WildFire Locker ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it
WildFire Locker virus is a fraudulent software which hit the Internet in the middle of April and was initially targeted at the Dutch users. During that time this virus has been developing and changing, so you might as well recognize it as GNL or Zyklon.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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WildFire Locker ransomware virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .wflx |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 9 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | WildFire Locker ransomware virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension |
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .wflx |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 24 August 2016 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Names and addresses to look for
- File extension:
.wflx
How WildFire Locker ransomware virus behaves
From our report of Aug 2016 · not reviewed since
WildFire: how dangerous is it?
WildFire Locker virus is a fraudulent software which hit the Internet in the middle of April and was initially targeted at the Dutch users.
During that time this virus has been developing and changing, so you might as well recognize it as GNL or Zyklon. WildFire creators have tried different techniques to spread this software around. Currently, hackers use the Kelihos botnet to spread this virus around. This way they can generate an enormous amount of spam daily.
These emails carry an infected Word file asking its victims to enable macros. Do NOT fall for this trick because this will launch WildFire on your computer. Once it becomes active, it connects to its own Command and Control server where it asks for a special user ID and password.
This is the key feature that hasn't been noticed in the previous ransomware versions. Once the ID and password are submitted, ransomware starts encrypting victim's files with the help of AES-256 CBC encryption code which is considered an advanced algorithm, which complicates the decryption process. It appends .wflx extension to each of target files an creates several ransom notes named HOW_TO_UNLOCK_FILES_README_[VICTIM'S ID].txt.
The ransom note starts with a header: "All your files have been encrypted by WildFire Locker." Then follows information about the encryption type and how the victim can decrypt data.
Sadly, the only way to decrypt files is to a pay a ransom, or, as cyber criminals say, "buy a decryption password," which costs 299 Euros or Dollars. Cyber criminals also inform the victim that he/she has to pay the ransom as soon as possible; otherwise, the price will increase to 999 Euros/Dollars.
The ransom note by WildFire ransomware also provides links to the payment site, where the user can learn how to buy Bitcoins (because cyber criminals want to get the payment via BitCoin system), see payment status and try to decrypt two files for free to perceive that decryption is possible and that the criminals do have the decryption key.
However, if you are willing to pay the ransom, we want to inform you that paying ransoms only helps cyber criminals prosper and work on new ransomware projects. Besides, our experience suggests that sometimes frauds do not provide the decryption tool after receiving the payment. You should take care of WildFire removal instead.
What is also interesting is that the payment site provides WildFire Locker helpdesk, where the user can send a message to criminals and get an answer within 24 hours. However, we want to warn you and say that crooks are not going to show pity for you, and they are not going to lower the ransom price for you, so you should not even try to negotiate with them.
If this virus has encrypted your files, you have to decide whether you want to pay the ransom or not. We do not encourage you to pay; nonetheless, if almost 300 Euros is a small sum of money to you, you can try to buy the decryption key, however, consider the fact that you can lose your money.
UPDATE: Good news for the WildFire victims! Recently the famous "No More Ransom" anti-ransomware project has added two WildFire decryptors to its collection. The researchers managed to find a crack in the program's setup and obtained the code of the botnet panel the hackers were using for the software distribution.
The access to the panel also revealed some staggering statistics about the virus as well. It was found that within 31 days the virus has been able to infiltrate 5.309 computers. Only 236 of their users have paid the ransom, generating a profit of around 79.000 USD. Hopefully, the newly released decryptors will help diminish these numbers.
How to remove WildFire Locker ransomware virus
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove WildFire Locker ransomware virus and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
WildFire Locker ransomware virus encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and identify the family
Find the ransom note, usually a
.txt,.htmlor .hta file in every folder or on the desktop, and copy it with one or two encrypted files to a USB stick.From another device, upload them to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note and the file extension. Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note for the report.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For WildFire Locker ransomware virus, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while WildFire Locker ransomware virus still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
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.
From our report of Aug 2016 · not reviewed since
Taking care of the virus prevention
Various variants of ransomware, including WildFire virus, can be delivered via exploit kits, spam email campaigns, malvertising attacks, and drive-by downloads.
You can protect your computer from this malicious infection by applying several layers of protection:
If you want to remove this virus but it does not allow you to run the anti-malware software, then follows WildFire Locker removal instructions that are provided below.
- Install a powerful anti-malware program and install its updates it as soon as its developers release them;
- Also, update all of your programs regularly. If you do not want to do that manually, just enable Automatic Updates;
- DO NOT open emails that come from untrustworthy or unknown sources, also do not open hyperlinks included in the message, and do not open any suspicious attachments;
- Back up your files. For more information, read this post - Why should I create backups?
From our report of Aug 2016 · not reviewed since
Removing WildFire Locker and restoring data
Typically, such dangerous viruses as WildFire are programmed to prevent the user from running anti-malware programs.
However, if you are dealing with one of the first versions of this threat, you should be capable of scanning your computer with or which showed great results when helping people deal with ransomware. However, if you can't launch any of these programs, you can use instructions on how to stop the virus for a while and launch antimalware.
Follow the instructions carefully to remove WildFire Locker virus. You can recover your files from a backup, or unlock them using one of the two WildFire Decryptors. Nevertheless, there is no 100% guarantee that these decryptors will work on your computer. If you are having difficulties recovering your data and have no backup copies of your files, you can try out the following:
1. Restore the most important files using Windows Previous Versions feature
If your data encrypted by WildFire is not important to you and you need to decrypt only individual files, try using Windows Previous Versions feature. NOTE! This method could help you only if the System Restore function was enabled on your computer. If it was, then try using this guide:
2. Recover your files after WildFire removal using ShadowExplorer
If you are successful enough to deal with the ransomware that does not remove Shadow Volume Copies of the target files, you can use ShadowExplorer to restore your encrypted data:
- 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".
- Download Shadow Explorer (http://shadowexplorer.com/);
- Follow a ShadowExplorer Setup Wizard and install this application on your computer;
- Launch the program and go through the drop down menu on the top left corner to select the disk of your encrypted data. Check what folders are there;
- Right-click on the folder you want to restore and select "Export". You can also select where you want it to be stored.
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .wflx and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about WildFire Locker ransomware virus
How do I open .wflx files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .wflx has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
When will a decryptor for WildFire Locker ransomware virus be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 6 October 2026, no free decryptor is known. Decryptors usually appear after one of three events:
- police seize the attackers' servers and keys
- the authors leak or publish the master keys
- researchers find a mistake in how the ransomware generates keys
Some families got a tool within weeks, others never. Keep the encrypted files and the note on an external drive, check No More Ransom every few months, and follow news about the WildFire Locker ransomware virus family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
How did WildFire Locker ransomware virus get on my computer?
The way WildFire Locker ransomware virus spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened.
On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password. Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .wflx and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Did WildFire Locker ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by WildFire Locker ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .wflx and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before.
Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
Is WildFire Locker ransomware virus the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .wflx attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .wflx stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
If I delete WildFire Locker ransomware virus, do my files come back?
Unfortunately not. Deleting the program only ends the attack; every file that already has the .wflx ending stays encrypted, because decryption needs a key that only the attackers hold.
That is why this guide separates removal from recovery. First make sure WildFire Locker ransomware virus is gone with an offline scan, then work through the recovery list:
- backups
- OneDrive history
- Previous Versions
- copies on other devices and
- if one exists
- a decryptor
Do not rename or edit the encrypted files in the meantime, and keep them even if nothing works today.
Will Fortect remove WildFire Locker ransomware virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For WildFire Locker ransomware virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)