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Ransom:Win32/Reveton.R!lnk
Aliases: Win32/Reveton.M trojan (ESET) CXmal/RnsmLnk-A (Sophos)
Summary
Microsoft Defender Antivirus detects and removes this threat.
This threat is a shortcut that looks like a legitimate file. It tries to lure you into opening it and running other malware.
It is installed on your PC by a variant of the Ransom:Win32/Reveton family of ransomware. This family can lock your PC and demand payment of a fine.
Our ransomware FAQ page has more information on this type of threat.
The trend towards increasingly sophisticated malware behavior, highlighted by the use of exploits and other attack vectors, makes older platforms so much more susceptible to ransomware attacks. From June to November 2017, Windows 7 devices were 3.4 times more likely to encounter ransomware compared to Windows 10 devices.
Read our latest report: A worthy upgrade: Next-gen security on Windows 10 proves resilient against ransomware outbreaks in 2017.
Microsoft doesn’t recommend you pay the fine. There is no guarantee that paying the ransom will give you access to your files.
If you've already paid, see our ransomware page for help on what to do now.
Run antivirus or antimalware software
The following free Microsoft software detects and removes this threat:
- Windows Defender for Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, or Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7 and Windows Vista
- Microsoft Safety Scanner
Even if we've already detected and removed this particular threat, running a full scan might find other malware that is hiding on your PC.
Advanced troubleshooting
To restore your PC, you might need to download and run Windows Defender Offline. See our advanced troubleshooting page for more help.
You can also ask for help from other PC users at the Microsoft virus and malware community.
If you’re using Windows XP, see our Windows XP end of support page.
