L0cked ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
L0cked is crypto-malware that has been spotted at the end of March 2018. It's based on the open-source HiddenTear ransomware, which is carried on the Internet as a winlogon.exe Trojan horse dispersed in malicious spam attachments.
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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L0cked ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Malspam, fake software updates, exploit kits, drive-by-download, etc. |
|---|---|
| Virus name | L0cked |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Related files | winlogon.exe, decryptor.exe.bin.exe.bin |
| File extension | .lckd |
| Contact info | decryptorsoon301@aol.com |
| 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
| Decryptable | No |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Ransom note | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .lckd |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | L0cked ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .lckd |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 27 March 2018 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.lckd
From our report of Mar 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on L0cked ransomware
- Warning: Your important files are encrypted.....
- If you save your files, Run and follow the instructions!
- Enter Correct Key to decrypt your files PAYMENT WILL BE RAISED ON: YOUR FILES WILL BE LOST ON: Bitcoin Value: 150 $ What Happened to My Computer?
- Your important files are encrypted.
- Many of your documents, photos, videos, databases and other files are no longer accessible because they have been encrypted.
- Maybe you are busy looking for a way to recover your data but do not waste your time.
- Nobody can recover your files without our decryption service.
- Can I Recover My Files?
- We guarantee that you can recover all your files safely and easily.
- But you have not so enough time.You can decrypt some of your files for free.
- Try now by clicking .But if you want to decrypt all your files, you need to pay.
- You only have 3 days to submit the payment.After that the price will be doubled.
- Also, if you don't pay in 7 days, you won't be able to recover your files forever.
- We will have free events for users who are so poor that they couldn't pay in 6 months.
- Payment is accepted in Bitcoin only.
- Please check the current price of Bitcoin and buy some bitcoins.
- And send the correct amount to the address specified in this window.
- Best time to check: 9:00am - 11:00am GMT from Monday to Friday.
- Once the payment is checked, you can start decrypting your files immediately.
- Contact If you need our assistance, send a message by clicking .
- We strongly recommend you to not remove this software, and disable your anti-virus for a while, until you pay and the payment gets processed.
- If your anti-virus gets updated and removes this software automatically, it will not be able to recover your files even if you pay!ýýýý Bitcoin Address 1LXhpinYWzF73hUyDvxApkChq2QfZhm6GA
How L0cked ransomware behaves
From our report of Mar 2018 · not reviewed since
L0cked - ransomware know as .lckd file extension virus
L0cked is crypto-malware that has been spotted at the end of March 2018.
It's based on the open-source HiddenTear ransomware, which is carried on the Internet as a winlogon.exe Trojan horse dispersed in malicious spam attachments. Once the payload is being executed, the virus locks personal files, appends a .lckd file extension, changes the desktop wallpaper to C:\Windows\Back.jpg, and asks the victim to pay $150 ransom in Bitcoins.
The L0cked ransomware developers exploit multiple social engineering strategies to attack English-speaking computer users, but malspam campaigns are the most successful distribution strategy applied. If the potential victim opens a winlogon.exe file, the ransomware payload is being executed, and the virus enrolls a combination of AES-256 and RSA-2048 ciphers to lock targeted file types.
L0cked virus targets the most popular file types, including but not limited to .mp3, .png, .jpg, .pdf, .xlr, .apk, .exe, .rom, .aspx, .php, .doc, .docx, .log, .txt, .key, .pptx, .rar, .zip, .tax2015, .mpa, .wav, .gif, .jpg, etc. Upon successful encryption, the virus changes desktop background to C:\Windows\Back.jpg and creates a ransom note, which instructs the victim to pay $150 ransom in Bitcoins. The ransom note says:
The desktop background, a black background with red text, inform the victim that the system was hacked and asks to email decryptorsoon301@aol.com and then transfer the ransom to 1LXhpinYWzF73hUyDvxApkChq2QfZhm6GA wallet address. While its customary redeem is $150, the redeem raises within 72 hours and may exceed $2000.
Although the virus intimidates people that they are going to lose personal files if they attempt to use third-party data recovery tools, Udenvirus..dk experts point out to the fact that it will not be capable of doing that if it's no longer active.
In other words, you should remove L0cked ransomware and then try to recover encrypted data. You can find a thorough guide on how to do that down below.
According to ransomware researchers, the L0cked virus deletes Shadow Volume Copies. Besides, it creates a decryptor.exe.bin.exe.bin, which blocks victim's attempts to run third-party data recovery tools.
Before any attempts to recover locked files, you have to initiate L0cked removal. For this purpose, you have to run a deep system scan with , or and delete all the entries that it detects. Powerful AV engines should detect a multitude of malicious files, including Mal/Behav-116, TR/Crypt.Xpack.ldzmd or Trojan.Agent (A).
From our report of Mar 2018 · not reviewed since
Ransomware infects PCs via malicious spam email attachments
To protect your PC and files stored on it from being attacked by ransomware, it's a must to double-check email messages before opening their attachments.
Although you may receive a warning and reports from well-known companies like Amazon or IRS, they might be fake.
Crooks trick people into installing malware using social engineering strategies. People might be intimidated by false claims about supposed state debts, bank reports, dispatched parcel, and similar.
While some emails might contain links that redirect to phishing sites immediately, the bulk of spam includes .doc or .docx file attachments that carry ransomware payload. If you are asked to enable Macros to open the file attached to an email, close the email and report it as spam immediately. By allowing macros, the potential victim becomes a real victim with a ransomware payload being executed.
Apart from malspam, viruses can spread via exploit kits, fake software updates, drive-by-download, and similar techniques.
How to remove L0cked ransomware
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 L0cked ransomware 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
L0cked ransomware 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 L0cked ransomware, 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 L0cked ransomware 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 Mar 2018 · not reviewed since
Get rid of L0cked virus securely
Regular PC users should not attempt to initiate manual L0cked removal as the virus is rooted deeply in the operating system.
Locked files are only a consequence of multiple system's changes, such as Registry corruption and modification of core system's files.
The bad news is that the virus removal does not recover the files. Although a free L0cked decryptor hasn't yet been developed, you should try to retrieve at least the most essential files from backups or employ third-party tools.
[GI=method-1]Don't fall for panic if the ransomware blocks your anti-virus. That's a common practice. In this case, you should boot your PC into Safe Mode with Networking by following these steps:
[GI=method-2]If the previous method did not help to get rid of L0cked virus, please follow this guide:
This ransomware virus is known for executing multiple scrips via Command Prompt, one of this is responsible for the removal of Shadow Volume Copies. Thus, this data recovery option falls out, but you can still try to launch a couple of third-party data recovery programs or retrieve files from previous Windows versions.
This piece of software can recover most of the encrypted files.
Previous Windows versions might help
If your system contains a System Restore Point created before the virus attack, follow this guide to unlock separate files:
No L0cked decryptor available yet.
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.
Make the next attack harmless
L0cked ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .lckd and no longer open) showed exactly which ones those were.
The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for Windows.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about L0cked ransomware
How do I open .lckd files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .lckd 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 L0cked ransomware 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 L0cked ransomware 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.
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 L0cked ransomware get on my computer?
The way L0cked ransomware 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 .lckd 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 L0cked ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by L0cked ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .lckd 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 L0cked ransomware 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.
My files got .lckd overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .lckd extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
If I delete L0cked ransomware, do my files come back?
Unfortunately not. Deleting the program only ends the attack; every file that already has the .lckd 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 L0cked ransomware 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 L0cked ransomware?
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 L0cked ransomware, 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)