WildFire 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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WildFire Locker is a file encryption malicious software that targets all versions of Windows. This ransomware is a new version of PowerLocker Ransomware. WildFire Locker uses the AES-256 encryption algorithm to encrypt victims' files and append the ".locked" extension to them (e.g., "sample.jpg" becomes "sample.jpg.locked"). It then creates a text file named "_readme.txt" in each affected folder, which contains a ransom note with instructions on how to buy the decryption key and decrypt the encrypted files.WildFire Locker is currently being distributed via three methods:* Spam emails with malicious attachments* Malicious websites that redirect to the WildFire Locker Ransomware payload* Drive-by downloadsOnce executed, it scans the victim's computer for specific file extensions and encrypts them.It uses the victim's contact list to spread itself via email.Ransom demand: WildFire Locker demands a ransom of 0.5 Bitcoin be paid within 72 hours, or the price will double. It also threatens to delete the private key if the victim contacts law enforcement.History: WildFire Locker is a new ransomware that was first spotted in the wild on May 12, 2017. The biggest outbreak of this ransomware occurred on May 15, 2017, when it was used in a mass-spam campaign that targeted users in the United States.

How to prevent WildFire Locker?

To prevent WildFire Locker Ransomware in the future, we recommend that you do the following:

  • Keep your operating system and all your software up to date.
  • Use a reliable anti-malware program.
  • Use a strong password for your account and never reuse passwords.
  • Be careful when opening emails and only open attachments from trusted sources.
  • Do not download software from untrustworthy websites.
  • Use a reliable backup solution.

WildFire Locker is a serious threat because it can encrypt important files and make them inaccessible. If this ransomware has affected you, we recommend that you do not pay the ransom and instead use a reliable anti-malware program to remove WildFire Locker and decrypt your files. We recommend using SpyHunter 5 because it can detect and remove WildFire Locker and all other malware from your computer for free.If you cannot remove it with SpyHunter 5, you can try to remove it manually. Please note that this is a dangerous process and we do not recommend it to novice users. If you are not sure how to remove WildFire Locker manually, we recommend that you seek help from a professional.If you have a backup, you can restore your files after removing this ransomware.

Public decryption tool

The No More Ransom Project has released a free decryption tool for WildFire Locker Ransomware. This tool can decrypt files encrypted by WildFire Locker for free. To use this tool, you need to have the ransom note "_readme.txt" and at least one encrypted file. Please note that this tool may not work for all victims of WildFire Locker Ransomware, but it is worth a try.

File recovery software

If you do not have a backup of your files, you can try using file recovery software to recover them. We recommend using SalvageData data recovery software. This software can recover files encrypted by WildFire Locker Ransomware for free.To use this software, you need to download and install it on your computer. Then, you need to scan your computer for recoverable files. Please note that this software may not be able to recover all of your files, but it is worth a try.

Contact a data recovery service

If you are not comfortable using file recovery software or if it did not work for you, you can contact a data recovery service. Data recovery services specialize in recovering files from WildFire Locker and other ransomware infections.Before you contact a data recovery service, we recommend that you check their reviews and make sure they are trustworthy. We do not recommend using any service that asks you to pay upfront because there is no guarantee that they will be able to recover your files.Please note that these services are not free and they may not be able to recover all of your files. We recommend that you only use reputable data recovery services like SalvageData.SalvageData is a reputable data recovery service that has been helping WildFire Locker victims recover their files for years. We offer a free consultation to assess the chances of recovering your files and a no-risk guarantee. Our success rate is among the highest in the industry, and we have recovered data from WildFire Locker and other ransomware infections for thousands of satisfied customers.If you would like to learn more about our service or if you would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact us today. We will be happy to help you through this difficult time.

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