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 Princess Locker V2 and other threats.
Threats such as Princess Locker V2 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.
Malware researchers have recently discovered Princess Locker and what appears to be a second version. The methods of infection are still unknown, but the payload file is named ran.exe as submitted from various samples. Victims have a few days to pay the ransom, or the price will double, exactly like the previous version. The asked ransom price is 0.0600 Bitcoins. Read this article to the end to see how to remove the virus and try to decrypt your files.
Threat Summary
Name
Princess Locker V2
Type
Ransomware
Short Description
The ransomware will encrypt your files and display a ransom note. You are given a few days to pay, otherwise the ransom price will increase.
Symptoms
The ransomware will encrypt files, and put an extension to them. The extension consists of five random symbols, just like it was with the previous version of the ransomware.
Distribution Method
Spam Emails, File Sharing Networks, Exploit Kits
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by Princess Locker V2
The Princess Locker ransomware virus is possibly spread with an Exploit Kit if it follows suit of the original variant. Other methods for distributing the infection probably exist. It might spread through spam emails with an attachment. If you open such an attachment put in a suspicious e-mail, your computer could get infected. Social media networks and file-share services could also contain files like those if the cybercriminals decided to place them there. So, you should be very careful with the interactions you make on the Internet, such as when you click, download or open unknown files.
Below you can see the payload file that distributes the ransomware on VirusTotal:
The file is named ran.exe and is also present in other threat detection databases. Most antivirus programs detect it already, probably because of the similarity between its code and that of the original variant.
Princess Locker V2 Virus – Technical Data
Princess Locker is a ransomware cryptovirus. The ransomware has the same design, encryption mechanism and similar file distribution tactics as the original variant of the Princess Locker Ransomware Virus.
When Princess Locker ransomware finishes encrypting files it will place an image and a text document containing the ransom note with decryption instructions inside. The text document file bares one of the following names:
=_THIS_TO_FIX_cRtG.txt
=_THIS_TO_FIX_fyust.txt
= _THIS_TO_FIX_aknT0I.txt
Below you can see the contents of one of these ransom note files:
The note states the following:
hpeECbqS CqXdyb qhBGhoryp Your ID: U2WbVAYRDcaMQxxx Your extension: cRtG () Your files are encrypted! (kBFflrEv) Download and install Tor Browser: http://www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html () Follow this link via Tor Browser: http://royal25fphqilqft.onion/
If you click on the latter link, which are given on there you will land on the following page inside your browser:
You enter your ID and as you do that you will see a counter pop up showing that you have only a few days remaining to pay the initial price. That price is 0.0600 Bitcoins or around 545 US dollars. After that small time frame of a week expires, the demanded ransom will increase.
It is strongly NOT advised to pay any of the sums to the cybercriminals – if you pay them, there is absolutely no guarantee that you will decrypt your files. You will only end up financially supporting them with your money with their criminal endeavors.
Princess Locker V2 Virus – Encryption Process
Princess Locker V2 ransomware should search to encrypt files with extensions such as its previous variant. The extension list might be even more extensive than the one provided below, but the following extensions are surely to be encrypted:
If the Princess Locker ransomware is anything like its predecessor, files should be locked with the 128-bit AES encryption algorithm. Researchers have confirmed that files and their extension will not be changed. However, the extension that will be appended to files with five random characters will be placed as a secondary extension.
Below you can see a page on the TOR network, connected to the decryption instructions of the ransomware which allow you to decrypt a file up to 1 MB:
It is still unknown whether the Princess Locker ransomware virus can erase the Shadow Volume Copies of the Windows operating system, but there is a pretty high chance of that.
Remove Princess Locker V2 Virus and Restore Your Files
If your computer got compromised and is infected with the Princess Locker ransomware virus, you should have some experience with removing viruses before tampering with it. You should get rid of the ransomware fast before it can spread further on the network and encrypt more files. The recommended action for you is to remove the ransomware completely by following the step-by-step instructions written below.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by Princess Locker V2 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 Princess Locker V2. 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 Princess Locker V2 follow these steps:
1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Princess Locker V2 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 Princess Locker V2 on your PC
Find files created by Princess Locker V2
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 Princess Locker V2 with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Princess Locker V2 and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove Princess Locker V2. 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 Princess Locker V2
Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Princess Locker V2
Ransomware infections and Princess Locker V2 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 Princess Locker V2 and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
