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Analysis: .TIBX file infected by ransomware

1️⃣ What is a .TIBX file?

  • .TIBX is the file extension used by Acronis True Image 2021 and later versions.
  • These files are full or incremental backups, containing multiple files and metadata, compressed and encrypted by default with Acronis.
  • They can be stored on:
    • external drives,
    • NAS,
    • network servers,
    • Acronis cloud (depending on configuration).
💡 Note: .TIBX files are already encrypted or password-protected by Acronis; therefore, recovery after a ransomware attack is often more complex than with a standard file.

2️⃣ Symptoms of a .TIBX file affected by ransomware

When ransomware targets a system containing Acronis backups:
  1. Extension renaming
    • .TIBX may become .TIBX.[ransomware_name], for example .TIBX.lockbit or .TIBX.anubis.
  2. Inaccessibility
    • Files can no longer be opened by Acronis True Image.
    • Attempting to open the file triggers an error message such as “corrupted or unreadable file”.
  3. Visible encryption
    • The binary content is completely altered.
    • Internal metadata is corrupted.
  4. Possible spread
    • If the ransomware has network access, it may affect multiple .TIBX files stored on NAS devices or shared servers.

3️⃣ Impact on data recovery

Recovering a .TIBX file affected by ransomware is highly challenging for several reasons:
Factor Impact
Acronis encryption Files are already password-protected. Without that password, recovery is nearly impossible.
Ransomware encryption If the ransomware encrypts the file on top of that, it becomes doubly inaccessible.
Proprietary format .TIBX is a proprietary format. Standard recovery tools (Recuva, R-Studio) cannot rebuild internal data.
Partial corruption Some ransomware strains truncate files or overwrite internal blocks. Even if the file still exists, it may be useless.
Backup chaining Incremental .TIBX files depend on previous ones; if one file in the chain is lost, the entire series may become unusab

4️⃣ Time required to recover the data

The required time varies depending on several factors:
Factor Estimated duration
Number of .TIBX files From a few minutes (1 file) to several days (hundreds of GB)
Backup size 1–5 TB files may require 24 to 72 hours for full analysis
Tools and expertise Specialized software (ScanX, Forensic Suite) + skilled engineers reduce recovery time
File integrity If the file is only encrypted by the ransomware and not corrupted, recovery is faster (24–48 hours)
Ransomware complexity Hybrid ransomware (encryption + wiper) can make certain files unusable → recovery impossible
💡 Typical timeframe for businesses: 2–7 days to recover usable .TIBX files, depending on size, integrity, and isolation of backups.

5️⃣ Best practices after an attack

To maximize recovery chances:
  1. Do not attempt to open or write to the disk containing the .TIBX files.
  2. Isolate the disk to prevent further ransomware spread.
  3. Send the files to a specialist in post-ransomware data recovery.
  4. Provide the Acronis password if one was used.
  5. Analyze all backups to identify intact or partially recoverable files.
💡 Tip: If you have an offline copy or immutable cloud backup, it is the best protection against total data loss.

6️⃣ Software and tools useful for recovery

  • ScanX (supports proprietary formats + ransomware analysis)
  • Reclaime Freeware / Forensic Suite (to analyze metadata)
  • Acronis True Image (to attempt opening if the file is partially intact)
Warning: most consumer software cannot recover a .TIBX file encrypted by a sophisticated ransomware strain.

Conclusion

  • .TIBX files are extremely sensitive to ransomware attacks because they contain critical backups.
  • Main symptoms: extension renaming, inability to open the file, corrupted data.
  • Impact on recovery: high, especially if the file is encrypted or corrupted by the ransomware.
  • Recovery time: 24 hours to several days depending on size, integrity, and tools used.
Best protection: immutable, isolated, offline backups and rapid intervention from a post-ransomware recovery expert.