How to remove LIZARD ransomware and recover encrypted files

Delete LIZARD ransomware from the system

LIZARD ransomware is a huge risk ransomware infection that locks all non-system files including pictures, videos, documents, music and etc. It belongs to Flamingo virus family. It uses strong AES and RSA algorithms for the files encryption. During the process, it appends the filenames of the encrypted files with .LIZARD extension, as well as additional strings in the form of user associated ID number and email address belongs to the crooks behind it.

.LIZARD extension to your files indicates that the files get affected during LIZARD ransomware attacks and files encryption process. You cannot access to these files. However, these are not corrupted and so can be recovered. Before discussing the right way for the files recovery, let us first examine what the ransom note instruction way and why you should not follow its instruction. The ransomware note in a file named #READ ME.TXT appears soon after the files encryption process is done. Through this note, the attackers demand payment in Bitcoin in order to recover unique decryption software, which, once used, could unlock all encrypted files.

 Prior to the payment, the victims are asked to send the provided ID number and test a free file decryption via the provided email addresses. We advise not to initiate communication with these shady people because of the reason that there is a huge chance that these attackers do not provide the decryption tool and only expose you to some shady pages from where some additional malware can get installed. Backups are always the safest option for the data recovery in such cases. However, if you have no such files, you should once check whether Volume Shadow Copies are available or not. These are automatically created backups from OS, and in most cases, they are left untouched during the files encryption process. Data recovery tools can help you in files recovery for you.

Threat Summary

Name: LIZARD ransomware

Threat Type: Ransomware

Extension use: Malware uses a three-part extension, which consists of a contact email, user ID (appended before the file name), and a .LIZARD extension. Example of an encrypted file: [[email protected]][id=460B22EA]picture.jpg.LIZARD

Encryption algorithm used: A combination of RSA and AES is used to lock all non-system and non-executable files on the host machine

Ransom amount: #READ ME.TXT

Cyber criminals’ contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Symptoms: Cannot open the files stored on the device, previous functional files now have a different extension. A ransom demand message is displayed on the desktop. Cyber criminals demand payment of a ransom to for unlocking the files

Additional information: This malware is designed to show a fake Windows Update Window and modify the Windows hosts file in order to prevent users from accessing security websites online

Distribution methods: Infected email attachments (macros), torrent websites, malicious ads, unofficial activation and updating tools

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be opened without paying a ransom. Additional password stealing Trojan or other malware infections can be installed together with a ransomware infection

Malware removal: Use some reputable antivirus tool or follow manual malware removal guide provided below the post to remove LIZARD ransomware from the device

Files recovery: Existing backup is the safe and secure option to get the files back in the original accessible condition. Other data recovery options include Volume Shadow Copy or data recovery tools -check the data removal section below the post for the step by step guide for performing them

Flamingo ransomware was firstly shown up in September, 2020. LIZARD ransomware is seemingly to its first variant. While it not yet known the group of attackers behind this ransomware, it seems that the crooks have decided to keep going because in a couple of months total 4 ransomware variant of this family have been released. Soon after gaining access to the device, the malware of this family begins changing the way it operates. The main aim of the threat is to ensure files encryption and therefore it immediately tries to break into the Windows defenses and Shadow Copies. Also, it drops various malicious files to the system and changes the window registry and several other sectors.

After doing all such processes, it beings the encryption process and then drops the ransom note that reads as:

 ———-[ All your data is encrypted by a strong encryter L!zarD ]———-

=========================== # Unique ID : 460B22EA

=========================== # E-mail : [email protected]

================================================================================

” PLEASE BE CAREFUL ” :

if your data is important to you, And you want to make a payment, be sure

to send us a test file first(3 Mb),And make sure we have the ability to

open your files(Decrypt test files).So first send the test file to prove

that we can decrypt your files, Then make a payment (Buy BTC) and receive the

decryption tool (Send Decrypter).

================================================================================

If you do not receive a reply after sending us an email,

please send an email to the second email address.

second E-mail : [email protected]

================================================================================

As evident, the attackers want to make people trust them and make payment to them to supposedly receive the unique decryption tool from them. However, we recommend you not doing this as the hackers might take your money and never deliver you the decryption tool. Instead, remove LIZARD ransomware and recover the files using aforementioned alternatives. The malware removal is necessary to prevent further files encryption, avoid possible damages and perform files recovery without the interference of the threat.

Learn how to protect ransomware infiltration

Most users who got infection from the ransomware are quite shocked before they never encountered such an infection before. This also makes many of them think that the files recovery can easily be done after scanning the device using some reputable antivirus tool. Unfortunately, this is not the truth. The crptovirus removal will only ensure you that there will be no further files encryption. The already encrypted files will not get recovered doing this process. So, if you have no backup files, the files recovery would become a difficult task for you. Therefore, it is best to avoid the ransomware infiltration in the first place. Here are some pieces of advice that you take into consideration each time when you turn on the computer and connect to the internet:

• Install a reputable antivirus tool and keep it updated,
• Never download software cracks or pirated programs installers,
• Do not allow documents attached to unknown emails to run macros on your computer,
• Update your OS and all installed software regularly,
• Use secure and complex passwords for all accounts and never leave the WIFI opened for all,
• Backup all important data on regular basis

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove LIZARD ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete LIZARD ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove LIZARD ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete LIZARD ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with LIZARD ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to LIZARD ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove LIZARD ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of LIZARD ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by LIZARD ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like LIZARD ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by LIZARD ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with LIZARD ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove LIZARD ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.