The article presents detailed information about WastedLocker ransomware ransomware as well as a step-by-step guide on how to remove its malicious files from an infected system. You will also be presented with a how-to potentially recover encrypted files guide.
WastedLocker Ransomware
The WastedLocker virus is a recently discovered advanced ransomware infection directed against Fortune 500 corporations and other companies. This is very large infection which includes a very complex malware internal engine capable of causing widespread damage to the contaminated computers and networks.
WastedLocker ransomware Summary
| Name | WastedLocker |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | The WastedLocker ransomware is an example of a dangerous multi-platform malware that is designed to infiltrate different operating systems. |
| Symptoms | The users will experience severe performance issues, errors when running day-to-day tasks and locked files. The victims will be blackmailed into paying the criminals a ransom decryption fee, usually in cryptocurrency. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails; Email Attachments; Corrupted Websites; Software Installers |
| Detection Tool |
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WastedLocker ransomware Virus – More About the Infection
The WastedLocker virus is one of the most dangerous malware which has been used in large attack campaigns that is designed against Fortune 500 companies. According to the available information the attacks are launched using a hacker-controlled attack framework. A total of 150 legitimate sites contain redirect code that leads to a hosted archive containing the virus code. This archive is placed in a ZIP archive which contains JavaScript code that appears to the end users as a browser update. When it is run by the users this will load a second executable that contains the first stage of the virus infection process.
This will run a computer data extraction which will use common commands in order to hijack machine and personal information. In the stage the Cobalt Strike malware will be deployed. This is a well-known Trojan component that has been used in attacks in the past. The intention of the hackers are to overtake control of the systems using it. Access to the system and the possibility to interact with it is made possible by a .NET injector. Possible actions done by the Cobalt Strike malware include the following:
- Execute Remote Commands
- Inject Data into running processes
- Impersonate user-installed or system processes
- Hijacking and uploading files
At the moment at least 31 companies have been hacked using the WastedLocker ransomware. The main goal of the hacking group behind the infections appears to be to encrypt as much sensitive data on a company network in order to sabotage their day-to-day activities. Each infected computer will display a ransom message which in turn will total to a very large sum that will blackmail the company for payment. At the moment the affected companies work in the following industries:
manufacturing, information technology, media and telecommunications, energy, transport, financial, hospitality, healthcare, sport, chemicals, accounting, consulting, semiconductor, consumer goods, government, local government and aerospace
The malware will escalate its privileges to administrator access by using an attack technique that interacts with the activation and updating of the Microsoft Windows operating system. The hackers also have added the possibility to disable Windows Defender scanning.
The actual WasterLocker ransomware is programmed in two versions – 32 and 64-bit in order to provide an optimized working environment.
The WastedLocker can also be used for other malware actions including the following:
- Additional Malware Delivery — The ransomware and the included virus code can be used by the hackers to deploy other threats to the infected hosts. This can include cryptocurrency miners — which are among the most popular web threats deployed nowadays. They are small-sized scripts and programs that will be loaded in memory and run from there. They are programmed to download a sequence of performance-intensive tasks that will impact all major hardware components of the host system: the CPU, memory, hard disk space, network speed and the graphics card. For every completed task the hackers will receive a reward in cryptocurrency assets.
- Persistent Installation — All virus contents and related malware can be installed as a system service or can change important configuration options in order to start automatically when the computer is powered on.
- Botnet Recruitment — Advanced Trojans may include the recruitment of the infected host to a global botnet network. It can be used to plan major attacks against large networks
How to Remove WastedLocker ransomware Ransomware Virus
The so-called WastedLocker ransomware virus is a threat with a highly complex code that disrupts system security in order to encrypt personal files. Hence the infected system could be used in a secure manner again only after the complete removal of all malicious files and objects created by WastedLocker ransomware ransomware. That’s why it is recommendable that all steps presented in the WastedLocker ransomware virus removal guide below should be completed. Beware that the manual ransomware removal is suitable for more experienced computer users. If you don’t feel comfortable with the manual steps navigate to the automatic part of the guide.
How to Recover WastedLocker Ransomware Files
There are several alternative methods that may be efficient for the recovery of .WastedLocker files. You could find them listed in our WastedLocker ransomware ransomware removal guide. Beware that you should make copies of all encrypted files and save them on a flash drive for example. This additional step will prevent the permanent loss of encrypted .WastedLocker files.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Attention! SensorsTechForum strongly recommends that all malware victims should look for assistance only by reputable sources. Many guides out there claim to offer free recovery and decryption for files encrypted by ransomware viruses. Be advised that some of them may only be after your money.
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.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.
About the WastedLocker ransomware Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this WastedLocker 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 WastedLocker 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.
References
1. How to Recognize Spam Emails with Ransomware
2. How Does Ransomware Encryption Work?
3. How to Decrypt Ransomware Files
4. Ransomware Getting Greedier and Bigger, Attacks Increase by 40%
5. 1 in 5 Americans Victim of Ransomware
- Guide 1: How to Remove WastedLocker ransomware from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of WastedLocker ransomware from Mac OS X.
How to Remove WastedLocker ransomware from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove WastedLocker ransomware
1. Hold Windows Key + R.
2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.
3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".
4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.
5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.
Step 2: Uninstall WastedLocker ransomware and related software 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:
1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.
2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.
3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by WastedLocker 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 WastedLocker ransomware there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
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: Scan for WastedLocker ransomware with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.
4. 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.
Video Guide for Automatic and Fast Removal
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by WastedLocker ransomware.
Ransomware infections and WastedLocker 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.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
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.
Step 6: How to Restore Files Encrypted by Ransomware (Video Guide)
Get rid of WastedLocker ransomware from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall WastedLocker ransomware and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to WastedLocker ransomware:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to WastedLocker ransomware. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash
”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference.
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to WastedLocker ransomware. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove WastedLocker ransomware via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as WastedLocker ransomware. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by WastedLocker ransomware.
Ransomware infections and WastedLocker 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.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
WastedLocker ransomware FAQ
What is WastedLocker ransomware ransomware and how does it work?
WastedLocker 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 algorithm how 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.
How does WastedLocker ransomware ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.WastedLocker ransomware Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, 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.
After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.
Another way, you may become a victim of WastedLocker 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 .WastedLocker ransomware files?
You can't. At this point the .WastedLocker ransomware files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .WastedLocker ransomware files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by WastedLocker ransomware ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.
How Do I restore ".WastedLocker ransomware" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .WastedLocker ransomware files.
These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How do I get rid of WastedLocker ransomware ransomware virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate WastedLocker ransomware ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .WastedLocker ransomware files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like WastedLocker ransomware ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.
What to Do If nothing works?
There is still a lot you can do. If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:
- Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
- Try to contact your friends, relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
- Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re-downloaded from the web.
- Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
- You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.
More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.
How to 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.
