The Duralock virus belongs under the MedusaLocker ransomware family. Harmful software of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, documents, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its specific extension to every file, leaving the HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html files in each directory which contains the encrypted files.
Duralock virus: what is known so far?
βοΈ Duralock is a MedusaLocker family ransomware malicious agent.
Duralock will add its extra .duralock06 extension to every file’s title. The number at the end may differ depending on the attack campaign. For instance, a file named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.duralock06”. Just like the Excel file named “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.duralock06”, and so on.
In every folder containing the encoded files, a HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html file will be created. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can get this decryptor after contacting assistant01@backup.capital via email. That is pretty much the scheme of the felony.
Duralock Summary:
| Name | Duralock Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | MedusaLocker ransomware |
| Extension | .duralock06 |
| Ransomware note | HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html |
| Contact | assistant01@backup.capital |
| Detection | Trojan:Win32/CryptInject.TR!MTB, Ransom:Win32/BastaLoader.LK!MTB, Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.SAB!MTB |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .duralock06 extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Duralock virus |
The HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html file accompanying the Duralock ransomware states the following:
YOUR PERSONAL ID: - /!\\ YOUR COMPANY NETWORK HAS BEEN PENETRATED /!\\ All your important files have been encrypted! Your files are safe! Only modified. (RSA+AES) ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTORE YOUR FILES WITH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE WILL PERMANENTLY CORRUPT IT. DO NOT MODIFY ENCRYPTED FILES. DO NOT RENAME ENCRYPTED FILES. No software available on internet can help you. We are the only ones able to solve your problem. We gathered highly confidential/personal data. These data are currently stored on a private server. This server will be immediately destroyed after your payment. If you decide to not pay, we will release your data to public or re-seller. So you can expect your data to be publicly available in the near future.. We only seek money and our goal is not to damage your reputation or prevent your business from running. You will can send us 2-3 non-important files and we will decrypt it for free to prove we are able to give your files back. Contact us for price and get decryption software. email: assistant01@backup.capital assistant01@decodezone.net * To contact us, create a new free email account on the site: protonmail.com IF YOU DON\'T CONTACT US WITHIN 72 HOURS, PRICE WILL BE HIGHER.
In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Duralock looks like. Each filename has the “.duralock06” extension appended to it.
That is how encrypted “.duralock06” files look.
How did Duralock ransomware end up on my PC?
There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.
There are currently three most exploited methods for criminals to have the Duralock virus working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer file transfer.
- If you access your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a viral item attached to them. Therefore, it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
- Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file scheme. A Trojan is an object that gets into your computer disguised as something legal. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some service. However, what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful program that corrupts your data. As the update wizard can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the stuff you’re downloading. The optimal thing is to use the software developers’ official websites.
- As for the peer networks like BitTorrent or eMule, the threat 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 websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is done.
How to remove ransomware?
It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Duralock virus will most likely deploy Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Remove Duralock 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 Duralock 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 “Duralock” 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 Duralock 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.
Sometimes criminals would unblock some of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption tool. As Duralock virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the decryption instruments are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.
Understandably, if the hackers do the job of encoding someone’s essential data, the hopeless person will probably fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still risky. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about criminals simply vanishing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.
The best safety measure against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external drive. Of course, that might be not enough. The most important thing could be that file you were working on when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.
There are other ransomware products, besides Duralock, that work similarly. Examples of those are Donex, Reload, Zarik, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Duralock are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: files become encrypted, their extensions changed, ransom notes are created in each directory containing encoded files.
Some fortunate victims were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware experts. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decoding key to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the user to restore the files. But naturally, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a criminals’ instrument to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How do I avoid ransomware injection?
Duralock ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can protect your PC from ransomware infiltration within several easy steps:
- Never open any emails from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the questionable letter carefully. A hoax email will always have a mistake.
- Avoid using cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often shared as a part of cracked products, possibly as a βpatchβ to prevent the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are difficult to tell from reliable ones, as trojans may also have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal way is not to use such programs at all.
- And to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect armor for your PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
π€ How can I open “.duralock06” files?Is it possible to openβ.duralock06β files?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.duralock06” files you will not be able to access them.
π€ I really need to decrypt those β.duralock06β files ASAP. How can I do that?
It’s good if you have fΠ°r-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. The rest of the methods require patience.
π€ If GridinSoft deletes the Duralock malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
No way! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with real viruses. The ransomware that has attacked your PC is must be still active and launching checks every so often to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the attack. As it has been said above, the Duralock malware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide criminals with easy access to your system after some time.
π€ What actions should I take if the Duralock ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.
If that happened, you need to have a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your machine. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
π€ What could help the situation right now?
Some of the encrypted files can be located elsewhere.
- If you sent or received your critical files by email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You might have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Just 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 disks might have all those files too.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, phone, flash memory, etc.
HINT: You can use file recovery programs2 to get your lost data back since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you eradicate the virus with an anti-malware program.
