How to remove BlackClaw Ransomware and decrypt .apocalypse or .bclaw files

What is BlackClaw Ransomware

BlackClaw is a recent ransomware infection that uses AES and RSA algorithms to encrypt user’s data. Some experts similized it with another file-encrypting virus called Billy’s Apocalypse because of similar ransom note details, however, as research continued, it turned out that there is no correlation with it. BlackClaw is an independent piece that assigns .apocalypse or .bclaw extensions to encrypted files. For example, a file like 1.mp4 will suffer a change to 1.mp4.apocalypse. After these changes have been applied, users no longer have access to their data. The next step of BlackClaw after blocking data is dropping a text file (RECOVER YOUR FILES.hta or RECOVER YOUR FILES.txt) that notifies people about encryption.

To decrypt files, users have to give 50$ over to the Bitcoin address mentioned in the note and contact extortionists via the Telegram channel. Thereafter, victims will supposedly get a decryption tool to restore locked files. Although 50$ is not that big amount for ransomware developers, there is still a risk of being fooled and ignored by cyber criminals after making a payment. For now, there are no free alternatives to unlock your files, however, with the study being underway, experts make everything possible to find vulnerabilities and workaround encryption of BlackClaw Ransomware. Follow the guide below to remove BlackClaw and establish a safe experience against other threats.

How BlackClaw Ransomware infected your computer

There is a number of most common ways that cybercriminals use to spread ransomware infections. These include e-mail spam with malicious attachments, trojans, fake software cracking tools, backdoors, keyloggers, and other channels. E-mail spam is used to bombard users with messages bundled with multiple files (MS Office documents, PDFs, executables, or JavaScript files). If you ever dare to open them, there is a chance that you will be stroke by malware in the background mode. This means you will not be able to access a single file on the desktop or in other folders. All of your files will be restricted and no longer available. To prevent such consequences, you are strongly advised to avoid clicking on suspicious content, especially if you received it from unknown people. Also, if you are not careful enough, you can delegate these goals to anti-malware programs that will warn you before interacting with potentially dangerous content. Below, you will find more about such utilities and instructions to get rid of BlackClaw Ransomware.

1. Download BlackClaw Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .apocalypse or .bclaw files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like BlackClaw Ransomware

BlackClaw Ransomware files:


RECOVER YOUR FILES.hta
RECOVER YOUR FILES.txt
{randomfilename}.exe


BlackClaw Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .apocalypse or .bclaw files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .apocalypse or .bclaw files. Download it here:

Download RakhniDecryptor

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .apocalypse or .bclaw files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing of files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with BlackClaw Ransomware and removed it from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .apocalypse or .bclaw files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like BlackClaw Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storages, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storages can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. BlackClaw Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails is the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.

Download MailWasher Pro