What Is blackZluk?
blackZluk is a recently detected ransomware virus, currently making circles in the wild. The ransomware appends the .blackZluk extension to the filenames of encrypted files. It also drops the #RECOVERY#.txt ransom note which contains decryption instructions.
Keep in mind that cybersecurity experts don’t recommend following these instructions and paying the ransom to criminals. Ransom payments only fuel further criminal activity, and there is no guarantee that you will receive a working decryption key. Read this article for possible solutions and a removal method.
![blackZluk Ransomware [.blackZluk File virus]](https://cdn.sensorstechforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/blackZluk-Ransomware-.blackZluk-File-virus-1024x585.jpg)
Threat Summary
| Name | blackZluk |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them. |
| Ransom Note | “#RECOVERY#.txt” |
| Symptoms | The ransomware will encrypt your files by appending the .blackZluk extension to them. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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.blackZluk Files Virus – How Did I Get It and What Damage Has It Done?
blackZluk ransomware might spread its infection via a payload dropper, which initiates the malicious script for this ransomware. The ransomware might also distribute its payload file on social media and file-sharing services.
Freeware which is found on the Web can be presented as helpful also be hiding the malicious script for the cryptovirus.
.blackZluk Files Virus is a cryptovirus that encrypts your files and shows a ransomware note with the following text:
Hello my dear friend (Do not scan the files with antivirus in any case. In case of data loss, the consequences are yours)
Your data is encryptedUnfortunately for you, a major IT security weakness left you open to attack, your files have been encrypted
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
Download the (Session) messenger (hxxps://getsession.org) in messenger: 0569a7c0949434c9c4464cf2423f66d046e3e08654e4164404b1dc23783096d313 You have to add this Id and we will complete our converstion
In case of no answer in 24 hours write us to this backup e-mail: blackpro.team24@onionmail.org
Our online operator is available in the messenger Telegram: @Files_decrypt or hxxps://t.me/Files_decrypt
Check your e-mail Spam or Junk folder if you don’t get answer more than 6 hours.
Contact us soon, because those who don’t have their data leaked in our press release blog and the price they’ll have to pay will go up significantly.Attention
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software – it may cause permanent data loss.
We are always ready to cooperate and find the best way to solve your problem.
The faster you write – the more favorable conditions will be for you.
Our company values its reputation. We give all guarantees of your files decryption.What are your recommendations?
– Never change the name of the files, if you want to manipulate the files, be sure to back them up. If there are any problems with the files, we are not responsible for them.
– Never work with intermediary companies because they charge you more money.Don’t be afraid of us, just email us.
Sensitive data on your system was DOWNLOADED.
If you DON’T WANT your sensitive data to be PUBLISHED you have to act quickly.Data includes:
– Employees personal data, CVs, DL, SSN.
– Complete network map including credentials for local and remote services.
– Private financial information including: clients data, bills, budgets, annual reports, bank statements.
– Manufacturing documents including: datagrams, schemas, drawings in solidworks format
– And more…
What are the dangers of leaking your company’s data.
First of all, you will receive fines from the government such as the GDRP and many others, you can be sued by customers of your firm for leaking information that was confidential. Your leaked data will be used by all the hackers on the planet for various unpleasant things. For example, social engineering, your employees’ personal data can be used to re-infiltrate your company. Bank details and passports can be used to create bank accounts and online wallets through which criminal money will be laundered. On another vacation trip, you will have to explain to the FBI where you got millions of dollars worth of stolen cryptocurrency transferred through your accounts on cryptocurrency exchanges. Your personal information could be used to make loans or buy appliances. You would later have to prove in court that it wasn’t you who took out the loan and pay off someone else’s loan. Your competitors may use the stolen information to steal technology or to improve their processes, your working methods, suppliers, investors, sponsors, employees, it will all be in the public domain. You won’t be happy if your competitors lure your employees to other firms offering better wages, will you? Your competitors will use your information against you. For example, look for tax violations in the financial documents or any other violations, so you have to close your firm. According to statistics, two thirds of small and medium-sized companies close within half a year after a data breach. You will have to find and fix the vulnerabilities in your network, work with the customers affected by data leaks. All of these are very costly procedures that can exceed the cost of a ransomware buyout by a factor of hundreds. It’s much easier, cheaper and faster to pay us the ransom. Well and most importantly, you will suffer a reputational loss, you have been building your company for many years, and now your reputation will be destroyed.Do not go to the police or FBI for help and do not tell anyone that we attacked you.
They won’t help and will only make your situation worse. In 7 years not a single member of our group has been caught by the police, we are top-notch hackers and never leave a trace of crime. The police will try to stop you from paying the ransom in any way they can. The first thing they will tell you is that there is no guarantee to decrypt your files and delete the stolen files, this is not true, we can do a test decryption before payment and your data will be guaranteed to be deleted because it is a matter of our reputation, we make hundreds of millions of dollars and we are not going to lose income because of your files. It is very beneficial for the police and the FBI to let everyone on the planet know about the leak of your data, because then your state will receive fines under GDPR and other similar laws. The fines will go to fund the police and FBI. The police and FBI will not be able to stop lawsuits from your customers for leaking personal and private information. The police and FBI will not protect you from repeat attacks. Paying us a ransom is much cheaper and more profitable than paying fines and legal fees.If you do not pay the ransom, we will attack your company again in the future.
Start messaging with your unique ID an incident file #RECOVERY#.txt
your unique ID
–
The extortionists want you to pay a ransom for the alleged restoration of your files, same as with the previous Dharma ransomware family variants. .blackZluk Files Virus could make entries in the Windows Registry to achieve persistence, and could launch or repress processes in a Windows system.
All encrypted will receive the .blackZluk extension alongside a unique identifier number. That extension will be placed as a secondary one to each file. Audio, video, image files as well as documents, backups can be encrypted by the ransomware.
The .blackZluk Files Virus could also be set to erase all the Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system with the help of the following command:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
If your computer was infected with this ransomware and your files are locked, read on to find out how you could potentially restore your files.
Should You Pay the Ransom?
In ransomware attacks, paying the ransom usually is not recommended, due to several important factors:
- Paying the ransom does not guarantee that the attackers will provide a working decryption key or restore access to the encrypted data. In many cases, victims have paid the ransom only to receive faulty or incomplete keys, or none at all.
- Paying the ransom fuels the ransomware economy, encouraging attackers to continue targeting other organizations and individuals. It signals that such attacks are profitable, which can lead to more frequent and sophisticated attacks.
- Paying the ransom may make you a target for future attacks. Attackers may view victims who have paid once as likely to pay again, increasing the chance of repeated targeting.
- In some jurisdictions, paying ransom to cybercriminals may be illegal or against regulations, particularly if the attackers are affiliated with sanctioned groups. Moreover, by paying, funds may indirectly support further criminal or malicious activities.
Rather than involving yourself in ransom payment, focus on prevention and mitigation, such as maintaining regular data backups, implementing strong cybersecurity measures, and working with cybersecurity professionals to recover from the attack without paying the ransom.
In the event of an attack, reporting the incident to law enforcement and involving incident response experts is also critical.
Remove blackZluk Ransomware
If your computer got infected with the .blackZluk Files Virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
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Step 1: Scan for blackZluk with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall blackZluk and related malware from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully delete most unwanted and malicious programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by blackZluk on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by blackZluk there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Step 4: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove blackZluk
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by blackZluk.
Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft.
Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable.
Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below:
1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below:
2. Agree with the license terms:
3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath:
4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded.
Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus.
Method 2: Use data recovery software
Ransomware infections and blackZluk aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
blackZluk-FAQ
What is blackZluk Ransomware?
blackZluk is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files.
Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithms to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
What Does blackZluk Ransomware Do?
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid.
Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
How Does blackZluk Infect?
Via several ways.blackZluk Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, containing virus attachment. This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users.
Another way you may become a victim of blackZluk is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to Open .blackZluk files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .blackZluk files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .blackZluk files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore ".blackZluk" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .blackZluk files.
These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How To Get Rid of blackZluk Virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program.
It will scan for and locate blackZluk ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .blackZluk files.
Can I Report Ransomware to Authorities?
In case your computer got infected with a ransomware infection, you can report it to the local Police departments. It can help authorities worldwide track and determine the perpetrators behind the virus that has infected your computer.
Below, we have prepared a list with government websites, where you can file a report in case you are a victim of a cybercrime:
Cyber-security authorities, responsible for handling ransomware attack reports in different regions all over the world:
Germany - Offizielles Portal der deutschen Polizei
United States - IC3 Internet Crime Complaint Centre
United Kingdom - Action Fraud Police
France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
Italy - Polizia Di Stato
Spain - Policía Nacional
Netherlands - Politie
Poland - Policja
Portugal - Polícia Judiciária
Greece - Cyber Crime Unit (Hellenic Police)
India - Mumbai Police - CyberCrime Investigation Cell
Australia - Australian High Tech Crime Center
Reports may be responded to in different timeframes, depending on your local authorities.
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Can blackZluk Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it.
In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
Should I Pay Ransomware?
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine.
It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity.
About the blackZluk Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this blackZluk how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the blackZluk ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources.
How to recognize trustworthy sources:
- Always check "About Us" web page.
- Profile of the content creator.
- Make sure that real people are behind the site and not fake names and profiles.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.