CryptoLocker ransomware – how it works
The program was first seen in September 2013 and quickly spread through email attachments and infected websites. CryptoLocker was particularly virulent because it used strong encryption that could not be easily broken, and because it demanded payment in Bitcoin, making it difficult to trace the perpetrators. The program was eventually shut down by law enforcement in May 2014, but not before it had encrypted millions of files and extorted millions of dollars from its victims.
CryptoLocker ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files. The attacker then demands a ransom, typically in Bitcoin, in exchange for the decryption key.
CryptoLocker is usually spread through email attachments or links to infected websites. When the user clicks on the attachment or link, the malware starts to run and encrypts the victim’s files. Once the encryption process is complete, CryptoLocker displays a message demanding a ransom be paid to decrypt the files.
Paying the ransom does not guarantee that you will get your files back – there have been reports of people who have paid but not received their decryption key. In addition, even if you do receive a decryption key, there is no guarantee that it will work or that all of your encrypted files can be recovered. The best way to protect yourself from CryptoLocker and other types of ransomware are to regularly back up your important files and never click on links or attachments from unknown sources.
What does CryptoLocker ransomware do?
CryptoLocker is a ransomware program that targeted Windows computers, encrypting the files on the infected computer and then demanding a ransom from the computer’s owner to decrypt the files.
Once a computer is infected with CryptoLocker, the program will scan the hard drive for certain types of files to encrypt. These include common document, image, and video file types. Once it has found these files, it will encrypt them using a strong encryption algorithm. The encrypted files will then have a new extension added to them, typically “.locked” or “.cryp7”. At this point, the user will be unable to open or view the contents of these files.
The program will then display a message on the screen informing the user that their files have been encrypted and demanding a ransom payment to receive the decryption key. The ransom amount is typically between $100 and $300 and must be paid in Bitcoin within a certain timeframe (usually 72 hours). If the ransom is not paid within this time, the decryption key will be destroyed and the user’s files will remain encrypted forever.
There have been some reports of people who have paid the ransom but never received the decryption key, so even if you do pay the ransom there is no guarantee that you will get your data back. For this reason, it is generally advised not to pay the ransom and instead try to restore your data from backups (if you have them).
Can CryptoLocker ransomware data be recovered?
It’s possible that data encrypted by CryptoLocker ransomware can be recovered, but it may not be possible to decrypt the files. In some cases, paying the ransom may be the only way to get the decryption key. However, no guarantee paying the ransom will result in the key being released. There are also free tools available that may be able to decrypt CryptoLocker-encrypted files.
10 Methods To Recover CryptoLocker Ransomware Encrypted Files
Restore From Backup:
The first method for recovering CryptoLocker encrypted files is to restore them from a backup. This is only possible if you have a backup of the files that were created before they were encrypted. If you don’t have a backup, this method won’t work.
If you have a backup of your files, you can restore them from the backup. This will replace the encrypted files with the unencrypted versions from the backup. To do this, follow the steps below:
1. Connect the backup drive to your computer.
2. Click the Start button and type “restore” in the search box.
3. Select “Restore previous versions” from the list of results.
4. Choose a file that you want to restore and click Open > Restore to restore your file.
Windows System Restore:
The second method for recovering CryptoLocker encrypted files is to use Windows System Restore. This will only work if you have a restore point that was created before the files were encrypted. To use this method, follow the steps below:
1. Click the Start button and type “restore” in the search box.
2. Select “Create a restore point” from the list of results.
3. Click the System Restore button.
4. If prompted, enter your administrator password.
5. Choose a restore point that was created before the files were encrypted and click Next > Finish to restore your files.
Use A File Recovery Program:
Several file recovery programs can be used to recover CryptoLocker encrypted files. These programs work by scanning your hard drive for fragments of lost or deleted data. In some cases, they may be able to recover all of the data that was encrypted by CryptoLocker. However, they are not always successful and may not be able to decrypt the files.
Windows File Versions to system restore:
The next method for recovering CryptoLocker encrypted files is to use Windows File Versions. This will only work if you have a restore point that was created before the files were encrypted. To use this method, follow the steps below:
1. Click the Start button and type “restore” in the search box.
2. Select “Restore previous versions” from the list of results.
3. Choose a file that you want to restore and click Open > Restore to restore your file.
Shadow copies:
The other method for recovering CryptoLocker encrypted files is to use shadow copies. Shadow copies are created automatically by Windows and can be used to restore previous versions of files. In some cases, shadow copies may contain unencrypted versions of the files that were encrypted by CryptoLocker. To use this method, follow the steps below:
1. Click the Start button and type “restore” in the search box.
2. Select “Restore previous versions” from the list of results.
3. Choose a file that you want to restore and click Open > Restore to restore your file.
Use Data Recovery Software:
Data recovery software can be used to recover lost or deleted files from your hard drive. In some cases, these programs may be able to recover all of the data that was encrypted by CryptoLocker. However, they are not always successful and may not be able to decrypt the files. There are several data recovery programs available, both free and paid.
Use A File Recovery Program:
Many file recovery programs can be used to recover CryptoLocker encrypted files. These programs work by scanning your hard drive for fragments of lost or deleted data. In some cases, they may be able to recover all of the data that was encrypted by CryptoLocker. However, they are not always successful and may not be able to decrypt the files.
Ransomware Decryption Tools:
There are some ransomware decryption tools available that can be used to decrypt files encrypted by CryptoLocker. These tools are developed by security researchers and are usually free to use. However, they may not always be successful and may not work with all versions of CryptoLocker.
Use A Free Decryption Tool:
There are several free decryption tools available that may be able to decrypt CryptoLocker-encrypted files. These tools work by using known encryption algorithms to try and decrypt the files. They are not always successful, but they may be worth trying if you don’t want to or can’t pay the ransom.
Pay The Ransom:
The last method for recovering CryptoLocker encrypted files is to pay the ransom. In some cases, the only way to get the decryption key is to pay the ransom. However, no guarantee paying the ransom will result in the key being released.
Was CryptoLocker resolved?
The CryptoLocker virus was a ransomware attack that hit computer users in 2013. The virus encrypted users’ files and demanded a ransom be paid to decrypt the files. While the virus was eventually resolved, it caused a lot of damage in its wake.
users who were infected with CryptoLocker found that their files had been encrypted and they could no longer access them. To get their files back, they were required to pay a ransom using Bitcoin. Many people didn’t have the money to pay the ransom, and so they lost their data permanently.
CryptoLocker was eventually resolved after law enforcement officials took down the server that was hosting the encryption key. However, by that time, many people had already lost their data. The virus served as a reminder of how vulnerable our data can be and how important it is to have backups in place.
