Remove Wholocked Ransomware And Decrypt Infected Files

Tips To Delete Wholocked Ransomware From System

Wholocked Ransomware is a deadly crypto-malware which is known for encrypting Windows users’ crucial files and data stored inside their systems and forcing them to pay off for the decryption tool. It was first discovered by security researcher GrujaRS and has already infected several PCs till now. This hazardous threat generally infiltrates the targeted devices by stealth using several precarious methods such as spoofed emails, unpatched software, social media and so on. Soon after the intrusion, it alters the default registry settings by making spiteful entries in it which allows the virus to get automatically activated every time the machine is started.

Depth Analysis of Wholocked Ransomware:

Wholocked Ransomware encrypts your valuable data such as videos, audios, images, documents, spreadsheets, databases, PDFs etc. using a strong cryptography and makes them completely inaccessible. You can easily identify the compromised data as it appends “.wholocked” extension with each of them as suffix. After completing the encryption process, this perilous ransomware changes the desktop’s wallpaper and leaves “READ_ME_Heyyyyyyy.txt” file in each folder that contains that infected files. This text file includes the ransom demanding message stating that in order to regain access to the compromised data, victims need to pay the attackers a sum of ransom.

The ransom note displayed by Wholocked Ransomware mentions that all of the victims’ files have been encrypted. These files can be only opened by using a decryption tool that victims will have to buy from the attackers. The price of the tool is 0.036 BTC which is approx. 300 EUR (exchange rates keep fluctuating). The amount has to be transferred in the provided BitCoins wallet address.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

All your files have been encrypted!

All your documents (databases, texts, images, videos, musics etc.) were encrypted.

The encryption was done using a secret keythat is now on our servers.

To decrypt your files you will need to buy the secret key from us. We are the only on the world who can provide this for you.

What can I do?

Pay the ransom, in bitcoins, in the amount and wallet below. You can use www.coindirect.com/de – coinbase.com – coinmama.com – LocalBitcoins.com to buy bitcoins.

0,036 Bitcoin = 300 EURO

   

Send BTC Address = 1NxoWvpXufC5PkagnfWD9Rf19wm5jchVkX

Should You Deal With The Attackers?

You certainly don’t want to lose your essential files and documents but still, we highly advise to not make any sort of payment to the hackers. It is very clear that you will be cheated if you decide to fulfill criminals’ demands and end up with losing both files as well as money. Keep in mind that the only objective of such cyber actors is to extort illicit revenues from the victimized people. They will never decode the infected data even after taking the extortion. It has been seen that crooks usually disappear once the payment is made or provide rogue software to the victims in the name of decryption tool which only harms the device badly upon getting installed. So, never trust on the hackers under any circumstance.

What Should The Victims Do?

Paying ransom to the attackers is not a clever thing to do under any circumstance as it will only motivate them to drop more such viruses in the machine for future revenues. For data recovery, you can use a strong file-recovery application or if you have a backup made on any external drive, you can easily restore them back. But first of all, you must perform the removal of Wholocked Ransomware from the computer immediately before it infects your other essential files.

Other Harmful Traits of Wholocked Ransomware:

This hazardous crypto-threat has ability to deactivate all the running security programs and Windows Firewalls and make the device vulnerable for more notorious infections. It may easily bring other Online parasites like spyware, rootkits, adware, Trojans etc. in your work-station and turn the device into a malware-hub. It eats up enormous amount of memory resources and drags down the overall PC performance severely. Due to this, machine starts responding slower than ever before and takes more than usual time to complete any task. Wholocked Ransomware messes with important system files which assure efficient computer functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working properly.

Threat Details

Name: Wholocked Ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Description– Destructive malware that aims to encrypt users’ crucial files and then ask them to pay off for the decryption key/tool.

Extension– “.wholocked”

Ransom demanding message–  “READ_ME_Heyyyyyyy.txt” and text presented in the wallpaper

BitCoins wallet address– 1NxoWvpXufC5PkagnfWD9Rf19wm5jchVkX (Bitcoin)

Symptoms: Users can not open files available on their desktop, previously functional files now have different extensions, A ransom demanding message is displayed on the desktop screen. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: Spam emails, Torrent websites, 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.

How Does This Infection Enter Your System:

These crypto-viruses often infiltrate the targeted devices through several illusive techniques such as spam email campaigns, Trojans, fake software updaters, questionable download sources, unofficial software activation tools etc. Nevertheless, the most common method used by Cyber actors to spread such parasites is by sending emails that contain vicious attachments. Hackers usually attach MS office, PDF documents, exe files, and JavaScript files. Once you open the attachment, those spiteful files install some pernicious application.

Tips To Prevent Crypto-virus Attack:

To avoid the risk of being attacked by Wholocked Ransomware or other crypto-infection, you should not trust and ignore suspicious emails coming from stranger. Never open such emails that contain questionable attachment or web links. Moreover, avoid using software cracking tools since it is not legal. They always download and install malware on the computer instead of activating software. But at the moment, just take an immediate action and remove Wholocked Ransomware from the work-station by following the complete removal steps given below.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Wholocked Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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

Step 3: Follow all on screen instructions to install the app successfully on your machine and run it.. When its interface appear before you. Just select what you want to recover from your computer and its drive. For options, check the image below as the app offer you to recover everything, document, folders or emails, or multimedia files. Depending upon your requirements, select any of options and proceed to next step.

Step 4: At this step, you will have to specify the past of data or files from where you are interested to recover lost or deleted data. The application offers you to recover data from common locations, connected drives, and other locations as well. Just choose what you need. Following selection, click on Next button and the app will start to scan the selected drive.

Step 5: Once the scanner finishes to scan, it will show you detected kinds of deleted data or files which you may require to recover. It will offer you various recovery options based on file types. Even it allows you to see preview of file types you select in order to recover those efficiently.

Step 6: Now, you may need to specify the path where you want to recover the selected files and saved. Just do it according to your requirements, and you are done.