How to Remove FilesLocker Ransomware Virus from your system.

Guide to Remove FilesLocker Ransomware – A Ransomware as a Service Attack?

Encryptor RaaS (Ransomware as a Service) virus is a new era of ransomware distribution. Among all the cyber threats launched, ransomware attacks are garnering more attention lately. These attacks have gained intensity over time with attackers moving a step ahead by evolving vicious and harmful tactics to launch RaaS (Ransomware-as-a-Service) attack.

RaaS Distribution is a practice where threat actors put their ransomware up for sale. It is then purchased and leveraged by other criminals who are technically unable to develop their own variants. Thus RaaS is gives even novice cyber-criminals an opportunity to launch sophisticated & profitable attacks.

Most of the ransomware code packages are free to deploy with a profit-sharing model in which the author shares with the affiliates some percentage of earnings on the code package bought. This earning usually ranges from 25% – 30%.

A new RaaS virus discovered in the dark web works like a similar legitimate software affiliate program only with more profit deals. This FilesLocker Ransomware offered as a Ransomware as a Service targets Chinese and English speaking victims.

The extensive profitable deal offered by the distributors can seriously elevate the number of this ransomware attacks. These include:

1. This program offers a 60% revenue share to affiliates who sign up of all the ransom payments.
2. This commission can go as high as 75% basis the traffic generated by the Affiliate.

The marketed features of FilesLocker RaaS include:

• The Ransomware source code is written in C#, the executable size is about 212 KB.
• The ransomware package can be deployed on Windows XP~Windows 10 with NET 4.0, 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Server.
• It encrypts files with a strong RSA 2048+AES algorithm that is difficult to decode.
• The attack by FilesLocker Ransomware is followed by Bilingual letter creation on the desktop and on each disk.
• It is programmed to delete all shadow copies by executing vssadmin.exe script.
• The intensive coding deprives users from closing ransomware window without the use of third party tools.
• The program is deployed to allow cyber maniacs to track victim’s background statistics, system, browsers, view countries etc.

Cyber maniacs who aspire to use FilesLocker RaaS package should meet the following terms and conditions:

1. Affiliate should have experience in distributing malware.
2. They should infect 10 people per day.
3. They should not show a challenging spirit by uploading the ransomware to a mass antivirus scanning service.

Threat Behavior of FilesLocker Ransomware

The threat behavior of FilesLocker Ransomware is no different from its counterparts.  Once infiltrated, this ransomware encrypts victim’s files using strong encryption algorithm and appends the file names with .locked extension.

The files targeted by this ransomware include:

• Database
• Videos
• Audios
• Images
• Document files etc.

Victims are informed about the encryption via a ransom note that shows up as soon as victim switches on the system.

The ransom note provides the following information:

• A bitcoin address i.e. 3EZGS8P439PbBeiWjsGYjSSaRHn9CXKDRQ that appears to be static where the victim is entitled to make the payment to receive the decryption key.
• A unique Victim ID,
• Email address [email protected] for the victim to contact.

FilesLocker ransomware is programmed to keep a track on the count of victims who have been infected with FilesLocker via IPLogger.com shortened URL that opens automatically when the system in opened.

A ransom note is also included in various folders throughout the computer under the names #解密我的文件#.txt & and #DECRYPT MY FILES#.txt.

Victims are advised to not to fall in the trap as the key to decrypt the encrypted files is known only with the software developers and there is no way they will give it to the victims.

Threat Summary

Name: FilesLocker

Targeted Operating System: Windows

Category: Ransomware

Symptoms: User’s files are encrypted. All locked files are appended with “.locked” extension after the encryption and hence cannot be accessed by the user.

How to remove FilesLocker Ransomware from the System?

STEP A: Remove the services installed by FilesLocker Ransomware from the System using Safe mode with Command Prompt

Windows 7/ Vista/ XP

1. Click on Windows icon present in the lower left corner of the computer screen.
2. Select and click Restart.
3. When the screen goes blank, keep tapping F8 key until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
4. With the help of arrow keys on keyboard, Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list and press the Enter Key. The system will then restart to Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
5. Click on the username and enter the password (if any).

Windows 10 / Windows 8

1. Press and hold the Shift Key and simultaneously click on the windows icon present in the lower left corner of your computer screen.
2. While the Shift key is still pressed click on the Power button and then click on Restart.
3. Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings.
4. When the Startup Settings screen appears which is the first screen to appear after restart, select and click on Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt. The system will then restart to Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
5. Click on the username and enter the password.

Once the system starts, ensure to use an account with administrative privilege to access Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

After the user enters admin credentials, Command prompt window is displayed wherein you are entitled to enter the below commands:

1. Type the command “sc delete FilesLocker Ransomware ” in the command prompt and press Enter.
2. Type “exit” to exit the command prompt and restart the system in safe mode with command prompt.

STEP B: Restore your system files and settings

Method 1 using Control Panel

1. Click on the ‘Start’ button on the taskbar. This will open the Start menu.
2. Click on the ‘Control Panel’ button in the Start menu. This will open the control panel window.
3. In the Control Panel window, click on the ‘View by:’ button on the top right. Select the Large Icon option
4. In the control Panel window click on the ‘Recovery Icon’. This will open a window that will ask ‘Restore the computer to an earlier point in time’.
5. Click on the ‘Open system restore’ button. This will open the ‘system restore ’window where you need to click on the Next Button.
6.  Select the restore point that is prior the infiltration of FilesLocker Ransomware. After doing that, click Next.
7. This will open the ‘Confirm your restore point’ dialog box. Click on Finish button. This will restore your system to a previous restore point before your system was infected by FilesLocker Ransomware.

Method 2 using Command Prompt

1. Type cmd in the search box and click on the command prompt to open the Command Prompt window. box and clicking on it.
2. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.(Ensure that you in the system32 directory of Windows folder in C Drive)
3. Now type rstrui and press Enter again.
4. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of …………………………….. After doing that, click Next.
5. This will open the ‘Confirm your restore point’ dialog box. Click on Finish button. This will restore your system to a previous restore point before your system was infected by FilesLocker Ransomware.

Method 3 : Directly type ‘rstrui’ in the search box

1. Type ‘Rstrui’ in the search box present on the task bar. This will open the System restore dialog box.

Continue to follow steps 4 & 5 of Method 2 to restore the System Files and settings.

Tips to prevent your computer system from getting infected –

1. Keeping the Operating System Updated- In order to remain protected and avoid such infections, it is recommended to keep your Operating System updated by enabling the automatic update on your system. The systems with outdated or older versions of Operating System become an easy target for the attackers.
2. Resist clicking on spam emails – One of the major techniques used for malware distribution is forwarding spam emails to the user. The system gets infected as soon as the user clicks on the attachment. These mails appear to be genuine, so be aware and resist falling for these tricks.
3. Keep an eye on third party installations- It is quite important that you take due care while installing any third party applications for they are major source of such infections. Such malware programs come bundled with the free applications thereby requiring the user to remain cautious.
4. Regular periodical backup- In order to keep your data and files safe, it is recommended to take regular back up of all your data and files either on an external drive or cloud.
5. Use Anti-Virus Protection- We strongly recommend the use of antivirus protection/internet security in your PC like Kaspersky Labs Inc and Hitman pro so that it remains safe.
6. Enable the Ad Blocker/Popup Blocker in your browser- Enabling the popup blocker/ ad blocker in your chosen browser will help you to stay protected from annoying adware.