How to remove Marlock ransomware

Marlock virus prevents users from accessing their files

Ransomware is one of the most damaging cyber-attack because it makes the users' files impossible to open without a unique decryption key which only the threat actors possess. It can affect all types of environments – regular home users and big corporations. These attacks have become more common in the past several years as people spend more and more time online.

Marlock virus belongs to the MedusaLocker ransomware family, which was first detected in 2019. It uses RSA + AES encryption algorithms^[1] to lock the files and appends them with the .marlock7 extension. If a file were previously named picture.jpg, now it would look like this – photo.jpg.marlock7, video.mp4.marlock7, and so on. The icons are also changed to white pages, so you cannot see them in preview mode.

When the malicious program is done with the photo, video, document, and other file encryption, it generates a ransom note presented to the victim in a text file named HOW_TO_RECOVER_DATA.html to inform them about the situation. The threat actors do not encrypt all files in the system because they do not want to damage it and make you unable to send them the payment using the same device.

However, contacting the cybercriminals is not recommended, as many ransomware victims report that after sending the money, they never heard back. Hackers do not have an obligation to return your files, so you are taking a leap of faith. If you do not have backups, you might have lost your data forever, but if you send cryptocurrencies to criminals, you might loose your money too.

Ransomware distribution methods

It is unknown how this particular ransomware is distributed, but cybercriminals generally use various software vulnerabilities to get in. That is why it is essential continually to update them and get all the patches. Another way is by email. This method affects work environments more as people use Office 365 and other programs to open files sent to them at work. Threat actors use this to their advantage and attach infected files to the email.

Various phishing techniques^[2] are used to make the email look legitimate. Some can look like they were sent by colleagues, but hackers can also take hold of friends' lists and impersonate them, so you should always check with the person through another platform if you were not expecting any attachments.

Another way this can happen is by installing “cracked” software, although this happens more to home users, as you cannot use a work computer to download shady files. These programs are often injected with malicious code or have malware bundled together in the installer, and people do not notice them because they rush through the installation process. 

The infiltration happens fast, and usually, the malicious program starts encrypting files as soon as it got the ability to do so. Almost immediately, a ransom note is created saying:

YOUR PERSONAL ID:
–
/!\ YOUR COMPANY NETWORK HAS BEEN PENETRATED /!\
All your important files have been encrypted!

Your files are safe! Only modified. (RSA+AES)

ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTORE YOUR FILES WITH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE
WILL PERMANENTLY CORRUPT IT.
DO NOT MODIFY ENCRYPTED FILES.
DO NOT RENAME ENCRYPTED FILES.

No software available on internet can help you. We are the only ones able to
solve your problem.

We gathered highly confidential/personal data. These data are currently stored on
a private server. This server will be immediately destroyed after your payment.
If you decide to not pay, we will release your data to public or re-seller.
So you can expect your data to be publicly available in the near future..

We only seek money and our goal is not to damage your reputation or prevent
your business from running.

You will can send us 2-3 non-important files and we will decrypt it for free
to prove we are able to give your files back.

Contact us for price and get decryption software.

qd7pcafncosqfqu3ha6fcx4h6sr7tzwagzpcdcnytiw3b6varaeqv5yd.onion
* Note that this server is available via Tor browser only

Follow the instructions to open the link:
1. Type the addres “hxxps://www.torproject.org” in your Internet browser. It opens the Tor site.
2. Press “Download Tor”, then press “Download Tor Browser Bundle”, install and run it.
3. Now you have Tor browser. In the Tor Browser open qd7pcafncosqfqu3ha6fcx4h6sr7tzwagzpcdcnytiw3b6varaeqv5yd.onion
4. Start a chat and follow the further instructions.

If you can not use the above link, use the email:
ithelp01@decorous.cyou
ithelp01@wholeness.business
* To contact us, create a new free email account on the site: protonmail.com
IF YOU DON'T CONTACT US WITHIN 72 HOURS, PRICE WILL BE HIGHER.

Cybercriminals use scare tactics to make victims act without thinking. They want people to be scared and contact the hackers right away, so they do not try to take care of the problem in other ways and look for solutions. They say that there is no other way to recover the files, but third-party software has helped on some occasions, so it is worth a try.

Disconnect the device from the local network

As the creators of this malicious program seem to be targeting businesses, you need to isolate the affected machine so the virus would not infect the entire network. As soon as one of the machines is infected, malware can spread via network and encrypt files everywhere else, including Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices. If your computer is connected to a network, it is important to isolate it to prevent re-infection after ransomware removal is complete.

The easiest way to disconnect a PC from everything is to plug out the ethernet cable. In the corporate environment, this might be extremely hard to do and time-consuming. The method below will disconnect from all the networks, including local and the internet, isolating each machine involved.

• 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.

If you are using some type of cloud storage connected to, you should disconnect from it immediately. It is also advisable to disconnect all the external devices, such as USB flash sticks, external HDDs, etc. Once the malware elimination process is finished, you can connect your computers to the network and internet, as explained above, but by pressing Enable instead.

Remove the malicious program

If you try to recover your data first, it can result in permanent loss. It can also encrypt your files the second time. It will not stop until you remove the malicious files causing it first. It would be best if you did not attempt removing the malicious program yourself. Use anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to scan your system. This security software should find all the related files and entries and remove them automatically for you. Automatic removal is the best option because there is less risk of leaving some of the traces behind.

If the virus prevents you from using security software, you first need to access Safe Mode.^[3] If you do not know how to do it, look for instructions at the bottom of the post.

File recovery options

The decryption key is only in the hackers' hands, which can unlock your files, so if you did not back them up previously, you possibly lost your files forever. You can try using data recovery software, but third-party programs cannot always decrypt the files. We suggest at least trying this method. Before proceeding, you have to copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another storage. And remember – only do this if you have already removed Marlock ransomware.

1. Download Data Recovery Pro.
2. Double-click the installer to launch it.
3. Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
4. As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
5. Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered.
6. Press Next.
7. At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
8. Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
9. You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
10. Press Recover to retrieve your files.

Your operating system after an attack

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a complete Windows reinstall is required, are expected after malware infection. These types of infections 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 able to repair it. 

This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could avoid Windows reinstallation.

• 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
• If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.