Ransomware

Netlock File Virus Ransomware Removal

Netlock Ransomware is a nasty malware designed to prevent users from accessing their files. It achieves its goal by using a powerful encryption algorithm that locks all the data stored on the infected PC. Afterward, victims are forced to pay ransom money for decryption tools to regain access to their files.

Netlock Virus can encrypt all types of documents, images, video, audio, databases, archives, backup files, etc., and more. It marks the locked files by appending the “.netlock” extension to the original filenames. For example, a file named “1.png” would appear as “1.png.netlock” after encryption.

A ransom note “how_to_back_files.html” with instructions is also created on the breached device. It asks users to contact attackers and buy decryption tools to unlock their files. Read this guide to know how to delete this virus and recover your files.

Some threats keep getting back on the PC if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

Special Offer SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

What is Netlock File Virus

Netlock is a Ransomware that infiltrates the targeted PC with the motive to encrypt files found and extort money from users. It is programmed to avoid detection until its work is done on the infected machine. This is why users don’t find such threats until all their files are inaccessible. It will lock all the documents, files, images, archives, etc. that users normally store on their personal computers.

Netlock Virus Ransomware Removal

After Netlock Virus attack, victims are forced to buy decryption tools that allegedly can unlock their files. Ransomware creators leave ransom notes to notify their victims how to contact them and buy decryptors to access their data. They only demand money through cryptocurrency to avoid tracking money recipients.

Netlock Ransomware’s creators may or may not offer proof of decryption beforehand. Users mostly get scammed and do not get the right decryption tool after paying money. If you are also a victim of this nasty Ransomware, do not contact cybercriminals. You should use a good anti-malware tool to remove this threat immediately. It is the only way to avoid further encryption of any data.

What to do after infection?

You should remove this Netlock virus immediately to prevent further encryption of data. It is very important to remove the ransomware if you hope to recover your files. Removal of this will not restore your encrypted files, but you can recover your data through backup.

If your backup files are also on your computer then they might have also been encrypted. It is advised to keep a backup of all your important files on an external hard drive, USB drive, or cloud drive to avoid major data loss.

In case if your backup files are encrypted or you don’t have any backup files at all then use professional data recovery software. They might be able to scratch up most of your files with the original extension.

How did ransomware infect my computer?

Ransomware threats like Netlock and other malware are mostly spread through spam emails campaigns. Cybercriminals use automated software to send loads of fake emails. They might seem legitimate but they can carry malicious file attachments and links. Opening those emails, downloading files, or clicking such links can trigger the download of malware on your PC.

Untrustworthy freeware download websites, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) sharing networks, and porn or torrent sites and also spread threats. Cracked software or illegal activation tools, fake updates, and patches for games are also used for malware distribution.

Third-party installers also install some unwanted applications on the system that can make your PC vulnerable. Tons of unwanted ads causing frequent browser redirection is a sign of trouble. Your browser could land on a website carrying malware like Ofww, OkHacked, Oflg, etc. ready to execute on a single visit.

Threat Analysis

Name Netlock
Type Ransomware, File-Encrypting virus
Extension .Netlock
Threat Level High (Encrypt all your data and Restrict access to your files).
Symptoms Victims cannot access any files on their PC and find Ransom notes asking for money.
Damage Netlock will  encrypt your data by adding its extension to file names and demand ransom money for the decryption key
Distribution It is mainly distributed through spam emails, bundled freeware, porn, or torrent sites.
Removal Download SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware
File Recovery Download Data Recovery Software

Do not pay the Ransom Money

It is advised that you do not contact cybercriminals at any cost. It is highly likely that they will cheat your money. All your files are already encrypted, do not risk your money too. It is not certain that you will get your files back after paying.

Many claims have been made by ransomware victims’ that they did not get the decryption tool after paying. Cybercriminals stop all communications after getting paid. It is best to buy a powerful Anti-Malware program to completely remove this Netlock virus. Also, try professional data recovery tools to recover your files.

Once you pay the ransom amount to buy the decryption tool, you cannot get a refund if it doesn’t work. Moreover, creators of this virus can also target your files in the future for more money. Put an end to this extortion at once by removing this virus.

Ransom note “how_to_back_files.html” contains the following instructions :

YOUR PERSONAL ID:
-
/!\ YOUR COMPANY NETWORK HAS BEEN PENETRATED /!\
All your important files have been encrypted!

Your files are safe! Only modified. (RSA+AES)

ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTORE YOUR FILES WITH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE
WILL PERMANENTLY CORRUPT IT.
DO NOT MODIFY ENCRYPTED FILES.
DO NOT RENAME ENCRYPTED FILES.

No software available on internet can help you. We are the only ones able to
solve your problem.

We gathered highly confidential/personal data. These data are currently stored on
a private server. This server will be immediately destroyed after your payment.
If you decide to not pay, we will release your data to public or re-seller.
So you can expect your data to be publicly available in the near future..

We only seek money and our goal is not to damage your reputation or prevent
your business from running.

You will can send us 2-3 non-important files and we will decrypt it for free
to prove we are able to give your files back.

Contact us for price and get decryption software.

.onion
* Note that this server is available via Tor browser only

Follow the instructions to open the link:
1. Type the addres "hxxps://www.torproject.org" in your Internet browser. It opens the Tor site.
2. Press "Download Tor", then press "Download Tor Browser Bundle", install and run it.
3. Now you have Tor browser. In the Tor Browser open .onion
4. Start a chat and follow the further instructions.
If you can not use the above link, use the email:
ithelp08@decorous.cyou
ithelp08@wholeness.business
* To contact us, create a new free email account on the site: protonmail.com
IF YOU DON'T CONTACT US WITHIN 72 HOURS, PRICE WILL BE HIGHER.

How To Remove Netlock Virus

Netlock is a dangerous malware that can cause major damage to your computer. This nasty threat will bring several new problems to your PC. This is why it is quite imperative to delete this threat permanently before it completely damages your entire computer system. Once it manages to infiltrate your system, it will make your system vulnerable. This nasty malware is capable of bringing other harmful viruses to your system without your consent. It can completely obliterate your system performance in no time. This virus also has a tendency to hide its malicious copies at various locations on your PC under different names. It is not an easy job to find and remove those virus related files manually.

In this guide, you will find instructions for two very different techniques to get rid of Netlock infection. The first one is the Automatic Removal which is quite fast, effective and accurate. The second method is Manual Removal which usually takes lots of time, needs technical expertise, and often fails to give desired results. However, it is advised to take the help of both techniques to ensure the complete removal of the malware from your system. In case you are not handy with system operations and technical stuff, just opt for the automatic malware removal process to eliminate Netlock infection.

Automatic Netlock Virus Removal Guide

As you already know, Netlock Virus is a notorious and cunning malware that is not hard to remove easily by any user through manual means. This virus can keep coming back on the infected computer through files and shortcuts or settings that it has already created on your machine. Removing all those at once is the only way to get rid of this infection and stop it from getting into your system ever again.

So the best way to remove Netlock effectively is to use a powerful Automatic Removal Tool and save your time and efforts. This software is a well-trusted and very powerful anti-malware program that can detect all hidden threats like Trojan, Ransomware, Worms, Spyware, Rootkits, and many others. It also provides 24X7 customer support and one-on-one Spyware HelpDesk support for Custom Malware removal. Advanced System Guard feature detects and removes threats in real-time. It has a very User-Friendly Interface and regular Malware updates make it most effective against the latest malware attacks.

How SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware Works

  • First, you need to click on the below download button to get the software.

Geek’s Recommendation

Some threats keep getting back on the PC if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

Special Offer SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.
  • Then double-click on the installer you downloaded to install the program.

SpyHunter Installeruser access control

  • Launch the Anti-Malware application and click on Start Scan Now button.

Scan for Netlock

  • The software will scan your PC for all hidden threats and viruses on your system.

Scan for Netlock

  • Click on the Next button to see results and delete Netlock and other threats.

Remove Netlock

How To Decrypt .Netlock Files

As all your files got encrypted by the .Netlock Virus, so you cannot access your files. You should first try to recover your data without paying ransom money to hackers. If your files are important then you must have created a backup and you can use that backup to recover your files. If you don’t have a backup or this virus has encrypted your backup files, then you are left to seek professional help.

As there is no Netlock ransomware decryptor available, we recommend you use powerful data recovery software to decrypt .Netlock Files. It is a risk-free and smart way. You can just download the free version and scan your PC for files. There is a high probability that it can recover most of your files in a fraction of the amount that hackers are demanding. It is also needless to say that paying hackers will only motivate hackers to carry out more attacks.

  • First, you need to download Data Recovery software on your PC.

Download Data Recovery Software Now

  • Install the program, launch it then select the Data type to recover, and click the Next button.

select Data type

  • Select the location from where you want to recover data and click the Scan button.

Select location

  • After the scan, the software will list all files, select them and click the Recover button.

Recover Netlock encrypted files

Manual Netlock Removal Guide

Before you start Manual Removal

Please Bookmark This Page by pressing the {ctrl+D} button or print it out on paper before you start the Manual Removal because you may need to restart your PC or browser.) Attention! For the safety of your system, please confirm a few things before you begin manual removal:

  1. You have done this before, which means you have experience in removing the virus manually;
  2. That you know your way around PC and  all necessary processes and applications;
  3. You know about Registry entry and the Serious repercussions of any mistake;
  4. Make sure you can reverse any mistake made during virus removal.

If you don’t attain any of the above standards, then manual removal could be a very risky idea. It is most likely best for you to use the SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware which is totally secure and efficient method.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

Special Offer SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

Start PC in safe mode with networking

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
  • Type msconfig in the Run Box then click the OK button.
  • Click on the Boot tab then the System configuration window will appear.
  • Choose Safe Boot, check the network box, Click Apply, and press the OK button.

Safe boot

Kill Malicious Process From Task Manager

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
  • Type taskmgr in Run Box and then click the OK button.
  • Find Netlock related or any malicious process.
  • Now right-click on it then click End process.

Stop Netlock related task

How To Uninstall Netlock from Windows PC

  • First of all Press Windows Key + R buttons together.
  • Type appwiz.cpl in the Run box and then click the OK button.
  • Now Programs and Features windows will appear on the screen.
  • Find and remove all Netlock related or malicious programs.

Remove Netlock

Warning: Do not play with Windows registry, host file, or restore options if you don’t have previous experience with it. Removing the wrong files may break your system entirely. So if you are not sure, then stick to the Automatic Malware Removal option.

Special Offer: SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

Remove Virus related IP addresses from Hosts’ Files

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
  • Type C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc in Run Box and then click the OK button.
  • Now open the host file with Notepad.
  • Look for any suspicious IP addresses that might be related to Netlock Virus.
  • Delete all the malicious IP addresses and save the host files.

Remove Netlock virus related IP address

Remove Netlock From Registry Editor

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
  • Type regedit in Run Box and then click the OK button.
  • Registry Editor will open, then press CTRL +F buttons together.
  • Now type Netlock and then click on Find Next button.
  • Find all the related entries and delete them one by one

Remove Netlock related registry

Delete Virus related files from your PC

When a threat gets on to a PC, it most likely creates some files at different locations on the system. These files are used to perform a specific action and also help malware in getting back to the computer once it’s removed. So you just need to find also delete all those files associated with this .Netlock File Virus. Carefully follow the below instruction :

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard
  • Type each of the following in Run Box and press the OK button
  1. %AppData%
  2. %LocalAppData%
  3. %ProgramData%
  4. %WinDir%
  5. %Temp%

For the first four options, look for any recent folder related to the .Netlock File Virus and remove them. For the Temp folder, you can delete all the files.

Remove Netlock Virus via system restore

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
  • Type cmd in Run Box and then click the OK button.
  • Type cd restore and press Enter, then type rstrui.exe and press Enter.
  • When the System Restore window opens on your computer screen click the Next button.
  • Choose a System Restore point that you have created in the past and click the Next button.
  • Finally, click on the Yes button to start the system restoration process.

Remove Netlock via system restore

Note: This will only work if you have a restore point set on your PC or it will give an error message. Restoring the computer to a previous version may or may not remove .Netlock File Virus. Most of the time, viruses just delete all the restore points. If this trick does not work for you then don’t get disappointed.

After restoring your computer, we recommend you run a thorough scan of the PC using a Powerful Anti-Malware program to detect and remove any hidden threats. In most cases, viruses may spread through any files outside of the C drive because system restoring only affect the C drive. There may be some Virus related files hiding your PC, and it never hurts to double-check.

Sometimes, system restore doesn’t work or viruses can just remove the restore points. As such you will probably have no other choice than to choose the Automatic Removal Process. It is the best and error-free method to find and remove threats from your computer. Additionally, you should also check some important malware prevention tips provided here in this guide to avoid similar virus attacks in the future.

Remove Netlock Virus From MacOS

If you are a mac user, and your machine got infected by this nasty file-encrypting malware then you need to remove it as soon as possible. Although Mac systems are quite safe they still do get infected. So you can delete this infection using the below steps:

Stop Malicious Program From Activity Monitor

  • First, you need to open Utilities folder on your Mac system.
  • Find the Activity Monitor icon and double-click on it to open it.
  • Find Netlock related process, click the cross button from the upper left side corner to end the task.
  • A pop-up dialogue box will appear on the screen, click on the Force Quit button.

Remove Virus From Application Folder

  • First, go to the Dock option (bottom of your screen) then click on Finder App.
  • Now you have to open the Applications Folders to see all the programs.
  • Find Netlock or any other unwanted program then move it to Trash.

Remove Netlock From Mac

Remove Netlock Virus Related Files From Mac

When any program is installed on your Mac, it creates several files on your system that support the functioning of that application. If you need to remove any virus from your Mac, then you need to delete all related files completely. These files could be found at :

  1. LaunchAgents
  2. Application Support
  3. LaunchDaemons

Follow the below steps to remove virus related files from these locations:

  • First of all press the Command+Shift+G buttons together on your keyboard.
  • Now you can see Go To Folder option on your Mac screen.
  • Type in /Library/LaunchAgents in the text field and click on Go button.
  • Find and remove any Netlock Virus related or malicious file.

Now follow the same process for Application Support and LaunchDaemons folders. But be careful, don’t delete any important files or you can break down your entire system.

Attention: If you are not tech-savvy, then it could be quite difficult to remove Netlock File Virus manually from your Mac. The best way is to download SpyHunter Mac Anti-Malware and see if it can detect all hidden threats and viruses on your computer. It’s really super easy and you should give it a try.

How SpyHunter Mac Anti-Malware Works

  • First, download the SpyHunter for Mac by clicking on the below button.

Some threats keep getting back on the Mac if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your Mac and delete all threats at once.

Special Offer SpyHunter for Mac offers a 15-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter for Mac Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.
  • Now go to the Download Folder from the Docs and Install the SpyHunter Anti-Malware For Mac.

Install SpyHunter for Mac

  • Launch the Program, and click on Start Scan Now button.

Spyhunter for Mac start scan now

  • The software will start running a full scan of your mac instantly to look for any malware, virus, threats, malicious programs or security risks, and so on.

Spyhunter for mac scanning

  • Finally, you will see a list of malware detected on your mac, now click on the Next button to start the removal process.

Remove Malware with spyhunter for mac

Prevent .Netlock Virus in Future

  • Use a good anti-virus, be it a free version but don’t use cracked security programs.
  • Make sure that your Windows firewall is active, so it can block upcoming threats.
  • Keep your Windows/Mac OS and other programs updated to avoid vulnerabilities.
  • Download updates only from official websites, don’t use suspicious sites.
  • Never download and install pirated software, games, or illegal patches on your PC.
  • Do not open spam emails from an unknown sender and scan all attachments before opening.
  • Never download freeware third-party programs from unreliable sources or websites.
  • Avoid connecting your PC to unsafe public Wi-Fi to protect your privacy.
  • You can also use a VPN to spoof your connection and avoid malicious sites.
  • Create a system restore point on your system for security purposes.
  • Keep a backup of all your important files to avoid data loss.
Still, having issues? Need help?

Some threats keep getting back on the PC if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7  (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

Special Offer SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

About the author

Robert Calvert

Robert is the Chief Security Expert and Founder of PCSafetyGeek.com website. He is a cybersecurity enthusiast who loves to research about Malware outbreaks and write about their remedies. He also like to spend time trying new software, reviewing them and sharing IT news. However he is a real coffee lover and likes to play chess in spare time (which is quite rare 😜).

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