How to remove WaspLocker Ransomware and decrypt .0.locked files

What is WaspLocker Ransomware

WaspLocker is quite a devastating virus infection that encrypts personal data with strong cryptographic algorithms. This is to make sure users will be unable to return their data without the help of cybercriminals. Unfortunately, cybercriminals demand their victims to pay 0.5 BTC which is unbearably high. Users attacked by WaspLocker receive this information inside of a text note called How to restore your files.txt and a separate pop-up window with instructions on how to recover blocked files. In addition, WaspLocker developers highlight data encryption by appending new extensions (.locked or .0.locked) and resetting icons of files. For instance, a file like 1.pdf will alter to 1.pdf.locked or 1.pdf.0.locked depending on what WaspLocker version infected your system.

As mentioned, swindlers want their victims to pay a monetary ransom equal to 0.5 BTC. The price may be increased if victims fail to send money within some specified period of time. Also, there is a timer showing when victims lose access to their files forever. After completing the payment, victims should notify crooks about the successful transaction through the attached e-mail address (addressesupcr@protonmail.com) and receive their decryption tool to unlock the data. Unfortunately, the reputation of cybercriminals is often quite tragic indicating there is a risk of not receiving any decryption software even after paying the ransom. Thus, we recommend you avoid communicating with cybercriminals and recover your data using backup copies instead. Manual decryption with third-party tools is oftentimes useless leading to risks of damaging files. You can try it only if there is no option to use backup data from external storage. Note that prior to recovering or decrypting your data, it is important to delete the virus completely. All the necessary instructions regarding file recovery and virus removal can be found in our tutorial below.

WaspLocker Ransomware

WaspLocker Ransomware (ransom note)

How WaspLocker Ransomware infected your computer

File-encryptors are mostly distributed via phishing spam letters. Being disguised as something legitimate, these messages ask their receivers to open some file attachments or links. These can be Word, Excel, JavaScript, EXE, or PDF files named with click-bait headings. Unfortunately, downloading or opening them will most likely lead to malware injection like WaspLocker Ransomware. Apart from this, cybercriminals have been spotted to rely on other delivery methods as well – trojans, backdoors, keyloggers, fake software installers/updates, illegal license cracking tools, hacked RDP configuration, and other susceptible channels. In order to be protected against them, users are advised to be more attentive and avoid suspicious content like e-mail spam letters. Read our guide below to learn more tips and working tools on how to secure yourself from such threats on the web.

1. Download WaspLocker Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .locked files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like WaspLocker Ransomware

WaspLocker Ransomware files:


How to restore your files.txt
{randomname}.exe


WaspLocker Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .locked files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .locked files. Download it here:

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .locked files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with WaspLocker Ransomware and removed from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .locked files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like WaspLocker Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Dashboard

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Alert

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Blocked

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. WaspLocker Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.