What is VirLock Ransomware? Does VirLock Ransomware still infect computers in 2019? Could VirLock Ransomware be decrypted?
VirLock Ransomware is one of the worst malware pieces you can get on your computer. It falls under the category of ransomware Trojans. What it will do is lock your computer so that you will be unable to use it. Then, it will require that you issue payment to its developers in order to get your files unlocked. It will also pose as a law enforcement agency, trying to trick users that they are in trouble with the law because they have installed pirated software.
SIDENOTE: This post was originally published in August 2015. But we gave it an update in September 2019.
Threat Summary
| Name | VirLock Ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | VirLock pretends to be a law-enforcement agency and tricks users into believing they have broken the law. |
| Symptoms | Certain files on the system are encrypted and a ransom message is displayed on the screen. |
| Distribution Method | Via unsafe browsing, malicious websites, corrupted links, etc. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss VirLock Ransomware. |
VirLock Ransomware – Update September 2019
September of 2019 marks the spread of a new variant of the VirLock ransomware, a new ransomware note with instructions and updated GUI interface as seen in the picture down here:
The ransomware instructions on the main page of the graphical interface state the following:
This computer was automatically blocked. Reason: Pirated software has been detected.
Willful copyright infringement is a federal crime that carries penalties of up to five years in
federal prison, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture and restitution (17 U.S.C s.506. 18 U.S.C s.2319)As a first-time offender you are required by law to pay a fine of 150 USD
If the fine is not paid within three days, a warrant will be issued for your arrest,
which will be forwarded to your local authorities. You will be charged, fined, convicted for up to 5 years.
How to pay a fine? There are two ways to pay a fine:
1.You can pay your fine online through BitCoin. BitCoin is available nationwide.
Click the tabs below to find the nearest vendor. Your computer will be unlocked after the payment is made.
2.(O0ffline Option) You can come to your local courthouse and pay your fine at the ‘Cashiers’ window.
A special restoration software will be sent to you by mail within a week after the payment is made.
To regain access transfer bitcoins to the following address (click ta copy):
1N43VMz9qB1lxcBFFZCGnENSmBrE 3sXifrn
After the payment is finalized enter Transfer ID below.Amount: Transfer ID:
Note: all files(documents, media, etc.) on this computer have been encrypted. View encrypted files
They will he permanently removed if the fine is not paid or an attempt to remove this message is detected.
If you got infected with this ransomware threat, read below to see how it may have happened and what to do in this case.
What Are the Effects of VirLock Ransomware?
If you get this malicious software on your computer, do not trust it, and do not do anything it tells you to. Instead, you should take immediate measures to remove it. The bad news is, however, that if you haven’t backed up your files, it will be quite challenging to decrypt them.
So, once this infection enters your computer, it will lock it, rendering it unusable. Then, it will display a message saying that there are pirated materials on the PC. It will also claim that your system has been locked by a law enforcement agency. It will demand that you pay the fine in BitCoints (it will give you instructions on what to do), or go to your provincial courthouse, and pay the fine there. The first method will supposedly unlock your system instantly, while it will take 4-5 days for the latter one. It is easy to deduce which one users will choose. You should not do anything that this Trojan tells you.
There are several reasons why you should not pay the ransom:
- Your computer has not been locked because you have broken the law.
- Even if you do pay the fine, there is no guarantee that your PC will be unlocked.
- Paying will not remove the infection from your computer.
How Did VirLock Ransomware Get on My Computer?
VirLock Ransomware is a Trojan horse, which means that it is one of the most severe infections. It will not try to brute force its way onto your computer though. Trojans have to be helped by other malicious components in order to infiltrate your PC. Here are a few distribution methods used by VirLock Ransomware:
- Spam emails. The emails will contain malicious attachments that can transfer exploit kits onto your computer that will then download the Trojan. The emails may also contain links to malicious websites that will target your system.
- Malicious websites. As mentioned above, malicious websites can attack your PC, and spam emails are not the only way that you can end up on them. So you need to be really careful when browsing.
VirLock Ransomware can be presented as a useful piece of software. The infection can be disguised as some reliable program, but once you run its executable file on your PC, it will initiate its attack.
Files Attacked by Virlock Ransomware
Once Virlock has sneaked into the system, it will start ‘scanning’ it for certain file types:
-
Executable files .exe
Document files .doc, *.xls, *.pdf, *.ppt, *.mdb
Archive files .zip, .rar
Multimedia files .mp3, .mpg, .wma
Image files .png, .gif, .bmp, .jpg, .jpeg, .psd
Certificate files .p12, .cer, .crt, .p7b, .pfx, .pem
Once the desired files are located, VirLock will start encrypting them. It is also reported to add a .RSRC extension to affected files. The .RSRC section includes the resources employed by the executable. However, they are not considered part of the executable. VirLock uses the section to keep the resources of the host file.
How to Remove VirLock Ransomware
VirLock Ransomware is a severe infection, so removing it manually is not a good option, especially for non-expert users. So, your best option is to use a reliable anti-malware tool. However, the ransomware will try to prevent you from installing one. The best thing to do is to boot your PC in “Safe Mode with Networking,” and then install the security tool. You can have the installer on a flash drive, and install it from there. Once you have installed it, it will remove the ransomware completely. Then, it will continue to guard your system against malicious and stealthy software.
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Step 5
Step 1: Scan for VirLock Ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall VirLock Ransomware and related malware 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 delete most unwanted and malicious programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by VirLock Ransomware 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 VirLock Ransomware 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: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove VirLock Ransomware
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by VirLock Ransomware.
Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft.
Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable.
Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below:
1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below:
2. Agree with the license terms:
3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath:
4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded.
Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus.
Method 2: Use data recovery software
Ransomware infections and VirLock Ransomware 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 the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
VirLock Ransomware-FAQ
What is VirLock Ransomware Ransomware?
VirLock Ransomware 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 algorithms 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.
What Does VirLock Ransomware Ransomware Do?
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid.
Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
How Does VirLock Ransomware Infect?
Via several ways.VirLock Ransomware Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, 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.
Another way you may become a victim of VirLock Ransomware 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 .VirLock Ransomware files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .VirLock Ransomware files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .VirLock Ransomware files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore ".VirLock Ransomware" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .VirLock Ransomware files.
These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How To Get Rid of VirLock Ransomware Virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program.
It will scan for and locate VirLock Ransomware ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .VirLock Ransomware files.
Can I 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.
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Can VirLock Ransomware Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it.
In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
Should I Pay Ransomware?
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine.
It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity.
About the VirLock Ransomware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this VirLock Ransomware how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the VirLock Ransomware ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
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.
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