CMLOCKER ransomware (virus) - Free Guide

CMLOCKER virus Removal Guide

What is CMLOCKER ransomware?

CMLOCKER ransomware is a malicious program targeting your files

CMLOCKER ransomwareCMLOCKER ransomware is a malicious Windows program created for money extortion

CMLOCKER is a type of malware that manages to break into users' Windows machines via phishing or other methods. Once installed, the virus would begin to look for various files and then lock them with a powerful encryption algorithm known as RSA.[1] Suchlike data loses its original icons (that are replaced with blanks) and an extension .CMLOCKER is appended to each of the pictures, videos, documents, databases, and other valuable files, making them unusable. If attempted to be open, users would simply receive an error message.

Cybercriminals then demand to pay a ransom of $980, which is meant to be transferred to a provided crypto-wallet as bitcoin. After payment, users are meant to write an email to leljicok@gmail.com to communicate with the attackers further. All this and additional information can be found in a ransom note HELP_DECRYPT_YOUR_FILES.txt which is dropped on the desktop and other drives. We recommend not interacting with CMLOCKER ransomware authors and instead following the instructions below. We explain how to deal with the ransomware infection and how to possibly restore files in other ways.

Name CMLOCKER ransomware
Type Ransomware, data locking malware, cryptovirus
File extension .CMLOCKER
Ransom note HELP_DECRYPT_YOUR_FILES.txt
Contact leljicok@gmail.com
File Recovery If no backups are available, recovering data is almost impossible. Nonetheless, we suggest you try the alternative methods that could help you in some cases – we list them below
removal Before proceeding with data recovery solutions, make sure you first scan your system with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes or another reputable anti-malware software
System fix Malware can wreak havoc on Windows systems, causing errors, crashes, lag, and other stability issues even after it is terminated. To fix the operating system, we recommend scanning it with the FortectIntego repair tool.

The ransom note

There are thousands of ransomware strains out there, as this malware proves to be extremely lucrative. Regardless if one runs operations on a large scale infecting corporate networks or rather goes for a large number of home victims, the profit is almost guaranteed as long as the malware is successful and infects enough people.

CMLOCKER ransomware does not belong to any of the known ransomware families, so it's a relatively new strain, unlikely to be widely spread in the long run. However, some unknown ransomware manage to be surprisingly successful.

The ransom note of the virus is nothing new when it comes to what it conveys to users. It explains to them that their computer has been compromised and files encrypted. It also provides the opportunity for users to send one file to be decrypted as proof that the ransomware decryptor actually works:

Oops All Of your important files were encrypted Like document pictures videos etc..

Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files, documents, photos, databases and other important files are encrypted by a strong encryption.

How to recover files?
RSA is a asymmetric cryptographic algorithm, you need one key for encryption and one key for decryption so you need private key to recover your files. It’s not possible to recover your files without private key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase an unique private key.Only we can give you this key and only we can recover your files.

What guarantees you have?
As evidence, you can send us 1 file to decrypt by email We will send you a recovery file Prove that we can decrypt your file

Please You must follow these steps carefully to decrypt your files:
Send $980 worth of bitcoin to wallet: bc1qzpa3j6qse5xfxft2xy7h2phq04wq9pk66lllz5
after payment,we will send you Decryptor software
contact email: leljicok@gmail.com

Your personal ID:

However, please keep in mind that cybercriminals can't be trusted. They illegally infect hundreds of users, and they don't care about their well-being. As soon as you pay the ransom, they might simply vanish and never reply to you again. So, why risk it losing your money along with your files?

CMLOCKER ransomware virusCMLOCKER ransomware delivers a ransom note after data locking process is finished

This is why we recommend choosing alternative routes that should help you remove CMLOCKER ransomware from your system and use other methods of data recovery. While they might not always be successful, we recommend trying them.

Removal of malware and all its malicious components

Most victims of ransomware have never dealt with anything like this before, so they are generally at a total loss. However, adhering to the correct procedures is essential while dealing with ransomware, as it may affect the probability of data restoration to its usable state.

It's possible that other computers on the network may also be infected if your computer is connected to one. Additionally, you should make sure to unplug your PC from the internet because malware is known to use it to communicate with a remote Command & Control[2] server.

You can simply disconnect your WiFi or unplug your Ethernet cord. You need to complete CMLOCKER ransomware removal as soon as the afflicted machine is disconnected from the network and the internet. Use anti-malware to do this, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. If malware is tampering with the elimination process, you can always access Safe Mode in Windows and perform the removal from there:

Windows 7 / Vista / XP

  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing the 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 XP/7

Windows 10 / Windows 8

  1. Right-click on the Start button and select Settings.
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find the Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
  6. Select Troubleshoot.
  7. Go to Advanced options.
  8. Select Startup Settings.Startup settings
  9. Click Restart.
  10. Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Attempt file recovery

Paying hackers carries a number of risks because it can motivate them to target you yet again in the future. Additionally, your data will remain encrypted even if you remove the ransomware from your machine, making backups a crucial component of your defense against this kind of infection.

Unfortunately, most users do not create adequate backups and must instead deal with the full ramifications of a ransomware attack. Even while the possibilities of recovering files without a decryptor are slim, they are never zero, so you shouldn't give up right away. Specialized data recovery software could be useful here, although it would only work if the virus failed to delete the Shadow Copies[3] from the system, which rarely happens. To prevent data corruption that cannot be undone, make sure to create backups of any encrypted files before continuing.

  • Download Data Recovery Pro.
  • Double-click the installer to launch it.
    CMLOCKER ransomware
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
  • As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
  • Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.Select what to recover
  • Press Next.
  • At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.Select Deep scan
  • Press Scan and wait till it is complete.Scan
  • You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
  • Press Recover to retrieve your files.

Your other option is to wait for a decryptor to be created. Security researchers can take advantage of weaknesses in numerous ransomware programs, despite the fact that their expertise varies. By identifying these weaknesses, researchers might be able to produce functional decryptors that victims can use for free. It's important to remember that even if researchers are successful in cracking the code, it might be soon. For the decryptors, we advise frequently checking the links below:

No More Ransom Project

A few helpful tips

Particularly when it comes to ransomware, which can have long-lasting effects even after the threat has been removed, malware infestations can be incredibly destructive. Regardless of whether you were able to recover your files, we advise you to keep in mind a few pointers in case you need them again.

First and foremost, since malware can badly harm your machine, we advise monitoring its health. System files may get corrupted once they have been infected, and antivirus software would not be able to handle that. You could simply get assistance from specialized software like FortectIntego, which fixes stability problems like registry errors and Blue Screens by replacing faulty files with working ones.

Malware attacks can cause tremendous damage, so the authorities are always looking for victims to provide more information about them. Follow one of the applicable links and report the ordeal to help them catch criminals:

Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3

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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.

How to prevent from getting ransomware

Protect your privacy – employ a VPN

There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals. 

No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool

If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.

If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.

About the author
Lucia Danes
Lucia Danes - Virus researcher

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