LIKE Virus 🔐 (.LIKE Files) — How to Remove?

The Like virus belongs under the Dharma ransomware family. A harmful program of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (images, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its extra extension to every file, leaving the FILES ENCRYPTED.txt text files in every folder containing encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is Like virus?

☝️ A strictly correct denomination for the Like would be “a Dharma family ransomware-type infection”.

The pattern of renaming is this: id-xxxxx.[contact-email].like. After the encryption, a file entitled, for example, “report.docx” will be altered to “report.docx.id-9ECFA84E.[[email protected]].like”.

In each folder that contains the encoded files, a FILES ENCRYPTED.txt text file will appear. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can obtain this decryptor after contacting [email protected] by email. That is it.

Like outline:

The FILES ENCRYPTED.txt document accompanying the Like ransomware states the following:

all your data has been locked us
You want to return?
write email [email protected]

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

An example of encrypted .like files.

How did my computer get infected with Like ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most exploited methods for tamperers to have the Like virus working in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer-to-peer file transfer.

If you access your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a harmful item enclosed in them. Thus it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.

Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse model². A Trojan is an object that gets into your PC disguised as something different. For example, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some service. However, what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful agent that encrypts your data. Since the installation wizard can have any title and any icon, you have to make 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 BitTorrent or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never guess 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 objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of the Like virus?

It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Like virus will most likely install the Azorult Spyware on your computer to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware³ can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Sometimes racketeers would decode several of your files so you know that they do have the decryption tool. Since Like virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software developers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. However, the decoding tools are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.

Sure thing, if the hackers succeed in encrypting victim’s essential files, the desperate person will probably comply with their demands. Despite that, paying to criminals does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still risky. After getting the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports of racketeers just disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud disk or at least on an external storage. Surely, that might be not enough. The most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.

Like 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 Goaq, Qotr, Coaq, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Like are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become inaccessible, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in every directory containing encrypted files.

Some fortunate users were able to decrypt the blocked files with the help of the free software provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the criminals mistakenly send the decoding key to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ technology to pull the money out of their victims.

How сan I avert ransomware infiltration?

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

You can armour yourself from ransomware infiltration within several easy steps:

• Never open any letters from unknown senders with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, check all elements of the suspicious email with caution. A fake letter will always contain a mistake.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojans are often shared as an element of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable ones, as trojans may also have the functionality you need. Try searching for information about this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best solution 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 program will be a perfect shield for your personal computer.

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 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 PC for Like 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 finished, 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

🤔 Are the “.like” files accessible?

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

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

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. The rest of the methods require patience.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Like virus?

Absolutely not! Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with active threats. The ransomware that has attacked your system is probably still functional and launching checks from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your computer after the infection. As it has already been said, the Like virus does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide hackers with easy access to your PC in the future.

🤔 What to do if the Like virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to have a flash memory drive with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encodes any new files created or brought into your PC. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential applications to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Many of the blocked files might still be within your reach

• If you sent or received your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Just ask them to send those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try to do it again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, mobile, memory stick, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery programs⁶ to get your lost data back since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you kill the virus with an antivirus program.

Also, you can contact the following official 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.

1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
2. You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
3. You can read more on spyware variants and nature in the respective section of GridinSoft official website.
4. GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
5. More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
6. Here’s the list of Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.