The Revenlock virus belongs under the MedusaLocker ransomware family. Harmful software of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (images, text files, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, leaving the HOW_TO_RECOVER_DATA.html files in every directory containing encrypted files.
What is known about the Revenlockvirus?
☝️ A strictly accurate description for the Revenlock would be “a MedusaLocker family ransomware-type infection”.
Revenlock will append its own .REVENLOCK7 extension to the title of each encoded file. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.REVENLOCK7”. Likewise, the Excel file named “table.xlsx” will be altered to “table.xlsx.REVENLOCK7”, and so forth.
In each directory with the encoded files, a HOW_TO_RECOVER_DATA.html file will be found. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the Revenlock developers. That is pretty much the scheme of the crime.
Revenlock outline:
| Name | Revenlock Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | MedusaLocker ransomware |
| Extension | .REVENLOCK7 |
| Ransomware note | HOW_TO_RECOVER_DATA.html |
| Detection | Trojan:Win32/Loasum.A, MSIL/LockScreen.AOF, Win32/Injector.Autoit.DUY |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .REVENLOCK7 extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Revenlock virus |
In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Revenlock looks like. Each filename has the “.REVENLOCK7” extension added to it.
An example of encrypted .REVENLOCK7 files.
How did Revenlock ransomware end up on my PC?
There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.
There are currently three most exploited ways for hackers to have the Revenlock virus settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer file transfer.
If you access your inbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery 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 malware file enclosed in them. So 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 infiltrates into your computer disguised as something legal. Imagine, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some software. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that compromises your data. Since the update package can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the things you’re downloading. The best thing is to trust the software companies’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers 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 directory containing the downloaded items with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is done.
How do I get rid of the Revenlock virus?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Revenlock virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your computer to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware3 can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Often tamperers would decrypt few of your files to prove that they do have the decryption program. As Revenlock virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware designers have not yet found a method to undo its work. Nevertheless, the decoding instruments are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.
Sure thing, if the criminals succeed in encoding someone’s critical data, the desperate person will probably comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After receiving the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about hackers just disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The best safety measure against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external disk. Of course, that might be not enough. The most crucial thing could be that file you were working on when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.
Revenlock 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 Bbyy, Bbzz, Bnrs, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Revenlock are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become blocked, their extensions changed, ransom notes are created in each directory containing encoded files.
Some lucky people were able to decode the blocked files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a tamperers’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How сan I avoid ransomware injection?
Revenlock ransomware has no superpower, neither does any similar malware.
You can defend your computer from its injection taking three 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 (how can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the dubious email carefully. A fake letter will always have mistakes.
- Do not use cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often distributed as an element of cracked software, possibly under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are very hard to tell from trustworthy software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try searching for information on this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal way is not to use such programs at all.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a powerful defense for your system.
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 system.
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 Revenlock 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
🤔 How can I open “.REVENLOCK7” files?Are the “.REVENLOCK7” files accessible?
There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.REVENLOCK7” files are decrypted.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
If the “.REVENLOCK7” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. All other solutions require time.
🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Revenlock malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
No way! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with active threats. The malware that has attacked your system is must be still active and running scans from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has been said above, the Revenlock virus does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide hackers with easy access to your system after some time.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Revenlock ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.
In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a previously 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 brought into your PC. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Some of the blocked files can be located elsewhere.
- If you exchanged your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
- You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to send those pictures back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try doing it again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, phone, memory stick, etc.
HINT: You can use file recovery utilities6 to get your lost data back since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you eradicate the ransomware itself with an anti-malware 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.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove REVENLOCK Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: REVENLOCK Virus
Description: REVENLOCK Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .REVENLOCK7 extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
- 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 are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
