Lomix ransomware / virus (Free Instructions)

Lomix virus Removal Guide

What is Lomix ransomware virus?

The filthy Lomix ransomware virus – what can it do?

Lomix virus or Lomix ransomware is a name given to a nasty computer infection that is capable of encrypting all personal files with a military-grade encryption. Our researchers have noticed that it looks very similar to CryptoWire ransomware, which means that these viruses might have been created by the same developer; however, it is also possible that another malware creator used the code of CryptoWire, since this ransomware is an open-source virus. Lomix virus, just like its predecessor, uses AES encryption to render data useless but appears to be more greedy. While the initial version of this ransomware-type program asks for $200 in exchange for a decryption key, Lomix malware demands $500 (equals to 0.68096697 Bitcoins). The virus encrypts files and launches a program window that displays a number of encrypted files and lists directories that were scanned for target files. Below, the program provides several buttons – Buy Bitcoins, which redirects to a site that sells Bitcoins. Next to this button is Decrypt Files button and a box to enter the decryption key. The malicious program provides a short ransom note, which contains the following sentences:

YOUR FILES HAS BEEN SAFELY ENCRYPTED

The only way you can recover your files is to buy a decryption key from wambeng.watson@gail.com
The payment method is: Bitcoins. The price is: $500 = 0.68096697 Bitcoins
Click on the ‘Buy decryption key’ button.

It seems that the criminal has mistyped his/hers email address because most likely it meant to type in wambeng.watson@gmail.com email address. The criminal expects victims to write him/her and beg for a decryption key. Sadly, we haven’t received any information from victims who have paid the ransom, and currently, no one knows whether criminals provide the decryption key when the victim pays the ransom or not. Remember that scammers can just steal your money, leave encrypted data to you, and forget about you. Therefore, no matter how hard it is to split with your files, we encourage you not to pay the ransom. To remove Lomix ransomware from the system, perform a system scan using anti-malware software like FortectIntego. You might want to use a different tool; in such case, opt for SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner. You can find full Lomix removal tutorial below the article.

Lomix ransomware virus

How do authors of this ransomware distribute it?

It is unlikely that this virus wants to infect your computer for a certain reason. Most likely authors of the malware have gathered hundreds of emails and now they send out malicious messages containing infectious attachments via email. Therefore, we suggest you stay away from questionable email attachments and Facebook message attachments because these can be filled with malware. To protect the PC from ransomware attacks, install a trustworthy anti-malware software and scan the computer with it. This helps to identify potentially unwanted programs and viruses that disturb you. We suggest using anti-malware software to clean malware from the system entirely. Please do not try to remove the virus on your own because you can accidentally harm the computer system.

Remove Lomix ransomware from your life

Remove Lomix virus as soon as it is possible. Keeping such malware example on the system is not recommended because it is NOT a secure program. It might download additional malware to the system, for instance, Trojans or other dangerous programs. To remove Lomix virus and all programs that came alongside it, use a program capable of increasing your PC’s safety and stability. You can find Lomix removal tutorial below – it explains how to boot your PC in a Safe Mode with networking, which actually is a time-consuming process.

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Lomix virus. Follow these steps

Manual removal using Safe Mode

These instructions are designed to help inexperienced users understand how to remove malware in case antivirus software gets disabled by thee virus:

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
  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. 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.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list. Windows 7/XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot. Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options. Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings. Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking. Enable safe mode

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:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

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:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. 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).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. 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 Lomix using System Restore

  • Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
    Windows 7 / Vista / XP
    1. Click Start Shutdown Restart OK.
    2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
    3. Select Command Prompt from the list Select 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'

    Windows 10 / Windows 8
    1. Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
    2. Now select Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
    3. Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window. Select 'Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt'
  • Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
    1. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter. Enter 'cd restore' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    2. Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again.. Enter 'rstrui.exe' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    3. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of Lomix. After doing that, click Next. When 'System Restore' window shows up, select 'Next' Select your restore point and click 'Next'
    4. Now click Yes to start system restore. Click 'Yes' and start system restore
    Once you restore your system to a previous date, download and scan your computer with FortectIntego and make sure that Lomix removal is performed successfully.

Bonus: Recover your data

Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove Lomix from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.

If your files are encrypted by Lomix, you can use several methods to restore them:

Data Recovery using Data Recovery Pro

Take advantage of software like Data Recovery Pro and use it to recover your data.
IMPORTANT. This tool might not help to decrypt files. However, it might help to decrypt part of encrypted data.

  • 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 Lomix ransomware;
  • Restore them.

Recover files using Windows Previous Versions

You can recover encrypted files using Windows Previous Versions, (this technique is effective only if you enabled System Restore function in the past). Follow the instructions.

  • 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 Lomix and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes

How to prevent from getting ransomware

Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool

Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.

 

Lost your files? Use data recovery software

While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable. Family photos, work documents, school projects – these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur: power cuts, Blue Screen of Death errors, hardware failures, crypto-malware attack, or even accidental deletion.

To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.

About the author
Olivia Morelli
Olivia Morelli - Ransomware analyst

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