VirLock Ransomware

What is VirLock Ransomware?

VirLock Ransomware is a new computer infection that has started spreading on the web recently. The main goal of this threat is also to extort money from users; however, it differs from other ransomware infections that are popular these days, e.g. CryptoFinancial Ransomware, SATANA Ransomware, and CryptoRoger Ransomware in a sense that it uses different tactics to scare users into paying the money it requires. Even though the message it locks screens with is very convincing, you should not believe any word written in it because it is completely fake and is shown for users because cyber criminals who have developed VirLock Ransomware seek to get easy money. Even though we have convinced you to ignore the message you see on your screen, it is still a must to delete the ransomware from the system to be able to use the computer normally again. As it blocks system files and makes other modifications in the system registry, users will not be allowed to access the Start menu, Task Manager, and the Run command, which makes it extremely hard to delete VirLock Ransomware from the system. Do not worry; specialists working at anti-spyware-101.com will tell you in the article what you need to do to erase it fast.

What does VirLock Ransomware do?

VirLock Ransomware is a nasty threat, so it will immediately lock the screen by placing the full-screen message on Desktop. Also, it will immediately encrypt files stored on the computer. It is said that this has been done because “pirated software has been detected” on the computer. Users are asked to pay 250 USD in Bitcoins to get the software restoration tool and regain access to the computer. The payment has to be made within 3 days. Cyber criminals know that users will not hurry to send their money, so they try very hard to scare them into doing that:

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.

It is easy to believe that the message shown on the screen is placed there by a law enforcement agency because there are logos of the Department of Justice and National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) as well as a badge of an agent working at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) put on it. As we have already told you, you see this screen-locking message just because your system is infected with the ransomware infection, so you should not worry even if you really have pirated software on your PC. Believe us; law enforcement agencies would contact you in a different way.

In order to put a message on Desktop, encrypt files, and perform other activities, e.g. connect to the Internet, VirLock Ransomware makes several changes the moment it enters the system. Researchers have noticed that three folders with random names containing .exe files will be created in %ALLUSERSPROFILE% and %USERPROFILE%. In addition, the ransomware infection will put two values in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run to be able to start with the Windows OS all the time.

Where does VirLock Ransomware come from?

Researchers have managed to find out that VirLock Ransomware, like other well-known ransomware infections, is usually spread through spam emails. In most cases, users allow this infection to enter their computers once they open a decent-looking attachment, e.g. it might pretend to be an invoice. It might seem that the spam email itself is sent by a good company, e.g. DHL or FedEx as well. Remember, the majority of emails that go to the spam folder cannot be trusted, so you should better ignore them all. Of course, ransomware infections might find other ways to enter your PC too, so it will not be worse to install a reliable security tool on the system too.

How to remove VirLock Ransomware

Users who have never tried erasing the ransomware infection themselves will find it really hard to get rid of VirLock Ransomware because they will have to launch the Safe Mode, unhide hidden files and folders, and only then delete files that belong to the ransomware infection. Therefore, specialists have made the manual step-by-step instructions for them. Feel free to use them, but remember that your personal files will not be unlocked even if you delete the ransomware from your PC. It is definitely not worth paying the money VirLock Ransomware requires because you might not get the key for unlocking files. Also, the free decryptor should be released in the future.

Delete VirLock Ransomware manually

Start the computer in Safe Mode

Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7

1. Restart the computer.
2. Before Windows launches, press F8.
3. Use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option and tap Enter.

Windows 8/8.1/10

1. Hold down the Shift key while clicking on the Power button.
2. Click Restart.
3. Click Troubleshoot and access Advanced options.
4. Open Startup Settings.
5. Click on the Restart button.
6. Tap F4.
7. Wait for the Safe Mode to load up.

Display hidden files and folders

Windows XP

1. Click on the Start button and then select Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Themes.
3. Select Folder Options.
4. Open the View tab.
5. Click Show hidden files and folders under Hidden files and folders.

Windows 7/Vista

1. Open the Start menu and click Appearance and Personalization.
2. Open Folder Options and select the View tab.
3. Select Show hidden files, folders, and drives under Advanced settings.
4. Click OK.

Windows 8/8.1/10

1. Type folder in the search box and then select Folder Options from the search results.
2. Open the View tab.
3. Select Show hidden files, folders, and drives under Advanced settings.
4. Click OK.

Delete the ransomware infection

1. Tap Win+E.
2. Move to %USERPROFILE% and %ALLUSERSPROFILE%.
3. Remove folders whose names consist of random letters, e.g. dekAoYQc, mcMUcIAk, and nWUwAokA together with the files they contain.
4. Launch RUN.
5. Move to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
6. Delete the [random name].exe Value.
7. Go to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
8. Delete the [random name].exe Value.
9. Restart your computer.
10. Delete the malicious file you have downloaded from the spam email.
11. Empty the Recycle bin.

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