The Empg296lck virus belongs to the MedusaLocker ransomware family. Ransomware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (images, documents, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its specific extension to every file, leaving the !_HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML text files in every directory containing encrypted files.
What is known about the Empg296lckvirus?
☝️ A scientifically accurate denomination for the Empg296lck is “a MedusaLocker family ransomware-type infection”.
Empg296lck will add its specific .EMPg296LCK extension to the title of every encoded file. For example, an image named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.EMPg296LCK”. Likewise, the Excel table with the name “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.EMPg296LCK”, and so on.
In every directory that contains the encrypted files, a !_HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML text file will be found. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. That is it.
Empg296lck abstract:
| Name | Empg296lck Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | MedusaLocker ransomware |
| Extension | .EMPg296LCK |
| Ransomware note | !_HOW_RECOVERY_FILES_!.HTML |
| Detection | Win32/GenKryptik.FVUH, Ransom:Win32/Filecoder.SW!MSR, Trojan.Win32.Injuke.fhbk |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .EMPg296LCK extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Empg296lck virus |
In the image below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Empg296lck looks like. Each filename has the “.EMPg296LCK” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.EMPg296LCK” files look.
How did Empg296lck ransomware end up on my PC?
There are many possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
There are currently three most exploited ways for criminals to have the Empg296lck virus planted in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer networks.
If you open your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, beware of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a harmful item enclosed in them. Thus it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse model2. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your PC disguised as something legal. For instance, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some software. But what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that encodes your data. As the update wizard can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The best thing is to use the software developers’ 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 Internet. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.
How do I get rid of the Empg296lck virus?
It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Empg296lck virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your computer to get access to credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware3 can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Often racketeers would unblock few of your files so you know that they really have the decryption program. Since Empg296lck virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a method to undo its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware instruments are frequently updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Understandably, if the malefactors do the job of encrypting someone’s critical files, the hopeless person will probably comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying to criminals does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports of racketeers just disappearing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.
The optimal countermeasure to ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be not enough. The most important thing could be that file you were working on when it all went down. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.
Empg296lck is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. Examples of those are Dfwe, Zfdv, Fdcv, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Empg296lck are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: files become encoded, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in each folder containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate people were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware experts. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But naturally, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a tamperers’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.
How сan I avert ransomware attack?
Empg296lck ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can protect your PC from ransomware attack in several easy steps:
- Ignore any letters from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are expecting (how can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the suspicious letter carefully. A hoax email will surely contain a mistake.
- Avoid using cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often shared as a part of cracked software, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable ones, because trojans may also have the functionality you seek. You can try to find information on this program on the anti-malware forums, but the best 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 program will be a perfect armor for your system.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft4
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft5.
Download Removal Tool.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Run the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your system.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your system for Empg296lck infections and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has completed, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
FAQ
🤔 How can I open “.EMPg296LCK” files?Is it possible to open“.EMPg296LCK” files?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.EMPg296LCK” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
If the “.EMPg296LCK” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Empg296lck virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?
Of course not. The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with real threats. The virus that has attacked your computer is most likely still active and launching checks periodically to encrypt any new files you might create on your computer after the initial attack. As it has been said above, the Empg296lck ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide criminals with easy access to your computer in the future.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Empg296lck virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
In such an unfortunate situation, you need to have a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encodes any new files created or imported into your system. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Many of the blocked files might still be at your disposal
- If you sent or received your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. 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 networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files too.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a notebook, phone, external storage, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery utilities6 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.
Also, you can contact the following governmental fraud and scam sites to report this attack:
- In the United States: On Guard Online;
- In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
- In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
- In Australia: SCAMwatch;
- In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
- In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;
To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove EMPG296LCK Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: EMPG296LCK Virus
Description: EMPG296LCK Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .EMPg296LCK extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- You can read more on spyware variants and nature in the respective section of GridinSoft official website.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
