Locky ransomware: decrypt .locky files

 
Learn how to get around unauthorized encryption by the Locky ransomware threat, remove the Trojan proper, and find out how to prevent such attacks further on.

When the crypto virus called Locky attacks a computer, things get out of hand. Not only does this nasty infection deny the availability of the user’s proprietary data, but it also renders files completely unrecognizable. It substitutes filenames with long strings of letters and characters and concatenates the .locky extension to each. In order to revert this bad impact, victims are told to pay somewhere in the range of 0.5 Bitcoins, or around $250 based on the current exchange rate. The documents named "_Locky_recover_instructions.txt" and "_Locky_recover_instructions.bmp" provide the users with a walkthrough to recover from the attack and get the frozen files back. By the way, the BMP variant replaces the original desktop wallpaper.

Locky ransomware manifests itself aggressively

The distributors of Locky ransomware have been leveraging a contamination scheme that cannot boast much innovation or hi-tech characteristics whatsoever. They use Microsoft Word macros. The idea is as follows: a user sees a new message in their inbox, gets curious, opens it and discovers that it has an enclosed invoice. Once the person opens the document, its contents don’t make sense and look like a Chinese puzzle. But then, lo and behold, a prompt appears at the top of the window that says enabling macros will fix the bug and make the text readable. However, what happens in fact is the attackers use a catalogued macro vulnerability to embed the ransom Trojan into the OS.

TXT ransom notes and .locky files inside a directory

Locky traverses the local drives, mapped and unmapped network shares, as well as removable media in search of the victim’s personal documents, images, videos, presentations, databases and other popular types of data. As soon as the list of targeted objects is readily available, the ransomware utilizes the RSA-2048 cryptosystem in order to encrypt the files. As mentioned above, filenames are subject to critical changes, too.

The _Locky_recover_instructions.txt (.bmp) ransom notes provide the user with their personal ID and several alternate Tor links to the Locky Decrypter Page. The victim is supposed to use this page to submit the 0.5 BTC ransom and download the decrypt tool once the scammers have verified and confirmed the payment. Although security gurus haven’t yet created a solution to decrypt files hijacked by Locky, there do exist techniques that might lend you a helping hand in the recovery activity.

How to recover .locky files without submitting the ransom

A brief disclaimer: the techniques described below do not actually decrypt the locked data. Instead, they provide viable workarounds for exploiting probable imperfections of the way that this virus implements the crypto and handles the victim’s files. Although it’s premature to assert whether or not these tips will do the trick in your situation, nothing more efficient has been invented to date. Without further ado, peruse the following methods to mitigate the harm from the ransomware compromise.

  • Use Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to your advantage

    In case you didn’t know, Shadow Copies represent Microsoft Windows’ feature for file backup. The operating system makes point-in-time snapshots of files over the course of critical updates and the creation of System Restore points. Normally, the Locky ransom Trojan disables VSS on early stages of the attack, but chances are it fails to.

    Nevertheless, it certainly won’t hurt to try this: for a start, download and install Shadow Explorer app. It is a free solution that displays the file hierarchy in a user-friendly way and automates the process of retrieving the previous versions of files and folders. You can easily export data by right-clicking the object of interest and selecting the corresponding option as shown on the picture below.

    Shadow Explorer

  • Try data recovery software

    These types of solutions were originally designed for forensic purposes as well as to restore the information that was obliterated accidentally or due to hardware failures. Their scope of use has expanded with the emergence of cryptographic infections like Locky. Again, this isn’t a cure-all, but it may help under certain circumstances. So go ahead and download ParetoLogic’s Data Recovery Pro, have your computer scanned for recoverable data and follow the program’s directions to proceed with the file rescue activity.

    Data Recovery Pro

  • Use backups, they’re indispensable

    Nothing beats backups when ransomware attacks your computer. No matter if your files are backed up to an external piece of hardware or a cloud provider, everything can be downloaded back to the machine in a few clicks. Just make sure you have removed the ransomware before retrieving the data, otherwise the crypto routine will repeat.

Prevent ransomware attacks further on

In order to be a moving target for crypto malware like Locky, it’s strongly recommended to patch potentially vulnerable software (Adobe Flash Player, Java) on a regular basis, refrain from opening fishy email attachments, keep macros in Microsoft Office documents disabled, use a dependable antimalware suite, and of course maintain secure backups of the most valuable files.