How to Remove Killer Locker Ransomware

How to Remove Killer Locker Ransomware?

Killer Locker is the nth file-encrypting infection out there. It displays a particularly creepy image of a clown on your PC screen. Now, seeing this horrendous clown only means one thing. Your files have been modified by the virus and are no longer accessible. Meet ransomware. This is an immensely aggressive, harmful and problematic parasite. Some specialists even go so far as to say ransomware is the absolute worst type of virus. This title is well deserved because file-encrypting programs often cause irreversible harm. Furthermore, these infections are on the rise right now. We stumble across a brand new ransomware practically every day. Do you know why hackers tirelessly develop this type of parasites? Ransomware is a very efficient way to blackmail gullible PC users. Hence, keep in mind Killer Locker aims at your bank account. As soon as the parasite gets installed, it performs a thorough scan. This program locates all your personal files that it’s about to encrypt later. Pictures and videos and music and MS Office documents, etc. Ransomware doesn’t discriminate. It takes down all the personal information you’ve stored on your PC system. Then, using the AES-256 encrypting algorithm, Killer Locker locks you data. That is it. Your precious files are now being held hostage by the virus. You can neither view nor open them. It goes without saying this trick may have catastrophic consequences for you. Killer Locker adds the “.rip” extension to the target data. It actually renames your files and changes their formats. The problem is, your PC won’t be able to recognize their new format. Your files are turned into unreadable gibberish. While encrypting them, Killer Locker Ransomware creates a ransom note. As we mentioned, ransomware is nothing but a nasty attempt for a cyber scam. The parasite’s message is in Portuguese so its main target appear to be PC users from Portugal. Of course, you could fall victim to Killer Locker anywhere on the globe. According to the ransom note, you need a special decryption key to unlock your files. However, this decryptor doesn’t come for free. Can you see the fraud already? Ransomware appears on your PC system one day out of the blue. Just a couple of minutes later, it locks all your personal data with a strong cipher. Then it displays a ransom note and demands money from you. Killer Locker Ransomware relies on your despair and anxiety. Hence, you have to ignore the parasite’s empty threats. Making a deal with hackers is a horrible idea for numerous reasons.

How did I get infected with?

There are several quite efficient techniques to spread ransomware. Hackers’ favorites, if you will. The number one method involves spam emails and email-attachments. You might receive ransomware in your inbox. That means you have to be careful what you click open as it might be malicious. Stay away from spam messages in your social media profiles as well. A single click could set free some dangerous parasite so make no mistake. Delete what you don’t trust. Ransomware also travels the Web via Exploit Kits. To prevent installation, always make sure your software is updated. You might have installed the virus in a freeware/shareware bundle as well. In the future, avoid illegitimate pages and unverified program packages. Killer Locker also gets spread with the help of Trojan horses. Check out the machine for more parasites. Last but not least, infections get installed via malicious torrents or fake program updates. Watch out for potential viruses on a daily basis. Remember, preventing infiltration is much easier than having to delete a virus afterwards.

Why is Killer Locker dangerous?

The dreaded Killer Locker Ransomware is very harmful. It utilizes a highly complicated algorithm to lock your files. This way the virus plays mind games with you. Hackers’ goal is to take advantage of your panic so don’t let them fool you. Killer Locker doesn’t give information on the exact sum you’re supposed to pay. However, crooks usually demand more than 1 Bitcoin. For those of you unfamiliar with online currency, this equals about 600 USD. Are your pictures and music files worth that much money, though? Furthermore, you have to keep in mind crooks aren’t famous for playing by the rules. Even the rules they invent. Don’t even consider giving your money away as this guarantees you NOTHING. Hackers will simply ignore your attempts to restore your inaccessible files. Therefore, keep your Bitcoins. Researchers keep on working on decryption tools so you might get to unlock your data for free. Firstly, you have to delete the ransomware. To do so manually, please follow our comprehensive removal guide down below.

Killer Locker Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover Killer Locker Encrypted Files

STEP 1: Stop the malicious process using Windows Task Manager

• Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Locate the process of the ransomware. Have in mind that this is usually a random generated file.
• Before you kill the process, type the name on a text document for later reference.

• Locate any suspicious processes associated with Killer Locker encryption Virus.
• Right click on the process
• Open File Location
• End Process
• Delete the directories with the suspicious files.
• Have in mind that the process can be hiding and very difficult to detect

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

STEP 3: Locate Killer Locker encryption Virus startup location

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”
• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to:

Navigate to your %appdata% folder and delete the executable.

You can alternatively use your msconfig windows program to double check the execution point of the virus. Please, have in mind that the names in your machine might be different as they might be generated randomly, that’s why you should run any professional scanner to identify malicious files.

STEP 4: How to recover encrypted files?

• Method 1: The first and best method is to restore your data from a recent backup, in case that you have one.

• Method 2: File Recovery Software – Usually when the ransomware encrypts a file it first makes a copy of it, encrypts the copy, and then deletes the original. Due to this you may try to use file recovery software to recover some of your original files.
• Method 3: Shadow Volume Copies – As a last resort, you can try to restore your files via Shadow Volume Copies. Open the Shadow Explorer part of the package and choose the Drive you want to recover. Right click on any file you want to restore and click Export on it.