X2anylock Ransomware

X2anylock is a highly dangerous strain of ransomware, suspected to be based on the notorious LockBit 3.0. This crypto-virus encrypts user files and demands a ransom in exchange for decryption tools, threatening to leak stolen data if payment isn’t made. Victims of this malware will notice a sudden change in their files’ extensions—“.x2anylock” is appended to each affected file (e.g., “photo.jpg” becomes “photo.jpg.x2anylock”)—and the appearance of ransom notes titled “How to decrypt my data.txt”.

There are two known variants of this ransom note. Both contain aggressive messages designed to coerce victims into paying, often citing their reputation to justify compliance. Below are the full texts of each note:

Text from Variant 1 of “How to decrypt my data.txt”

~~~ LockBit 3.0 the world's fastest ransomware since 2019~~~
>>>> Your data are stolen and encrypted
The data will be published on TOR website if you do not pay the ransom
>>>> What guarantees that we will not deceive you?
We are not a politically motivated group and we do not need anything other than your money.

If you pay, we will provide you the programs for decryption and we will delete your data.
Life is too short to be sad. Be not sad, money, it is only paper.

If we do not give you decrypters, or we do not delete your data after payment, then nobody will pay us in the future.
Therefore to us our reputation is very important. We attack the companies worldwide and there is no dissatisfied victim after payment.

>>>> You need contact us and decrypt one file for free
You can contact us in email or qtox.

QTox ID Support: 3DF86B12634F4308F81C86251AF940D8F6492A074C8C6F2EFA0D134F024A6E54A324B1813AA0  
Email Support: asdcspowavuh@proton.me, vgfekayojliv@proton.me  

Write to a chat and wait for the answer, we will always answer you.
Sometimes you will need to wait for our answer because we attack many companies.

>>>> Warning
>>>> Advertisement

Would you like to earn millions of dollars $$ ?
Our company acquire access to networks of various companies, as well as insider information that can help you steal the most valuable data of any company.
You can provide us accounting data for the access to any company, for example, login and password to RDP, VPN, corporate email, etc.
Open our letter at your email. Launch the provided virus on any computer in your company.
You can do it both using your work computer or the computer of any other employee in order to divert suspicion of being in collusion with us.
Companies pay us the foreclosure for the decryption of files and prevention of data leak.
You can contact us using QTox messenger without registration and SMS.

Text from Variant 2 of “How to decrypt my data.txt”

Your decrypt ID: -

QTox ID Support: 3DCE1C43491FC92EA7010322040B254FDD2731001C2DDC2B9E819F0C946BDC3CD251FA3B694A  
Email Support: ziqbwnscvbsj@proton.me, asdcspocnsdke@proton.me, tfefwapyasd3@proton.me

You can contact us in email or qtox.

X2anylock Ransomware Threat Summary

Manual Ransomware Removal Guide

Warning: Manual removal is complex and risky. If not done correctly, it can lead to data loss or incomplete removal of ransomware. Only follow this method if you are an advanced user. If unsure, proceed with Method 2 (SpyHunter Removal Guide).

Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet

1. Unplug your Ethernet cable or disconnect Wi-Fi immediately to prevent further communication with the ransomware’s command and control (C2) servers.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

For Windows Users:

1. For Windows 10, 11:
   • Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
   • Go to the Boot tab.
   • Check Safe boot and select Network.
   • Click Apply and OK, then restart your PC.
2. For Windows 7, 8:
   • Restart your PC and press F8 repeatedly before Windows loads.
   • Select Safe Mode with Networking and press Enter.

For Mac Users:

1. Restart your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key.
2. Release the key once you see the Apple logo.
3. Your Mac will start in Safe Mode.

Step 3: Locate and Terminate Malicious Processes

For Windows Users:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Look for suspicious processes (e.g., unknown names, high CPU usage, or random letters).
3. Right-click on the process and select End Task.

For Mac Users:

1. Open Activity Monitor (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor).
2. Look for unusual processes.
3. Select the process and click Force Quit.

Step 4: Delete Malicious Files

For Windows Users:

1. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter.
2. Delete all files in the Temp folder.
3. Navigate to:
   • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming
   • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local
   • C:\Windows\System32
4. Look for suspicious files related to the ransomware (random file names, recently modified) and delete them.

For Mac Users:

1. Open Finder and go to Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type ~/Library/Application Support and delete suspicious folders.
3. Navigate to ~/Library/LaunchAgents and remove unknown .plist files.

Step 5: Remove Ransomware from Registry or System Settings

For Windows Users:

Warning: Incorrect changes in the Registry Editor can damage your system. Proceed with caution.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
3. Look for unfamiliar folders with random characters or ransomware-related names.
4. Right-click and select Delete.

For Mac Users:

1. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
2. Click on Login Items and remove any suspicious startup items.
3. Navigate to ~/Library/Preferences and remove malicious .plist files.

Step 6: Restore System Using System Restore (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac)

For Windows Users:

1. Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and hit Enter.
2. Click Next, choose a restore point before the infection, and follow the prompts to restore your system.

For Mac Users:

1. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R to enter macOS Utilities.
2. Select Restore from Time Machine Backup.
3. Choose a backup prior to the ransomware infection and restore your system.

Step 7: Use a Decryption Tool (If Available)

• Visit No More Ransom (www.nomoreransom.org) and check if a decryption tool is available for your ransomware variant.

Step 8: Recover Files Using Backup

• If you have backups on an external drive or cloud storage, restore your files.

Automatic Ransomware Removal Using SpyHunter

If manual removal seems too risky or complicated, using a reliable anti-malware tool like SpyHunter is the best alternative.

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

Download SpyHunter from the official link: Download SpyHunter

Or follow the official installation instructions here:
SpyHunter Download Instructions

Step 2: Install SpyHunter

1. Open the downloaded file (SpyHunter-Installer.exe).
2. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the program.
3. Once installed, launch SpyHunter.

Step 3: Perform a Full System Scan

1. Click on Start Scan Now.
2. SpyHunter will scan for ransomware and other malware.
3. Wait for the scan to complete.

Step 4: Remove Detected Threats

1. After the scan, SpyHunter will list all detected threats.
2. Click Fix Threats to remove the ransomware.

Step 5: Use SpyHunter’s Malware HelpDesk (If Needed)

If you are dealing with a stubborn ransomware variant, SpyHunter’s Malware HelpDesk provides custom fixes to remove advanced threats.

Step 6: Restore Your Files

If your files are encrypted:

• Try No More Ransom (www.nomoreransom.org) for decryption tools.
• Restore from cloud storage or external backups.

Preventing Future Ransomware Attacks

• Keep backups on an external hard drive or cloud storage.
• Use SpyHunter to detect threats before they infect your system.
• Enable Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus program.
• Avoid suspicious emails, attachments, and links.
• Update Windows, macOS & software regularly.

Ransomware like X2anylock can be devastating, encrypting sensitive data and causing significant emotional and financial damage. Paying the ransom is not recommended, as there’s no guarantee that the files will be recovered or the data deleted. Instead, victims are urged to remove the infection with a trusted anti-malware tool such as SpyHunter and consult cybersecurity professionals for potential file recovery options.