LOCKXX Ransomware (.LOCKXX File) Removal

The Lockxx virus falls within the ransomware type of malicious agent. Ransomware of this type encrypts all the data on your PC (images, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends its own extension to every file, creating the lockxx.recovery_data.hta text files in every directory containing encrypted files.

What is known about the Lockxx virus?

Lockxx will add its specific .lockxx extension to every file’s name. For example, a file named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.lockxx”. Just like the Excel sheet with the name “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.lockxx”, and so on.

In each directory that contains the encoded files, a lockxx.recovery_data.hta text file will be created. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to purchase the decryption tool from the Lockxx developers. You can get this decoding tool after contacting [email protected] via email. That is basically the scheme of the felony.

Lockxx Overview:

The lockxx.recovery_data.hta file accompanying the Lockxx malware provides the following dispiriting information:

The price depends on the speed at which you write to us . After payment , we will send you a decryption tool and assist you in decrypting all files


Mail address !
[email protected]
[email protected]
Free decryption test as guarantee !
Integrity is our principle
Before making the payment , you can send us a test file to prove that we are capable of recovering your data
Attention !
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software , it may cause permanent data loss
Please do not (edit, delete, rename) any files , otherwise it cannot be restored

In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Lockxx looks like. Each filename has the “.lockxx” extension added to it.

How did my computer get infected with Lockxx ransomware?

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

There are currently three most exploited methods for evil-doers to have the Lockxx virus acting in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer file transfer.

• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan horse model. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your computer pretending to be something legal. Imagine, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some software. However, what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful agent that corrupts your data. Since the installation package 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 way is to trust the software companies’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-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 guess what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is done.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your data, the Lockxx virus will probably deploy Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

How сan I avoid ransomware infection?

Lockxx ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can protect your system from ransomware attack taking three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailers with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, check all elements of the dubious letter with caution. A fake letter will always have a mistake.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often shared as a part of cracked products, possibly as a “patch” preventing the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable ones, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try searching for information about this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.lockxx” files?Can I somehow access “.lockxx” files?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.lockxx” files you will not be able to access them.

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

Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. All other solutions require time.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Lockxx ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.

🤔 And what should I do now?

Some of the encrypted data can be located elsewhere.

• If you sent or received your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• 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 Internet, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files as well.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, mobile, flash memory, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery utilities¹ to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the authentic 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 remove the virus with an anti-malware program.

1. Here are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.