The Hentailocker virus belongs with the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of such sort encrypts all the data on your PC (photos, text files, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, leaving the UNLOCKFILES.txt text files in every directory with the encrypted files.
What is known about the Hentailockervirus?
☝️ A scientifically accurate description for the Hentailocker would be “a ransomware-type infection”.
Hentailocker will append its own .hentai extension to every file’s title. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.hentai”. Just like the Excel file named “table.xlsx” will be altered to “table.xlsx.hentai”, and so forth.
In each folder with the encrypted files, a UNLOCKFILES.txt text document will appear. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can get this decrypting software after contacting hlockdev@rungel.net through email. That is basically the scheme of the crime.
Hentailocker abstract:
| Name | Hentailocker Virus |
| Extension | .hentai |
| Ransomware note | UNLOCKFILES.txt |
| Contact | hlockdev@rungel.net |
| Detection | Crytex.Virus.FileInfector.DDS, Win32/Filecoder.OLC, Malware-Cryptor.InstallCore.5 |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .hentai extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Hentailocker virus |
The UNLOCKFILES.txt document accompanying the Hentailocker malware states the following:
Well, looks like your files are encrypted by HentaiLocker. But don\'t worry, you can still get them back. You need to use our special decrypter to get your files back. To get decrypter, you need to contact me by email (hlockdev@rungel.net) and send these infos : - PC name (your PC name is -) - username (your username is -) - your personal ID (-) - date when your PC got infected After i\'ll get these infos, you will get a link to download our decrypter... ...maybe i\'ll give it... maybe not.
In the image below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Hentailocker looks like. Each filename has the “.hentai” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.hentai” files look.
How did my computer get infected with Hentailocker ransomware?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware injection.
Nowadays, there are three most exploited methods for hackers to have ransomware settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer-to-peer file transfer.
If you access your inbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a viral item enclosed in them. Thus it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan file scheme1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your computer pretending to be something legal. For instance, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some software. However, what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful program that encodes your data. Since the installation 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 thing is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer file transfer protocols like torrents or eMule, the threat 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. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.
How do I get rid of the Hentailocker virus?
It is important to note that besides encrypting your data, the Hentailocker virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your PC to get access to credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware2 can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Often tamperers would decrypt several of your files to prove that they indeed have the decryption tool. As Hentailocker virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures engineers have not yet found a way to undo its work. However, the decoding tools are frequently updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Understandably, if the criminals succeed in encrypting victim’s essential data, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. However, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After getting the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports about ransomware developers just vanishing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.
The optimal countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud storage or at least on an external storage. Of course, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all happened. But at least it is something. It is also wise to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.
There are other ransomware products, besides Hentailocker, that work similarly. For instance, Mppn, Uyit, Maos, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Hentailocker are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: files become inaccessible, their extensions changed, ransom notes are created in every directory containing encoded files.
Some fortunate people were able to decode the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-ransomware specialists. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a tamperers’ instrument to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How сan I avert ransomware infection?
Hentailocker ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can protect your system from ransomware injection within three easy steps:
- Ignore any letters from unknown mailers with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the questionable letter with caution. A hoax letter will always have a mistake.
- Avoid using cracked or unknown software. Trojan viruses are often distributed as an element of cracked products, most likely under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, untrusted programs are very hard to distinguish from trustworthy software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try to find information about this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best way is not to use such software.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a powerful defense for your system.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft3
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft4.
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 PC.
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 computer for Hentailocker 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 “.hentai” files?Can I somehow access “.hentai” files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.hentai” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.hentai” files ASAP. How can I do that?
Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. 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.
🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Hentailocker malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
Absolutely not! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with actual threats. The ransomware that has infected your PC is must be still active and running scans from time to time to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the infection. As it has been mentioned above, the Hentailocker 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.
🤔 What to do if the Hentailocker malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
If that happened, you need to have a memory stick with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to do the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your machine. To suppress this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run upon system start. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 And what should I do now?
Many of the encoded files might still be at your disposal
- If you exchanged your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to send those pictures back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try doing 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, flash memory, etc.
HINT: You can use data recovery programs5 to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn 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 anti-malware 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 HentaiLocker Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: HentaiLocker Virus
Description: HentaiLocker Virus is a ransomware-type infection. This virus encrypts important personal files (videos, photos, documents). A specific .hentai extension can track the encrypted files. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- 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’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
