L33TAF Locker Ransomware Data Recovery

Written byHeloise Montini
Heloise Montini

Heloise Montini is a content writer whose background in journalism make her an asset when researching and writing tech content. Also, her personal aspirations in creative writing and PC gaming make her articles on data storage and data recovery accessible for a wide audience.

Edited byLaura Pompeu
Laura Pompeu

With 10 years of experience in journalism, SEO & digital marketing, Laura Pompeu uses her skills and experience to manage (and sometimes write) content focused on technology and business strategies.

Co-written byBogdan Glushko
Bogdan Glushko

CEO at SalvageData Recovery, Bogdan Glushko has over 18 years of experience in high-security data recovery. Over the years, he's been able to help restore data after logical errors, physical failures, or even ransomware attacks, for individuals, businesses, and government agencies alike.

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L33TAF Locker Ransomware is malicious software that can encrypt your files and demand a ransom for their decryption.

History

L33TAF Locker was first discovered in June 2017. This ransomware is a member of the CryptoMix or CryptFile2 family.

How does L33TAF Locker Ransomware infect a computer?

Attackers typically spread l33TAF Locker through spam emails that contain attachments or links to malicious websites. Once the user opens the attachment or clicks on the link, L33TAF Locker Ransomware will be executed and will begin to encrypt files on the infected computer.

How does L33TAF Locker Ransomware work?

Once ransomware is executed, it will create a unique RSA-2048 encryption key for each file it encrypts. It will then send this key to a remote server. The encryption process is rapid and can result in all the user’s files being encrypted within minutes.L33TAF Locker Ransomware will then display a ransom note that instructs the user on how to pay the ransom and decrypt their files. The note also includes a countdown timer that threatens to delete the encryption key if you do not pay the ransom within a certain period.

How much is the ransom?

The ransom demanded by L33TAF Locker Ransomware is typically 0.5 Bitcoins. But, the amount can vary depending on the victim’s location. Also, if the victim does not pay the ransom within the specified time, the amount will double.

Should I pay the ransom?

It is important to note that paying the ransom does not guarantee that your files will be decrypted. L33TAF Locker is a member of a family of ransomware that has been known to use a flaw in the Windows operating system to delete backups from the Volume Shadow Copy Service. This means that even if you pay the ransom, you may not be able to recover your files. There are many reports of people who have paid the ransom but still could not recover their files. In some cases, the decryption keys provided by the attackers did not work. In other cases, they simply took the money and ran without providing any decryption keys at all.Paying the ransom only encourages the attackers to continue their activities. It is also possible that they could steal your payment information in addition to your files.

What types of files does L33TAF Locker Ransomware encrypt?

It will target a wide range of file types. Some of the file types that have been reported as being encrypted by L33TAF Locker Ransomware include:-Images (JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP)-Videos (AVI, MP4, MKV, FLV)-Documents (DOC, DOCX, PDF, TXT)-Archives (ZIP, RAR)-Money-related files (XLS, XLSX, QFX, OFX)- databases (SQLite3 database)

Protection

To protect your computer from L33TAF Locker and other ransomware, you should use a reliable anti-malware program. You should also avoid opening attachments or clicking on links in emails from unknown senders. They often spread l33TAF Locker Ransomware through spam emails that masquerade as being from legitimate companies or organizations.You should also have a reliable backup solution in place. This will allow you to recover your files if you do become infected with L33TAF Locker or any other type of ransomware.

How to remove the L33TAF Locker?

If attackers have infected you with L33TAF Locker Ransomware, you should use a reliable anti-malware program to remove the infection. If you do not have an anti-malware program installed, we recommend using Malwarebytes.

What should I do next?

Once you have removed this ransomware from your computer, you should try to recover your files from a backup. If you do not have a backup, you can try using a data recovery program.You can also try to decrypt your files using a free decryptor if one is available.Note that L33TAF Locker Ransomware may delete your shadow copies, which are used by Windows to restore previous versions of files. To check if your shadow copies have been deleted, you can try opening the System Restore tool by going to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. If System Restore is not available or does not show any restore points, your shadow copies may have been deleted. In this case, you will not be able to use this method to restore your files.

Is there a public decryption tool?

At this time, there is no public decryption tool available for L33TAF Locker Ransomware.

Contact a data recovery service

If you are not able to remove L33TAF Locker Ransomware or decrypt your files, you can try contacting a data recovery service. These services specialize in recovering files that ransomware has encrypted.SalvageData Recovery Services is a data recovery service that offers free quotes and has been in business since 2003. SalvageData’s team of experts has successfully recovered data from all types of storage media and operating systems.Pricing for L33TAF Locker Ransomware decryption starts at $500 and depends on the type and amount of data to be recovered.You can contact SalvageData Recovery Services by going to their website or by calling +1 (800) 972-3282.

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