VirLock virus: what it is and how to remove it
VirLock ransomware virus is a program that you don't want to run into. It acts just like Your Computer Was Automatically Blocked virus, Crypt0l0cker, Locky virus, etc.
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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VirLock virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | Not named in our report; the text of the note is not in our records |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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 8 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | VirLock virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 10 February 2017 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
How VirLock virus behaves
From our report of Feb 2017 · not reviewed since
Key facts about VirLocker ransomware
VirLock ransomware virus is a program that you don't want to run into.
It acts just like Your Computer Was Automatically Blocked virus, Crypt0l0cker, Locky virus, etc. Once installed, this virus executes several copies of its executive file. The first copy registers itself as a Windows service and runs without stopping, while the other copy acts like a spare copy of the first process which ensures that the first one does not stop working and encrypting victim's files.
The virus is designed to target particular file extensions, so as a result, it encrypts all files that have these extensions . Bear in mind that VirLock virus can irrecoverably corrupt the vast of your precious files, including photos, videos, documents, presentations, music, and other file types.
Also, it has been discovered that this version of ransomware can also connect to removable drives, DropBox, etc., so you should consider other solutions where you could keep your files (see this post - How to backup your files?) .
Then, this deceptive virus launches a frightening message, stating that pirated software has been detected in the computer system and that the computer has been blocked. Instead of following its commands, you should follow our VirLock removal guide in the end of this post. could be your quick fix for this virus.
The following message informs the user that he can be sentenced to up to five years in prison and 250,000 pounds fine. However, according to this message, as the "first-time offender," the victim of VirLock ransomware can fix this problem by paying 250 pounds in Bitcoins.
The message says that the user can pay the fine online via Bitcoin payment system, or pay it offline by going to the local courthouse and paying by cash. We believe that criminals included the "offline" payment option only to make the message sound more legitimate since legal authorities do not ask to pay fines in Bitcoins.
To put it simply, this message is simply a ransom note, urging the victim to pay a ransom. This note end with a threat, saying that all victim's files will be deleted if the penalty is not paid within three days of if the victim attempts to "remove the message."
However, we have some good news for victims of VirLock virus. Despite the fact that its authors had put big efforts and attempted to make this virus powerful, it seems that they failed and made a huge mistake by forgetting to delete Volume Shadow Copies from victim's computer.
You can use these copies to restore previous versions of your files, or, in other words, you can just recover your data for free. If your PC is already infected, you should download a reliable security software or other reputable anti-spyware, remove VirLock, and then recover your files using VSC.
From our report of Feb 2017 · not reviewed since
Update 2017 January: the polymorphic ransomware gets improved
2016 year has been the year full of elaborate and vivid ransomware.
Locky virus and Cerber ransomware might have been perceived as most destructive and terrifying cyber infections. However, the world is yet to see the new modified version of VirLocker ransomwrae. Though previously it has been already spotted as a polymorphic virus, the hackers introduced some changes making the virus more damaging. It is capable of multiplying its malware infections by absorbing affected files.
There are several stages of executing its mission. Firstly, it processes the infected files. Then, it injects its malevolent code into a targeted file. Thirdly, the targetted data is encoded.
Finally, the affected files are merged with the original version of the threat and, likewise, evolve into malware themselves. In comparison with other threats, careless click on the affected file results in the malware execution. Previous ransomware infections tend to disguise their activity in order to avoid elimination. It seems that VirLock malware, on the contrary, exposes itself in order to strike a fatal blow.
From our report of Feb 2017 · not reviewed since
Avoiding ransomware
If you wish to protect your computer from ransomware attacks , you have to apply several layers of protection.
Here are our top tips on how to secure your data and prevent ransomware from infecting your PC:
- Do not open suspicious email letters, and especially avoid opening files attached to such emails. Even if the attachment is Word file, it does not mean that it is safe. Cybercriminals nowadays use advanced technologies and they no longer need to send .exe files to infect user's computers.
- Update all your programs to the latest version to prevent criminals from taking advantage of software vulnerabilities.
- Back up your files. It is the only 100% effective way of recovering your files in case the original ones get encrypted. We do not recommend using online clouds to store your files because some viruses can access them via an Internet connection and encrypt them as well.
- Install a good anti-malware software and set scheduled system scans to keep your computer spyware/malware free.
- Do not open suspicious email letters, and especially avoid opening files attached to such emails. Even if the attachment is Word file, it does not mean that it is safe. Cybercriminals nowadays use advanced technologies and they no longer need to send .exe files to infect user's computers.
- Update all your programs to the latest version to prevent criminals from taking advantage of software vulnerabilities.
- Back up your files. It is the only 100% effective way of recovering your files in case the original ones get encrypted. We do not recommend using online clouds to store your files because some viruses can access them via an Internet connection and encrypt them as well.
- Install a good anti-malware software and set scheduled system scans to keep your computer spyware/malware free.
From our report of Feb 2017 · not reviewed since
Distribution and infection peculiarities
In most of the cases, VirLock ransomware is spread via misleading email messages that pretend to be important notifications from reputable companies.
You may be informed about important payments, fines, purchases or other things that typically make people download the attachment. In fact, that's the thing that you should never download to your PC because that's how this virus is spread around.
Of course, these are lots of other ways how to ransomware can show up on your computer. You should be very careful with various pop-up messages if you want to avoid viruses like this one. Also, you should stop visiting illegal sites because they can also infect your computer .
The VirLock virus ransom note
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove VirLock virus
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 VirLock virus 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 VirLock virus 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 identify the family
The name of the family decides whether a free decryptor can help. Copy the ransom note and two small encrypted files to a USB stick, and check them on another device with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff.
Note the extension added to the files, the contact address and the victim ID shown in the note. Keep the originals on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC untouched.
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 VirLock virus, 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 VirLock virus 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 VirLock virus 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 Feb 2017 · not reviewed since
VirLock elimination instructions
Unlike typical computer programs, VirLock ransomware does not have an uninstaller and in fact, it is very hard to remove it if you do not have a proper malware removal program. We do NOT recommend you to mess with this malicious virus on your own because you might do more harm than good to your computer.
The easiest, safest and fastest way to remove VirLock is to command an anti-spyware program to detect it and eliminate it. For that, download a reputable security software and run a system scan with it. If you can't use VirLocker removal steps because this ransomware is blocking you, you should reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Networking or use System Restore.
[GI=method-1]If VirLocker ransomware has locked your computer, use these instructions to regain access.
[GI=method-2]If Safe Mode with Networking method does not help, you should use System Restore function to disable VirLock.
This program is designed for locating damaged or missing files. Nonetheless, it might be practical recovering files affected by this ransomware.
Use Shadow Explorer to recover files encrypted by VirLock ransomware
If you are lucky enough to find out that VirLock did not removeShadow Volume copies of your files, you can use this tool.
VirLock ransomware decrypter is not 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.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows virLock virus in the list of installed apps; 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.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about VirLock virus
Is there a free VirLock virus decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for VirLock virus 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 "VirLock virus 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.
How did VirLock virus get on my computer?
The way VirLock virus 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 virLock virus in the list of installed apps, 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.
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.
Did VirLock virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by VirLock virus, but the only confirmed sign is virLock virus in the list of installed apps, 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 VirLock virus 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.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by VirLock?
You cannot open locked files normally while they stay encrypted, and renaming them will not help. Our earlier report did not record the extension that VirLock adds, so check one locked file name and the ransom note for it.
No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates. Do not rename the files, change the extension or edit them, because that can make recovery harder. Copy the locked files to an external drive before you clean the system, so a decryptor released later still has them.
What is VirLock virus?
VirLock ransomware virus is a program that you don't want to run into. It acts just like Your Computer Was Automatically Blocked virus, Crypt0l0cker, Locky virus, etc. The summary table at the top of this guide lists the type, the detection names, the symptoms and the damage of VirLock.
Reading it first helps you decide whether your computer shows the same signs. The removal plan below it works in order, from the safest step to the more thorough ones.
Will Fortect remove VirLock virus?
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 VirLock virus, 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
- InfoSecurity: St Louis Library Back-Ups Save Ransomware Blushes (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)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)