How to remove Mount Locker ransomware

Mount Locker ransomware – a malicious infection that encrypts all files and tries to demand money from its victim

Mount Locker ransomware is a newly detected threat that locks all files in the device and is designed to demand money to be paid for the return.^[1] Once a malicious program manages to perform its doings on a targeted device, it will block your access to stored files on the computer and enforce you to contact cybercriminals and pay a specified ransom fee to get those data decrypted. The infection primarily targets business entities trying to get a huge amount of money from them.

Moreover, the cybercriminals behind the Mount Locker virus are using a whole range of sly tactics and a series of transmitters that often appear harmless and intriguing and can confuse even cybersecurity experts. Such a threat is a really serious problem and can cause a lot of damage to the victim because it can prevent access to very valuable digital information in the infected device.

Mount Locker virus mostly gets installed on a device through email attachments received from hackers. Cybercriminals disguise the email and attachment with hidden malicious codes and create the email letter in such a manner that it all seems received from the organization with a good reputation. But once such attachments are opened, the ransomware codes secretly start to run in the background and scans the system to find some required settings, details of stored files inside, active security programs on the device, and etc. After that, the malware starts the encryption^[2] process for all stored files on the computer and appends files with a random extension like .ReadManual.C77BFF8C that got used with analyzed samples.

If your device is infected, it is important to get rid of the Mount Locker virus before you try to do anything else to fix the damage. If you don't do that, the virus may keep encrypting new files that you create or data that you managed to recover from encryption. Also, it may prevent you from using your device normally.

Hackers are using a strong encryption algorithm, and the decryption key typically is different for all users. Therefore, only criminals behind the Mount Locker ransomware have the right decryption key/software. Unfortunately, if you don't have backups, it may be impossible to recover your files. But it is still not recommended to pay criminals.

Moreover, your backup sources or other devices will be unsafe too if they are connected to the infected computer. The virus may encrypt them, and you won't be able to use these devices to restore your information. It is clear that losing the backup access to your personal data can lead to a serious loss because the Mount Locker virus encrypts personal videos, images, documents, projects, audio recordings, and all other essential files.

If you want to prevent installed infection from encrypting more files, you should uninstall the virus. Although already encrypted files will remain encrypted even after Mount Locker ransomware removal, your new files will be safe and untouched by this threat.

After the Mount Locker virus termination, you may recover your data from backups. If you have them, you will avoid data loss. This is why it is recommended to always have your files backed up. You should store data on a remote server or unplugged storage device in the future.

Also, we recommend fixing any possible Mount Locker virus damage to your computer's OS with PC repair software like FortectIntego. In the future, you should be really careful with emails you are opening and websites you are visiting and use reliable anti-malware software. 

Paying the criminals is not the option to recover encrypted files

The Mount Locker ransomware virus encrypts a wide variety of digital files. It is important to understand that encryption is usually not reversible unless a special decryption key is applied. Hackers always give victims a ransom note to inform about the ransomware and decryption method.

Sadly, the ransom note tells you only one possible step to take your files back. Mount Locker virus creators state that the only solution is to pay money. But security experts^[3] say that it is unwise to give money for the criminals because most likely they won't decrypt files even after the ransom money is in their pocket.

If you are curious about how a ransom note named as “RecoveryManual.html” looks, there is the example (the URL can be different):

Your ClientId:
–   

/!\ YOUR COMPANY' NETWORK HAS BEEN HACKED /!\
All your important files have been encrypted and copied to our private servers!
ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTORE YOUR FILES WITH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE WILL PERMANENTLY CORRUPT IT.
DO NOT MODIFY ENCRYPTED FILES.
DO NOT RENAME ENCRYPTED FILES.
But keep calm! There is a solution for your problem!
For some money reward we can decrypt all your encrypted files.
Also we will delete all your private data from our servers.
To prove that we are able to decrypt your files we give you the ability to decrypt 2-3 files for free.

So what is you next step ? Contact Us! Contact us for price and get decryption software.
hxxp://6mlzahkc7vejytppbqhqjou4ipftgs3gizof2x4zklblliayhsqb3wad.onion/?cid= a7fb00164f192687eda014cd1bde83252ad9ac2fdc89a26b1294b11918d6fe33
* Note that you need installed Tor Browser to open this kind of links.

Follow the instructions to install/run Tor Browser:
1. Go to Tor Project using your default browser.
2. Click “Download Tor Browser”, choose version depends on you operation system, usually it is Windows. Download and install it
3. After installation you will see new folder on your desktop: “Tor Browser”. Open this folder and run “Start Tor Browser” link.
4. Using Tor Browser go to hxxp://6mlzahkc7vejytppbqhqjou4ipftgs3gizof2x4zklblliayhsqb3wad.onion/?cid= a7fb00164f192687eda014cd1bde83252ad9ac2fdc89a26b1294b11918d6fe33
5. Carefully copy your client id from this document and paste it into Authorization window in opened page. Click 'OK'.
6. After that you will see a special chat web application to comminicate with us.
7. NB! Please be patient – sometimes our support team can be away from the keyboard but they will answear you as soon as possible! Time is Money! Contact us as soon as possible.
We won't store you decryption key forever!

Typically, all ransom notes are similar. Criminals try to scare their victims by putting tight deadlines, asking for money, and promising that they send a secret decryption key as long as the victims do everything according to the plan. Mount Locker virus creators shouldn't be trusted, remember that.

Malicious actors even give the website that can be used to upload a few files for free test decryption. This way cybercriminals try to persuade the victim that all files can be decrypted if they pay the required amount of money. MountLocker ransomware is not decryptable, so you should either wait for the official tool release or rely on other methods.

In reality, there is no guarantee that even if you satisfy all requirements the decryption code will be granted to you. Hackers can always disappear without sending anything in exchange or even ask for more money. That's why the best decision is to remove the Mount locker ransomware from the device and look for possible alternatives instead of doing everything that anonymous blackmailers want you to do.

And if you are still wondering how Mount Locker ransomware did infect your computer, it is important to remember that typically malware gets installed through untrustworthy software or file download sources, trojans, email spam campaigns, unofficial, fake software updating tools, and software “cracking tools.

If you want to avoid any damage to your computer, you should stop installing unofficial software. You must be especially cautious with emails you get because malicious files can be downloaded by the attached file or downloaded via a given website link.

Removing Mount Locker ransomware from your device is important before you can rely on file-recovery options

Ransomware can be a really serious problem. As we already recommended, you should make a copy of all your files and use a different place to store them. If you have backups, get rid of the Mount Locker ransomware virus as soon as possible.

This step won't give your encrypted files back, but it protects new files. If you don't want to remove the virus manually, we recommend running a scant with reliable anti-malware software such as SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes. Only after the Mount Locker ransomware removal, you may try to recover your data from backups.

Moreover, ransomware or other threats sometimes can cause serious damage to your device OS. In some cases, you will even need to reinstall it. To avoid such inconvenient things to happen, we recommend fixing the MountLocker virus damage with FortectIntego repair software.

After you remove Mount Locker ransomware, you may try to recover your data. We recommend using the free decryption tool, third-party recovery solutions, or attempting to check whether the automatic Windows backups were not deleted. Unfortunately, if none of the methods below help, there is no other way to recover encrypted files at the present time. Nevertheless, keep in mind that paying cybercriminals is always risky, and they don't decrypt files in most cases too.