An interesting ransomware variant which is reported to have the .8lock8 extension after it encodes the files of the user asking for ransom money is detected out into the open. It copies the behavior of another ransomware known as HiddenTear Ransomware. 8lock8 Ransomware uses a Russian and English message to notify the victims that their files are encrypted. Users who have accidentally become a victim by this ransomware should read this article to learn how to delete the ransomware and decrypt the files for free.
Threat Summary
| Name | 8lock8 |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files with the AES-256 cipher and asks a ransom for decryption. |
| Symptoms | Files are encrypted with the 8lock8 file extension and become inaccessible. A ransom note with instructions for paying the ransom shows as a “READ_IT.txt” file. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, File Sharing Networks. |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by 8lock8 Download Malware Removal Tool |
| User Experience | Join our forum to Discuss 8lock8 Ransomware. |
| Data Recovery Tool | Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive. |
8lock8 Ransomware – How Does It Infect
The 8lock8 ransomware is very specific in its methods of infecting users. It’s primary method may be distribution via malicious email URLs, like the example below:
Such infected email links may redirect to malicious URLs that may inject a script which compromises your PC and may download the payload of 8lock8 onto your computer. Besides that, 8lock8 also has the capability to spread via infected flash drives as well as malicious executables posing as crack fixes in games downloaded from torrents similar to the MM Locker Ransomware, which was spread via game cracks.
8lock8 Ransomware In Detail
8lock8 otherwise known as EightLockEight is believed to have similar coding to another notorious ransomware infection – HiddenTear which is an open source project and has been associated with many other infections, like Sanction ransomware. The one thing that may characterize all ransomware using Hidden Tear is that they may directly attack the drives of infected PCs, changing their settings and encrypting the data in them.
After its payload has been dropped on the infected computer, it may be situated in one of the following locations:
The payload may be set to delete the shadow copies and other backups of Windows, by using vssadmin scripts. This is successfully done with the usage of privilege escalation. The command for deleting Shadow Volume Copies is the following:
→ vssadmin delete shadows /for={Your volume} /all /shadow={ID}] /quiet
Besides that, the ransomware may modify the Registry Editor(Regedit) in Windows so that its encryptor runs on Windows startup. This is possible by entering custom values for its executable in the following key:
→ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
If the encryptor is executed, according to researcher Demonslay335, who has also developed a decryptor for the ransomware, it begins to scan for and encrypt the following file types
→ zip,.bmp, .csv, .doc, .docx,., sql, .txt, .wav, .xls, ..avi, xlsx, .xml, ..ppt, .pptx, .rar, .sln, .htm, .html, .jpg, .mdb, .odt, .pdf, .php, .png, asp, .aspx
After it encrypts files each and every drive that Is active on the compromised computer with a very strong AES-256 encryption cipher, the infection adds its 8lock8 extension to the encrypted files, for example:
→ New Text Document.txt.8lock8
After encryption, the files are unable to be opened and 8lock8 ransomware creates the following ransom note, named “READ_IT.txt” so that the user can see it:
→ “Files have been encrypted!Файлы были зашифрованы
It uses cryptographically strong algorithm!Используется криптостойкий алгоритм
contact by e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
to identify , use lower hash!для идентификации используйте нижний хэш
{Random hash identification}”Source:Demonslay335
Remove 8lock8 Ransomware and Decrypt .8lock8 Files for Free
Since the removal and the decryption of 8lock8 ransomware may be tricky, we have designed a Manual and Automatic removal tutorials to help removing it in a simple and effective manner. We strongly recommend you to follow the instructions below if you want to remove 8lock8. In addition to that, we advise you to remove it using an anti-malware tool for maximum effectiveness.
If you want to decrypt your files for free, it is advisable to carefully follow the instructions for decryption in step “Decrypt Files Encrypted by 8lock8”. You can open them by clicking on it.
Manually delete 8lock8 from your computer
Note! Substantial notification about the 8lock8 threat: Manual removal of 8lock8 requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.
1. For Windows 7,XP and Vista.
2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
Automatically remove 8lock8 by downloading an advanced anti-malware program
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove 8lock8.
1. For Windows 7 and earlier
STOPZilla Anti Malware
