DURALOCK Virus 🔐 (.DURALOCK06 Files) — How to Remove?

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?

☝️ 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 [email protected] via email. That is pretty much the scheme of the felony.

Duralock Summary:

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:
[email protected]
[email protected]


* 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.

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.

• 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.

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 “patch” 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.duralock06” files?Is it possible to open“.duralock06” files?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.duralock06” files you will not be able to access them.

🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.duralock06” files ASAP. How can I do that?

It’s good if you have fаr-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.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Duralock ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.

🤔 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.

1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
2. Here’s the list of Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2024.