LuckyDay ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
LuckyDay ransomware is a file-locking virus, which after obtaining entry to a computer system, encrypts all its non-system files, creates a ransom note, and demands money for a decryption tool. It seems that this virus's previous version is called LockBit.
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.
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LuckyDay ransomware: summary
| Name | LuckyDay ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware |
| Family | LockerGoga |
| Ransom note | File Recovery.txt; the text is quoted in full below |
| Appended extension | .luckyday |
| Issues | All non-system files are inaccessible |
| 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
| Criminal contact options | Cybercriminals provide Tor browser link to establish contact |
|---|---|
| Virus removal | Reliable anti-malware software must be used to remove LuckyDay ransomware |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .luckyday |
| 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 | .luckyday |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 6 November 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.luckyday - Note file:
Recovery.txt
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on LuckyDay ransomware
- The tool is recommended to use after LuckyDay virus removal is completed
How LuckyDay ransomware behaves
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
LuckyDay ransomware - new money extortion cryptovirus from the LockerGoga family
LuckyDay ransomware is a file-locking virus, which after obtaining entry to a computer system, encrypts all its non-system files, creates a ransom note, and demands money for a decryption tool.
It seems that this virus's previous version is called LockBit. This virus derives from the villainous LockerGoga ransomware family. As soon as victims' data is locked, a ransom note, named "File Recovery.txt", is dropped to all contaminated folders.
Cybercriminals are warning the victims not to seek any help from third-parties to unlock their files because that could lead to permanent data loss. The same goes for renaming the LuckyDay ransomware virus encrypted files.
Then they provide a link to be opened only via the Tor browser. That link will provide further instructions to the unlucky computer users. If the victims don't have Tor software, the perpetrators are kind enough and provide instructions on how to obtain it.
After installing the new browser and opening the given link, owners of the infected devices, are given SOME explanation on what has been done and what they need to do to recover their files (see a screenshot of the webpage below this article).
To prove that the developers of the LuckyDay file-locker virus have the means to decrypt the data, they're offering to upload one file (up to 20Mb) for a free decoding. After victims are reassured, they are urged to pay the ransom.
Like all of its infamous family members, the LuckyDay file virus locks all files with army-based AES and RSA encryption algorithms. Unfortunately, only the creators of this file-locking parasite can decrypt the data, because to this day there's no public decryption key available.
As always, victims are advised against contacting the cybercriminals and complying with their ransom demands. Instead, use a powerful anti-malware software, such as or to remove LuckyDay ransomware. Anti-virus software will automatically locate and delete the malware and all of its allocations.
After LuckyDay ransomware removal, don't rush to restore files from backups. First, use the tool to find and fix any system changes the virus has done. When the computer system is back to the pre-contamination phase, only then use backups to retrieve the data.
Ransom note hold this message:
Do not consider paying or contacting these people as an option to fight LuckyDay ransomware virus because there are no guarantees that you will get your files back. The best option for file recovery is to replace encoded files with safe copies, but you need proper backups for this. Also, remember that before you add anything to the machine, you need to fully terminate the virus.
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
Techniques used by cybercriminals to spread viruses
Most malware is targeted at English speaking nations, but that doesn't stop it from spreading all over the world.
The most popular means by which cybercriminals are distributing their creations are spam emails and file-sharing platforms, like torrent sites.
Hackers are trying to deceive oblivious computer users with legitimately looking emails from their beloved shopping companies, employers, banks, etc. Either a mischievous hyperlink or an infected attachment is hidden in the email. As soon as a user opens either of these, their computer gets infected immediately. Never open phony looking emails, and never download any email attachments without scanning them first with a reliable anti-malware software.
Torrent sites are known to be full of threats . Instead of saving money on licensed software, people want to use illegal activation toolkits (aka cracks). In most cases, instead of activating their desired app for free, they get their devices infected with various malware.
This is just one example of what might be hidden within a torrent site. Don't be a cheapskate and buy licensed software from their developers to avoid paying the cybercriminals.
The LuckyDay ransomware note
All your important files have been encrypted!
Any attempts to restore your files with the thrid-party software will be fatal for your files!
RESTORE YOU DATA POSIBLE ONLY BUYING private key from us.
There is only one way to get your files back:
| 1. Download Tor browser - https://www.torproject.org/ and install it.
| 2. Open link in TOR browser - http://luckydaynywoklzy.onion/?
This link only works in Tor Browser!
| 3. Follow the instructions on this page
| 4. ID Decrypt << >>
### Attention! ###
# Do not rename encrypted files.
# Do not try to decrypt using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
# Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price(they add their fee to our).
# Tor Browser may be blocked in your country or corporate network. Use https://bridges.torproject.org or use Tor Browser over VPN.
# Tor Browser user manual https://tb-manual.torproject.org/about
!!! We also download huge amount of your private data, including finance information, clients personal info, network diagrams, passwords and so on.
Don't forget about GDPR.
How to remove LuckyDay 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 LuckyDay 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 LuckyDay 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
.luckydayand the instructions are inRecovery.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 LuckyDay 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 LuckyDay 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 LuckyDay 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 Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
Removal guide for LuckyDay ransomware virus elimination
The first and foremost thing the owner of an infected computer system should do is delete the virus before it has done more harm.
To remove LuckyDay ransomware from a device, use or reliable antimalware tools. These apps will automatically detect, isolate, and eliminate the ransomware and all its files and processes.
Experts suggest using the system tune-up tool, after LuckyDay ransomware removal, to find and revert any changes the contamination did to the infected machine. This will prevent issues like overheating, extreme lag, and crashing, so users can enjoy their devices as good as new.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the system in Safe Mode with Networking before you run the AV tool on the machine
[GI=method-2]System Restore feature can help with file recovery after all because you restore the PC in a previous state fully
Windows Previous Versions feature provides the option to restore files properly after the encryption
System Restore should be enabled beforehand, so encoded files might bet restored
ShadowExplorer - solution for data affected by malware
If you know that LuckyDay virus left Shadow Volume Copies untouched, you can use ShadowExplorer as a file recovery tool
Decryption tool is not availiable
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 LuckyDay ransomware 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 .luckyday and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about LuckyDay ransomware
How do I open .luckyday files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .luckyday 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.
Should I pay the ransom in Recovery.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from Recovery.txt 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.
Is there a free LuckyDay ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for LuckyDay 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 "LuckyDay 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.
Did LuckyDay ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by LuckyDay ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .luckyday 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.
How did LuckyDay ransomware get on my computer?
The way LuckyDay 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 .luckyday 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.
Is LuckyDay 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.
What does Recovery.txt tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name Recovery.txt, 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 .luckyday 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 .luckyday. 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 LuckyDay 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 LuckyDay 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
- Wikipedia: RSA (cryptosystem) (read October 7, 2026)
- Zdnet: Torrent websites infect 12 million users a month with malware (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)