What Is LyDark Virus?
LyDark virus is the name of a ransomware infection. This means that it enters your computer without you realizing and attacks your files, preventing you from opening them.
LyDark virus is part of the Xorist ransomware virus family as identified on VirusTotal. These are a family of crypto viruses whose main purpose is to encrypt your documents and add a custom file extension. In this case, it is .LyDark. Then, this infection drops a ransom note file that has the instructions of the perpetrators who have created this virus. They often want you to pay a lot of money to them in the form of BitCoin if you want to access the files again. If your computer has been infected by the LyDark virus, we strongly advise that you read this article as it contains more information on how to remove the virus and get your files back for free.
LyDark Summary
| Name | LyDark, also known as Xorist Ransomware, Trojan.Ransom.AIG, Win32:Filecoder-M [Trj], TR/Ransom.Xorist.EJ, Trojan[Ransom]/Win32.Xorist, TrojWare.Win32.Kryptik.ER@4o1ar2, Trojan.TR/Ransom.Xorist.EJ, Trojan.Win32.A.Xorist.1268736 |
| File Extension | .LyDark |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files on your computer system and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly recover them. |
| Symptoms | The LyDark ransomware will encrypt your files by appending the .LyDark extension to them. |
| Ransom Demanding Note | HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Computer Has Been Affected by LyDark
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Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss LyDark. |
LyDark Virus – More Information
LyDark ransomware, belongs to the Xorist family of infections, meaning they share the same code. Other variants also include .cat Virus, Flubo Virus and Snopy ransomware.
Viruses, like LyDark, use the typical malware distribution channels. This means that it could infect your computer in two main ways:
- By posing as a seemingly legitimate e-mail attachment.
- By pretending to be an installer of some sort or a portable program, crack, patch, etc.
If it infects your computer by posing as an e-mail attachment, the malware may pretend to be a really important file of some sort. Such files often end up being plane tickers, fake invoices for a revoked purchase, or anything that will get you to download and open the file. The infection usually happens with a .pdf or .docx document that is in an archive and has malicious macros code embedded in it.
If the virus infects your computer by posing as a program then you have most likely downloaded it from the wrong website.
Either way, once LyDark is in your computer, it may begin scanning it for these types of files to encrypt:
- Your documents.
- Videos.
- Pictures.
- Music.
- Archives.
- Database files.
- Other often-used files.
The virus scans the files based on their file extensions, for example .jpg, .docx, .rar, etc. It is very careful not to encrypt files in the Windows directory so it won’t damage Windows itself.
After encryption, the LyDark virus ads the .LyDark file extension and the following note:
.LyDark Files
The files that are encrypted by this virus receive the .LyDark extension and they start to look like this:
IMPORTANT! Do not try to remove the .LyDark extension from the files. It may damage them even more! Instead, we recommend that you read the removal and decryption segment below to learn how to get the files back.
Remove LyDark Virus and Try Decrypt Files for Free
Before starting any file recovery or removal, always do a fresh backup of your files somewhere else, even if they are encrypted. Handling such malware is risky and often takes experienced professionals to do, but now we will show you how to do it yourself.
To remove the virus, please follow the removal steps below. In case you feel unsure about removing this ransomware manually, then you should do what professionals advise – download and run a scan using anti-malware software. Such a program will automatically detect and take care of this nasty virus from your computer.
To try and decrypt the files, please download the Xorist Decryptor by Kaspersky – this is a free tool that is developed by malware researchers to help victims of ransomware viruses from the Xorist family, which is LyDark. We hope this helps! If you have any inquiries, please leave a comment below. Our SensorsTechForum support team will try to answer as fast as possible.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Attention! SensorsTechForum strongly recommends that all malware victims should look for assistance only by reputable sources. Many guides out there claim to offer free recovery and decryption for files encrypted by ransomware viruses. Be advised that some of them may only be after your money.
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.
How to Remove LyDark from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove LyDark
Step 2: Uninstall LyDark and related software 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 uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by LyDark 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 LyDark 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: Scan for LyDark with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by LyDark.
Ransomware infections and LyDark 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 top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Get rid of LyDark from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall LyDark and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove LyDark via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by LyDark.
Ransomware infections and LyDark 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 top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
LyDark FAQ
What is LyDark ransomware and how does it work?
LyDark 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 algorithm how 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.
How does LyDark ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.LyDark Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, 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.
After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.
Another way, you may become a victim of LyDark 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 .LyDark files?
You can't. At this point the .LyDark files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .LyDark files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by LyDark ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.
How Do I restore ".LyDark" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .LyDark files.
These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How do I get rid of LyDark ransomware virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate LyDark ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .LyDark files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like LyDark ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.
What to Do If nothing works?
There is still a lot you can do. If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:
- Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
- Try to contact your friends, relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
- Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re-downloaded from the web.
- Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
- You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.
More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.
How to 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.
