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

The Locknet virus belongs with the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel tables, music, videos, etc) and appends its extra extension to every file, creating the HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html files in each directory which contains the encrypted files.

What is Locknet virus?

Locknet appends its specific .locknet extension to the name of every encrypted file. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.locknet”. Just like the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.locknet”, and so on.

In each folder with the encoded files, a HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html file will be created. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to purchase the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can obtain this decryptor after contacting [email protected] by email. That is how they do it.

Locknet Summary:

The HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html document coming in package with the Locknet malware provides the following discouraging information:

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.

If you can not use the above link, use the 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 picture below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Locknet looks like. Each filename has the “.locknet” extension added to it.

How did my machine catch Locknet ransomware?

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

Nowadays, there are three most popular ways for evil-doers to have the Locknet virus planted in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer networks.

• If you open your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is unknown to you, beware of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a ransomware file attached to them. Therefore, it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file scheme. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your PC disguised as something else. For instance, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some software. But what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful program that encrypts your data. As the update file can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software companies’ official websites.
• As for the peer file transfer protocols 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 resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the Locknet virus will most likely install Vidar Stealer on your PC to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.

How do I avoid ransomware attack?

Locknet ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.

You can protect your computer from ransomware attack in several 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 (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are expecting, check all elements of the dubious letter carefully. A fake letter will always contain a mistake.
• Avoid using cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often shared as a part of cracked software, possibly under the guise of “patch” preventing the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are difficult to tell from reliable ones, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try searching for information on this program on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal way is not to use such software.

FAQ

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

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.locknet” 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. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. All other solutions require time.

🤔 What to do if the Locknet malware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Some of the blocked files can be found elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your critical files through 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 post those pictures 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 media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, cellphone, external storage, etc.

HINT: You can employ file recovery programs¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks 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 can do it only after you remove the virus with an antivirus program.

1. Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.