Bitdefender releases free decryptor for LockerGoga ransomware

Anti- virus software developer Bitdefender has released a free decryptor to help LockerGoga ransomware victims recover their files without having to pay hackers.

You can now download this free tool from Bitdefender's servers and follow Bitdefender's detailed instructions to recover files encrypted by ransomware.

Bitdefender says the free decryption tool was developed in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, including Europol, the NoMoreRansom Project, the Zurich Prosecutor's Office and the Zurich Police.

Often to create a decryption tool, researchers need to identify a bug in the encryption used by the ransomware encryptor.

However, in this case, when the LockerGoga operators were arrested in November 2021, researchers and law enforcement were able to access the master key used to decrypt the keys. encryption of the victims.

How to decrypt your files
Files encrypted by LockerGoga have the extension ".locked" in the filename and cannot be opened with regular software.

Bitdefender's tool will scan your entire system or an individual folder, find all encrypted files and perform automatic decryption.

For the tool to work, your computer needs to be connected to the internet and the note created by the ransomware during encryption needs to be in its original location.

Bitdefender says the decryptor can work on both individual computers and entire networks encrypted by LockerGoga.

How dangerous is LockerGoga?
Ransomware LockerGoga started raging in January 2019, attacking many important targets such as French engineering firm Altran Technologies and Norwegian aluminum company Norsk Hydro.

Combined with Ryuk and MegaCortex, LockerGoga has been implicated in ransomware attacks targeting at least 1,800 organizations globally.

In November 2021, 12 individuals were arrested in a global crackdown. These guys are involved in the distribution and operation of various ransomware, including LockerGoga.

Since the operators were caught, the LockerGoga ransomware has not been distributed and its source code has also been buried. Bitdefender's free decryptor is primarily intended for past victims who have refused to pay the ransom and are waiting to be able to recover their files for free.

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