FXLOCKER Ransomware Virus Removal

The Fxlocker virus belongs with the ransomware type of malicious agent. Malware of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the PC (images, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, leaving the README.txt text files in every folder which contains the encrypted files.

What is Fxlocker virus?

Fxlocker will append its specific .fxlocker extension to every file’s title. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.fxlocker”. Likewise, the Excel file named “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.fxlocker”, and so on.

In every folder that contains the encrypted files, a README.txt file will be found. 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 purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can obtain this tool after contacting [email protected], [email protected] by email. That is how they do it.

Fxlocker Summary:

The README.txt document coming in package with the Fxlocker malware states the following:

[NOTICE]
Your system has been encrypted by FXLocker.


Please follow the payment instructions to recover your files.


[INSTRUCTIONS]
1. Payment amount: 0.75892 BTC
2. Bitcoin Address: 1FxA6Eaa
3. Payment Deadline: 2025-02-17


Contact Support with your Reference ID to obtain the decryption keys.


[INFORMATION]
Reference ID: NJQPTUJC6FFOVFIV


[WARNINGS]
- Failing to complete payment within the deadline may lead to permanent data loss.
- Failing to complete payment within the deadline may lead to permanent data loss.
- Do not rename encrypted files; this can prevent decryption.

 

[CONTACT SUPPORT]
[email protected], [email protected]


[NOTICE]
You have until 2025-02-17 to complete the payment. Failure to comply will result in the permanent loss of your files.

/***************************************************
* PAY ATTENTION *
***************************************************
Please do not close this window or restart your computer.
Every action you take could result in permanent loss of your data.
Click the 'Contact Support' button below to secure your files.
***************************************************

In the image below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Fxlocker looks like. Each filename has the “.fxlocker” extension added to it.

How did Fxlocker ransomware end up on my PC?

There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for evil-doers to have ransomware acting in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer-to-peer file transfer.

• If you access your inbox and see emails that look just like 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 letters. They are very likely to have a harmful file enclosed in them. Thus it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file scheme. A Trojan is a program that gets into your machine pretending to be something legal. For instance, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some service. But what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful program that corrupts your data. As the update file 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 trust the software developers’ official websites.
• As for the peer networks like torrent trackers or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never guess what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How to remove ransomware?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your data, the Fxlocker virus will most likely deploy Vidar Stealer on your machine to get access to credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.

How do I avoid ransomware infection?

Fxlocker ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, neither does any similar malware.

You can protect your system from ransomware infiltration taking several easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the dubious email carefully. A hoax email will surely contain mistakes.
• Do not use cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, most likely under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. But dubious programs are very hard to tell from reliable ones, as trojans may also have the functionality you seek. You can try to find information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.

FAQ

🤔 How can I open “.fxlocker” files?Are the “.fxlocker” files accessible?

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.fxlocker” files first. Then you will be able to open them.

🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 What should I do if the Fxlocker ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.

🤔 What could help the situation right now?

Some of the encrypted data can be found elsewhere.

• If you sent or received your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to give those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files too.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, cellphone, memory stick, etc.

HINT: You can use data recovery utilities¹ to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the authentic 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 remove the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.

1. Here are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2024.