How to remove DeriaLock ransomware virus

DeriaLock ransomware virus: is it dangerous?

DeriaLock ransomware virus is a screen-locking infection ^[1] which blocks victims from accessing the data stored on their computers. Though there is normally a clear distinction between crypto-ransomware ^[2] and lock screen ransomware, the DeriaLock virus balances somewhere between the two: its initial versions are lock screen-based while the later, updated variants involve actual file encryption. Either you are infected with one or the other, you should never succumb to the demands of the extortionists. Their one and only goal is to generate easy money and continue to improve their malicious creations while the state of your computer and your files bothers them the least. Luckily, the hackers behind this virus are quite amateur and have left some flaws which allowed the experts to come up with alternative lock screen removal and data decryption techniques. You will find all the recommendations on how to exterminate this parasite at the end of the article. DeriaLock removal can also be approached by employing antivirus software, say FortectIntego and allowing it to scan the system for infectious files.

DeriaLock malware is still under development, so its functionality and the scope of targeted operating systems is rather limited. For instance, since it utilizes .NET Framework 4.5 to install, it will not run on Windows XP. Nevertheless, the parasite may cause quite a havoc on the devices it does manage to infect. To initiate the lock screen DeriaLock will generate the MD5 hash ^[3] and connect to the C&C server ^[4] in order to take further control of the device. Besides, through this very server, the hackers may also update the lock screen virus version to its newer and more dangerous counterpart. The infected users will see the following ransom note:

Your System has Locked!
If you try to restart you PC, ALL data will delete.
If you want your data back, pay 30 USD.
Instuctions:
Is give no other way to get you computer/data back exdcept to pay a special Key.
You can buy the Key at the following Skype account: “arizonacode”.
If you contact the bellow named Skype account send him you HWID the bottom left is to be seen.
If you Spamming the skype account, you can’t get you data back
After you buy the key, paste him into the textbox.

This yellow-on-black screen will appear every time the computer is launched and prevent the user from properly booting the device. In addition to this, DeriaLock also shuts down access to such Windows functions like Task Manager, Skype or Chrome blocking the victim from easily eliminating the lock screen. If the victim manages to terminate this obstacle, he/she will access the desktop, files, and other computer data once again and remove DeriaLock from the computer. In case the device is infected with the file-encrypting virus, things may get a bit more complicated. Lock screen elimination will not help to regain access to the computer files. The virus jumbles up the contents of the targeted documents and appends them with .deria extensions, making them virtually unreadable without a decryption key ^[5]. Thus, the encrypted data has to be decrypted some other way. We will talk about the data recovery options just below the DeriaLock elimination guide. As for the users who have not been infected with this ransomware yet, please carefully read through the following paragraph where we talk about ways to prevent its infiltration.

How should you block the ransomware attack?

Unfortunately, if the virus developers choose you as their target victim, there is little that can actually be done to block the attack. Of course, antivirus utilities and other security software may warn you against visiting suspicious websites, downloading shady applications or email attachments that may carry DeriaLock virus, but you should keep in mind that no anti-malware tool can prevent ransomware attack a full 100%. Thus, it is highly recommended to take action and protect your data rather than try to block out the virus. Keep backup copies of your files, store them somewhere safe (preferably, external drives) and you will always be confident that your important documents are secure.

DeriaLock removal strategies:

Since DeriaLock virus is a diverse infection, there are more than one way to approach it. First, if you are about to remove DeriaLock lock screen, you may not bother trying to disable it pressing the ALT + F4. If you do, you will merely get a pop-up saying: “I think that is a bad decision. Nice try mate =)”. To eliminate the lock screen properly, follow the guide below. Just below these instructions, you will find DeriaLock removal guide and data recovery instructions, in case your device is infected with the latest version of the virus.