks, not the generic English word alone. A responder who only hears “bricks” may think you mean a website, a game, or a contractor. A responder who hears #HowToRecoverFiles.txt plus brunobiden76@gmail.com plus .bricks can match the locker.
Do not pay. Do not mail those inboxes. Do not ask a friend to write them “just to see.” A calm Gmail address is still the people who locked the files. If a later message quotes #HowToRecoverFiles.txt and offers “the real wallet,” that is still the same shop. If a later message skips the original inboxes and asks for coin over a different address, that is still the same shop, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. If someone claims they can already decrypt Bricks files for a fee because they can recite the 72-hour leak, they are selling a report, not a key.
If Windows still offers to pick an app for the .bricks type, decline it. There is no player for that ending.
The Bottom Line
Bricks ransomware is a Proton-family locker with a readable filename, a how-to that shouts encrypted and stolen, and a checkout that names two Gmail inboxes. It keeps the old name, stamps [brunobiden76@gmail.com] into it, and appends .bricks. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.[brunobiden76@gmail.com].bricks. The note is #HowToRecoverFiles.txt. It tells you to avoid antivirus and recovery companies, points you at brunobiden76@gmail.com and brickscold6@gmail.com, and starts a 72-hour leak clock. The wallpaper repeats the same two inboxes. There is no printed $ ransom. There is no wallet, no Session ID, and no onion in the sample used here, and this page will not invent one. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. This is not a construction brand and it is not LEGO.
Do not pay. Do not mail those inboxes. Do not invent a wallet. Do not rename the pile in bulk. Keep #HowToRecoverFiles.txt and a .bricks sample. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in .bricks, with brunobiden76@gmail.com sitting in the filename, plus #HowToRecoverFiles.txt and a 72-hour leak, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone offers to fill a blank the flyer left empty.
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.
