What is VenusLocker Ransomware?
VenusLocker Ransomware is a serious new threat that can be a devastating hit to your computer and you too if it manages to infiltrate your operating system. According to our malware specialists at anti-spyware-101.com, this dangerous malware infection is based on the well-known EDA2 Ransomware, which is in fact an open-source ransomware. This means that it may be possible in the near future that a free file recovery tool will emerge on the net; however, as of yet we have not found any since this infection is fairly new. The main reason for this vicious attack is to force you to pay a certain ransom fee if you want to use your files ever again. But do you really think such crooks would actually send you a tool to decrypt your files and your private key just because they promised? What if they have to shut down their C&C server and your key gets lost? As you can see, there are a few things to consider before you rush to transfer the money. The bad news is that if you remove VenusLocker Ransomware, this will not recover your files; nevertheless, this is the right thing to do if you want to restore your computer. Should you decide to pay the ransom, you should not delete this ransomware just yet because you might ruin your chance to be able to decrypt your files.
Where does VenusLocker Ransomware come from?
The most common way for any ransomware program to be distributed over the Internet is via spam e-mails. This infection may pose as an image file or a text document to hide the sad truth that it is indeed a malicious .exe file. Downloading and running this file activates this malware and there will be no way going back once you do so. Therefore, it is vital to know that these spam e-mails can pose as urgent matters; most likely something that could catch your eyes. For example, you may get a mail from AOL claiming that your subscription is over or there is a problem with your last invoice. But indeed this subject could be anything related to your bank account, your credit card, an unpaid invoice, and so on. The main key to successful spam mails is deception. That is why you need to be extra careful now with your inbox. Having a spam filter is unfortunately no guarantee that all your mails are trustworthy. It is up to you to filter out the suspicious or irrelevant ones before you would click on them.
Another way ransomware infections can spread is by the use of exploit kits. Although we have not seen VenusLocker Ransomware spread this way, we think it is important to mention this method so that you can avoid being infected. These kits are used to set up fake websites with malicious codes, such as JavaScript and Flash. Such websites contain banners and other content that can activate the malicious code as soon as the page loads. This is a very dangerous thing because it is enough for you to click on an unreliable link or third-party ad to end up on such a page and once it loads, it can drop a ransomware program or other infections onto your computer.
How does VenusLocker Ransomware work?
Our specialists have found that this infection uses the AES-256 algorithm, which is a built-in Windows algorithm in fact. This ransomware attacks hundreds of extensions, so you may have to say goodbye to all your images, videos, music files, documents, archives, and program files. The key this method generates is also encrypted but this time with the RSA-2048 algorithm, which is virtually impossible to decode. The generated private key is kept hidden on the C&C server until you pay the ransom fee. The whole encryption process should not take more than a couple of minutes; therefore, you cannot even remove VenusLocker Ransomware before the damage is done; it is virtually impossible.
When this ransomware finishes, it changes your wallpaper and displays its ransom note image. This note features a masked figure in a Guy Fawkes mask and with a hat on the right hand side, and informs you that you have been hacked. There are a few ransomware programs that use the same masked man to try to imply that they have anything to do with the infamous Anonymous hacker group, including the recent Anonymous Ransomware and TowerWeb Ransomware. This warning also tells you that you have to pay 100 USD in Bitcoins to a given Bitcoin wallet within 70 hours. Otherwise, your private key will be removed from the server and you cannot ever recover your files. At least, that is what these criminals try to make you believe. After you transfer the money, you have to contact these crooks by sending an e-mail to VenusLocker@mail2tor.com with your personal ID that is included in this note. This infection also creates a text file (“ReadMe.txt”) on your desktop that has all the information you need, including the encryption algorithm, the payment method, and more. We cannot stop you from paying this fee but you should know that by doing so you actually support criminals to commit further online crimes, not to mention the possibility that you will not get anything in return for your money. If you want to use your computer, the only way is to remove VenusLocker Ransomware immediately.
How can I delete VenusLocker Ransomware?
If you are lucky enough to have a backup copy on an external hard disk, you can use it after you eliminate this ransomware from your system. Although there may not be a file recovery application on the web yet, since this infection is based on an open-source ransomware, it is possible that someone will come up with a solution soon and it will be available on the net. However, we recommend that you ask an IT professional or an advanced computer user friend to download and use such a tool. In order to protect your computer from similar attacks, you should keep all your programs and drivers updated. As you can see, outdated Flash or Java drivers can enable exploit kits to drop infections onto your computer, but cyber criminals can find other ways, too, to access your files through security holes. We believe that the best way to safeguard your PC is using an authentic anti-malware program.
VenusLocker Ransomware Removal from Windows
- Press Win+E to open the Windows File Explorer.
- Delete the downloaded malicious file (it has to be in the folder where you saved it from the spam).
- Delete “%HOMEDRIVE%\Users\userbg.jpg” and “ReadMe.txt” from your desktop.
- Empty your Recycle Bin.
- Restart your PC.
tested removal of VenusLocker Ransomware*
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