Jeckel Ransomware EXPOSED: .jeckel-lock Files and a $1,200 Ethereum Ask
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.jeckel-lock. A small text file named INSTRUCTIONS.txt is sitting in the same folder, as if it has always belonged there.
That is the trap, not a glitch. Jeckel ransomware locks the files first. Then it writes .jeckel-lock on the end of the old name. Then it drops INSTRUCTIONS.txt and paints a new wallpaper across the desktop. The wallpaper shouts (((!JECKEL RANSOMWARE))) and Oopsy! Your Files Are Encrypted! The note talks like a recovery guide. It is a storefront.
It tells you to Google how to buy Ethereum, gather at least $1,200, send that coin to an address printed in the file, and mail the transaction ID to support@jeckel.ran. Then it promises a decryptor within 72 hours. That is the whole checkout, written like a how-to.
This page is for the moment those names appear. It explains the rename, the instruction sheet, the wallpaper, the $1,200 Ethereum ask, and why that mailbox is not a recovery team. It is not a tour of ransomware in general. It is about this strain, the one that leaves .jeckel-lock on the end and a note that already printed the bill.
Encrypted files after Jeckel. The .jeckel-lock names and INSTRUCTIONS.txt are the tell.
Overview
The first thing they take is the files you can still recognize. Photos. Invoices. Spreadsheets. Videos. Anything that looks like work or memory. Jeckel does not hide the catalog behind a coded title. It keeps vacation.jpg in front of the new ending. It keeps invoice-2026.pdf in front of the same stamp. You can still read what you lost. You cannot open it. That readable loss is the product.
The way they take it is a lock plus a label. The locker rewrites the bytes so everyday apps fail. Then it appends .jeckel-lock. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.jeckel-lock. In the same folder you can also see vacation.jpg.jeckel-lock, invoice-2026.pdf.jeckel-lock, taxes.xlsx.jeckel-lock, and family.mp4.jeckel-lock. Windows may now call the type a JECKEL-LOCK file and offer you a useless “choose an app” box. An app cannot talk those bytes back into a JPEG.
What happens after you click is the sales floor. INSTRUCTIONS.txt is sitting next to the locked copies. The desktop wallpaper repeats the same pitch, so you do not have to open the note to get the bill. The note claims the files were encrypted with AES-256-GCM and RSAES-2048-OAEP. That sentence is attacker copy. It is not a lab result published here. The jargon is there to make the lock feel finished before you have even sat down.
What happens after you read the note is a shopping list. Google how to buy Ethereum, it says. Make sure you have at least $1,200 USD in that coin. Transfer the money to an address printed in the same file. Then send the TXID, the transaction ID, to support@jeckel.ran. They promise a decryptor within 72 hours. That is not a help desk. That is a checkout with a clock drawn on it.
What happens after you pay is not a contract. Paying can send coin to people you cannot sue. Paying can buy a tool that never arrives. Paying can buy a tool that opens two junk files and then asks for more. Paying does not close the hole that let the locker in. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Anyone who says they already have the Jeckel key is selling the lock again.
That is the whole costume. A folder of familiar names with .jeckel-lock glued on. A note called INSTRUCTIONS.txt. A wallpaper that yells the brand and then says oopsy. A printed $1,200 Ethereum ask. A mailbox that wants your TXID. A 72-hour promise. There is no reason to buy that coin. There is no reason to write that inbox. There is no reason to treat the wallpaper as a second set of orders.
The .jeckel-lock name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. Jeckel uses .jeckel-lock and leaves the rest of the filename alone. That choice is not kindness. It is a billboard. You can still read invoice-2026.pdf in front of the new ending. You can still see that the family video is the family video. The listing looks almost right, which is why the first instinct is to double-click.
Double-clicking does not bring the photo back. Taking .jeckel-lock off the name does not reverse the lock. You may get a file that Photos or Excel tries to open and then fails. You may also scramble a later trusted tool that expected the stamped name to stay put. The extra letters are a label. The lock is in the bytes.
Do not bulk-rename the files to hide .jeckel-lock. Do not run a random “extension fixer” you found in an ad. Do not drag the locked copies into a cloud sync folder “so they upload clean.” Leave the locked copies as they are until you have a clean machine and a plan that does not start in a criminal inbox.
INSTRUCTIONS.txt is a sales floor, not a help file
The note is a plain text file with a name that sounds like documentation. Plenty of real software drops an instructions sheet. This locker uses that habit against you. INSTRUCTIONS.txt is meant to be the first thing you double-click when the folder already looks wrong and the wallpaper is already talking.
The file tells you the data is encrypted. Then it hands you three steps that look like a recipe. Search how to buy Ethereum. Fund a wallet with at least $1,200. Send that coin to an address sitting in the same note. Mail the TXID to support@jeckel.ran and wait 72 hours for a decryptor. A recipe is easier to follow when you are scared. That is why the file is short. That is why it numbers the work.
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 shopping homework assignment, a $ figure, a drop address, a mailbox, and a tone that says this is already decided. That tone is the product.
The wallpaper is the same bill, only louder
After the files are locked, the desktop image changes. The new wallpaper prints (((!JECKEL RANSOMWARE))) in a shout. Under that it says Oopsy! Your Files Are Encrypted! That voice is doing a job. The brand wants you to search the name. The oopsy line wants the lock to feel like a prank that still has a punchline. A prank with a $1,200 Ethereum ask is not a prank. It is a bill painted on the wall.
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 billboard is there. 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 INSTRUCTIONS.txt. Keep a copy if you need evidence. Then stop decorating the crime scene. Changing the picture back is fine for your nerves. It is not a repair. The lock does not live behind your icons. The lock lives in every .jeckel-lock file. If you spend the evening hunting a “wallpaper remover” from a search ad, you are still shopping in the market this attack created.
The $1,200 Ethereum ask is already a checkout
A lot of locker notes leave the price blank so the first chat can invent it. Jeckel does the opposite. The note prints a floor. At least $1,200 USD, in Ethereum, transferred to an address in the file. That number is doing sales work. It tells you the argument is over. It tells you the only remaining job is to go buy coin.
At least is the quiet half of the line. A floor can still rise. A later mail from support@jeckel.ran can claim the $1,200 was a starter price. A later helper who saw your screenshot can claim the “real” fee is higher. Do not treat the printed figure as a coupon. Treat it as a demand that already wants you at an exchange.
Ethereum is a choice, not a kindness. This note sends you to Google with a shopping query and a coin name. If you start buying Ethereum “just in case,” you have already begun their checkout. The search itself is a funnel. It puts you on pages that sell coin, not pages that tell you to unplug the machine.
This page will not invent or reprint the wallet string from the note. You do not need it. Anyone who later messages you with a “faster address” or a “new Jeckel wallet” is still selling the same aisle. The note already told you where they want the coin. Stay out of that transfer.
How The Scam Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Brand the names. Drop a note that already printed the bill. Paint the desktop. Send the scared person to Google to buy Ethereum. Collect a TXID at support@jeckel.ran. Keep a 72-hour clock running so you sit still instead of reporting the crime.
1. The lock keeps the old name so you recognize the loss
Jeckel encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then appends .jeckel-lock. That is why 1.jpg is still readable as 1.jpg.jeckel-lock. 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.
The types that usually get hit are the ones people miss first. Pictures. Documents. Spreadsheets. Videos. Archives. System files may still boot. The browser may still open. That is not mercy. A machine that still turns on is a machine that can still display a wallpaper and still open a Google search for Ethereum.
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 .jeckel-lock ending.
2. INSTRUCTIONS.txt turns a break-in into a shopping list
Once the names look wrong, the only file that still reads like a plan is the note. That is by design. A person who cannot open vacation.jpg.jeckel-lock will open the file that promises instructions. The filename does the first half of the sale before the body does any talking.
The body then does three jobs at once. It names the lock in technical clothing. It prints a $1,200 Ethereum floor. It tells you the way back is a transfer plus a mail to support@jeckel.ran. A note that starts with instructions and ends with a TXID request is not confused about its purpose. It is a flyer that borrowed a help-file title.
Keep that file. Screenshot it if you want a second copy. Do not follow it. The note is evidence. The contacts inside it are not a to-do list. The wallet line is evidence. This page will not reprint that wallet so you can “just look.”
3. They send you to Google so you start spending
The first step in the note is not “write us.” It is a search. Google how to buy Ethereum. That line is a commitment trick. It moves you off the locked folder and onto a shopping page while the fear is still hot. It also trains you to treat the criminals as teachers. They assigned homework. You went and did it.
Buying coin because a ransom note told you to is how a flyer becomes a live payment. If you already use Ethereum for other reasons, that is your business. Do not use it today to fund the address printed in INSTRUCTIONS.txt. Do not ask a friend to pick up coin because you are too shaken to use an exchange. Do not “buy a little so you are ready.” Ready is their word for paid.
4. The printed $1,200 skips the argument
A missing ransom number lets a crew invent the bill after they see who you are. A printed number does a different job. It makes the first conversation feel unnecessary. You already know the price. You already know the coin. All that is left is the transfer. That is why $1,200 is on the page. It is not a courtesy quote from a vendor with a refund window.
At least $1,200 USD is still a floor. A home folder is supposed to feel that the number is small enough to be “just this once.” A shop with invoices is supposed to feel that $1,200 is cheaper than rebuilding the books. Both feelings are the intended ones. Neither one is a recovery plan.
The CISA StopRansomware Guide is blunt about this kind of squeeze. Paying does not ensure the files come back, does not ensure the systems are clean, and does not ensure the people on the other end stay gone.
5. A TXID to support@jeckel.ran is the receipt they want
The note does not stop at the transfer. It wants proof you paid. Send the TXID to support@jeckel.ran, it says, and a decryptor will follow within 72 hours. That mailbox is an identifier for this campaign. It is not a support queue. There is no manager to escalate to when the tool never arrives. There is no chargeback window on a mail that exists to collect payment receipts.
A TXID is a public breadcrumb on a coin network. Handing it over tells them the payment is yours. It also tells them you are the kind of victim who finished the flyer. That is the moment a quiet lock becomes a live customer. Do not send a “test” TXID. Do not send a screenshot of an exchange account. Do not write to ask whether $1,200 is enough. Curiosity is how the storefront stays open.
6. Seventy-two hours is a sales timer
The note claims that if you send the TXID, you will receive a decryptor program within 72 hours. That line is doing two jobs. It sounds like a service level. It also starts a clock in your head. Seventy-two hours is long enough to feel official and short enough to stop you from sleeping, asking a friend, or reading a page like this one twice.
There is no independent clock. There is no ticket you can escalate. If they reply in two hours, that is still the same shop. If they reply in two days, that is still the same shop. If they never reply, you have already told them you paid. The promise is not a contract. It is a way to keep you sitting on the transfer and refreshing a mailbox they control.
Urgency is the cheapest tool in this trade. Seventy-two hours sounds specific, so it feels real. It is specific the way a fake shipping countdown is specific. The people who set it can wait, raise the number, or vanish. Your job in those 72 hours is not to beat the clock. Your job is to stop the spread and to keep a clean copy of what you still have. Another 72 hours of panic will not unlock the files.
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 Jeckel or “all .jeckel-lock files.” Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam.
They will quote the extension back to you. They will mention INSTRUCTIONS.txt so they sound close to the case. They will mention AES-256-GCM as if the algorithm name were a case number. 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 logo in a banner does not make them a rescue desk. A promise to beat the 72-hour timer does not make them faster than the people who wrote the timer.
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 Ethereum. It does not need a TXID. It does not need support@jeckel.ran. If the pitch is “we can decrypt, pay us first,” you are still in the market the ransomware created. There is no public free decryptor known for Jeckel.
8. 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 $1,200 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 mailbox that exists to collect TXIDs makes that outcome easier, not harder. You cannot leave a review on a checkout like that.
The same access that delivered Jeckel 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. 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.
Official advice from No More Ransom and from CISA StopRansomware has been consistent for years. Isolate. Keep the locked files. Look for clean backups. Look for a trusted decryptor if one exists. Do not start a relationship with the people who locked the disk.
What To Do If Your Files End in .jeckel-lock
Do not buy $1200 ETH because the note told you to. Do not send a TXID to support@jeckel.ran. Do not treat the 72-hour decryptor line as a deadline you have to beat. Do not treat the wallpaper as a second set of orders. If you already opened the note before you found this page, stop there. Do not fund the address. Do not mail a receipt. 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 .jeckel-lock name exactly as it is. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.jeckel-lock back to 1.jpg, or vacation.jpg.jeckel-lock back to vacation.jpg, or invoice-2026.pdf.jeckel-lock back to a normal PDF, or taxes.xlsx.jeckel-lock back to a spreadsheet, or family.mp4.jeckel-lock back to a video. Stripping the extra ending is not a repair. It can make a later trusted tool worse, not better. The original name is already sitting in front of .jeckel-lock.
Keep INSTRUCTIONS.txt with the locked files. Keep a screenshot of the wallpaper if you still have it, including the (((!JECKEL RANSOMWARE))) line and the Oopsy! Your Files Are Encrypted! line. Those two artifacts are how you prove this was Jeckel and not a different locker that only sounds similar.
They are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out. The wallpaper is the same bill as the note. Changing the picture back is for you. It does not unlock a single file.
Do not run a third-party decryptor you found in an ad, a YouTube description, or a Telegram “recovery” channel. Leave the locked copies alone until a trusted project publishes a tool for this family. None is public now.
If a later message quotes support@jeckel.ran and offers “the real wallet,” that is still the same shop. If someone claims they can beat the 72-hour timer for a fee, they are selling the clock, not a key. Do not answer. Do not complete their checkout. Do not help them set a higher price on top of the $1,200 floor.
If Windows still offers to pick an app for the .jeckel-lock type, decline it. There is no player for that ending. If you need to describe the incident, use the .jeckel-lock stamp, INSTRUCTIONS.txt, the wallpaper lines, the $1,200 Ethereum ask, and support@jeckel.ran. You do not need to send a TXID to be taken seriously. Report the crime through the CISA ransomware reporting page or the FBI IC3 desk if those paths fit where you live.
The Bottom Line
Jeckel ransomware is a locker with a readable filename and a note that already printed the bill. It appends .jeckel-lock to the old name. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.jeckel-lock. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.jeckel-lock. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.jeckel-lock. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.jeckel-lock. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.jeckel-lock. The note is INSTRUCTIONS.txt. The desktop wallpaper repeats the same bill with (((!JECKEL RANSOMWARE))) and Oopsy! Your Files Are Encrypted!
The note claims AES-256-GCM and RSAES-2048-OAEP. That is attacker copy, not a lab result on this page. It tells you to Google how to buy Ethereum, gather at least $1,200 USD, transfer that coin to an address in the file, and send the TXID to support@jeckel.ran. They promise a decryptor within 72 hours. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain.
Do not pay. Do not buy $1200 ETH for them. Do not send a TXID to that mailbox. Do not rename the pile in bulk. The 72 hours is a sales timer. The wallpaper is the same bill. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in .jeckel-lock, plus INSTRUCTIONS.txt and that oopsy wallpaper, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone in that inbox cashes a $1,200 transfer.
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.
