EMPg296LCK virus: what it is and how to remove it
EMPg296LCK is a ransomware-type program, which means that it encrypts all files located on the target machine. The main goal of the attackers is to hold the files hostage so that victims would pay them money to retrieve the important data.
Facts checked October 7, 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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
A free scan checks for the encryptor still on the PC; it does not decrypt .empg296lck files.
Do it yourself · free Remove EMPg296LCK virus yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
EMPg296LCK virus: summary
| Name | EMPg296LCK virus |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware, file-locking malware |
| File extension | .EMPg296LCK, appended |
| Malware family | MedusaLocker ransomware |
| Ransom note | !_HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact | assist1122@protonmail.com or assist112233@cock.li |
| 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 13 more facts
| File Recovery | The only secure way to restore files is by using data backups. If such is not available or were encrypted as well, options for recovery are very limited – we provide all possible solutions below |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .empg296lck |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .empg296lck |
| Attacker contacts | assist1122@protonmail.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 9 June 2022 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.empg296lck - Note file:
_HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML - Contact:
assist1122@protonmail.com
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on EMPg296LCK virus
- Disconnect the computer from the network and internet and then perform a full system scan with or security software
- Once installed on the system, malware might seriously damage some system files, resulting in crashes, errors, and other stability issues.
- You can employ PC repair to fix any of such damage automatically by replacing system corruption
How EMPg296LCK virus behaves
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
The ransom note analysis
The main goal of ransomware is not to harm the system but rather to affect user files in a way that they wouldn't be recoverable.
With the help of this process, hackers can then demand money from victims - ransomware became a very profitable business, with thousands of strains luring on the web.
Ransom note serves a vital role when it comes to monetization, as users wouldn't know who or how to contact. The note provides initial explanations of what happened to user files and how to retrieve them and, most importantly for cybercriminals - provides contact details:
We do not recommend negotiating or even contacting malware authors. There is no guarantee that they would provide a decryption tool, even if you pay the requested money. Besides, paying the ransom only signifies that the illegal business scheme works well - it will only encourage crooks to develop ransomware further and infect more people.
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
EMPg296LCK ransomware is a dangerous malware that attempts to extort money from users
EMPg296LCK is a ransomware-type program, which means that it encrypts all files located on the target machine.
The main goal of the attackers is to hold the files hostage so that victims would pay them money to retrieve the important data. Affected files range from pictures to databases - everything that can be useful to users.
This malware was first spotted in early June 2022, and it was immediately determined that it stems from MedusaLocker - a family that has been around for at least three years at the time of the writing. It is rather expansive and we have already covered several of its variants, including Marlock and Ako.
This version doesn't differ much from its predecessors - it encrypts files with AES + RSA encryption algorithms and appends .EMPg296LCK extension to each of them. This results in users not being able to open or modify their files - they require a unique key accessible only to the attackers.
According to the ransom note !_HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML, users are meant to send an email to assist1122@protonmail.com or assist112233@cock.li to communicate the price.
The EMPg296LCK virus ransom note
Your files are encrypted!
What happened?
Your files are encrypted, and currently unavailable.
You can check it: all files on you computer has new expansion.
By the way, everything is possible to recover (restore), but you need to buy a unique decryptor.
Otherwise, you never cant return your data.
For purchasing a decryptor contact us by email:
assist1122@protonmail.com
If you will get no answer within 24 hours contact us by our alternate emails:
assist112233@cock.li
What guarantees?
Its just a business. If we do not do our work and liabilities - nobody will not cooperate with us.
To verify the possibility of the recovery of your files we can decrypted 1 file for free.
Attach 1 file to the letter (no more than 10Mb). Indicate your personal ID on the letter:
Attention!
• Attempts of change files by yourself will result in a loose of data.
• Our e-mail can be blocked over time. Write now, loss of contact with us will result in a loose of data.
• Use any third party software for restoring your data or antivirus solutions will result in a loose of data.
• Decryptors of other users are unique and will not fit your files and use of those will result in a loose of data.
• If you will not cooperate with our service - for us, its does not matter. But you will lose your time and data, cause just we have the private key. •Otherwise, they will fall into the open access of the Internet! Use any third party software for restoring your data or antivirus solutions will result in a loose of data.
• Please be sure that we will find common languge. We will restore all the data and give you recommedations how to configure the protection of your server.
•Check the spam folder in the mail !!!
How to remove EMPg296LCK 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 EMPg296LCK 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
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so EMPg296LCK virus cannot reach more files. Pause OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync, because synced folders upload the encrypted copies over the good ones.
Leave the PC on but offline while you read the next steps, since a restart can let the ransomware run again. This applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
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 confirm the family
Your files now end in
.empg296lckand the instructions are in_HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
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
Our last check found that for EMPg296LCK virus, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Look again yourself in the No More Ransom list and the free decryptor pages of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, which add new families every year.
A decryptor needs the ransomware gone first, or it encrypts the files again. Keep at least one copy of the encrypted files on an external drive, even if no tool works yet.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Removing EMPg296LCK virus does not bring the files back, but it has to come first. Start with Defender's Full scan, then the offline scan from the same Scan options page, which checks the disk before Windows loads.
If the scan cannot start, use Safe Mode with Networking. Delete the ransom notes only after you have saved a copy, because removal tools sometimes leave them behind on Windows 11 and 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
Windows keeps shadow copies for restore points and backups, and some ransomware fails to delete them.
vssadmin list shadowsin an administrator Command Prompt tells you at once whether any exist.If they do, right-click the folder that held your files, open Properties > Previous Versions, select a version from before the attack, and click Open to check it before you Restore or copy the files out. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have the tab.
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
A backup made before the attack is the surest way back. Connect it only once the PC is clean, then restore from File History, Windows Backup, OneDrive's Restore your OneDrive or your own external copies.
Without a backup, try file recovery: the originals that EMPg296LCK virus deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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.
Restore files using data recovery software
Since many users do not prepare proper data backups prior to being attacked by ransomware, they might often lose access to their files permanently. Paying criminals is also very risky, as they might not fulfill the promises and never send back the required decryption tool.
While this might sound terrible, not all is lost - data recovery software might be able to help you in some situations (it highly depends on the encryption algorithm used, whether ransomware managed to complete the programmed tasks, etc.). Since there are thousands of different ransomware strains, it is immediately impossible to tell whether third-party software will work for you.
Therefore, we suggest trying regardless of which ransomware attacked your computer. Before you begin, several pointers are important while dealing with this situation:
- Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it - use a USB flash drive or another storage.
- Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.
Install data recovery software
- Download .
- Double-click the installer to launch it.
- Follow 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.
- Press Next.
- At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
- Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
- 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.
Find a working decryptor for your files
File encryption is a process that is similar to applying a password to a particular file or folder. However, from a technical point of view, encryption is fundamentally different due to its complexity. By using encryption, threat actors use a unique set of alphanumeric characters as a password that can not easily be deciphered if the process is performed correctly.
There are several algorithms that can be used to lock data (whether for good or bad reasons); for example, AES uses the symmetric method of encryption, meaning that the key used to lock and unlock files is the same. Unfortunately, it is only accessible to the attackers who hold it on a remote server - they ask for a payment in exchange for it. This simple principle is what allows ransomware authors to prosper in this illegal business.
While many high-profile ransomware strains such as Djvu or Dharma use immaculate encryption methods, there are plenty of failures that can be observed within the code of some novice malware developers. For example, the keys could be stored locally, which would allow users to regain access to their files without paying. In some cases, ransomware does not even encrypt files due to bugs, although victims might believe the opposite due to the ransom note that shows up right after the infection and data encryption is completed.
Therefore, regardless of which crypto-malware affects your files, you should try to find the relevant decryptor if such exists. Security researchers are in a constant battle against cybercriminals. In some cases, they manage to create a working decryption tool that would allow victims to recover files for free.
Once you have identified which ransomware you are affected by, you should check the following links for a decryptor:
- No More Ransom Project
- Free Ransomware Decryptors by Kaspersky
- Free Ransomware Decryption Tools from Emsisoft
- Avast decryptors
If you can't find a decryptor that works for you, you should try the alternative methods we list below. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that it sometimes takes years for a working decryption tool to be developed, so there are always hopes for the future.
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
Remove the virus
In order to prevent the attackers from communicating with EMPg296LCK ransomware via the network, you should disconnect the computer(s) from it.
Malware authors could send additional payloads or update ransomware with new code through it. While you can simply plug out the internet cable, it might not always be convenient, so you should proceed with the following steps instead:
The only secure way to remove an infection as serious as ransomware from the system is by scanning it with , , or another powerful anti-malware. While some malware of this type removes themselves after data encryption, it is unlikely to be the case with Spark ransomware due to their threats of corrupting data.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Type in Control Panel in Windows search and press Enter
- Go to Network and Internet
- Click Network and Sharing Center
- On the left, pick Change adapter settings
- Right-click on your connection (for example, Ethernet), and select Disable
- Confirm with Yes.
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- 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.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
- Right-click on the Start button and select Settings.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Click Restart.
- Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
Fix the operating system
After the malware is deleted from your system, it is time to take care of its health.
Once installed, it can seriously tamper with various files and corrupt them in the process - this damage can't be removed by anti-malware software. As a result, those affected start experiencing crashes, BSODs, errors, and other stability issues, which can significantly diminish the usability of the device.
- Download
- Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
- If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
- Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
- The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
- Once complete, check the results - they will be listed in the Summary
- You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
From our report of Jun 2022 · not reviewed since
Data recovery
As soon as ransomware breaks into the device, it encrypts all the eligible files, excluding the system and some other file types.
This is done to cause maximum damage to the user so that they would be more inclined to pay. File encryption uses a unique, alphanumeric string of characters as a decryption key - it's like a password that's unique for every victim.
This is why ransomware infection can be so devastating - even if EMPg296LCK ransomware removal is performed, the files would remain unusable. Paying criminals is risky, as they might never fulfill their promises, making users risk their money along with files.
Before you proceed with alternative solutions for data recovery, make sure you make backups of the encrypted data, as, otherwise, it might be permanently damaged in the process.
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.
Backups: the 3-2-1 rule
Keep three copies of files that matter, on two kinds of storage, with one copy offline or off-site.
A disk that stays plugged in is reached by malware like EMPg296LCK virus together with the PC; one you connect only for the backup is not.
On Windows 11, File History keeps versions on an external drive, and OneDrive keeps earlier versions of synced files. Before restoring anything, make sure the PC no longer shows files that end in .empg296lck and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
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 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
- 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, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about EMPg296LCK virus
Is there a decryptor for .empg296lck files?
That depends on the family behind the .empg296lck extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
Should I pay the ransom in _HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from _HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
How do I open .empg296lck files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .empg296lck ending shows that EMPg296LCK virus encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for EMPg296LCK virus. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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.
How did EMPg296LCK virus get on my computer?
The way EMPg296LCK 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 .empg296lck 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 EMPg296LCK virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by EMPg296LCK virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .empg296lck 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.
Is EMPg296LCK 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.
What does _HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name _HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
Will .empg296lck spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .empg296lck. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will Fortect remove EMPg296LCK 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 EMPg296LCK 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
- Precisely: AES vs. RSA Encryption: What Are the Differences? (read October 7, 2026)
- How-to Geek: Everything You Need To Know About the Blue Screen of Death (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)