DUMP LOCKER Ransomware 🔐 (.F**KED File) — Removal Guide

The Dump locker virus falls within the ransomware type of infection. Harmful software of this type encrypts all user’s data on the PC (photos, documents, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, creating the Pop-up window files in every folder which contains the encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is known about the Dump locker virus?

Dump locker appends its specific .f**ked extension to the title of each encrypted file. For instance, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.f**ked”. Likewise, the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.f**ked”, and so forth.

In every directory with the encrypted files, a Pop-up window text document will be found. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. That is it.

Dump locker Overview:

In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Dump locker looks like. Each filename has the “.f**ked” extension appended to it.

That is how encrypted “.f**ked” files look.

How did my machine catch Dump locker ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most exploited methods for tamperers to have ransomware acting in your system. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer file transfer.

If you access your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a viral file enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with letters like these.

Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan file model. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC disguised as something else. Imagine, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some service. But what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that corrupts your data. Since the update package can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The optimal way is to use the software companies’ official websites.

As for the peer networks like torrents or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your data, the Dump locker virus will most likely install Vidar Stealer on your machine to get access to credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Remove Dump locker with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Dump locker as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Dump locker” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Dump locker and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Often tamperers would unblock few of your files so you know that they really have the decryption program. Since Dump locker virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. However, the decoding tools are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon arrive.

Understandably, if the tamperers succeed in encoding victim’s critical files, the desperate person will probably comply with their demands. Despite that, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports of racketeers simply vanishing after getting the money without even writing back.

The optimal countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud disk or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most important thing could be that one you were working on when it all happened. But at least it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the OS restoration.

There are other ransomware products, besides Dump locker, that work similarly. For instance, Gaqq, Wayn, Agvv, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Dump locker are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes are created in every directory containing encrypted files.

Some fortunate users were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decoding code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the user to restore the files. But of course, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a tamperers’ instrument to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How сan I avoid ransomware infection?

Dump locker ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can defend your computer from ransomware attack taking three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailers with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (how can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, check all elements of the suspicious email carefully. A hoax letter will always contain a mistake.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often shared as a part of cracked software, most likely under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are very hard to tell from trustworthy software, as trojans may also have the functionality you seek. Try to find information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.
• And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a powerful armor for your personal computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.f**ked” files?Is it possible to open“.f**ked” files?

There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.f**ked” files are decrypted.

🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. All other solutions require time.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Dump locker virus?

Absolutely not! Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will remove the threats from your system. The malware that has attacked your system is most likely still functional and it scans your system periodically to encode any new files you might create on your PC after the initial attack. As it has been said above, the Dump locker virus does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide malefactors with easy access to your PC in the future.

🤔 What to do if the Dump locker virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.

If that happened, you need to prepare a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encrypts any new files created or imported into your PC. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Some of the blocked files can be located elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your critical files by email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to send those images back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try to do it again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files too.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, cellphone, external storage, etc.

HINT: You can use data recovery utilities¹ to get your lost data back since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the video below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you can do it only after you kill the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.

1. Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.