.LOCKY File Extension
Locky Ransomware Encrypted File
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What is a LOCKY file?
A LOCKY file is a file encrypted by the Locky Virus, a trojan horse utilized by cybercriminals. It contains a user's file, such as a .JPG or .DOCX file, encrypted with the RSA algorithm and AES-128 ciphers. LOCKY files became prevalent in 2016 and are similar to .ODIN files.
More Information
The Locky virus is highly dangerous malware. It is commonly referred to as ransomware, where the purpose of the virus is to take your files hostage and force you to pay the perpetrator (by way of bitcoin) to unlock your files. The virus is a trojan horse that was introduced through a personal document (most likely a fake invoice .DOC file asking you to enable macros) attached to an email. Once the virus affects your computer it begins scrambling your files, renaming them, and encrypting them. The virus then generates a .TXT ransom note informing you of the takeover and what you need to do to recover your files.
How to open a LOCKY file
There is no program currently available to restore LOCKY files to their original state. If you back up your files you can execute a full system restore.
Warning
FileInfo.com recommends you never pay a ransom to decrypt files encrypted by ransomware. Paying a ransom encourages ransomware distributors to continue their efforts, and there is no guarantee that paying a ransom will give you access to your files. Instead, you should restore your data from a recent backup created before the ransomware infected your computer.