LockBit 2.0 ransomware: what it is and how to remove it

From our report of Jul 2021 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on LockBit 2.0 ransomware

• Instead of paying the cybercriminals, remove the virus and use alternative data recovery options

From our report of Jul 2021 · not reviewed since

LockBit 2.0 ransomware is a file-locking parasite that demands Bitcoins from its victims

LockBit 2.0 ransomware is a powerful computer virus that encrypts all non-system files on an infected device and then demands a ransom to be paid in Bitcoins.

Some users agree to pay cybercriminals because they promise to give a decryption key - the only way to recover files. But actually communicating with attackers or sending them money is a bad idea and security professionals don't recommend doing something like this.

By paying a ransom, victims encourage cybercriminals to continue such illegal activities. Moreover, there is no guarantee that hackers will actually send a decryption key to a victim. By doing what attackers demand, users only support their actions and risk being left without important files and money.

This is why if your computer is infected by this virus, you should simply remove the ransomware. And then, when the system will be completely clean, you can try to recover the locked files.

But let's start from the beginning. What is LockBit 2.0 ransomware and how did it get into the system? This file-locking virus originates from MegaCortex and LockerGoga's notorious malware family. The first version appeared on the internet in September 2019.

Cybercriminals behind it have improved ransomware over the years by implementing new features and providing support to their affiliates. The new virus version encrypts Windows domains by using Active Directory group policies. It is important to note that this is the first ransomware that automates this process.

Authors even created their own leak site to promote the latest variant. They openly advertised the LockBit 2.0 affiliate program, offering hackers to make millions of dollars. The leak site also provides important information about the features of the version. One of the most interesting features is the capability to use group policy update to encrypt a Window domain.

This means that when hackers enter the target network and compromise the domain controller, the ransomware can spread on the domain. The infection creates new group policies on the domain controller that migrates to all devices in the Windows domain.

The policies disable security features, such as Microsoft Defender and alerts, and prevent the system from providing samples to Microsoft to avoid detection. So, this ransomware is more advanced than before.

Of course, this infection is still similar to other ransomware - it locks all personal files on the infected computer. Once the virus completes the encryption process, the victim can no longer open affected files. All non-systemic data is locked:

• photos
• videos
• documents
• etc. In addition
• all encrypted files receive a new extension - .Lockbit

The virus then automatically drops the ransom note on the desktop and into the affected folders. Cybercriminals try to convince the victims that the only way to recover locked files is to pay a ransom. Here's the whole text from the ransom note:

Of course, as we've already mentioned, you shouldn't rely on hackers. The best solution would be to remove the ransomware and then try to recover the files in other ways.

From our report of Jul 2021 · not reviewed since

How to remove LockBit 2.0 ransomware and recover affected files

To resolve this issue, you should get rid of the virus first.

Manually eliminating such a serious threat is not recommended. You should use , , or a similar antivirus program that will scan the entire system easily and quickly. After a system scan, security software will automatically remove the ransomware and other viruses that it may find on your computer.

After that, you should make sure that the device is completely clean and that there are no suspicious files or system changes left on it. Once a computer is infected with malware, its system is changed to operate differently.

For example, an infection can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged by malware, antivirus software is not capable of doing anything about it, leaving it just the way it is.

It's usually hard to spot all the changes, but if you don't remove them, you might experience performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstallation is required.

By employing , you would not have to worry about future computer issues, as most of them could be fixed quickly by performing a full system scan at any time. Most importantly, you could avoid the tedious process of Windows reinstallation in case things go very wrong due to one reason or another.

If your computer is completely clean, you can start the .Lockbit file recovery process. Unfortunately, if you do not have proper data backups, it can be difficult to recover files.

You might lose access to important data permanently. But paying cybercriminals is also very risky, as they might not fulfill the promises and never send back the required decryption tool. So, it is not worth sending them Bitcoins.

Although this situation sounds 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:

• Download the application by clicking on the link above
• 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
• 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.

From our report of Jul 2021 · not reviewed since

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.