This article aims to help you remove iLock ransomware virus from your PC and hopefully restore some of your encrypted files.

The iLock ransomware, previously spotted in 2016 has returned with a new version. Being one of the first ransomware viruses that are themed in an Anonymous style, the virus aims to intimidate the user by dropping a WARNING-OPEN-ME.txt where the the virus asks the user to pay a hefty ransom fee in order to decrypt the encrypted files. Despite this being the case and the TOR payment page reported to not be working, malware researchers advise not to pay any ransom and instead remove iLock yourself and try to restore the files. Keep reading to learn more about iLock ransomware and learn how to eliminate it plus try and
get the files back.

Threat Summary

Name	iLock
Type	Ransomware
Short Description	The malware encrypts users files using a strong encryption algorithm, making direct decryption possible only via a unique decryption key available to the cyber-criminals.
Symptoms	The user may witness ransom notes and “instructions” linking to a web page and a decryptor. Files are no longer openable.
Distribution Method	Via an Exploit kit, Dll file attack, malicious JavaScript or a drive-by download of the malware itself in an obfuscated manner.
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by iLock Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join our forum to Discuss iLock.
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.

How Does The iLock Virus Spread

In order to cause an infection, the cyber-criminals behind the iLock threat may have used an advanced spamming kit, which is basically a mixture of tools to successfully spam different types of phishing e-mails across computers worldwide. The tools included may be:

A list of e-mail accounts that are not blocked by spam filters and are tested for e-mail attachments being sent.
A list of distribution malware, like exploit kits’, obfuscators and documents with malicious macros.
A pre-set list of socially engineered e-mails that may copycat original e-mails from FedEx, Amazon, E-bay, a bank, AliExpress plus many other well-known websites and services. This is created to hook the user into opening the attachment.

All of these tools combined with multiple online servers that conduct the spamming may end up increasing the infection rate of the iLock ransomware. Despite that they may work, one of it’s TOR-based web page has been reported on Twitter to not being able to be opened.

iLock Ransomware – Post-Infection

Once the user has opened the malicious attachment, if he does not have sufficient anti-malware protection, the iLock ransomware successfully drops the following file in the %SystemDrive% directory:

→ C:\Users\admin\Documents\Visual Studio 2013\Project\iLock\encrypter\obj\Debug\encrypter.pdb

In addition to this, iLock may also modify the following registry entries to make encrypter.pdb run on system startup:

→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

After having modified the registry keys, the virus may also delete any backups and shadow copies of the infected computer, using the vssadmin command in administrative mode:

The files encrypter.pdb attacks and scrambles are many. Amongst them are different file types associated with:

Videos.
Images.
Microsoft Office documents.
Adobe Reader files.
Database files.
Files associated with any backups. (backup image files)
Virtual machine files.
Other files associated with often used software.

The virus is very careful to skip encrypting important Windows files, since they may damage the whole system. After encryption the virus drops the following ransom note:

The wallpaper on the affected computer is also changed, depending on the language or region:

Remove iLock Virus and Restore The Files

After you have been attacked with this virus, there is not much you can do, but remove it, experts say. The best advisable method for removal is to use an advanced anti-malware tool, such as the one in the instructions below which will also protect your computer in the future as well.

To try and restore the encrypted files, your first deed of the day should be to back them up i.e. create multiple copies on other drives. After this you can feel free to risk them by trying the alternative methods for file decryption, which we have gladly provided in step “2. Restore files encrypted by iLock” below.

Manually delete iLock from your computer

Note! Substantial notification about the iLock threat: Manual removal of iLock 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. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove iLock files and objects

2.Find malicious files created by iLock on your PC

Automatically remove iLock by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

1. Remove iLock with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data

2. Restore files encrypted by iLock

Restore Files Encrypted by iLock

Ransomware infections like iLock aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to directly 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 they may not be 100% effective but they may help you little or a lot in some situations.

Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software.
Another method of 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:

Urgent! It is strongly advisable to first remove the iLock threat before attempting any decryption, since it may interfere with system files and registries. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using an advanced malware removal tool.

Method 3: Using Shadow Explorer

To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for shadow copies in Windows using this software if ransomware has not deleted them:

Shadow Explorer

Method 4: Finding iLock decryption key while it communicates it via a network sniffing software.

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:

Instructions on How to Find Decryption Key for Files Encrypted By Ransowmare

Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools

Vencislav Krustev

A network administrator and malware researcher at SensorsTechForum with passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cyber security. Strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.

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Remove iLock Ransomware and Restore AES-256 Encypted Files

Threat Summary