FLocker Ransomware EXPOSED: .Flock Files and FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt
Written by: Lapain Epuran
Published on:
You open the folder you used yesterday. The vacation photo should be there. The invoice should be there. The tax spreadsheet should be there. Instead you see names that look like broken passwords. They end in .Flock. A small text file called FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt is sitting in the same place, as if it has always belonged in your Documents folder.
That is the trap, not a glitch. FLocker ransomware locks the files first. Then it hides the original names behind Base64. Then it drops a bilingual note and a desktop wallpaper that both point at the same checkout. Send 0.0005 BTC. Then write to RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com. The note talks like a help desk. It is a storefront.
This page is for the moment those names appear. It explains the rename, the note, the wallpaper, the bad wallet line, and why that Gmail address is not a recovery team. It is not a tour of ransomware in general. It is about this strain, the one that writes .Flock on the end after it encodes both the name and the extension.
Encrypted files after FLocker. The .Flock names and FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt are the tell.
Overview
The first tell is the rename. FLocker does not leave vacation.jpg sitting there with a new ending tacked on. It encodes the original name and the original extension as two separate Base64 strings. Then it joins those strings with a dot. Then it adds .Flock. The file that used to be the beach photo becomes dmFjYXRpb24=.anBn.Flock. The invoice becomes aW52b2ljZS0yMDI2.cGRm.Flock. The tax sheet becomes dGF4ZXM=.eGxzeA==.Flock. The family video becomes ZmFtaWx5.bXA0.Flock.
Those strings look random if you have never seen Base64. They are not random. They are the old name written in a different alphabet. That is why the folder still has one object per file. That is also why the shock lands harder. You can feel that the photo is still “there.” Double-clicking it does not open the photo. Windows may call the type a FLOCK file and offer you a useless “choose an app” box. An app cannot talk the bytes back into a JPEG.
The second tell is the note. After the files are locked, the malware drops FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt into the same folders. The note is short. It is printed in English and again in Russian. Both halves sell the same bill. Your files are encrypted. Send 0.0005 BTC to a Bitcoin wallet printed in the file. After you pay, email RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com and wait for instructions. The wallpaper repeats that pitch in bigger letters so you see it even if you never open the text file.
That is the whole storefront. A locked folder. A bilingual note. A desktop that now looks like a billboard. A tiny coin amount that is meant to feel like a parking ticket. A consumer Gmail address that is meant to feel like a person will write back. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to send the coin. There is no reason to write to that inbox.
The .Flock name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. FLocker uses .Flock. The extra trick is the Base64 mask in front of that ending. You do not see invoice-2026.pdf.Flock. You see aW52b2ljZS0yMDI2.cGRm.Flock. The familiar words are gone from the listing. The file is still the invoice. The listing is now a coded label.
If you decode those two chunks yourself, you can get the old name back on paper. dmFjYXRpb24= is vacation. anBn is jpg. aW52b2ljZS0yMDI2 is invoice-2026. cGRm is pdf. dGF4ZXM= is taxes. eGxzeA== is xlsx. ZmFtaWx5 is family. bXA0 is mp4. That exercise can help you inventory what was hit. It does not unlock a single byte.
Do not treat that decode as a fix. Do not paste the decoded name back onto the file and expect Photos or Excel to open it. Do not run a bulk “Base64 filename 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 inbox.
The same coded names also make a later scam easier. Anyone who sees a pile of .Flock files can pretend they already “have your case.” They can quote a Base64 string back to you. They can offer a paid unlock. The extension is branding. The Base64 is branding. Neither one is a hint that the file can be renamed back to normal.
FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt is a sales floor, not a help file
The note is a plain text file with a name that sounds like a product. FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt looks like a utility that came with the lock. It did. It came with the lock the way a fake invoice comes with a fake shop. The filename is doing a job. It wants the first click after the panic.
English first. Then Russian. The English half tells you the important files are encrypted. It tells you to send 0.0005 BTC to a wallet string printed in the same file. It tells you to email RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com after the payment and wait. The Russian half repeats that demand for a second audience. Two languages are not care. They are a wider net. If you only read one half, the bill is still the same.
Notice what the note does not give you. It does not give you a support ticket that a real company would honor. It does not give you a refund policy. It does not give you a way to prove the other side will ever send a key. It gives you a price, a mailbox, and a tone that says this is already decided. That tone is the product.
A ransom note can sound calm and still be a threat. Calm is cheaper than a skull. A short file is easier to read when you are scared. The people who wrote it want you to finish the page and then finish their checkout. Read it as a sales flyer that was dropped after a break-in. Then close it. Keep the file on disk. Do not treat it as a set of steps you should follow.
The listed wallet does not look like Bitcoin
The note tells you to send 0.0005 BTC to a “Bitcoin wallet.” The string printed in that slot was garbage. It looked like G592e05i28Xk. That does not look like a real Bitcoin address. A real BTC address has a recognizable shape and length. This one does not.
That fact is not a treasure map. It is not a promise that the lock is fake, or that the files will spring open if you wait. A sloppy checkout can still sit on top of real encryption. A messy note can still be attached to a script that already walked your Documents folder. Do not send coin to a string that does not look like a wallet. Do not “correct” it. Do not hunt for a “real” address in a reply from that Gmail account.
If a later email or a later wallpaper shows a different string, treat that as another costume change, not as a repair. The demand is the same. The mailbox is the same. The people on the other end still want you in their funnel. A broken-looking wallet line is one more reason to stay out of that funnel. It is not a coupon for a decryptor.
0.0005 BTC is a price tag, not a bargain
The number is small on purpose. 0.0005 BTC is written like a fee you might pay without calling anyone. That is the point. A giant demand makes a household stop and phone a relative. A tiny demand tries to feel like a parking ticket you can clear before dinner.
Do not convert that figure in your head and decide it is “not worth fighting.” The note wants that math. Do not invent a $ price for 0.0005 BTC either. The coin moves, and the number is not a shop quote. It is a ransom. A small ransom is still a ransom. Paying it is not a guarantee that a key arrives, that the key works, or that the same script will not run again next week.
The small number also trains you for a second ask. First they want a “test payment.” Then the mailbox wants a screenshot. Then the price for the rest of the files grows. Or a different person writes from a different address and claims the first payment “did not land.” Cheap checkout is a tactic. It is not a discount aisle.
The Gmail address is the checkout aisle
After the coin, the note wants mail. The contact printed in this campaign is RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com. That is a consumer mailbox with a ransom-flavored local part. It is not a help desk. It is not a court clerk. It is not a person who will walk you through recovery out of kindness.
Writing to that address tells the operators the lock worked, the note was read, and a person is willing to talk. That is useful to them even if you never send coin. A reply can ask for more files. A reply can send a link. A reply can send a “decryptor” that is a second infection. A reply can simply harvest the fact that this inbox is live and this victim is scared.
If you already sent a message before you found this page, stop there. Do not send a sample photo “so they can prove it.” Do not send a screenshot of a payment you did not make. Do not ask what the $ equivalent is. Do not ask if they have a better wallet because the printed one looks wrong. Curiosity is how the storefront stays open. Keep any reply as evidence. Then leave the conversation.
The wallpaper is a billboard, not a new lock
FLocker also changes the desktop wallpaper. The new image repeats the same demand you already saw in FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt. Files locked by FLocker. Send 0.0005 BTC. Write to RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com. Wait. The wallpaper exists so the pitch is waiting behind every window, even if you never opened the text file.
That screen is not a second encryption step. It is theater. A wallpaper cannot unlock a file. Changing the wallpaper back cannot unlock a file. Closing a full-screen message cannot unlock a file. The files were already renamed and locked before the desktop turned into a poster.
If you see that poster, do not type into any field it offers. Do not hunt for a hidden button that “proves you are the owner.” Do not photograph it and send the photo to the Gmail address as “proof you are ready to pay.” Read the room. The room is a ransom note with a bigger canvas.
This is not the .locked locker
Another strain on this blog uses a similar-sounding name and a different ending. That one appends .locked and keeps more of the original filename in view. FLocker, the strain on this page, encodes the name and the extension, then writes .Flock. The notes are different too. If your files end in .locked, you are not looking at this campaign. If your files look like Base64-Base64.Flock and the note is FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt, you are.
The similar branding is not an accident you need to solve. Criminals reuse words that already scare people. A search box will mix the two families if you only type “flock ransomware.” Look at the ending on disk. Look at the note filename. Those two facts decide which page you should be on. This page stays with .Flock.
A scanner name is not a key
A security product may throw a long, ugly label at the file that started this. That label helps the product recognize something it has seen before. It does not unlock the beach photo. It does not unlock the invoice. It is not a reason to download a “FLocker cleaner” from an ad.
Treat that label as a name for the infection, not as a recovery plan. Do not open a leftover script on the desktop and try to “undo” the lock. Do not run a random cleaner because the filename looks close. A product name in a scan window is not a key.
There is no public free decryptor known for FLocker. Anyone who greets you by your .Flock extension and says the key is already on their site is selling the same lock with a new logo. A tool that asks for a deposit in coin is not a public decryptor.
How The Scam Works
You do not need a lab notebook to follow the sequence. FLocker changes the files, hides the old names, drops a bilingual note, paints the desktop, and then waits for 0.0005 BTC and a Gmail message. The rest is pressure and follow-up shops. Here is the path as a person in front of the folder will meet it.
1. Everyday files get a Base64 mask and .Flock
The first thing a person notices is not always the wallpaper. It is a folder that used to make sense. Documents, pictures, downloads, a desktop full of invoices. Then the names turn into long, padded strings. Every victim file in the shot at the top of this page follows the same recipe. Original name in Base64. Original extension in Base64. Then .Flock.
Walk the four examples, because they are the ones you can match by eye. vacation.jpg becomes dmFjYXRpb24=.anBn.Flock. invoice-2026.pdf becomes aW52b2ljZS0yMDI2.cGRm.Flock. taxes.xlsx becomes dGF4ZXM=.eGxzeA==.Flock. family.mp4 becomes ZmFtaWx5.bXA0.Flock. If your folder shows that pattern, you are not looking at a sync error. You are looking at the locker.
The icons may go generic. Sizes can stay in the same neighborhood as before, which is part of the cruelty. A 75,000 KB family video still looks huge. A 15 KB sheet still looks small. The listing says the objects are still there. The contents will not open. Copying a .Flock file to a USB stick copies the lock. Zipping the folder and mailing it to a stranger copies the lock plus a copy of your data.
Renaming is not decryption. Changing .Flock to .jpg is not decryption. Pasting the decoded Base64 back into the filename is not decryption. Those moves can scramble a file that a later official decryptor might still have been able to read. The locked copies are evidence. They are also the raw material a trusted public tool would need if one ever appears. They are not puzzles you solve with a rename box.
2. FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt takes over the conversation
The ransom note is a simple text file named FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt. It is meant to be the first thing you double-click when the folder already looks wrong. The name sounds like a key. The file is a script for what they want you to do next.
It tells you the important files are encrypted. It tells you the way back is 0.0005 BTC. It tells you the way to “get instructions” is a Gmail message after you pay. That order matters. Money first. Then a mailbox they control. Then, maybe, a file they claim is a decryptor. There is no independent check in that chain. There is no third party who can force them to finish.
Part of any ransom note will warn you not to modify the locked files and not to talk to anyone else. Part of that warning is self-serving. The authors want you talking to them, not to a relative, an insurer, or a real technician. Part of it is still a useful caution in the wrong mouth. Mystery “one-click decrypt” apps from ads can damage files. The safe reading is narrower than the note wants. Do not take technical advice from the attacker. Do not run a paid unlocker from a search ad.
3. The same pitch is printed in Russian
The note is bilingual. English, then Russian. The second language is not a translation service for your convenience. It is the same demand aimed at a second group of readers. If your household reads Russian first, you still get the 0.0005 BTC line and the same Gmail address. If you read English first, the Russian block is still sitting there as a reminder that this flyer was built to travel.
Do not invent a story about who “must” be behind a Russian paragraph. Criminals copy templates. They reuse phrases. A language in a note is a targeting choice, not a passport. What you can take from the two halves is simpler. The operators wanted more than one audience to finish the same checkout without opening a second file.
If a later reply arrives in only one language, that is still the same shop. If a later reply arrives in a third language, that is still the same shop. The constant is the demand and the mailbox, not the grammar.
4. The wallpaper repeats the bill so you cannot miss it
After the files are locked, the desktop image changes. The new wallpaper names FLocker. It says the important files were encrypted. It repeats the 0.0005 BTC demand. It repeats the instruction to write to RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com after payment and wait. It may repeat the same wallet string that already failed the “does this look like Bitcoin” test.
This is the hurry-up layer. A text file can be ignored if you are busy trying to open the photo. A desktop cannot. Every time you minimize a window, the flyer is there. That is not a new technical step. It is a billboard nailed to the wall after the locksmith left.
People waste the first hour on the wallpaper. They screenshot it. They search every word on it. They change the image back and hope the files follow. The files do not follow. Put the wallpaper in the same mental box as the note. Keep a copy if you need evidence. Then stop decorating the crime scene and stop talking to the people who painted it.
5. The wallet line is costume. The mailbox is the real aisle.
A working ransomware shop usually prints a wallet that at least looks like a wallet. This campaign has already been seen with a string that does not. G592e05i28Xk is the kind of token a sloppy template leaves behind. It is not a destination you should fund “just in case.”
The dangerous half of the checkout is not that broken string. It is the Gmail address that still works even if the wallet line is junk. Once you write to RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com, a person can send a new address, a new amount, a new file, or a new threat. The printed wallet can be theater. The inbox is a live door.
That is why “the wallet looks fake, so I will email them to ask” is the wrong instinct. Asking is how a broken flyer becomes a real conversation. If the operators wanted a clean payment path, they would have printed one. They printed a mailbox. Stay out of the mailbox.
6. 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 FLocker or “all .Flock files.” Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote the Base64 pattern back to you. They will mention FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt so they sound close to the case. They will ask for a sample file, a remote-access session, or a deposit.
The second scam has a friendly website and a case manager. It may even open one junk file, because anyone who is in contact with the original criminals can borrow the same demo. Then the price rises, the chat dies, or the remote tool installs more malware. A scanner name in their sales copy does not make them the company that wrote the scanner. A logo in a banner does not make them a rescue desk.
A real public decryptor, when one exists, shows up on an official project page that already existed before your incident. It does not need a deposit in cryptocurrency. It does not need the Gmail address in the note. It does not need you to “hold a slot” with 0.0005 BTC. If the pitch is “we can decrypt, pay us first,” you are still in the market the ransomware created.
7. Payment closes nothing
Paying is not a guarantee. That sentence is not a slogan. It is the recorded experience of victims across ransomware families. The people who send the note can take the money and disappear. They can send a tool that only unlocks a few files. They can come back later and lock the same machine again. A sloppy wallet line makes that outcome more likely, not less.
Even when a key arrives in some other campaign, it can fail on some file types, stop halfway, or demand a second payment. The same access that delivered FLocker the first time can still be open. A payment teaches the operators that this victim pays. It does not close the hole that let them in. It does not give you a contract you can enforce. It does not make a garbage wallet suddenly become a reputable cashier.
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. There is no public free decryptor known for this family. Until a trusted project publishes one, treat any site that says “we already have the FLocker key” as a second sales pitch.
8. Flaws in the flyer are not a recovery promise
This campaign looks messy. A bilingual copy-paste. A consumer Gmail address. A coin amount that is trying to feel small. A wallet string that does not look like Bitcoin. Messy is not the same thing as undone.
Do not let a forum comment turn those flaws into hope you cannot cash. A bad wallet does not decrypt dGF4ZXM=.eGxzeA==.Flock. A tiny ransom does not mean the lock was a joke. Some lockers are recovered later when a trusted project publishes a tool. Some never are. A sloppy checkout does not mean the files will come back on their own.
The honest reading is colder and more useful. The flyer is sloppy. The lock can still be real. Your move is the same as it is with a polished gang. Do not pay. Do not write to the mailbox. Do not rename the pile in bulk. Keep the note. Keep the locked names. Get the machine away from the storefront.
What To Do If Your Files End in .Flock
Do not pay 0.0005 BTC. Do not write to RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com. Do not send a “test file” to that inbox. Do not try to fund the printed wallet, including a garbage string like G592e05i28Xk. If you already sent a message 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 .Flock name exactly as it is. Do not bulk-rename the Base64 strings back to vacation.jpg, invoice-2026.pdf, taxes.xlsx, or family.mp4. Decoding those strings on paper is fine if you need a list of what was hit. Writing the decoded names back onto the files is not a repair. It can make a later trusted tool worse, not better.
Keep FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt with the locked files. Keep a copy of the wallpaper if you still have it. Those two artifacts are how you prove this was FLocker and not a different locker that only sounds similar. They are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.
If a later email from RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com offers a “real” wallet because the first one looked wrong, that is still the same shop. If a later email asks for a $ figure instead of 0.0005 BTC, that is still the same shop. Do not answer. Do not correct their checkout. Do not help them fix the flyer.
The Bottom Line
FLocker ransomware is a locker with a coded filename and a bilingual flyer. It encodes the original name and the original extension as two Base64 strings, then writes .Flock on the end. vacation.jpg becomes dmFjYXRpb24=.anBn.Flock. invoice-2026.pdf becomes aW52b2ljZS0yMDI2.cGRm.Flock. taxes.xlsx becomes dGF4ZXM=.eGxzeA==.Flock. family.mp4 becomes ZmFtaWx5.bXA0.Flock. The note is FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt, in English and in Russian. The desktop wallpaper repeats the same bill.
The demand is 0.0005 BTC, then a message to RansomHrkwncS0e5@gmail.com. The note printed a wallet string that does not look like a real Bitcoin address, in the shape of G592e05i28Xk. That sloppy line is a reason to stay out of the checkout. It is not a promise the files will come back. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain.
Do not pay. Do not write to that Gmail address. Do not rename the pile in bulk. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of Base64 names ending in .Flock, plus FLOCK_DECRYPT.txt, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone in that inbox names a $ figure.
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.
