Lloo Virus Ransomware (.lloo File) Removal

What is Lloo ransomware?

Lloo ransomware exemplifies a "classic" ransomware infection. This virus infiltrates your PC, encrypts your files, and then demands payment for decryption. The average ransom amount is $980, accompanied by threats of permanent file deletion or non-decryption if payment isn't made. Crucially, it also modifies numerous system settings.

The malware changes your system's configurations to weaken defenses and hinder early virus detection efforts. It specifically deactivates Microsoft Defender and obstructs the installation of antivirus software. These alterations not only compromise your security but also affect your ability to install other software and must be promptly reversed.

Lloo ransomware employs the Salsa20 encryption algorithm, a common choice among the STOP/Djvu ransomware family. The strength of this cipher, with 1.158x10^77 (a 78-digit number) possible decryption keys, makes conventional hacking attempts futile. Brute-forcing this encryption would take over two unvigintillion years, highlighting the impracticality of such an approach for recovery.

Encryption process

The Lloo ransomware uses the Salsa20 encryption algorithm. That is not the strongest method, but it still provides an overwhelming amount of possible decryption keys. To brute force the 78-digit number of keys, you need 3.5 unvigintillion years (1*10^65), even if you use the most powerful regular PC. Quantum computers can show a bit better results, but it is still too slow to get your files back while you are alive.

The exact algorithm of encryption is next: malware scans each folder for the files it is able to encrypt. Then, when it finds the target, it makes a copy of your file, removes the original one, encrypts the copy and leaves it instead of the removed original. Such a procedure is done to prevent the situation when you have already opened the file, so ransomware is not able to read it because of the Windows restrictions. To each encrypted copy, the virus adds the specific extension - ".lloo". Then, ransomware creates a _readme.txt file in the folder where the encrypted file is located, and goes to the next folder.

Such an encryption method can be exploited for file recovery. Since the original file is deleted, you may try to recover it using the file recovery tools. The less time is passed - the bigger the chance to get your files back, so hurry up!

Another specific moment that can help you to use the files even after the encryption is the fact that Lloo ransomware encrypts only the first 150KB of each file. Hence, you can try to run a big file, such as video or music, without the encryption. Similar feature also works with other ransomware families - Dharma, Conti and Makop encrypt the same 150KB.

Ransom note: _readme.txt

Ransom note is the same for the whole ransomware family. In fact, it is one of the main signs of to which family the certain ransomware belongs. Here is the typical note for STOP/Djvu family:

External Links:

🔗 HowToFix.Guide: How To Decrypt .lloo Files?

Indicators of Compromise(IOC)

File Name	MD5	File Size
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	1ff08be8f9a879188c1b75815f9fdbef	2814900
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	ce4b358d37051ea1c94278239faae503	319488
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	9e78ed405e72f424f4f67d40a7c78857	3543056
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	6532b8e7c2d44e69d0090c3f88fa334f	1273856
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	b837526fd85cd7152b6d0644f51d7f14	1273856
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	b90ef112633b9fd8699ca1939991f2c1	3803800
📜 SAMPLE.EXE	49849ea730c690df970bb542dbd18e95	8194852