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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

🤔 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.