SUCKS 2 SUCK Ransomware EXPOSED: .encrypted Files, a Lock Screen, and $500
Written by: Lapain Epuran
Published on:
You open Documents the way you did yesterday. The vacation photo should still be vacation.jpg. The invoice should still be invoice-2026.pdf. The tax sheet should still be taxes.xlsx. The family video should still be family.mp4. Instead every familiar name has a second ending tacked on. 1.jpg is now 1.jpg.encrypted. A small text file named !.txt is sitting in the same folder, as if it has always belonged there.
That is the trap, not a glitch. SUCKS 2 SUCK ransomware locks the files first. Then it writes .encrypted on the end of the old name. Then it drops !.txt and paints a full-screen lock overlay across the desktop. The overlay has an unlock-key field and a line that reads ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 10. The note talks like a checkout. It wants $500 in Bitcoin. It wants mail sent to SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. It is a storefront.
This page is for the moment those names appear. It explains the rename, the !.txt note, the lock screen, the printed $500 ask, and why that onion-mail string is not a help desk. It is not a tour of ransomware in general. It is about this strain, the one that leaves .encrypted on the end, a note called !.txt, and a lock overlay that already named the bill.
Encrypted files after SUCKS 2 SUCK. The .encrypted names and !.txt are the tell.
Overview
The first tell is the rename. SUCKS 2 SUCK keeps the old name and the old extension, then appends .encrypted. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.encrypted. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.encrypted. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.encrypted. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.encrypted. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.encrypted. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it. Windows may call the type an ENCRYPTED File and offer a useless “choose an app” box.
The second tell is the note. After the files are locked, the malware drops !.txt into the same folders. The filename is a shout. The bang mark is meant to sit at the top of a sorted list. The file says important files were encrypted. It claims the lock uses AES-256. That algorithm name is attacker copy in the lure. It is not a lab result published here.
The same note tells you to enter a correct unlock key on the locked screen. It names a bill of $500 in Bitcoin. It prints a Bitcoin destination that is only a placeholder in the lure. This page will not invent a wallet string, and it will not reprint one. The printed contact is SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. That is the exact fake onion-mail string from the note.
After a payment, the lure wants the time of payment and the color of a USB device emailed to that address. Those two extras are part of the storefront. They are not a real help desk collecting a ticket. They are props that make a crime feel like a process.
The third tell is the lock overlay. The desktop is covered so you cannot miss the flyer even if you never open !.txt. The overlay has a field for an unlock key. It shows ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 10. That counter is intimidation copy. This page will not treat the number 10 as a measured wipe switch, and it will not say the tenth guess was proven to destroy the pile. The line is there to keep your hands in their box.
The lock screen is written to mock the victim. The opening of the note is crude. This page will not quote that line. The pitch is fear, a printed $500, a key field, and a mailbox that wants you to keep talking after you pay.
That is the whole costume. A locked folder of .encrypted names. A note called !.txt. A full-screen overlay with a key field and a 10-attempt line. A $500 Bitcoin ask. A placeholder wallet. A fake onion-mail string. A USB-color ritual after the transfer. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to type guesses into that overlay. There is no reason to pay the $500. There is no reason to mail a USB color to SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION.
The .encrypted name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. SUCKS 2 SUCK uses .encrypted. The extra cruelty is how readable the listing stays. You do not have to decode anything. You can still see 1.jpg inside 1.jpg.encrypted. You can still see the invoice year. You can still see the word taxes. The familiar words are still in the folder. The files are not familiar anymore.
Do not treat that readable name as a fix. Do not strip .encrypted off the end and expect Photos or Excel to open the file. Do not run a bulk “extension fixer” you found in an ad. The name is a label. The lock is in the content. Editing the label can make a later trusted tool have a harder time matching the file to what it was. Leave the locked copies as they are until you have a clean machine and a plan that does not start in a criminal overlay.
!.txt is a sales floor, not a help file
The note is a plain text file with a name that is meant to shout. !.txt looks like a warning that came with the lock. It did. It came with the lock the way a fake invoice comes with a fake shop. The bang mark wants the first click. The short body wants you finished before a relative walks into the room.
The file tells you the important files were encrypted. Then it names AES-256 as if a cipher label were a receipt. Then it tells you the way back is an unlock key typed on the locked screen. Then it names $500 in Bitcoin. Then it points at a wallet field that, in the lure, is only a placeholder. Then it points at SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. That order matters. Scare. Algorithm. Key box. Price. Mailbox.
Notice what the note does not give you. It does not give you a real company, a refund policy, or a way to prove the other side will ever send a key. It does not give you a wallet this page can name, because the wallet line in the lure is a blank for them to fill. It gives you a price, a mailbox, and a tone that says this is already decided.
The lock screen is the same bill, only louder
After the files are locked, a full-screen overlay covers the desktop. The new layer repeats the same pitch so you see it even if you never open !.txt. It is there when you sit down. It is there when you try to reach a folder. It is there when a family member walks past the screen and asks what happened.
ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 10 is intimidation copy
The lock screen prints ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 10 next to the unlock-key field. That sentence is written to stop your hand and then to use your hand. Ten looks finite. Finite looks like a game. A game looks like something you can still win if you are careful. That is the intended feeling. It is not a reason to start guessing.
Treat the counter as attacker text, not as a stopwatch this page timed. Nobody here timed what happens on the tenth try. The page will not pretend the clock was measured, and it will not pretend a wipe was proven. Criminals lie. Criminals also follow through. Either way, the purpose of the sentence is the same. It wants you making decisions from panic instead of from a plan.
Do not sit in front of the overlay and spend the ten tries. Do not let a child try a few. Do not paste a string from a comment thread. If you already typed something before you found this page, stop there. The field is not a lottery.
$500, a placeholder wallet, and a fake onion-mail string
A lot of locker notes hide the bill until you write in. This lure does the opposite. It prints $500 in Bitcoin on the page you already have. That number is doing sales work. It looks small enough to feel cheaper than a shop. It looks specific enough to feel like a real invoice. Specific is not the same as honest. A printed $500 is still a ransom. It is not a license fee and not a contract you can enforce.
The wallet line in the lure is a placeholder. This page will leave that destination unnamed. Do not hunt forums for “the” SUCKS 2 SUCK wallet. Do not accept a wallet from a stranger who claims they already have your case. Anyone who already knows you have .encrypted names and !.txt can greet you like a clerk and then hand you a different address.
The note sends you to SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. That string is an identifier. It tells you which campaign you are looking at. It is not a support queue. There is no chargeback window on a message to that string, and no manager to escalate to when the key never arrives.
After the $500 transfer, the lure wants two extra facts emailed to that same address. It wants the time of payment. It wants the color of a USB device. Those asks are written to sound like a clerk confirming an order. A USB color does not unlock taxes.xlsx.encrypted. The question is there to keep you writing after the coin has already moved.
This is not the old pop-up, and not Kreepr, Golden Woolf, or Devill
MalwareTips already has a 2016 write-up on a support-scam pop-up that used the brand Malware-sucks.com. That page was a browser scare. It pushed a fake cleanup. It did not append .encrypted to documents. It did not drop !.txt. It did not paint a desktop lock overlay with ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 10. It did not print $500 in Bitcoin. It did not name SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION.
If your only symptom is a pop-up site you never asked for, and the files still open, you are in that older story. If photos, invoices, and videos now end in .encrypted, and !.txt is sitting in those folders, you are not in the hijack story. The old page wanted a cleanup click. This ransomware wants a Bitcoin transfer and a mailbox conversation.
A lock overlay can look like Kreepr. A printed coin amount can look like Golden Woolf. A short note plus a readable filename can look like Devill. The tells sit in different places. Kreepr writes .kreepr on the end, talks through a pop-up, and prints no $ amount and no contact. Golden Woolf writes .wolf on the end and asks for 20 TON through a Telegram bot. Devill hangs a random five-character tail on each name, drops Readme.txt, and points at a Gmail address with no printed $ figure.
SUCKS 2 SUCK keeps the old name, appends .encrypted, drops !.txt, covers the desktop, prints $500 in Bitcoin, and names SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. That bundle is the trap you are in if those objects are on the disk together. A later helper who quotes only the word encrypted is not matching this strain.
How The Scam Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Brand the names with a generic ending. Drop a note that shouts. Cover the desktop. Print a $500 sticker. Leave a key field with a 10-attempt line. Point the scared person at a fake onion-mail string. Ask for a payment time and a USB color so the crime feels like a ticket.
1. Everyday files pick up .encrypted
SUCKS 2 SUCK encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then appends .encrypted. That is why 1.jpg is still readable as 1.jpg.encrypted. The operators want you to inventory the damage in seconds. They want you to see the vacation photo, the invoice, the tax sheet, and the family video in one glance. A coded filename can confuse you. A readable filename makes you feel the theft.
If only one folder looks wrong, do not assume the rest of the disk is safe. Ransomware walks trees. It hits Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads, and any drive letter it can reach, including a USB stick you forgot was plugged in. Unplug extra disks. Do not plug in the backup drive “just to check.” Checking is how the backup gets the same .encrypted ending.
2. !.txt takes over the conversation
Once the names look wrong, the only new file that still reads like English is the note. That is by design. A person who cannot open vacation.jpg.encrypted will open the file that shouts. The filename does the first half of the sale before the body does any talking.
The body then does several jobs at once. It claims AES-256. It points at the lock screen. It names $500 in Bitcoin. It leaves a wallet line as a placeholder. It names SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. It warns you not to try a manual decrypt. A note that starts with an insult and ends with a mailbox is not confused about its purpose. It is a flyer that borrowed an alarm-bell title.
3. A full-screen overlay owns the desktop
After the rename, the demand is also a lock overlay. People who have only read about README files look for a long HTML page or a wallpaper speech. SUCKS 2 SUCK puts the speech on the glass and in a tiny text file at the same time. The overlay wants you to believe the next action has to happen inside that frame. A frame is not a technician. A frame is not a payment page you can trust.
4. The unlock-key field and the 10-attempt line
The overlay includes a text field for an unlock key. That box looks like a product. It trains you to believe a key exists and is close. A close key is a powerful story when you are staring at taxes.xlsx.encrypted. No key is sitting next to the box for free. The lure says the key arrives after $500 in Bitcoin and after a mail to SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. That is a sales claim, not a delivery confirmation.
Do not type family names. Do not type 1234. Do not paste a password you use anywhere else. Do not run a “key generator” an ad promised would fill that box. A reused password typed into a hostile window is now a password you should retire. A helper app that claims it will press the field for you is a second infection wearing a lab coat.
The overlay also claims ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 10. Ten is large enough that a scared person thinks they have room to experiment, and small enough that the same person starts rationing guesses instead of walking away. This page will not narrate what happens at zero as a fact. The line is pressure. Do not test the counter. Isolation is still the first job.
5. $500 in Bitcoin starts the aisle
The lure spends its best concrete words on the bill. $500 in Bitcoin. Not a range. Not “write for a price.” A sticker. A printed number lets a home user start shopping for coin before the fear cools. It also lets a later fake helper say they can do it for less than $500 and sound like a bargain. Seeing the sticker is not a reason to walk to the register.
The missing half of that sticker is a named wallet this page can stand on. The lure leaves a placeholder. A placeholder lets them swap destinations. It lets a copycat print a different address in a later mail and still quote the same $500. Do not buy coin because the note sounded organized. Buying coin is already their checkout.
If a later message raises the number, that is still the same shop. If a later message offers 50% off if you pay today, that is still the same shop. If a later message says the price is now $800 because you waited, that hike was not hiding in the original flyer as a rule you agreed to. It was invented for you.
6. Onion-mail, payment time, and USB color
Once you write SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION, the script is predictable even if the wording changes. They will ask you to prove you paid. They will ask for a time. They will ask for a USB color. They may ask for a file. They may claim the key is delayed. The whole story points at one mailbox. None of that is a service agreement. It is a funnel.
The after-payment ritual is the part that makes this lure feel finished. Pay the $500. Write the time. Name a USB color. Wait for a key. Type the key into the overlay. A real recovery desk does not need the color of a stick on your desk, and it does not hide behind a fake onion-mail string printed in a 1 KB text file.
Do not write that address just to ask a question. Do not attach invoice-2026.pdf.encrypted so they can prove the key. Do not invent a color to see if they answer. If you already sent the time, or already named a color, stop there. Leaving the ritual unfinished is how you leave the shop.
7. A second shop offers the same miracle
After a ransomware incident, search results and inbox ads fill up with companies that say they can decrypt SUCKS 2 SUCK or “all .encrypted files.” Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote !.txt back to you. They will mention the 10-attempt line so they sound close to the case. They will mention AES-256 as if the algorithm name were a case number. They will ask for a sample file, a remote-access session, or a deposit.
A real public decryptor, when one exists, shows up on an official project page that already existed before your incident. The No More Ransom project is the place people check for those tools. It does not need a deposit in cryptocurrency. It does not need SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. It does not need a USB color. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Anyone who says they already have the key is selling the lock again.
8. Payment closes nothing
Paying is not a guarantee. The people who send the note can take the $500 and disappear. They can send a string that only unlocks a few files. They can come back later and lock the same machine again.
If someone later tells you that 100% of paying victims got everything back, ask for a public source that is not the person selling the key. You will not get one that you should trust. Until a trusted project publishes a decryptor, treat any site that says they already have the key as a second sales pitch.
Do not type keys into the lock screen. Do not pay the $500. Do not email a USB color to SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. Do not send the time of a payment to that string. Do not hunt a wallet because the lure left a placeholder. If you already typed a guess, or already wrote that mailbox, before you found this page, stop there. Do not send more files. Do not pay a deposit to hold the price.
STEP 1: Use Rkill to terminate suspicious programs.
In this first step, we will download and run Rkill to terminate suspicious programs that may be running on your computer.
RKill is a program that was developed at BleepingComputer.com that attempts to terminate known malware processes so that your normal security software can then run and clean your computer of infections. When RKill runs it will kill malware processes and then removes incorrect executable associations and fixes policies that stop us from using certain tools.
Download Rkill.
You can download RKill to your computer from the below link. When at the download page, click on the Download Now button labeled iExplore.exe. We are downloading a renamed version of Rkill (iExplore.exe) because some malware will not allow processes to run unless they have a certain filename.
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new page from where you can download Rkill)
Run RKill.
After downloading, double-click the iExplore.exe icon to kill malicious processes. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder. The program may take some time to search for and end various malware programs.
When it is finished, the black window will close automatically and a log file will open. Do not restart your computer. Proceed to the next step in this guide.
STEP 2: Use Malwarebytes to remove Ransomware and Unwanted Programs
In this second step, we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present on your computer.
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
Done? Click “Dashboard” in the left pane to return to the main screen.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take several minutes. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, your PC is clean and you can continue with the next steps in this guide.
STEP 3: Use HitmanPro to remove Rootkits and other Malware
In this third step, while the computer is in normal back, we will download and run a scan with HitmanPro to remove Trojans, rootkits, and other malicious programs.
HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner — it’s designed to catch what your main antivirus might have missed. Instead of relying on a single detection engine, it checks the behavior of files in the locations where malware usually hides. Anything suspicious gets sent to the cloud, where it’s analyzed by two of the best antivirus engines available: Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
Good news: scanning is completely free, with no limits. You only need a license when it’s time to remove what was found — and even then, you can activate a free one-time 30-day trial to clean your PC at no cost. (A full license is $24.95 per year for 1 PC.)
Download HitmanPro
Click the button below to download HitmanPro. Remember — the scan is free, so you have nothing to lose by checking your PC.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file: “hitmanpro.exe” on 32-bit Windows, or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” on 64-bit Windows.
If a User Account Control pop-up asks whether HitmanPro can make changes to your device, click “Yes” to continue.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts
On the HitmanPro start screen, click “Next” to begin the system scan. No lengthy setup required — it goes straight to work.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
HitmanPro will now check your computer for malicious programs. This usually takes just a few minutes thanks to its cloud-based scanning.
Review the Results and Click “Next”
When the scan is done, HitmanPro will show you everything it found. Click “Next” to remove the detected threats.
Click “Activate Free License”
To remove the malicious files, click the “Activate free license” button. This starts your free 30-day trial — no payment details needed — and unlocks the full cleanup.
When the removal is complete, HitmanPro will show a summary of everything it cleaned. Click Next, then click Reboot if prompted. If there’s no reboot prompt, just click Close — your PC is clean.
STEP 4: Use AdwCleaner to remove Malicious Browser Extensions and Adware
In this next step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and unwanted browser extensions from your computer.
AdwCleaner is a free on-demand scanner that specializes in adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars — the exact threats that mainstream antivirus programs often miss. It also includes tools that repair the damage malware leaves behind, like hijacked browser settings and malicious policies. It’s a quick scan that’s well worth running.
Download AdwCleaner
Click the button below to download AdwCleaner — it’s free, portable, and requires no installation.
Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe“. There’s no installation — the program starts right away.
If Windows asks whether you want to allow AdwCleaner to run, click “Yes“. When the license agreement appears, click I agree to continue.
Enable “Reset Chrome policies”
This setting removes malicious browser policies — a trick malware uses to lock your browser settings so you can’t change them back. Click “Settings” on the left side of the window, then turn on “Reset Chrome policies“.
Start the Scan
Click “Dashboard” on the left side of the window, then click the “Scan” button.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
AdwCleaner will now check your computer for adware and other malware. This usually takes only a few minutes — it’s one of the fastest scanners around.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan finishes, AdwCleaner will list everything it found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the malicious items at once.
Click “Continue” to Finish the Cleanup
Save any open work first — AdwCleaner needs to close your open programs before it can clean. When you’re ready, click the “Continue” button.
AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. If it asks you to restart your PC, allow it — your computer will be clean when you log back in.
STEP 5: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner
This final step involves installing and running a scan with ESET Online Scanner to check for any additional malicious programs that may be installed on the computer..
ESET Online Scanner is a free second-opinion scanner that performs a deep, full-system check for viruses, trojans, rootkits, and other malware. We use it as the final step because it’s thorough — if anything slipped past the previous scans, ESET will find it. A clean result here means your computer is malware-free.
Download ESET Online Scanner
Click the button below to download ESET Online Scanner.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click “esetonlinescanner.exe“.
Install ESET Online Scanner
On the start screen, select your language from the drop-down menu and click Get started.
On the Terms of use screen, click Accept.
Choose your preferences for the Customer Experience Improvement Program and the Detection feedback system (either choice is fine), then click Continue.
Start a Full Scan
Click Full Scan — this checks your entire computer, not just the common hiding spots.
Select Enable for Detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications — this lets ESET catch adware and bundled junk programs, not just viruses. Then click Start scan.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
ESET will now check every file on your computer. Because it’s a full scan, this can take a while — often an hour or more, depending on how much data you have. Leave it running in the background and check on it from time to time.
Review the Results
When the scan completes, the Found and resolved detections screen appears. Any threats found were automatically cleaned and quarantined — there’s nothing extra you need to do. Click View detailed results if you want to see exactly what was removed.
If ESET found nothing — congratulations, your computer has passed the final check and is malware-free.
STEP 6: Restore the files encrypted by ransomware
Unfortunately, in most cases, it’s not possible to recover the files encrypted by this ransomware virus because the private key which is needed to unlock the encrypted files is only available through the attackers. However, below we’ve listed three options you can use to try and recover your files.
Make sure you remove the malware from your computer first, otherwise, it will repeatedly lock your system or encrypt files. If you suspect that your computer is still infected with malware, you can run a free scan with Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
Option 1: Search a decryption tool for this ransomware
The cybersecurity community is constantly working to create ransomware decryption tools, so you can try to search these sites for updates:
Option 2: Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free to recover the encrypted files
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free can restore files and repair corrupted files with simple clicks. Its powerful scanning algorithms can identify and retrieve huge file type library, including all of the popular video files, audio files, photos, and document formats. While the free version only allows you to recover 2 GB of data, this can be helpful to see if the recovery is possible and restore back the most important files from your computer.
Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free.
You can download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free by clicking the link below.
Double-click on the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free setup file.
When EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
You may be presented with a User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow EaseUS to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation begins, click on the “Install Now” as seen in the image below.
When your EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation completes, click the “Start Now” button to start the program.
Select a location to start recovering the encrypted files.
Choose the drive or folder where you are the encrypted files that you want to recover and click “Scan“.
Wait for the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan to complete.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will now scan your computer files that can be restored. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Find the files you want to recover.
When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan is finished scanning it will show a screen that displays the files that can be recovered. This tool can recover a lot of data, use the “Filter” button to quickly filter specific file types and find the files that you want to recover.
Click the “Preview” button or double-click on a file for a full preview.
Select your files and click “Recover”.
Finally, select the the files you want to recover and click “Recover“. Choose a safe location to save all the files. The free version only allow you to recover 2 GB of data, however, this will allow you to recover the most important files and see if EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can correctly recover them.
Option 3: Try to restore your files with ShadowExplorer
This ransomware will attempt to delete all shadow copies when you first start any executable on your computer after becoming infected. Thankfully, the infection is not always able to remove the shadow copies, so you should continue to try restoring your files using this method.
Download ShadowExplorer.
You can download ShadowExplorer from the below link.
Double-click on the ShadowExplorer-x.x-setup file to start the installation process, then follow the on-screen promts to install this program.
Select snapshot date.
Open ShadowExplorer and then from the top bar select the drive where the files that you want to save are located, then select from the snapshot available one previous to this infection.
Export the files that you want to recover.
Once you have found a copy of the original file or folder, right-click on it and the select “Export”. A window will prompt you where you want to save the file or folder.
Keep every .encrypted name exactly as it is. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.encrypted back to 1.jpg, or vacation.jpg.encrypted back to vacation.jpg, or invoice-2026.pdf.encrypted back to a normal PDF, or taxes.xlsx.encrypted back to a sheet, or family.mp4.encrypted back to a video. Stripping the extra ending is not a repair. It can make a later trusted tool worse, not better.
Keep !.txt with the locked files. Do not clean up every copy of the note. Keep a screenshot of the lock overlay if you still have it, including the unlock-key field and the ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 10 line. Those two artifacts are how you prove this was SUCKS 2 SUCK and not a different locker that only borrowed the word encrypted. They are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.
Do not keep feeding the key field because the counter still shows tries left. Do not enter a password you use for email or banking. Do not paste a string a commenter called a universal key. You have a 10-attempt line on the screen. That limit is part of the squeeze. It is not a reason to spend the tries. The counter is intimidation copy, not a puzzle this page is going to help you solve.
Do not write SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. Do not mail the time of a Bitcoin transfer. Do not mail the color of a USB device. Those asks are the storefront, not a recovery protocol. If a later email from that same string finally names a wallet because the original lure left a placeholder, that is still the same shop. If a later pitch names a new $ figure, a discount, or a second coin, that is still a ransom on top of the $500 already printed in the original lure.
If the desktop still shows their overlay, save a screenshot for your records. Clearing the overlay is for you. It does not mean family.mp4.encrypted will play again. If Windows still offers to pick an app for the .encrypted type, decline it. There is no player for that ending. There is no public decryptor known for this strain, and this page is not going to pretend one was verified against these files.
The Bottom Line
SUCKS 2 SUCK ransomware is a locker with a readable filename, a shouting note, and a lock overlay that already printed the bill. It appends .encrypted to the old name. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.encrypted. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.encrypted. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.encrypted. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.encrypted. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.encrypted. The note is !.txt. The desktop overlay repeats the same sale with an unlock-key field and ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 10.
The lure claims AES-256. That is attacker text, not a lab result published here. The documented demand is $500 in Bitcoin. The wallet line in the note is a placeholder, and this page leaves it unnamed. The contact is SUCKS2SUCK@ONION.ONION. After payment, the same flyer wants the time of payment and the color of a USB device mailed to that string. Those extras are costume. The 10-attempt line is intimidation copy, not a wipe this page proved.
This is not the 2016 Malware-sucks.com pop-up. That scare did not lock documents. This is not Kreepr. Kreepr uses .kreepr and prints no $ amount and no contact. This is not Golden Woolf. Golden Woolf uses .wolf and asks for 20 TON on Telegram. This is not Devill. Devill uses random five-character endings, Readme.txt, and a Gmail address with no printed $ figure. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain.
Do not pay the $500. Do not type guesses into the lock screen. Do not email a USB color to that onion-mail string. Do not rename the pile in bulk. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in .encrypted, plus !.txt and a lock overlay that already named $500, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone in that mailbox asks what color your USB stick is.
10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams
Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.
Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.
Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).
If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.
Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.
Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.
If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.
Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.
Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.
If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.
Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.
Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.
If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.
Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.
Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.
If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.
Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.
Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.
If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.
Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.
Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.
If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.
Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).
Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.
If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.
Back up important files and keep one backup offline.
Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.
If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.
If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.
Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.
Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.
These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.
Hello! I'm Lapain Epuran, your go-to source for detailed and honest product reviews. From tech gadgets to miracle cures, I provide insights to help you make informed choices. Join me as we discover what's truly worth your time and money.
