How to Obliterate Lime Ransomware (Crypto-Malware/Ransomware)

What is Lime ransomware? And how does it carry out its attack?

Lime ransomware, also known as BigEyes ransomware and LimeDecryptor ransomware is another ransomware Trojan designed to take your files hostage in exchange for a ransom. As soon as it infiltrates a system, it will drop a bunch of malicious files to carry out its attack and makes changes to the system so that it can boot during system startup. According to researchers, it mainly targets file formats such as .ini, .rtf, .txt, .png, .exe and a whole lot more. Once it finds these files, it will immediately encrypt them and then append the .Lime extension at the end of every file’s name.
After the encryption, Lime ransomware creates three files such as Crypt.exe or BigEyes.exe, # Background.png, and Decryptor.png. The PNG file is set as the new desktop wallpaper which contains the ransom note that reads:
“All your files have been encrypted. But you can still recover your files. Just send us 100$ Bitcoin, and we will give you your files back. After you pay us, send us to email [email protected]. Include your transaction number. This is is Ransomware, it’s not a joke. Thanks. Bye”
The program window of Lime ransomware also provides the same ransom note though it includes a timer and instructions on how to obtain Bitcoin cryptocurrency. No matter how huge or small $100 is for you, paying the ransom shouldn’t be one of your options as it does not really guarantee that the cyber crooks will really give you the software to decrypt your files so instead of wasting money, it would be better if you try alternative options in recovering your files.
How does Lime ransomware infect its targeted PCs?
Lime ransomware uses the most common ransomware distribution method used by almost all developers of this kind of threat which is spam emails. Lime ransomware infects its targeted PC once a user opens a corrupted attachment from spam emails which is used to download and install Lime ransomware into the system. Some of these corrupted attachments are macro-enabled documents which have a script used to execute a command in downloading the ransomware threat into the system and connect to its remote C&C server.
Make sure that you carefully follow the provided removal instructions below to obliterate Lime ransomware from your PC.
Step 1: Close the program window of Lime ransomware and tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
Step 2: Navigate to the following directories and look for the malicious files created by Lime ransomware such as Crypt.exe or BigEyes.exe, # Background.png, and Decryptor.png and erase all of them.

%TEMP%
%APPDATA%
%DESKTOP%
%USERPROFILE%\Downloads
%HOMEDRIVE%\user
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop

Step 3: Close the File Explorer and tap Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.

Step 4: After opening the Task Manager, look for Lime ransomware’s malicious process, right click on it and select End Process or End Task.

Step 5: Close the Task Manager.
Before you proceed to the next steps below, make sure that you are tech savvy enough to the point where you know exactly how to use and navigate your computer’s Registry. Keep in mind that any changes you make will highly impact your computer. To save you the trouble and time, you can just use PC Cleaner Pro, this system tool is proven to be safe and excellent enough that hackers won’t be able to hack into it. But if you can manage Windows Registry well, then, by all means, go on to the next steps.
Step 6: Tap Win + R to open Run and then type in regedit in the field and tap enter to pull up Windows Registry.

Step 7: Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKCU\SOFTWARE
HKCU\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node

Step 8: Look for any suspicious values created by Lime ransomware such as #Decryptor.exe and delete them.
Step 9: Close the Registry Editor and open Control Panel by pressing the Windows key + R, then type in appwiz.cpl and then click OK or press Enter.
Step 10: Look for Lime ransomware or any suspicious program and then Uninstall it/them.

Step 11: Empty your Recycle Bin.
Try to recover your encrypted files using the Shadow Volume copies
Restoring your encrypted files using Windows’ Previous Versions feature will only be effective if Lime ransomware hasn’t deleted the shadow copies of your files. But still, this is one of the best and free methods there is, so it’s definitely worth a shot.
To restore the encrypted file, right-click on it and select Properties, a new window will pop-up, then proceed to Previous Versions. It will load the file’s previous version before it was modified. After it loads, select any of the previous versions displayed on the list like the one in the illustration below. And then click the Restore button.

Ensure the removal of Lime ransomware from your computer as well as the malicious files it created with the help of the advanced removal instructions below.
Perform a full system scan using SpyRemover Pro. To do so, follow these steps:

Turn on your computer. If it’s already on, you have to reboot
After that, the BIOS screen will be displayed, but if Windows pops up instead, reboot your computer and try again. Once you’re on the BIOS screen, repeat pressing F8, by doing so the Advanced Option shows up.

To navigate the Advanced Option use the arrow keys and select Safe Mode with Networking then hit
Windows will now load the SafeMode with Networking.
Press and hold both R key and Windows key.

If done correctly, the Windows Run Box will show up.
Type in explorer http://www.fixmypcfree.com/install/spyremoverpro

A single space must be in between explorer and http. Click OK.

A dialog box will be displayed by Internet Explorer. Click Run to begin downloading the program. The installation will start automatically once a download is done.