ZARIK LOCKER Ransomware 🔐 (.ZARIK5313 File) — Removal Guide

The Zarik locker virus belongs under the ransomware type of infection. Harmful software of this type encrypts all user’s data on the PC (images, documents, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its extra extension to every file, leaving the @zarik [email protected] text files in each 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 known about the Zarik locker virus?

Zarik locker will append its specific .zarik5313 extension to every file’s name. For instance, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.zarik5313”. Likewise, the Excel table with the name “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.zarik5313”, and so on.

In every directory that contains the encoded files, a @zarik [email protected] text document will be found. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can get this decrypting software after contacting [email protected] by email. That is it.

Zarik locker Overview:

The @zarik [email protected] document coming in package with the Zarik locker ransomware provides the following frustrating information:

Ваши файлы зашифровани для розшифровки оплатите 300 доларов
обратная связь со мной [email protected]
1 оплатите выкуп
2 скиньте скриншот оплаты
3 скиньте это все на [email protected]
4 ожидайте выкуп хоть и долго может быть но будет

In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Zarik locker looks like. Each filename has the “.zarik5313” extension appended to it.

That is how encrypted “.zarik5313” files look.

How did my computer get infected with Zarik locker ransomware?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most popular methods for criminals to have ransomware settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer file transfer.

• If you access your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, be wary of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a harmful file enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus model. A Trojan is a program that gets into your PC disguised as something else. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that compromises your data. Since the installation wizard can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the stuff you’re downloading. The optimal way is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers 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 reasonable to scan the folder containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How to remove ransomware?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the Zarik locker virus will probably install Vidar Stealer on your computer to get access to credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove Zarik locker with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Zarik locker as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Zarik locker” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Zarik locker and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Often racketeers would decode few of your files to prove that they indeed have the decryption tool. Since Zarik locker virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures developers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. However, the anti-ransomware instruments are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.

Of course, if the criminals do the job of encrypting victim’s essential files, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After getting the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports about racketeers simply vanishing after getting the money without even writing back.

The optimal 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. Surely, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that file you were working on when it all started. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the OS restoration.

Zarik locker is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. For instance, Payuranson, Wiaw, Wisz, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Zarik locker are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: documents become inaccessible, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in every directory containing encoded files.

Some lucky people were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the criminals mistakenly send the decryption key to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ technology to pull the money out of their victims.

How to avert ransomware injection?

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

You can protect yourself from ransomware injection in three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown senders with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the dubious letter carefully. A hoax letter will surely contain a mistake.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojans are often shared as a part of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are very hard to distinguish from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the best solution is not to use such programs at all.
• And finally, to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect defense for your personal computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.zarik5313” files?Is it possible to open“.zarik5313” files?

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.zarik5313” files first. Then you will be able to open them.

🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

If the “.zarik5313” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. The rest of the methods require patience.

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

No way! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with real viruses. The virus that has infiltrated your device is probably still functional and running scans periodically to encrypt any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has already been said, the Zarik locker virus does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide malefactors with easy access to your PC in the future.

🤔 What to do if the Zarik locker malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.

In such a case, you need to prepare a flash memory drive with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your computer. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What could help the situation right now?

Some of the blocked data can be located elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your critical files by email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You may have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to send those images 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.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, cellphone, memory stick, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can use data recovery utilities¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the video below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you can do it only after you kill the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.

1. Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2024.