Remove LockBit ransomware from the operating system

What is LockBit?

Discovered by MalwareHunterTeam, LockBit is a ransomware program. Malicious software under this classification is designed to encrypt data.

The cyber criminals behind the infection demand ransom payments for decryption tools/software. During the encryption process, LockBit renames files with the ".abcd" extension. After this process, a text file ("Restore-My-Files.txt") is dropped into every affected folder.

The text file contains the ransom message, which informs victims that their data has been encrypted and provides instructions about how to restore it to its original state. The message within "Restore-My-Files.txt" states that people must contact the developers of LockBit via the email addresses provided (identical messages must be sent to all of these addresses).

The message (and copies) must contain users' personal IDs (provided in the text files and individually generated for each victim). One encrypted file can be attached to the email, which the criminals will decrypt as 'proof' that recovery is possible. This test file is decrypted free of charge, however, it cannot be larger than 1 MB.

After decryption of this file is verified, the ransom must be paid (in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency) and decryption tools/software will supposedly be received. The message ends with warnings and instructing victims not to rename encrypted files or attempt manual decryption with third party software - this risks permanent data loss.

In most cases of ransomware infections, decryption is impossible without the involvement of the malware developers, unless the ransomware is still in development and/or has certain flaws/bugs. To prevent LockBit from further encryption, it must be removed.

Unfortunately, removal will not restore already compromised data. The only viable solution is to recover files from a backup, if one was made prior to the infection and was stored in a separate location.

Screenshot of a message encouraging users to pay a ransom to decrypt their compromised data:

BigBossRoss, Mapo, and SaveTheQueen are some examples of other ransomware-type programs. All ransomware encrypts data and demands payment for decryption. Crucial differences are cryptographic algorithm used (symmetric or asymmetric) and ransom size.

The latter usually varies between three-digit and four-digit sums (in USD). Digital currencies (primarily, cryptocurrencies) are preferred by cyber criminals, as these transactions are difficult/impossible to trace. To protect data against such infections, keep backups on unplugged storage devices and/or remote servers. It is best to store several backup copies in different locations.

How did ransomware infect my computer?

Malicious content (ransomware and other malware) mainly proliferates via trojans, spam campaigns, illegal software activation ("cracking") tools, fake updaters and untrusted download channels. Trojans are malicious programs designed to cause chain infections (i.e. download/install additional malware).

Large scale spam campaigns are used to send out emails containing dangerous files (or links leading to them). These deceptive messages are typically highlighted as "official", "important", "urgent" or as similar priority mail.

The infectious attachments come in various formats, such as archive (ZIP, RAR) and executable (.exe, .run) files, Microsoft Office and PDF documents, JavaScript, etc. When the files are executed, run or otherwise opened, the infection is initiated. Illegal activation tools ("cracks") can download/install malware, rather than activate your chosen product.

Fake updaters infect systems by exploiting weaknesses of outdated software and/or simply installing malicious programs, rather than the promised updates.

Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), unofficial and free file-hosting sites, third party downloaders and similar sources are untrusted. Therefore, they are more likely to offer malicious content for downloading (usually, disguised as normal products and/or bundled with them).

Threat Summary:

Name	LockBit virus
Threat Type	Ransomware, Crypto Virus, Files locker.
Encrypted Files Extension	.abcd, lockbit
Ransom Demanding Message	Restore-My-Files.txt
Cyber Criminal Contact	goodmen@countermail.com and goodmen@cock.li email addresses, chat in Tor website
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:Malware-gen), BitDefender (Gen:Heur.Ransom.Imps.3), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/Filecoder.NXQ), Kaspersky (Trojan.Win32.DelShad.bqj), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Detection Names (updated variant)	Avast (Win32:Fraudo [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Heur.Ransom.Imps.1), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/Filecoder.NXQ), Kaspersky (Trojan.Win32.DelShad.chy), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Cannot open files stored on your computer, previously functional files now have a different extension (for example, my.docx.locked). A ransom demand message is displayed on your desktop. Cyber criminals demand payment of a ransom (usually in bitcoins) to unlock your files.
Distribution methods	Infected email attachments (macros), torrent websites, malicious ads.
Damage	All files are encrypted and cannot be opened without paying a ransom. Additional password-stealing trojans and malware infections can be installed together with a ransomware infection.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

How to protect yourself from ransomware infections

Irrelevant and/or suspicious emails should not be opened. All attachments (or links) found in suspect mail must never be opened, as doing so can trigger them to begin downloading/installing malware. You are advised to use only official and verified download channels.

Program activation and updating should be done with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers. Illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third party updaters are high-risk. Have a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and kept up-to-date.

Additionally, this software should be used to perform regular system scans and for the removal of potential threats. If your computer is already infected with LockBit, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this ransomware.

Text presented in LockBit ransomware text file ("Restore-My-Files.txt"):

All your important files are encrypted!
There is  only one way to get your files back:
1. Contact with us
2. Send us 1 any encrypted your file and your personal key
3. We will decrypt 1 file for test(maximum file size - 1 MB), its guarantee what we can decrypt your files
4. Pay
5. We send for you decryptor software

We accept Bitcoin

Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased  price(they add their fee to our)

Contact information: goodmen@countermail.com

Be sure to duplicate your message on the e-mail: goodmen@cock.li

Your personal id:
-

Screenshot of files encrypted by LockBit (".abcd" extension):

Update 4 February 2020 - Criminals have recently released yet another variant of LockBit ransomware, which now appends the ".lockbit" extension, creates a different ransom message file ("Restore-My-Files.txt") and provides users with a Tor website.

Screenshot of the updated LockBit ransomware text file ("Restore-My-Files.txt"):

Text presented within this file:

All your important files are encrypted!
Any attempts to restore your files with the thrid-party software will be fatal for your files!
RESTORE YOU DATA POSIBLE ONLY BUYING private key from us.
There is only one way to get your files back:

| 1. Download Tor browser - hxxps://www.torproject.org/ and install it.
| 2. Open link in TOR browser - hxxp://lockbitks2tvnmwk.onion/?D0407AC9D97C78CB9C256CA4731DB5D5
This link only works in Tor Browser!
| 3. Follow the instructions on this page

 ###  Attention! ###
 # Do not rename encrypted files.
 # Do not try to decrypt using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
 # Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price(they add their fee to our)
 # Tor Browser may be blocked in your country or corporate network. Use hxxps://bridges.torproject.org
 # Tor Browser user manual hxxps://tb-manual.torproject.org/about

Screenshot of the updated LockBit ransomware Tor website:

Text presented within this site:

Your files are encrypted by LockBit
What happpend?

Many of your documents, databases, videos and other important files are no longer accessible because they have ben encrypted. Maybe you are busy locking for a way to recover your files, but do not waste your time. Nobody can recover your files without our decryption service. LockBit Ransomware use AES and RSA cryptography algorithms.
How to recover my files?

We guarantee that you can recover all your files safely and easily.
You can decrypt a single file for warranty - we can do it. But if you want to decrypt all your files, you need to pay.
Write to support if you want to buy decryptor.
Trial decrypt

You can decrypt a single file for warranty - we can do it.
Attention! Decryption is available once for you

    Find a *.lockbit file on your computer
    Upload and get the original

Maximum file size 256 Kb
Chat with support

Appearance of this Tor website:

Screenshot of files encrypted by the updated LockBit ransomware (".lockbit" extension):

Update 09 March 2020 - Criminals have released yet another variant of LockBit ransomware. Although it has no major changes, it now changes the victim's desktop wallpaper:

Text presented within this image:

All your files are encrypted by LockBit

for more information see Restore-My-Files.txt that is located in every encrypted folder

Update 05 May 2020 - LockBit has a new feature which allows it to spread itself from one computer to all the other computers that are connected to the same network. It does it by looking for devices on a network and attempting to connect to them over the Server Message Block protocol.

After successful connection LockBit runs a PowerShell command that downloads and executes the ransomware. It is worthwhile to mention that the more computers on a network are infected with LockBit the faster it can spread itself further. This feature allows for cyber criminals to perform more successful attacks, especially for the less skilled ones.

Update May 13, 2020 - Crooks have recently released yet another version of LockBit ransomware. The appended extension and desktop wallpaper remains the same. However, the text file (ransom note) has been slightly modified. The website has also been completely changed.

Screenshot of this LockBit ransomware's text file ("Restore-My-Files.txt"):

Text presented within:

All your important files are encrypted!
Any attempts to restore your files with the thrid-party software will be fatal for your files!
RESTORE YOU DATA POSIBLE ONLY BUYING private key from us.
There is only one way to get your files back:

1) Through a standard browser(FireFox, Chrome, Edge, Opera)
| 1. Open link hxxp://lockbit-decryptor.com/?AC4DC189B13E73EFE1FAD19811697C6F
| 2. Follow the instructions on this page

2) Through a Tor Browser - recommended
| 1. Download Tor browser - hxxps://www.torproject.org/ and install it.
| 2. Open link in TOR browser - hxxp://lockbitks2tvnmwk.onion/?AC4DC189B13E73EFE1FAD19811697C6F
     This link only works in Tor Browser!
| 3. Follow the instructions on this page

 ###  Attention! ###
 # lockbit-decryptor.com may be blocked. We recommend using a Tor browser to access the site
 # Do not rename encrypted files.
 # Do not try to decrypt using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
 # Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price(they add their fee to our).
 # Tor Browser may be blocked in your country or corporate network. Use hxxps://bridges.torproject.org or use Tor Browser over VPN.
 # Tor Browser user manual hxxps://tb-manual.torproject.org/about

Appearance of the updated LockBit ransomware's website (GIF):

Text presented within:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED BY LOCKBIT
What happpend?
Many of your documents, databases, videos and other important files are no longer accessible because they have ben encrypted. Maybe you are busy locking for a way to recover your files, but do not waste your time. Nobody can recover your files without our decryption service.

LockBit Ransomware use AES and RSA cryptography algorithms.
How to recover my files?
We guarantee that you can recover all your files safely and easily. You can decrypt a single file for warranty - we can do it. But if you want to decrypt all your files, you need to pay.

Write to support if you want to buy decryptor.
Trial decrypt

You can decrypt a single file for warranty - we can do it.
ATTENTION! Decryption is available
once for you Upload the encrypted file max. 256 kb
Chat with Support

Update June 10, 2020 - The developers of Maze ransomware continue to leak data stolen from victims that do not agree to pay. They threaten huge companies as the profits are way higher than targeting a regular home user. However, what's worth mentioning is that Maze started cooperating with two other ransomware - LockBit and Ragnar Locker.

This created a so-called "Maze Cartel". The website designed to leak Maze victims' now also contains files and other information stolen by both LockBit and Ragnar Locker infections.

Screenshot of a pop-up window (containing a ransom note) displayed by yet another variant of LockBit ransomware:

LockBit ransomware removal:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Video suggesting what steps should be taken in case of a ransomware infection:

Quick menu:

• What is LockBit virus?
• STEP 1. Reporting ransomware to authorities.
• STEP 2. Isolating the infected device.
• STEP 3. Identifying the ransomware infection.
• STEP 4. Searching for ransomware decryption tools.
• STEP 5. Restoring files with data recovery tools.
• STEP 6. Creating data backups.

Reporting ransomware to authorities:

If you are a victim of a ransomware attack we recommend reporting this incident to authorities. By providing information to law enforcement agencies you will help track cybercrime and potentially assist in the prosecution of the attackers. Here's a list of authorities where you should report a ransomware attack. For the complete list of local cybersecurity centers and information on why you should report ransomware attacks, read this article.

List of local authorities where ransomware attacks should be reported (choose one depending on your residence address):

•  USA - Internet Crime Complaint Centre IC3
•  United Kingdom - Action Fraud
•  Spain - Policía Nacional
•  France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
•  Germany - Polizei
•  Italy - Polizia di Stato
•  The Netherlands - Politie
•  Poland - Policja
•  Portugal - Polícia Judiciária

Isolating the infected device:

Some ransomware-type infections are designed to encrypt files within external storage devices, infect them, and even spread throughout the entire local network. For this reason, it is very important to isolate the infected device (computer) as soon as possible.

Step 1: Disconnect from the internet.

The easiest way to disconnect a computer from the internet is to unplug the Ethernet cable from the motherboard, however, some devices are connected via a wireless network and for some users (especially those who are not particularly tech-savvy), disconnecting cables may seem troublesome. Therefore, you can also disconnect the system manually via Control Panel:

Navigate to the "Control Panel", click the search bar in the upper-right corner of the screen, enter "Network and Sharing Center" and select search result:

Click the "Change adapter settings" option in the upper-left corner of the window:

Right-click on each connection point and select "Disable". Once disabled, the system will no longer be connected to the internet. To re-enable the connection points, simply right-click again and select "Enable".

Step 2: Unplug all storage devices.

As mentioned above, ransomware might encrypt data and infiltrate all storage devices that are connected to the computer. For this reason, all external storage devices (flash drives, portable hard drives, etc.) should be disconnected immediately, however, we strongly advise you to eject each device before disconnecting to prevent data corruption:

Navigate to "My Computer", right-click on each connected device, and select "Eject":

Step 3: Log-out of cloud storage accounts.

Some ransomware-type might be able to hijack software that handles data stored within "the Cloud". Therefore, the data could be corrupted/encrypted. For this reason, you should log-out of all cloud storage accounts within browsers and other related software. You should also consider temporarily uninstalling the cloud-management software until the infection is completely removed.

Identify the ransomware infection:

To properly handle an infection, one must first identify it. Some ransomware infections use ransom-demand messages as an introduction (see the WALDO ransomware text file below).

This, however, is rare. In most cases, ransomware infections deliver more direct messages simply stating that data is encrypted and that victims must pay some sort of ransom. Note that ransomware-type infections typically generate messages with different file names (for example, "_readme.txt", "READ-ME.txt", "DECRYPTION_INSTRUCTIONS.txt", "DECRYPT_FILES.html", etc.). Therefore, using the name of a ransom message may seem like a good way to identify the infection. The problem is that most of these names are generic and some infections use the same names, even though the delivered messages are different and the infections themselves are unrelated. Therefore, using the message filename alone can be ineffective and even lead to permanent data loss (for example, by attempting to decrypt data using tools designed for different ransomware infections, users are likely to end up permanently damaging files and decryption will no longer be possible even with the correct tool).

Another way to identify a ransomware infection is to check the file extension, which is appended to each encrypted file. Ransomware infections are often named by the extensions they append (see files encrypted by Qewe ransomware below).

This method is only effective, however, when the appended extension is unique - many ransomware infections append a generic extension (for example, ".encrypted", ".enc", ".crypted", ".locked", etc.). In these cases, identifying ransomware by its appended extension becomes impossible.

One of the easiest and quickest ways to identify a ransomware infection is to use the ID Ransomware website. This service supports most existing ransomware infections. Victims simply upload a ransom message and/or one encrypted file (we advise you to upload both if possible).

The ransomware will be identified within seconds and you will be provided with various details, such as the name of the malware family to which the infection belongs, whether it is decryptable, and so on.

Example 1 (Qewe [Stop/Djvu] ransomware):

Example 2 (.iso [Phobos] ransomware):

If your data happens to be encrypted by ransomware that is not supported by ID Ransomware, you can always try searching the internet by using certain keywords (for example, a ransom message title, file extension, provided contact emails, crypto wallet addresses, etc.).

Search for ransomware decryption tools:

Encryption algorithms used by most ransomware-type infections are extremely sophisticated and, if the encryption is performed properly, only the developer is capable of restoring data. This is because decryption requires a specific key, which is generated during the encryption. Restoring data without the key is impossible. In most cases, cybercriminals store keys on a remote server, rather than using the infected machine as a host. Dharma (CrySis), Phobos, and other families of high-end ransomware infections are virtually flawless, and thus restoring data encrypted without the developers' involvement is simply impossible. Despite this, there are dozens of ransomware-type infections that are poorly developed and contain a number of flaws (for example, the use of identical encryption/decryption keys for each victim, keys stored locally, etc.). Therefore, always check for available decryption tools for any ransomware that infiltrates your computer.

Finding the correct decryption tool on the internet can be very frustrating. For this reason, we recommend that you use the No More Ransom Project and this is where identifying the ransomware infection is useful. The No More Ransom Project website contains a "Decryption Tools" section with a search bar. Enter the name of the identified ransomware, and all available decryptors (if there are any) will be listed.

Restore files with data recovery tools:

Depending on the situation (quality of ransomware infection, type of encryption algorithm used, etc.), restoring data with certain third-party tools might be possible. Therefore, we advise you to use the Recuva tool developed by CCleaner. This tool supports over a thousand data types (graphics, video, audio, documents, etc.) and it is very intuitive (little knowledge is necessary to recover data). In addition, the recovery feature is completely free.

Step 1: Perform a scan.

Run the Recuva application and follow the wizard. You will be prompted with several windows allowing you to choose what file types to look for, which locations should be scanned, etc. All you need to do is select the options you're looking for and start the scan. We advise you to enable the "Deep Scan" before starting, otherwise, the application's scanning capabilities will be restricted.

Wait for Recuva to complete the scan. The scanning duration depends on the volume of files (both in quantity and size) that you are scanning (for example, several hundred gigabytes could take over an hour to scan). Therefore, be patient during the scanning process. We also advise against modifying or deleting existing files, since this might interfere with the scan. If you add additional data (for example, downloading files/content) while scanning, this will prolong the process:

Step 2: Recover data.

Once the process is complete, select the folders/files you wish to restore and simply click "Recover". Note that some free space on your storage drive is necessary to restore data:

Create data backups:

Proper file management and creating backups is essential for data security. Therefore, always be very careful and think ahead.

Partition management: We recommend that you store your data in multiple partitions and avoid storing important files within the partition that contains the entire operating system. If you fall into a situation whereby you cannot boot the system and are forced to format the disk on which the operating system is installed (in most cases, this is where malware infections hide), you will lose all data stored within that drive. This is the advantage of having multiple partitions: if you have the entire storage device assigned to a single partition, you will be forced to delete everything, however, creating multiple partitions and allocating the data properly allows you to prevent such problems. You can easily format a single partition without affecting the others - therefore, one will be cleaned and the others will remain untouched, and your data will be saved. Managing partitions is quite simple and you can find all the necessary information on Microsoft's documentation web page.

Data backups: One of the most reliable backup methods is to use an external storage device and keep it unplugged. Copy your data to an external hard drive, flash (thumb) drive, SSD, HDD, or any other storage device, unplug it and store it in a dry place away from the sun and extreme temperatures. This method is, however, quite inefficient, since data backups and updates need to be made regularly. You can also use a cloud service or remote server. Here, an internet connection is required and there is always the chance of a security breach, although it's a really rare occasion.

We recommend using Microsoft OneDrive for backing up your files. OneDrive lets you store your personal files and data in the cloud, sync files across computers and mobile devices, allowing you to access and edit your files from all of your Windows devices. OneDrive lets you save, share and preview files, access download history, move, delete, and rename files, as well as create new folders, and much more.

You can back up your most important folders and files on your PC (your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders). Some of OneDrive’s more notable features include file versioning, which keeps older versions of files for up to 30 days. OneDrive features a recycling bin in which all of your deleted files are stored for a limited time. Deleted files are not counted as part of the user’s allocation.

The service is built using HTML5 technologies and allows you to upload files up to 300 MB via drag and drop into the web browser or up to 10 GB via the OneDrive desktop application. With OneDrive, you can download entire folders as a single ZIP file with up to 10,000 files, although it can’t exceed 15 GB per single download.

OneDrive comes with 5 GB of free storage out of the box, with an additional 100 GB, 1 TB, and 6 TB storage options available for a subscription-based fee. You can get one of these storage plans by either purchasing additional storage separately or with Office 365 subscription.

Creating a data backup:

The backup process is the same for all file types and folders. Here’s how you can back up your files using Microsoft OneDrive

Step 1: Choose the files/folders you want to backup.

Click the OneDrive cloud icon to open the OneDrive menu. While in this menu, you can customize your file backup settings.

Click Help & Settings and then select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Go to the Backup tab and click Manage backup.

In this menu, you can choose to backup the Desktop and all of the files on it, and Documents and Pictures folders, again, with all of the files in them. Click Start backup.

Now, when you add a file or folder in the Desktop and Documents and Pictures folders, they will be automatically backed up on OneDrive.

To add folders and files, not in the locations shown above, you have to add them manually.

Open File Explorer and navigate to the location of the folder/file you want to backup. Select the item, right-click it, and click Copy.

Then, navigate to OneDrive, right-click anywhere in the window and click Paste. Alternatively, you can just drag and drop a file into OneDrive. OneDrive will automatically create a backup of the folder/file.

All of the files added to the OneDrive folder are backed up in the cloud automatically. The green circle with the checkmark in it indicates that the file is available both locally and on OneDrive and that the file version is the same on both. The blue cloud icon indicates that the file has not been synced and is available only on OneDrive. The sync icon indicates that the file is currently syncing.

To access files only located on OneDrive online, go to the Help & Settings drop-down menu and select View online.

Step 2: Restore corrupted files.

OneDrive makes sure that the files stay in sync, so the version of the file on the computer is the same version on the cloud. However, if ransomware has encrypted your files, you can take advantage of OneDrive’s Version history feature that will allow you to restore the file versions prior to encryption.

Microsoft 365 has a ransomware detection feature that notifies you when your OneDrive files have been attacked and guide you through the process of restoring your files. It must be noted, however, that if you don’t have a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, you only get one detection and file recovery for free.

If your OneDrive files get deleted, corrupted, or infected by malware, you can restore your entire OneDrive to a previous state. Here’s how you can restore your entire OneDrive:

1. If you're signed in with a personal account, click the Settings cog at the top of the page. Then, click Options and select Restore your OneDrive.

If you're signed in with a work or school account,  click the Settings cog at the top of the page. Then, click Restore your OneDrive.

2. On the Restore your OneDrive page, select a date from the drop-down list. Note that if you're restoring your files after automatic ransomware detection, a restore date will be selected for you.

3. After configuring all of the file restoration options, click Restore to undo all the activities you selected.

The best way to avoid damage from ransomware infections is to maintain regular up-to-date backups.

▼ Show Discussion