Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Note! Your computer might be affected by MM Locker and other threats.
Threats such as MM Locker may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
A week or so ago, researchers from Proofpoint uncovered their findings of a ransomware they named MM Locker. The ransomware encrypts files with the .locked extension. Rumor has it that some of the infections are caused by crack executables for the game Far Cry Primal. To see how to remove the ransomware and what ways you can try to restore your files, you should carefully read this article.
Threat Summary
Name
MM Locker
Type
Ransomware
Short Description
The ransomware encrypts files with .locked extension and demands a ransom of 200 US dollars.
Symptoms
The ransomware targets around 60 different file extensions for encryption. READ_IT.txt file and an image file are created.
MM Locker ransomware is distributed in a few ways. Traditionally, spam emails are the main source for getting infected with ransomware. This one does not make an exception. The emails distribute malware as attachments. Malicious code can be found inside the attachments. Do not open such emails as your PC might get infected just from the body of the email in some cases.
A rumor is spread that some infections with this ransomware started upon downloading crack executables. They were promoted around YouTube as crack files for popular games, including FCPrimal.exe for the newest game in the Far Cry series – Primal.
Social media sites and file-sharing services are not excluded as methods to spread the infection. The best prevention advice is not to download, open or click anything that is either suspicious or with an unknown origin.
MM Locker Ransomware – Details
MM Locker is the name that Proofpoint researchers gave to this ransomware. The name comes from a directory path of one of the malware samples – C:\mm\mm\obj\Release\mm.pdb. The ransomware connects to a remote location to download a picture. The picture is set as a user’s desktop background after encryption is complete. This is how that image looks like:
The image bears the name ransom.jpg. The ransomware may connect to locations which have an IP address starting with the numbers 23.227.199. User name and host name can be sent to those locations.
MM Locker creates the following files in the %AppData%, %UserProfile% and Desktop directories:
Decrypter.exe
READ_IT.txt
ransom.jpg
The file READ_IT.txt contains the actual instructions on paying the ransom. The file can be viewed in the picture down here:
The file reads the following:
(If you are in Notepad, please click the Format menu above ^^^^ and click Word Wrap)
Uh oh. It looks like your data has been the victim of the encryption thief. Your files have been encrypted with AES: search your drive for “locked” if you don’t believe me . Unfortunately you’re going to have to pay some money to get your files back and your fee is approximately $200 in US Dollars. I’ll get right to the ugly details for that:
* You have 72 hours to make this happen as of 12/03/2016 21:03:16. Otherwise, your files are lost for good. I will delete the necessary code for all time and I don’t even have to revisit your machine to do it. * You will be paying by Bitcoin. Don’t worry, it is easy to figure out. Your fee is 0.501049 BTC. Pay this amount precisely, or I might not know who it was that paid in order to rescue them. * Use LocalBitcoins.com. It isn’t hard to use, there are numerous ways to pay for my bitcoins on there, and most importantly, it is fast. Did I mention you have 72 hours? * The address you will be sending the bitcoins to is 192awRvM4V8LS24GSHj6o3v2fVQ5QYh4pB . * Then you will wait for me to get the unlock code for you. Your code will be shown here, http://let-me-help-you-with-that.webnode.com/ , under the amount you paid. This may take a day or so: you are on my schedule now :P * Once you have the code, you can unlock your files as follows: *** First you must download my decrypter: http://we.tl/L2dUFWqdJa . You may get various warnings that this is a Trojan or some other nonsense. Don’t believe it: if I needed to cause more damage I would have done so already. The file is marked as such because the antivirus people are lazy SOBs and just mark everything they can. *** Go to your Start Menu *** In the search field, type “cmd”. *** Double click the cmd program. *** Type “cd C:\Users\xxx\Downloads” *** Type “Decrypter.exe ” *** Other people’s codes will not work for you, obviously.
That is basically it. The rest of this document is a further description about your situation.
* You’ll never be able to find me. Police will never be able to find me. Go ahead and try them if you like, but don’t expect your data back. They will be concerned about helping the community, not with helping you meet your deadline. If they say they need to keep your desktop for a few days, well lol, you probably won’t be seeing your machine again soon, let alone your data. I’ve been doing this for five years now and haven’t been caught yet. * Best Buy will have no ability to undo the encryption. Hell, even the NSA probably couldn’t undo it. Well maybe they could, but I suspect you won’t be a high priority for their computation clusters for at least a couple of years. * In 72 hours, you will never be able to get these files open. I don’t much like people struggling against the powerful and there is no way for you to argue for an extension. Just make it happen.
So just be thankful that it wasn’t worse. I could have asked for more money. I could have been working for ISIS and saving that money to behead children. I could have been a mean SOB and just destroyed your data outright. Am I those things? No. I just need the money to live off of (true story) and don’t care at all about the hacker “community”. So there isn’t anyone you will be protecting by sacrificing yourself. I’ll just encrypt more people’s data to make up for the loss.
So you have your instructions. I’ll even tell you how you could have prevented this:
* Install a good antivirus and keep it up to date. This is basically where you fell down. * Don’t click on any file from the internet that isn’t a piece of data like (jpg, txt, doc) or you better really know where that file came from. * Back up your files in case the encryption thief visits you. :P
Better luck to you in the future.
The ransom price is 200 US dollars within the first 72 hours. The paying instructions are written in a clever way to try and make you feel like paying up. The person behind the ransomware even gave some good tips to prevent this from happening again in the future. A mere trick, rather than sympathy. Do NOT fall for it and don’t even think of paying the ransom. Paying can only encourage the malware creator. Also, no guarantee exists that the decryptor will even work.
The MM Locker ransomware locks files with nearly sixty different extensions. The encryption process is yet unclear, but the extensions that the ransomware searches to encrypt are these:
The list with file types for encryption could be incomplete, but that is what researchers have uncovered for now. After the encryption process is done, all files have the same extension – .locked. The extension has also been used by the Cryptolocker.AA ransomware and as ORX Locker.
MM Locker ransomware probably also deletes Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows Operating System.
Remove MM Locker Ransomware and Restore .locked Encrypted Files
If your PC got infected by the MM Locker ransomware, you should have some experience with removing malware. You should remove the malware as soon as you can as it could encrypt other files and further spread on the network. We recommend that you remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions provided below.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by MM Locker and other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as MM Locker. Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
To remove MM Locker follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove MM Locker files and objects
OFFER
Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!
We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria
Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
For Windows XP, Vista and 7 systems:
1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu. 2. Select one of the two options provided below:
– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.
– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.
3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.
4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account
While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.
Step 1: Open up the Start Menu.
Step 2: Click on the Power button (for Windows 8 it is the little arrow next to the “Shut Down” button) and whilst holding down “Shift” click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, a blue menu with options will appear. From them you should choose Troubleshoot.
Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu choose Advanced Options.
Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Step 6: From the Startup Settings menu, click on Restart.
Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You can choose any of the three Safe Mode options by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
2. Find files created by MM Locker on your PC
Find files created by MM Locker
1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
Step 1:
On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
Step 2:
Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
Step 3:
Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC’s screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be “fileextension:exe”. After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navination box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn’t found it yet.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS’s the conventional approach should be the effective one:
Step 1:
Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
Step 2:
After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
Step 3:
After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
IMPORTANT! Before starting the Automatic Removal below, 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.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove MM Locker with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for MM Locker and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove MM Locker. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Next’ button.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
4. Try to Restore files encrypted by MM Locker
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by MM Locker
Ransomware infections and MM Locker aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested several alternative methods that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that these methods may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software. Another method for restoring your files is by trying to bring back your files via data recovery software. Here are some suggestions for preferred data recovery software solutions:
Method 2: Trying Kaspersky and EmsiSoft’s decryptors. If the first method does not work, we suggest trying to use decryptors for other ransomware viruses, in case your virus is a variant of them. The two primary developers of decryptors are Kaspersky and EmsiSoft, links to which we have provided below:
To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for Volume Shadow Copies, if ransomware has not deleted them, in Windows using the below software:
Method 4: Finding the decryption key while the cryptovirus sends it over a network via a sniffing tool.
Another way to decrypt the files is by using a Network Sniffer to get the encryption key, while files are encrypted on your system. A Network Sniffer is a program and/or device monitoring data traveling over a network, such as its internet traffic and internet packets. If you have a sniffer set before the attack happened you might get information about the decryption key. See how-to instructions below:
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
1. For Windows XP, Vista and 7.
2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Fix registry entries created by malware and PUPs on your PC.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for MM Locker and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
