ILock ransomware / virus (Removal Instructions) - Decryption Steps Included
iLock virus Removal Guide
What is iLock ransomware virus?
The latest information about iLock ransomware virus
First variants of iLock virus emerged in March 2016[1]. Various anti-malware programs detected it under several different names, for instance, iLock, iLockLight, or even Lortok. What is unusual about the earlier copy of the virus is that it used to target Russian-speaking computer users only; meanwhile, the vast majority of ransom-demanding viruses act the opposite way – they do not infect the computer if it is set to use the Russian language as default one[2]. However, the newer version that emerged at the beginning of 2017 is updated and provides a ransom note (WARNING OPEN-ME.txt in English. The Russian ransom note version is called ВНИМАНИЕ_ОТКРОЙТЕ-МЕНЯ.txt. The virus explains to be using AES encryption and describes the power of this encryption standard quite precisely. It brags that no one is able to crack this algorithm and that the only possible way to restore encrypted files is to obtain the individual decryption key (in other words, to pay the ransom).
What is interesting about the new virus is that it comes with a whole pack of features. It does provide a live chat in case the victim wants to chit chat with the culprit of the ransomware attack and prepares a unique Tor website[3] for each victim. Currently, iLock’s Tor network is down and cannot be reached, therefore, our researchers were unable to find out how much money criminals want in exchange for the data decryption key. If you have been attacked by this virus, we strongly recommend you to resist limitations and remove iLock malware as quickly as possible. The fastest way to delete the virus is to run anti-malware software like FortectIntego, but before you do that, the computer needs to be restarted in a Safe Mode with Networking mode.
How did I get infected with iLock ransomware?
Although there was a noticeable slowdown in this virus’ distribution, we have no doubts that 2017 is the year of its comeback. Our experts noticed malicious email campaigns distributing this virus at the end of 2016, but currently, the virus can be downloaded from the Internet along with pirated software[4], too. Therefore, we suggest you be careful when browsing various file sharing websites or exploring unknown Internet websites. It is way easier to get a ransomware virus than to remove it and fix problems that it causes, so be careful! Remember – you can always fight off such threats by protecting your PC with anti-malware software[5].
Removal tips
Although many malware removal tools can easily remove iLock virus, bear in mind that this malware can try to block your antivirus or anti-malware and prevent you from removing the infection smoothly. In such situation, you will have to make a few adjustments manually. Therefore, we suggest you use a powerful anti-malware tool for iLock removal. You can find detailed removal instructions below, as well as comprehensive data recovery guides.
Getting rid of iLock virus. Follow these steps
Manual removal using Safe Mode
First of all, restart your PC in a Safe Mode with Networking to disable the infection. Then you will be able to run your antivirus/anti-malware software. Run a system scan with it then. If you aren’t sure whether you are using the latest version of it or not, check for updates online.
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Remove iLock using System Restore
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Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
-
Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
-
Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
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Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
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Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
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When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of iLock. After doing that, click Next.
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Now click Yes to start system restore.
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
Bonus: Recover your data
Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove iLock from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.We highly recommend you not to pay the ransom to frauds. There is not a single reason to believe in their words and promises to restore your data. Most likely they will simply take your money and leave the encrypted data for you without providing any explanation. The best way to restore files is to use a backup, however, if you do not have it, follow these easy techniques.
If your files are encrypted by iLock, you can use several methods to restore them:
Recover data with Data Recovery Pro
It is important to choose a good data recovery tool when trying to restore corrupted files. That is why we suggest using Data Recovery Pro.
- Download Data Recovery Pro;
- Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
- Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by iLock ransomware;
- Restore them.
Windows Previous Versions
You can try to restore several files using Windows Previous Versions feature. More information about it is provided below.
- Find an encrypted file you need to restore and right-click on it;
- Select “Properties” and go to “Previous versions” tab;
- Here, check each of available copies of the file in “Folder versions”. You should select the version you want to recover and click “Restore”.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from iLock and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting ransomware
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
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- ^ Tweet from MalwareHunterTeam. Twitter. Online news and social networking service.
- ^ Ugnius Kiguolis. Cerber virus. How to Remove? (Uninstall Guide). 2-Spyware. Fighting against spyware.
- ^ Tor (anonymity network). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- ^ Ioana Bistriceanu. Dangers of using pirated software. Self Help Blog. Bitdefender Tech Assist.
- ^ Lucia Danes. Malware removal tools. NoVirus. Comprehensive information about various computer infections.