The Mlock virus belongs under the MedusaLocker ransomware family. Ransomware of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, documents, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, leaving the HOW_TO_RECOVER_DATA.html text files in every directory with the encrypted files.
What is Mlock?
☝️ A strictly accurate description for the Mlock would be “a MedusaLocker family ransomware-type malicious agent”.
Mlock will add its specific .mlock5 extension to every file’s name. For example, an image named “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.mlock5”. In the same manner, the Excel table with the name “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.mlock5”, and so forth.
In each folder that contains the encoded files, a HOW_TO_RECOVER_DATA.html text file will appear. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the Mlock developers. You can get this decryptor after contacting [email protected], [email protected] via email. That is basically the scheme of the crime.
Mlock outline:
| Name | Mlock Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | MedusaLocker ransomware |
| Extension | .mlock5 |
| Ransomware note | HOW_TO_RECOVER_DATA.html |
| Contact | [email protected], [email protected] |
| Detection | Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.PAH!MTB, Ransom:Win32/Shade!MSR, Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.MZF!MTB |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .mlock5 extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Mlock virus |
The HOW_TO_RECOVER_DATA.html file coming in package with the Mlock malware states the following:
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. qd7pcafncosqfqu3ha6fcx4h6sr7tzwagzpcdcnytiw3b6varaeqv5yd.onion * Note that this server is available via Tor browser only Follow the instructions to open the link: 1. Type the addres \"hxxps://www.torproject.org\" in your Internet browser. It opens the Tor site. 2. Press \"Download Tor\", then press \"Download Tor Browser Bundle\", install and run it. 3. Now you have Tor browser. In the Tor Browser open qd7pcafncosqfqu3ha6fcx4h6sr7tzwagzpcdcnytiw3b6varaeqv5yd.onion 4. Start a chat and follow the further instructions. 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 image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Mlock looks like. Each filename has the “.mlock5” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.mlock5” files look.
How did my machine catch Mlock ransomware?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
Nowadays, there are three most popular ways for hackers to have ransomware planted in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer networks.
If you open your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a malware file enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
As for the peer file transfer protocols like BitTorrent 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. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.
How do I get rid of the Mlock virus?
It is important to note that besides encrypting your files, the Mlock virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your PC 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.
Often tamperers would decrypt few of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption program. As Mlock virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures designers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the decoding instruments are constantly upgraded, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Understandably, if the hackers do the job of encoding someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still risky. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports about racketeers just vanishing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The best solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud disk or at least on an external storage. Of course, that might be not enough. The most important thing could be that one you were working on when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the antivirus program after the OS is rolled back.
Mlock 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 Qqqw, Maak, Bbbw, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Mlock are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encrypted, their extensions changed, ransom notes appear in every folder containing encrypted files.
Some lucky people were able to decrypt the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the criminals mistakenly send the decoding key to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary fail allows the user to restore the files. But of course, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a tamperers’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How do I avoid ransomware infiltration?
Mlock ransomware has no superpower, neither does any similar malware.
You can defend your system from its infiltration taking several easy steps:
- Ignore any letters from unknown mailboxes 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 likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the dubious letter with caution. A fake email will surely have a mistake.
- Do not use cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as a part of cracked software, most likely as a “patch” which prevents the license check. But dubious programs are difficult to distinguish from reliable software, as trojans may also have the functionality you need. You can try to find information on this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best way is not to use such software.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft4
Download Removal Tool.
Run the setup file.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
Click on “Clean Now”.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 How can I open “.mlock5” files?Are the “.mlock5” files accessible?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.mlock5” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
If the “.mlock5” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. 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 Mlock malware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.
🤔 And what should I do now?
Some of the encrypted files can be located elsewhere.
- If you exchanged your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
- You may have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to post those images back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it again.
- Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, phone, memory stick, etc.
HINT: You can use file recovery programs6 to get your lost data back since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the video below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you kill the virus 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.
Leave a Comment