How to remove Locky ransomware and decrypt .locky files

What is Locky ransomware

Locky – is a crypto-ransomware, that may appear at user’s PC via e-mail attachments. Such mails have provocative messages, this is why users open attached documents and got infected. As many crypto-ransomware, after infecting Locky starts to encrypt files and documents (renames files and adds .locky extansion). This process takes time and resources, so you may notice that PC performance is dropped down. When encrypting process ends, Locky leaves a file: _Locky_recover_instructions.txt. This file contains information about encryption and decryption: all files encrypted by the AES-128 military grade encryption and to decrypt them user should pay 0.5 bitcoins. We don’t recommend to pay so much money for decryption, because it is not guaranteed that ransomware designers will help you with decryption. Use our guide for removing ransomware and restoring files.

There is a list of file types, which can be affected by Locky ransomware:

.sql, .mp4, .7z, .rar, .m4a, .wma, .avi, .wmv, .csv, .d3dbsp, .zip, .sie, .sum, .ibank, .t13, .t12, .qdf, .gdb, .sid, .ncf, .menu, .layout, .dmp, .blob, .esm, .vcf, .vtf, .dazip, .fpk, .mlx, .kf, .iwd, .vpk, .tor, .psk, .rim, .w3x, .fsh, .ntl, .arch00, .lvl, .snx, .cfr, .ff, .vpp_pc, .lrf, .m2, .mcmeta, .vfs0, .mpqge, .kdb, .db0, .dba, .rofl, .hkx, .bar, .upk, .das, .iwi, .litemod, .asset, .forge, .ltx, .bsa, .apk, .re4, .sav, .lbf, .slm, .bik, .epk, .rgss3a, .pak, .big, wallet, .wotreplay, .xxx, .desc, .py, .m3u, .flv, .js, .css, .rb, .png, .jpeg, .txt, .p7c, .p7b, .p12, .pfx, .pem, .crt, .cer, .der, .x3f, .srw, .pef, .ptx, .r3d, .rw2, .rwl, .raw, .raf, .orf, .nrw, .mrwref, .mef, .erf, .kdc, .dcr, .cr2, .crw, .bay, .sr2, .srf, .arw, .3fr, .dng, .jpe, .jpg, .cdr, .indd, .ai, .eps, .pdf, .pdd, .psd, .dbf, .mdf, .wb2, .rtf, .wpd, .dxg, .xf, .dwg, .pst, .accdb, .mdb, .pptm, .pptx, .ppt, .xlk, .xlsb, .xlsm, .xlsx, .xls, .wps, .docm, .docx, .doc, .odb, .odc, .odm, .odp, .ods, .tax, .pkpass, .bc6, .bc7, .bkp, .qic, .bkf, .sidn, .sidd, .mddata, .itl, .itdb, .icxs, .hvpl, .hplg, .hkdb, .mdbackup, .syncdb, .gho, .cas, .svg, .map, .wmo, .itm, .sb, .fos, .mov, .vdf, .ztmp, .sis, .odt

There are two solutions of this problem. One is to use special Removal Tool. Removal Tools delete all instances of malware by few clicks and help user to save time. Or you can use Manual Removal Guide. Manual Removal Guides help user to remove malware manually. This method needs time and knowledge at IT sphere.

Locky Removal Guide

1. Download Locky Removal Tool.
2. Remove Locky from Windows (7, 8, 8.1, Vista, XP, 10) or Mac OS (Run system in Safe Mode).
3. How to Decrypt .Locky files.
4. How to restore system to previous “condition”.
5. How to protect PC from future infections.

Locky Automated Removal Tools:

Download Norton Security

Use removal tool to uninstall Locky. Trial version of Malwarebytesdetects Locky ransomware and assists in its removal for FREE.

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Manual Locky Removal Guide

Below is step-by-step instructions to remove Locky from Windows and Mac computers. Follow this steps carefully and remove files and folders belonging to Locky. First of all, you will need to run system in a Safe Mode. Then find and remove needed files and folders.

Uninstall Locky from Windows or Mac

Windows 7/Vista:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press Settings button;
3. Choose Safe Mode;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to Locky by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

Windows 8/8.1:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press Settings button;
3. Choose Safe Mode;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to Locky by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

Windows 10:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press Settings button;
3. Choose Safe Mode;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to Locky by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

Windows XP:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press Settings button;
3. Choose Safe Mode;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to Locky by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

Mac OS:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press and Hold Shift button, before system will be loaded;
3. Release Shift button, when Apple logo appears;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to Locky by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

How to decrypt .locky files

After Locky is removed, you want to decrypt your documents and files. There are different decrypting tools, that can help you.
After removing Locky, you can try to decrypt Locky files. All you need is decrypting tool. There may be a trouble – not all files can be decrypted and restored, it is depends on ransomware.
One of those programs is Trend Micro Ransomware File Decryptor. This software decrypt a lot of types ransomware file formats. You don’t even need to find encrypted files, it will do anything by itself. You can download Trend Micro Ransomware File Decryptor here.
Download TrendMicro Decryptor

How to restore encrypted files

If you can’t remove and decrypt files or just don’t want to use those instructions, you can try to restore system from recovery point by using special tools: Previous Versions, System Restore, Shadow Explorer. Be sure, that you have saved recovery point, otherwise you can’t do anything with some tools.

Restore encrypted files using Shadow Explorer

Shadow Explorer – is good software with simple interface, that gives an access to “shadow copies”.

1. Run the Shadow Explorer;
2. Choose local disk, that contains needed files (sector 1 on picture);
3. Choose time period, when files weren’t encrypted (sector 2 on picture);
4. Find needed files and folders, after this right-click them and Press Export;
5. Choose the export location and check files;

Restore encrypted files using Recuva

There is another program, that can help user to recover encrypted files. And this program is Recuva, software which friendly interface.

1. Run the Recuva;
2. Follow instructions and wait until scan process ends;
3. Find needed files, mark them and Press Recover button;

How to prevent ransomware infection?

Since Locky classified as ransomware, it needs a method to infiltrate into personal computer. And the most usable method is attaching to e-mail with messages, that provocate to open attached document.

Be careful while reading e-mail from unknown and suspicious users. Also, you can install various programs, which will stop any actions from suspicious applications, like ransomware. The most popular programs are:
HitmanPro.Alert with CryptoGuard, Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware and CryptoPrevent. Those programs may detect many known ransomware and some unknown ransomware. It is recommended to use such programs for safety of your personal documents and files in future.