Ransom.VirLock

Short bio

Ransom.VirLock is Malwarebytes' detection name for a polymorphic Worm that both encrypts files and locks the screen

Type and source of infection

Even though Ransom.VirLock is relatively old (it was first seen in 2014) we still see an occasional infection. It is able to spread through shared applications and cloud storage. Besides being polymorphic it also avoids detection by using multiple layers of encoding. It gains persistence by registering itself as a service on the infected system.

Symptoms

The screenlock shows a warning that localized authorities have found pirated software on the system and ask for a ransom payment in Bitcoin.

Example of a screenlock found in the US

Aftermath

Ransom.VirLock often renders the infected system useless because it also infects executable files. This makes cleaning an affected machine very hard.

Protection

Malwarebytes protects business and home users from Ransom.VirLock by using Anti-Ransomware technology and real-time protection.

Malwarebytes blocks Ransom.VirLock

Home remediation

Malwarebytes can detect and remove Ransom.VirLock without further user interaction.

1. Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
2. Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
3. When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
4. Click on the Get started button.
5. Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
6. Click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
7. Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.

Take note, however, that removing this ransomware does not decrypt your files.You can only get your files back from backups you made before the infection happened.

Business remediation

How to remove Ransom.VirLock with the Malwarebytes Nebula console

You can use the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Nebula console to scan endpoints.

Nebula endpoint tasks menu

Choose the Scan + Quarantine option. Afterwards you can check the Detections page to see which threats were found.

On the Quarantine page you can see which threats were quarantined and restore them if necessary.

All component/technology detections are passed to the remediation engine for complete removal from infected systems. This industry leading technology uses patented techniques in identifying all cohorts or associated files for a single threat and removes them all together to prevent malware from resuscitating itself. If you are using Malwarebytes Ransomware Rollback technology, it allows you to wind back the clock to negate the impact of ransomware by leveraging just-in-time backups.

Associated threats

• Virlock.Ransom.FileInfector.DDS