Relock ransomware virus - How to remove

This particular virus was first discovered by a cyber security researcher Dmitriy Melikov last week. There is no doubt that Relock is related to the well-known Matrix ransomware. In fact, it can be called as a new version of Matrix virus because it shares identically same features and a few updates.

In general, you should know that ransomware is a type of malware that is looking to infect computer and encrypt files stored on it. Following that, a ransom is demanded. Relock ransomware uses same methods to steal money from users.

How did Relock infected your system?

the main distribution method for this particular ransomware is not known. However, viruses like this usually are distributed as a bundle to some free software or as an attachment to an email letter. Either way, it comes as an addition to something that can be sent over the Internet. That means in order to avoid ransomware, you should be very careful about opening emails form spam category as well as downloading free software from unreliable websites.

The ultimate way to make sure that your computer won’t be harmed by any viruses is to protect it with a decent anti-malware tools. Some of them are free while others are paid. You can look at our reviews section and pick one that fits your needs the best.

Relock virus description

If it gets inside of your computer, Relock will instantly begin encryption process. It will look for your personal files that can possibly encrypted. An extension ‘_[[email protected]]’ will be added to the end of every file you stored on your computer. From this moment, it will be impossible to open any of those files. They will be encrypted using AES or RSA encryption methods.

An unique encryption key will be generated automatically and stored on a remote server. This key can be used to decrypt and unlock your files. Unfortunately, in order to receive the key, you will be asked to pay a ransom. It is not clear how much developers of Relock virus are asking for, but usually it is something between $200-$2000. As a guarantee that your files will be unlocked, cyber criminals are offering to decrypt up to 3 of your files for free. However, don’t fall for this trick – they might disappear right after you make the payment. Besides that, ransom usually is required to be paid in Bitcoins, so if you are not a current user of this currency, you will have to take your time and open a Bitcoin wallet. It serves as a security feature for cyber criminals, since it’s much more difficult to track payments made using Bitcoins.

When the encryption process is over, you will notice a new file on your desktop called ‘!OoopsYourFilesLocked!.rtf’. Desktop wallpaper will be changed as well. Both the file and new desktop image features the same message with instructions:

Wаrning! Аll yоur filеs wеrе еnсryрtеd with strоng сrуptо аlgоrithm.
It mеаns thаt yоu will nоt bе аblе tо аccеss thеm аnуmоrе until thеу аrе dесrуptеd with yоur pеrsоnаl dесrуptiоn kеy! Withоut уоur pеrsоnаl kеy аnd sреciаl sоftwаrе dаtа rеcоvеrу is impоssiblе! If yоu will fоllоw оur instruсtiоns, wе guаrаntее thаt yоu cаn dесryрt аll yоur filеs quiсkly аnd sаfеly!
If yоu wаnt tо rеstоrе yоur filеs, plеаsе writе us tо thе е-mаil:
[email protected]
In subjеct linе оf mеssаgе writе yоur pеrsоnаl ID:
************************
Tо cоnfirm thаt wе cаn dесryрt yоur filеs yоu cаn sеnd us up tо 3 filеs fоr frее dесrурtiоn. Plеаsе nоte thаt filеs fоr frее dесrурtiоn must NОT cоntаin аnу vаluаblе infоrmаtiоn аnd thеir tоtаl sizе must bе lеss thаn 5Mb.
Yоu hаvе tо rеspоnd аs sооn аs pоssiblе tо еnsurе thе rеstрrаtiоn оf yоur filеs, bеcаusе wе wоnt kееp yоur dеcrуptiоn kеys аt оur sеrvеr mоre thаn оne wееk in intеrеst оf оur sеcuritу.
Аnd hurrу uр! Еасh 12 hоurs thе pауmеnt sizе will bе аutоmаticаllу inсrеаsеd!
Nоtе thаt аll thе аttеmpts оf dесryptiоn by yоursеlf оr using third pаrty tооls will rеsult оnly in irrеvосаble lоss оf yоur dаtа.
If yоu did nоt rеcеivе thе аnswеr frоm thе аfоrеcitеd еmаil fоr mоrе then 24 hours, usе thе rеsеrvе е-mаil аddrеss:
[email protected]

A common threatening tactic is used – users are asked pay the ransom as soon as possible, because the size of it will increase every 12 hours. However, we do not recommend to do tat. We have already mentioned that it is very risky and besides that, you would support cyber criminals this way and allow them to continue their crimes.

It’s a pity that there is no way to decrypt files encrypted by Relock virus for free now. However, if you have a backup file of your hard drive, you can restore your computer to the previous state and solve the problem this way.

Regardless the fact that your files are still unaccessible, you should make sure that files related to Relock virus is no longer on your computer. This can be easily achieved by scanning your computer with either Spyhunter.

How to recover Relock ransomware virus 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 Relock ransomware virus has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Relock ransomware virus

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 Relock ransomware virus. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Relock ransomware virus 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 Relock ransomware virus 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 Relock ransomware virus 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.

Manual removal