Ransom.AvosLocker

Short bio

Ransom.AvosLocker is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group that encrypts files on compromised systems.

Symptoms

AvosLocker ransomware encrypts files on a victim’s server and renames them with the “.avos” extension.

The AvosLocker executable leaves a ransom note called GET_YOUR_FILES_BACK.txt in all directories where encryption occurs. The ransom note includes the .onion site that contains instructions for paying the ransom and receiving a decryption key.

AvosLocker ransom note

Type and source of infection

Ransom.AvosLocker is ransomware as a service. Ransomware in general makes files on the victims system unusable until the ransom is paid. Ransomware as a service can be delivered in many ways, which depend on the affiliate that is deploying the ransomware.
For now, Ransom.AvosLocker seems to use known Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerabilities to establish a first base and use worm like capabilities to spread across a network.

Protection

Malwarebytes protects business and home users from Ransom.AvosLocker by using Anti-Ransomware technology and real-time protection.

Malwarebytes blocks Ransom.AvosLocker

Home remediation

Malwarebytes can detect and remove Ransom.AvosLocker without further user interaction.

1. Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
2. Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
3. When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
4. Click on the Get started button.
5. Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
6. Click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
7. Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.

Take note, however, that removing this ransomware does not decrypt your files.You can only get your files back from backups you made before the infection happened.

Business remediation

How to remove Ransom.AvosLocker with the Malwarebytes Nebula console

You can use the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Nebula console to scan endpoints.

Nebula endpoint tasks menu

Choose the Scan + Quarantine option. Afterwards you can check the Detections page to see which threats were found.

On the Quarantine page you can see which threats were quarantined and restore them if necessary.

All component/technology detections are passed to the remediation engine for complete removal from infected systems. This industry leading technology uses patented techniques in identifying all cohorts or associated files for a single threat and removes them all together to prevent malware from resuscitating itself. If you are using Malwarebytes Ransomware Rollback technology, it allows you to wind back the clock to negate the impact of ransomware by leveraging just-in-time backups.