Lezp File Locker - How to remove

Having your files renamed by malware to end with the extension “lezp” is a clear sign that the Lezp malware has got on your computer. Lezp is file-encrypting ransomware that is meant to break your files and then extort you for money. Criminals hide Lezp in installers, keygens, and cracking tools, then upload them online for free. Once the infected file is downloaded, Lezp begins corrupting files.

Removing Lezp is simple, but there is no easy way to fix the files that it broke. It really depends on your situation.

In short about Lezp ransomware:

Type of threat	Ransomware, trojan.
Problems caused by Lezp	Breaks files, asks for money in exchange for fixing those files, steals data from browsers and installs adware.
Restoring the files	Use a backup, check out free decryption, repair files, restore deleted files.
Removing Lezp	Unblock security sites, remove all infections (with Spyhunter and other antivirus apps), change passwords, scan your downloaded files.

How Lezp infects computers

Lezp gets uploaded online. Sometimes, it’s described as a free installer for some expensive software (such as the Microsoft Office suite), as a key generator to unlock software for free, or some other “free” way to get programs that are otherwise quite expensive.

Once the file is downloaded, Lezp begins:

• Lezp may install a spyware trojans known as Azorult. This trojan can steal passwords and other data, as well as install various adware. If you start seeing a lot of pop-up ads and browser redirects, those are symptoms of adware.
• To make recovery more difficult, Lezp deletes backups, making Restore not possible. It also tries to delete antivirus updates and blocks some cybersecurity-focused websites.
• Lezp quickly encrypts many files, including documents, pictures, audio and video files, archives, etc. Lezp only encrypts a portion of the bigger files, which still breaks them, but allows Lezp to do a lot of damage very quickly.

Lezp is not a virus, it does not spread through the local network, and it doesn’t infect removable storage. It does encrypt the files that were on any storage devices that are connected to the computer during encryption. The encrypted files are not dangerous, they’re just broken. Also, Lezp does not steal the files, so the criminals don’t have access to your pictures or other private stuff.

Lezp encrypts files to break them. Encryption makes files unreadable, scrambling their contents. The only way to reverse encryption – to decrypt files – is to get the decryption key, a long string of characters that is unique to each victim. Impossible to guess and only known to the criminals who made Lezp, it’s almost hopeless. That said, there are some ways you may be able to get some of your data back.

Lezp is a type of Djvu ransomware. Other versions include Lalo, Jope, Mado, and many others.

Recovering your files

Lezp and the other malware need to be removed first (instructions below). But what are your options for getting your files back?

• Restoring from backup. If you had your files on a backup drive, you only need to remove Lezp and then move your files from your backup to your computer.
• Free decryption might be an option. In some very specific circumstances (no connection to the Command and Control server), Lezp does not use a unique encryption key, but a non-unique (offline) one. Emsisoft released a free decryptor and will update it with the offline key if it gets it. Scan your files with the decryptor and it will tell you if decryption is a possibility.
• Repairing files is another option. Archives, audio and video recordings, even photos can be partially recovered, even if some data will be missing (encrypted by Lezp). Does not work for small files and some file types.
• Data recovery and previous file version recovery. There might be a way to get back your deleted files with data recovery software, if you haven’t used your computer too much since Lezp’s infection. Turn off the infected computer and then look into data recovery tools, or ask the help of a specialist.

How to remove Lezp

Lezp and Azorult can be discovered and removed by any competent antivirus program. Removing them and the file that infected your computer in the first place is needed, or else Lezp might re-encrypt your files.

You may also want to change your passwords after all this is done. In case Azorult stole your usernames and passwords, it’s better to not let cybercriminals use it. Also, watch out for any email scams that try to scare you by showing you your old password.

Finally, be careful with where you download files and programs. Always scan your downloads with antivirus apps before you run them.

Important -- edit the hosts file to unblock security websites

TL DR : The hosts file is edited to block security sites Before the virus can be removed, it's necessary to fix the hosts file (the file which controls which addresses connect to which IPs). That is the reason the majority of security websites is inaccessible when infected with this particular parasite. This infection edits this file to stop certain websites, including anti-malware download sites, from being accessed from the infected computer, making browsers return the "This site can't be reached" error. Luckily, it's trivial to fix the file and remove the edits that were made to it.

Find and edit the hosts file

The hosts file can be found on C:/Windows/System32/Drivers/etc/hosts. If you don't see it, change the settings to see hidden files.

1. In the Start Menu, search for Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, find Appearance and Personalization.
3. Select Folder Options.
4. Open the View tab.
5. Open Advanced settings.
6. Select "Show hidden files...".
7. Select OK.

Open this file with administrator privileges.

1. Open the Start Menu and enter "notepad".
2. When Notepad shows up in the result, right-click on it.
3. In the menu, choose "Run as administrator"
4. File->Open and browse for the hosts file.

The hosts file should look like this: Delete additional lines that they connect various domain names to the wrong IP address. Save the file.

Download and run the antivirus program

After that, download antivirus programs and use them to remove the ransomware, the trojan, and other malware. Spyhunter (https://www.2-viruses.com/reviews/spyhunter/dwnld/).

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Lezp File Locker encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Lezp File Locker has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Lezp File Locker

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Lezp File Locker. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Lezp File Locker affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Lezp File Locker tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Lezp File Locker encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.