Arrival Details
This Ransomware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This Ransomware drops the following files:
- %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.ico
- %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.bmp
(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)
It adds the following processes:
- if -safe is used:
- bcdedit /set {current} safeboot network
It injects codes into the following process(es):
Autostart Technique
This Ransomware adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
*{random} = {malware path}\{malware name}
Other System Modifications
This Ransomware adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{appended ransomware extension}
hScreen = {screen height}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\{appended ransomware extension}
wScreen = {screen width}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
AutoAdminLogon = 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
DefaultUserName = Administrator
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
DefaultDomainName = {Computer name}
It changes the desktop wallpaper by modifying the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
WallPaper = %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.bmp
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
WallpaperStyle = 10
It sets the system's desktop wallpaper to the following image:
Process Termination
This Ransomware terminates the following services if found on the affected system:
- backup
- GxBlr
- GxCIMgr
- GxCVD
- GxFWD
- GxVss
- memtas
- mepocs
- msexchange
- sophos
- sql
- svc$
- veeam
- vss
It terminates the following processes if found running in the affected system's memory:
- agntsvc
- dbeng50
- dbsnmp
- encsvc
- excel
- firefox
- infopath
- isqlplussvc
- msaccess
- mspub
- mydesktopqos
- mydesktopservice
- notepad
- ocautoupds
- ocomm
- ocssd
- onenote
- oracle
- outlook
- powerpnt
- sqbcoreservice
- sql
- steam
- synctime
- tbirdconfig
- thebat
- thunderbird
- visio
- winword
- wordpad
- xfssvccon
Other Details
This Ransomware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
HLJkNskOq\DefaultIcon
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
HLJkNskOq
It does the following:
- If not executed with admin rights, it will attempt relaunch itself as admin by elevating its privileges via bypassing UAC
- It encrypts fixed, removable and network drives
- It deletes files in recycle bin folder for removable and fixed drives
- It uses WQL to delete shadow copies
- It terminates if the machine has the following system language:
- Arabic (Syria)
- Armenian (Armenia)
- Azerbaijani (Cyrillic Azerbaijan)
- Azerbaijani (Latin Azerbaijan)
- Belarusian (Belarus)
- Georgian (Georgia)
- Kazakh (Kazakhstan)
- Kyrgyz (Kyrgyzstan)
- Russian (Moldova)
- Russian (Russia)
- Tajik (Cyrillic Tajikistan)
- Tatar (Russia) Romanian (Moldova)
- Turkmen (Turkmenistan)
- Ukranian (Ukraine)
- Uzbek (Cyrillic Uzbekistan)
- Uzbek (Latin Uzbekistan)
- It deletes the following services:
- wdnissvc
- WinDefend
- wscsvc
- sppsvc
- Sense
- SecurityHealthService
- It has the capability to print the ransom note in infected machines
It accepts the following parameters:
- -pass {value} Uses the first 32 characters of the value as key to decrypt the main routine. Required to execute properly.
- And performs only one from the following parameters:
- -safe → Reboots in safeboot
- -wall → Only set Ransomware Wallpaper and Print ransom note on printers
- -path {target} → Specifically encrypt the target, can be file or folder
- -gspd → Perform Group Policy Modification for Lateral Movement
- -psex → Lateral Movement via Admin Shares
- -gdel → Delete group policy updates
- -del → Delete itself
Ransomware Routine
This Ransomware avoids encrypting files with the following strings in their file name:
- autorun.inf
- boot.ini
- bootfont.bin
- bootsect.bak
- desktop.ini
- iconcache.db
- ntldr
- ntuser.dat
- ntuser.dat.log
- ntuser.ini
- thumbs.db
It avoids encrypting files found in the following folders:
- $recycle.bin
- $windows.~bt
- $windows.~ws
- all users
- appdata
- application data
- boot
- config.msi
- default
- google
- intel
- mozilla
- msocache
- perflogs
- program files
- program files (x86)
- programdata
- public
- system volume information
- tor browser
- windows
- windows.old
- x64dbg
It drops the following file(s) as ransom note:
- {Infected Directory}\HLJkNskOq.README.txt

It avoids encrypting files with the following file extensions:
- 386
- adv
- ani
- bat
- bin
- cab
- cmd
- com
- cpl
- cur
- deskthemepack
- diagcab
- diagcfg
- diagpkg
- dll
- drv
- exe
- hlp
- hta
- icl
- icns
- ico
- ics
- idx
- key
- ldf
- lnk
- lock
- mod
- mpa
- msc
- msi
- msp
- msstyles
- msu
- nls
- nomedia
- ocx
- pdb
- prf
- ps1
- rom
- rtp
- scr
- shs
- spl
- sys
- theme
- themepack
- wpx
Step 1
Trend Micro Predictive Machine Learning detects and blocks malware at the first sign of its existence, before it executes on your system. When enabled, your Trend Micro product detects this malware under the following machine learning name:
- TROJ.Win32.TRX.XXPE50FLM011
Step 2
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 3
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 4
Restart in Safe Mode
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2) users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
• For Windows 10 users
- Press Windows logo key + I on your keyboard to open Settings. If that doesn't work, select the Start button, then select Settings.
- Select Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
- After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advcanced options > Startup settings > Restart.
- After your PC restarts, you'll see a list og options. Select 4 or press F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode.
Step 5
Delete this registry value
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Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- *{random} = {malware path}\{malware name}
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HLJkNskOq\DefaultIcon
- {Default} = %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.ico
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- DefaultUserName = Administrator
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- DefaultDomainName = {Computer name}
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» For Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>RunOnce - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
*{random} = {malware path}\{malware name} - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Classes>HLJkNskOq>DefaultIcon - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
{Default} = %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.ico - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
AutoAdminLogon = 1 - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
DefaultUserName = Administrator - Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
DefaultDomainName = {Computer name} - Close Registry Editor.
Step 6
Delete this registry key
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Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HLJkNskOq\
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
To delete registry keys this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Classes>HLJkNskOq> - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
DefaultIcon - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Classes> - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
HLJkNskOq - Close Registry Editor.
Step 7
Search and delete this file
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There may be some files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the
Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the "More advanced options" option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.
- %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.ico
- %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.bmp
- {Infected Directory}\HLJkNskOq.README.txt
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
•For Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 (R2), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen,then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.ico
- %ProgramData%\HLJkNskOq.bmp
- {Infected Directory}\HLJkNskOq.README.txt
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2).
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as Ransom.Win32.LOCKBIT.YXCGD. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.
Step 9
Restore encrypted files from backup.
Step 10
Reset your Desktop properties
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To restore your wallpaper:
- Click Start>Settings>Control Panel.
- Double-click the Display option and click the Background tab.
- Click the Browse button to select your preferred wallpaper or select an image from the Windows built-in wallpapers.
- Choose OK to apply the changes.
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