Remove LOCKED Ransomware And Restore Encrypted Data

Easy Steps To Delete LOCKED Ransomware

LOCKED Ransomware has been identified as a very dangerous computer virus which encrypts files and then forces users to pay the attackers an amount of ransom for the decryption. It was first discovered by security researcher Michael Gillespie and has already infected thousands of Windows systems all over the world. This hazardous crypto-malware locks the targeted files using a very strong encryption algorithm and renames them by appending “[LOCKED] string with each of them. It is able to compromise almost all type of data including videos, audios, documents, images, presentations etc. and make them totally useless.

Depth Analysis of LOCKED Ransomware:

Following successful encryption, LOCKED Ransomware displays a ransom note titled “UNLOCK INSTRUCTIONS.txt” and informs victims regarding the attack. The message in the text file is translated into multiple languages. It states that if the decryption has already started, it can be ignored. If it is has not, victims need to reboot their systems and deactivate any running anti-virus programs. If the application still doesn’t work, victims should open the site using the Tor browser.

This site contains details about how to download and launch a fresh copy of the decryption tool and pay ransom. Note displayed by LOCKED Ransomware also states that the decryption cost is 0.00480337 that has to be paid in BitCoins which is approx. $38.99 at the time of writing. Payment has to be transferred in the provided BitCoins wallet address. Users can send “support questions” to the attackers, nonetheless, it will increase the price of the decryption key by 50%. After the payment, the key will supposedly appear on the site.

Should You Pay The Ransom?

Whatever the situation might be, you should never consider dealing with LOCKED Ransomware authors. There are various instances when hackers just ignored the victims once the ransom is paid or delivered rogue software in the name of decryption tool. The only motive of such criminals is to swindle illicit money from the victimized users. You just can’t trust them as there is huge chance of getting scammed at the end. Moreover, paying ransom to such people will only encourage them to create and drop more infections for future profits.

What Should The Victims Do?

The first thing you require to do here in such perilous situation is to perform LOCKED Ransomware removal from the computer as early as possible. The longer it remains inside, it keeps infecting your other essential data. For data-recovery, you should use other methods such as a recently made backup that you have saved on any external drive. In the absence of a proper backup, you can try an effective file-recovery application.

Threat Summary 

Name: LOCKED Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, File-encrypting malware, Crypto-virus

Short Description: Hazardous threat that locks essential data and then asks victims to pay the attackers a hefty sum of ransom to get the decryption software/key.

Extension: [LOCKED] (with a space preceding it)

Ransom Notes: UNLOCK INSTRUCTIONS.txt text file, Tor website

Ransom Amount: 0.00480337 in Bitcoins  (the price can vary)

Attackers’ Contact: Criminals can be contacted via contact form on their Tor website

Symptoms: Infected files become inaccessible and useless stored inside the infected PCs, previous functional data now have different extension, a ransom demanding message is put on each affected folder. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encrypted files.

Distribution methods: Spam emails, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

Infiltration of LOCKED Ransomware:

Just like any other file-encoding virus, this particular one also generally sneaks into the targeted computers via malspam campaign. Cyber hackers craft persuasive emails and send them out a number of users. These phishing mails often claim to have “an important attachment” such as missing or pending tax payment, invoice etc. However, they usually contain malicious files and when opened, trigger the installation of crypto-virus. And therefore, you should avoid opening emails coming from unknown senders as you never know what they are bringing to your computer. In case your device is already infected with this nasty parasite, you must remove LOCKED Ransomware from the PC as early as possible.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

Your files have been locked.

You can ignore this message if the unlocker program already started.

If it didn’t start, something went wrong. In that case, follow these steps

First, try disabling your antivirus and restarting your computer.

If that doesn’t work, download and run the Tor Browser from httpswww.torproject.org onto your computer.

Then, use the Tor Browser to go to the website httpowvkdek4oog5vzge3hx7pbaumj3dvf3byeihsz6y6sc3i4gffmjvswad.onion

Log into the website with the username –

Once logged in, you will see more instructions.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove LOCKED Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete LOCKED Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove LOCKED 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 LOCKED Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with LOCKED 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 LOCKED 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 LOCKED 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 LOCKED 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 LOCKED 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 LOCKED 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 LOCKED 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 LOCKED 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 LOCKED 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.