Locks ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Locks ransomware is a version of the Xorist ransomware family. It encrypts all personal data on an infected computer, renames it by appending all original filenames with a .locks extension, and creates two types of ransom notes which contain the same message.
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 .locks files.
Do it yourself · free Remove Locks ransomware yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Locks ransomware: summary
| name | Locks ransomware |
|---|---|
| type | Ransomware, file-locking virus |
| Family | Xorist |
| Appended file extension | .locks |
| Ransom note | Text file HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt and a pop-up window. Both bearing identical messages; the text is quoted in full below |
| Ransom amount | The original price is $1500. If the ransom isn't paid within 48 hours, it doubles. |
| 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 16 more facts
| Criminal contact details | frankhans@tuta.io |
|---|---|
| Criminal Crypto-wallet | [payment address omitted] |
| Virus removal | This, and any other kind of malware, should be eliminated with anti-malware software to ensure it's done properly |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .locks |
| 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 |
| Name | Locks ransomware |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| 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 | .locks |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 7 January 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.locks - Note file:
HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Locks ransomware
- Locks ransomware is a new version of the Xorist ransomware family.
- We highly recommend performing a system repair with the system tune-up tool, having in mind that cryptoviruses usually mess up Windows Registry and other core files and settings
How Locks ransomware behaves
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Locks ransomware – malware that encrypts files and then asks for $1,500 ransom for its retrieval
Locks ransomware is a version of the Xorist ransomware family.
It encrypts all personal data on an infected computer, renames it by appending all original filenames with a .locks extension, and creates two types of ransom notes which contain the same message.
Within these notes (a pop-up window titled "Error" and text file HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt), developers of Locks virus state their demands, the main of which is to pay $1,500 in cryptocurrency Bitcoin for a decryption key that would allegedly decipher the encrypted data.
If the ransom isn't forwarded to their wallet crypto-wallet ([payment address omitted].) within 48 hours, the amount will be doubled every two days. The threat actors are urging the victims to contact them through a provided email address - frankhans@tuta.io.
Ransomware is on the rise, and cybersecurity experts predict that damages caused by this type of malware could increase to $20 billion this year. We've already spotted some new variations of ransomware this year, including Atek, Ziggy, Qlkm, 2021, and many more.
Developers of Locks ransomware, and cybercriminals, in general, should never be trusted as they are criminals for a reason. The transferred ransom only encourages them to increase their attacks and develop more sophisticated crypto-malware that are harder to detect. All in all, these are the most probable scenarios after a victim meets the demands of the assailants:
Other ways of regaining access to your data are possible. You just have to not panic and not make any rash decisions. The only right thing to do is to remove Locks ransomware from the infected machine as soon as possible.
It would be best if you did that with anti-malware software that would automatically locate, isolate, and eliminate the virus with all of its components.
In some cases, cryptovirus alter Windows Registry, host files, and other key system settings and files to establish persistence and prolong their unwelcomed stay by disabling anti-malware tools. In that case, Locks ransomware removal might be done in Safe Mode with Networking (see a detailed guide on that at the bottom of this article) if the virus tampers with the security software's functionality.
When the ransomware-type infection is removed from your device, it's time to take care of those corrupted system settings. The best results are achieved when system repair tools such as the software is used to scan the whole system and let it do the rest.
Message from the creators of Locks file virus in the ransom note states:
- Threat actors disappear, and no decryption tool is sent.
- The decryption tool doesn't work.
- Criminals ask for more money.
- Instead of the promised tool, additional malware is sent.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Spam emails – still one of the most popular ways for cybercriminals to deliver their creations
Cybercriminals have many weapons when we're talking about malware delivery options - Remote Desktop Protocol attacks, drive-by downloads, file-sharing platforms, etc. But our research shows that one of the most popular techniques used by the threat actors is spam emails.
They send out tens of thousands of these emails all over the world during so-called spam campaigns. These letters usually urge the users to either click on a hyperlink that opens a malicious site where the virus can be downloaded without even pushing anything or download an infected attachment that contains the virus payload file.
If either of these options is taken, and the virus bypasses anti-malware software filters, then some sort of malware infection is guaranteed. We're here to help, so use this short list of guidelines to determine whether the email is sent from a legitimate source or cybercriminals:
- Companies usually don't make grammatical mistakes.
- Email sender's domain must exactly match the one of a company.
- Companies don't push their clients into visiting their sites or opening unsolicited attachments.
- Legitimate companies don't request sensitive information to be sent via email.
- Companies know their clients' names, so they address you directly, instead of "Dear member", "Dear Client", etc.
The Locks ransomware note
All your personal FILES are now ENCRYPTED!
Don't worry, you can get back all your files
I don't want to lose your files too. If I want to do something nasty I would have wipe out all of your data
but that is not helping me. :)
So temporary all of your files are mine now until you pay the service cost of recovering them.
If yo want to recover them contact me at the emaill below, I'll be more than happy to help you to get out of this situation.
You have got 48 hours exactly, before you lost your files forever.
Failing which, the price to recover double with every 48 hours passing!
Rest assured, all your files will be recovered once payment is received.
The Price to get all things back to normal : US$ 1500
My BTC Wallet : [payment address omitted]
Email : frankhans@tuta.io
How to remove Locks 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 Locks 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
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so Locks ransomware 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
.locksand the instructions are inHOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt. 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 Locks ransomware, 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 Locks ransomware 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 Locks ransomware 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.
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 Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Detailed Locks ransomware removal guide
More and more people suffer from ransomware attacks every day.
Computer users should upgrade their cybersecurity level by acquiring professional, trustworthy anti-malware software such as or to watch their backs whenever they're connected to the internet.
If you were unlucky enough and got your device infected by Locks ransomware - all is not lost. Other family members have already been deciphered, meaning that their encrypted files are easily decryptable with free software available on the Emisoft webpage.
If you've tried their decryption software but it didn't work - there's still hope. The good guys are constantly working on helping ransomware victims by creating decryption tools for various cryptoviruses. Before Locks ransomware removal, export all encrypted data to offline storage, and check back on us as we update our readers with the latest news.
Once that's done, you're ready to remove Locks ransomware from your machine. Launch anti-malware software and perform a full system scan. Let the application to find, isolate, and eliminate the virus. When it's finished, experts recommend performing a system repair with the powerful system tune-up tool to restore all corrupted system files and settings.
[GI=method-1]If the infection can't be eliminated in normal Windows mode, then try doing it in Safe Mode with Networking/GI]
[GI=method-2]If restore points weren't deleted or encrypted, then the infection could be removed with System Restore
These kinds of apps might help to recover encrypted files.
File recovery with Windows Previous Version feature
Windows Previous Version feature might be a helpful tool when trying to restore .locks extension files.
Shadow Explorer uses Shadow Volume Copies to recover data
If these copies are undamaged and weren't removed, then Shadow Explorer might recover some data from them.
No decryption tool is currently available
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.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .locks and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
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 Locks ransomware
How do I open .locks files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .locks 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.
Is there a free Locks ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Locks ransomware no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "Locks ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
Are ransomware recovery services legitimate?
Some are, but read the offer carefully. Genuine data-recovery firms recover deleted originals from disks or rebuild damaged files, and they say so. Others promise to "decrypt any ransomware" for a fixed price, which is impossible without the key; they quietly pay the attackers and keep a margin, sometimes without telling the victim.
Be especially careful with services that contact you after you post about the attack online. Ask for references, a written method and a no-result-no-fee clause, and check the free tools on No More Ransom first.
How did Locks ransomware get on my computer?
The way Locks 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 .locks 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.
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.
Did Locks ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Locks ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .locks 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 Locks 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.
Should I open HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .locks attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .locks stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
Will Fortect remove Locks 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 Locks 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
- Cybersecurityventures: Global Ransomware Damage Costs Predicted To Reach $20 Billion (USD) By 2021 (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Drive-by download (read October 7, 2026)
- Losvirus: Losvirus (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)