PowerLocky Ransomware
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
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Popularity Rank: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Popularity Rank: | 20,328 |
| Threat Level: | 20 % (Normal) |
| Infected Computers: | 3,231 |
| First Seen: | July 25, 2016 |
| Last Seen: | September 24, 2025 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
PC security analysts have detected a new threat from the Locky family of encryption ransomware Trojans. The PowerLocky Ransomware combines the powers of PowerWare and Locky, two well-known ransomware threats that have been responsible for numerous attacks around the world. The PowerLocky Ransomware uses the extension '.locky' to recognize the files that have been encrypted with its encryption algorithm. The PowerLocky Ransomware also uses A ransom note message that had been associated with the Locky ransomware threat previously.
Table of Contents
A Poor Written Ransom Note Asking for a Costly Payment
The PowerLocky Ransomware is distributed as a .NET executable file that uses a ScriptRunner.dll to unload a PowerSheel script. The PowerLocky Ransomware drops this content into the following path:
'%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp\Quest Software\PowerGUI\
51daca6d-6a9a-44c8-9717-f8cc5c68d10e\fixed.ps1'
Using the AES-128 encryption, the PowerLocky Ransomware takes over the victim's computer and takes the victim's files hostage. The PowerLocky Ransomware will target files with a long list of file extensions, which include commonly used file types such as .jpg, .jpeg, .txt, .doc, .rar, .zip, .gif, .png, .mp3, .docx, .pdf and others. The PowerLocky Ransomware moves the encrypted files to a different directory and drops a ransom note file named '_HELP_instructions.html.' The ransom note displayed by the PowerLocky Ransomware threat reads:
'We present the special software Locky Decrypter
which Allows to decrypt the return statement and control to all your encrypted files is.
How the buy to Locky decrypter?
1. Download and install Multibit application. This will give you your own Bitcoin- wallet address. You can find it under the 'Request ' tab. Paste this in the 'Your BTC- address' field below.
2. Buy Bitcoins, the price is 500 $ / 0.74290893 BTC and send it to your own Bitcoin-wallet address, they will show up in the Multibit app that you installed eartier. From there, hit the 'Send' tab. Send the remaining BTC (bitcoin) to the this Bitcoin-wallet address: 1EBfQtzia9JbKzAAwBcnXB6n447jECumg2
Now submit the form below, only if you’ve actually sent the Bitcoins. Upon manual verification of the transaction you will receive the decrypter through email within 12 hours. ALL of your files/data will then be unlocked and decrypted automatically, HTML ransom files will also be removed.
Do NOT remove HTML ransom files or try to temper files in any way, because decrypter will of not work anymore.
Please remember this is the only way to ever regain access to your files again!'
Note the numerous spelling and syntax errors, making it obvious that the creators of the PowerLocky Ransomware are not English speakers. It may not be possible to recuperate the files that have been encrypted by the PowerLocky Ransomware currently. Because of this, the best measures when dealing with threats like the PowerLocky Ransomware are preventive ones. Some crucial steps that all computer users should take to ensure that the PowerLocky Ransomware and similar threats do not find their way onto their computer include:
- Always backup all of your files. Backup regularly and ensure that your backup device is off-site, not connected to your computer. This is because the PowerLocky Ransomware and similar threats may encrypt files on all drives detected on the targeted computer, which may include network drives and external hard drives that may be used for backup purposes. Backing up files is extremely important in this case: if computer users can recover their content by simply restoring from a backup, then the con artists responsible for the PowerLocky Ransomware no longer have any leverage enabling them to extract the payment of the ransom from their victims.
- Make sure that you are using a reliable security program that is fully updated at all times. It should be used to intercept the PowerLocky Ransomware and similar threats before they manage to make their way onto the victim's computer.
- Most threats of this type, including the PowerLocky Ransomware, may be delivered using phishing email messages with corrupted file attachments or embedded links. Learn to recognize this type of content and be cautious when browsing the Web to avoid a the PowerLocky Ransomware infection.
Analysis Report
General information
| Family Name: | Adware.Dealply.FE |
|---|---|
| Signature status: | No Signature |
Known Samples
Known Samples
This section lists other file samples believed to be associated with this family.|
MD5:
76df13c5487f34f9541707293eb62aba
SHA1:
87dff62c94c5a8d9b2b4d0c74f0c9ece09dcc02f
SHA256:
26331A673E5C68C2A0B790E3C0A2BAA55CF127E945D6FC0A63BC9DAEA00E32C4
File Size:
606.72 KB, 606720 bytes
|
Windows Portable Executable Attributes
- File doesn't have "Rich" header
- File doesn't have debug information
- File doesn't have exports table
- File doesn't have relocations information
- File doesn't have security information
- File has TLS information
- File is 32-bit executable
- File is either console or GUI application
- File is GUI application (IMAGE_SUBSYSTEM_WINDOWS_GUI)
- File is Native application (NOT .NET application)
Show More
- File is not packed
- IMAGE_FILE_DLL is not set inside PE header (Executable)
- IMAGE_FILE_EXECUTABLE_IMAGE is set inside PE header (Executable Image)
File Icons
File Icons
This section displays icon resources found within family samples. Malware often replicates icons commonly associated with legitimate software to mislead users into believing the malware is safe.
File Traits
- 2+ executable sections
- No Version Info
- VirtualQueryEx
- x86
Block Information
Block Information
During analysis, EnigmaSoft breaks file samples into logical blocks for classification and comparison with other samples. Blocks can be used to generate malware detection rules and to group file samples into families based on shared source code, functionality and other distinguishing attributes and characteristics. This section lists a summary of this block data, as well as its classification by EnigmaSoft. A visual representation of the block data is also displayed, where available.| Total Blocks: | 2,082 |
|---|---|
| Potentially Malicious Blocks: | 2 |
| Whitelisted Blocks: | 2,076 |
| Unknown Blocks: | 4 |
Visual Map
? - Unknown Block
x - Potentially Malicious Block
Windows API Usage
Windows API Usage
This section lists Windows API calls that are used by the samples in this family. Windows API usage analysis is a valuable tool that can help identify malicious activity, such as keylogging, security privilege escalation, data encryption, data exfiltration, interference with antivirus software, and network request manipulation.| Category | API |
|---|---|
| User Data Access |
|
