Remove XD Locker ransomware And Access Encrypted Files

Tips To Delete XD Locker ransomware

XD Locker ransomware has been identified by security researchers as a highly dangerous computer virus which encrypts files and prevents victims from accessing those files. The primary objective of cyber criminals behind such lethal attacks is to extort illicit revenues from the victimized users. And therefore, soon after completing the encryption process, it starts blackmailing them for the ransom money. This deadly ransomware uses a strong cryptography to lock images, audios, videos, presentations, documents, spreadsheets etc. and also renames them by replacing their names with random digits and appending “.XL” extension with each of them as suffix. Due to this extension, all the compromised data can easily be identified.

More About XD Locker ransomware:

Following successful encryption, XD Locker ransomware displays a pop-up window and also generates 40 text files (named “Oops1.txt”, “Oops2.txt”… “Oops40.txt”), all these files include the same text. These notes inform victims regarding the attack and also ask them to pay the attackers a sum of ransom to get the decryption tool. The amount of the tool is 0.9 BitCoin that has to be transferred in the provided BTC wallet address.

Should Victims Pay The Ransom?

Although, it’s is very much true that files encrypted by XD Locker ransomware can’t be opened without using the proper decryption tool. However, still you should not make any sort of payment to the criminals as they don’t give any assurance that they will provide you the required decryptor even after taking the extortion. There are multiple occasions when hackers just ignored the affected people once the ransom is paid and caused them to lose both files as well as money. So, never consider dealing with the attackers no matter what circumstance is.

How To Restore The Infected Files?

Before you attempt to recover the compromised files, you should first focus on XD Locker ransomware removal from the computer immediately. As far as restoring the infected files is concerned, you should use an existing backup or on its absence, you can also try a powerful file-recovery application. Victims are always deceived by scammers in purchasing dubious software while choosing recovery tool. And thus, it is important to be very careful in such situation. You can download an appropriate data-recovery program right here via the link provided under this article.

Threat Summary

Name: XD Locker ransomware

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

Short Description: Destructive parasite that locks important files and then asks victims to pay the attackers a huge sum of ransom to get the decryption software/key.

Extension: “.XL”

Ransom Notes: Pop-up window, 40 text files named Oops1.txt, Oops2.txt…Oops40.txt,

Ransom Amount: 0.9 of Bitcoin

BTC Wallet Address: Ur183IenOeJVZX5OeBMewJn55Lo

Symptoms: Files become unusable stored on the infected computers, previous functional data now have different extension, a ransom demanding note is displayed. Victims are asked to pay an amount of ransom to decrypt 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.

Ways To Spread XD Locker ransomware:

Most often, cyber criminals use malspam campaigns to proliferate these file-encoding viruses. They send thousands of spam emails that contain vicious attachments or download links of malicious files. Their main purpose is to deceive recipients into downloading the malevolent files that are designed to install virus. Usually, the attached malicious files are in such formats: archive files like ZIP, RAR, Microsoft Office, PDF documents, executable files like .exe, or JavaScript files. The moment, it is opened or executed, it triggers the installation of ransomware.

So, to prevent such hazardous situations, you should avoid opening emails that you often receive from unknown senders. Whenever you get a suspicious email, you should first scan the attachment using a reputable anti-malware tool. Moreover, download any software or product from official sites, trustworthy channels, direct links only and stay away from third-party downloaders, peer-to-peer sharing networks etc. In case your device is already infected with this precarious crypto-malware, you must remove XD Locker ransomware from the work-station as early as possible.

Text Presented In The Pop-up:

## ##    ## ###  ##       ##  ##   ## ##   ##  ##   ##  ####

  ###     ##  ### ##      ##    ##  ####   ##    ##  ## ##  #

  ###     ##   ## ##      ##    ##  ####   #######   ####

 ## ##    ## ###  #######  ##  ##   ## ##  ##        ###

##   ##   ####    #######   ####    ##  ## ##    ##  ##

                                            ##  ##

                                             ####

Ooops your file have been encrypted

The encrypted file

.zip .rar .gif .ink .txt .pdf

.vbs .doc .mp4 .mp3 .wav .docx

.jpg .png .htm .url .html

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+XD Locker encrypt file XD +

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+===========time===========+

+            90            +

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Send $ 0.9 Bitcoin worth of Bitcoin to this address:

Ur183IenOeJVZX5OeBMewJn55Lo

Text Presented In The Ransom Notes:

Ooops your file have been encrypted file

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete XD Locker ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove XD Locker 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 XD Locker ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with XD Locker 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 XD Locker 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 XD Locker 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 XD Locker 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 XD Locker 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 XD Locker 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 XD Locker 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 XD Locker 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 XD Locker 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.