Before starting, it is important to understand what types of ransomware exist and what exactly .MOLE ransomware is. Two main types of ransomware are in circulation. The more common one is crypto Ransomware like MOLE , which is set to encrypt personal files and data. The other is known as locker ransomware, and it aims to lock a computer and prevent any user access. No matter which type infects a computer system, in the end, all of them demand a ransom to be paid to get your files back, or PC unlocked.
MOLE Ransomware – How Does It Enter Your PC?
Much like Locky, MOLE sneaks into users’ computers via spam emails containing a compromised JavaScript file. Upon opening, the virus downloads to the computer and the infection begins. Similarly to other ransomware infections, the process of encryption occurs quietly in the background so the victim has no way of detecting it until the process is complete and it’s too late to take precaution.
What Is the Purpose of MOLE Ransomware
Ever since 2013, ransomware has been using the Bitcoin currency as a payment system. That started when the CryptoLocker ransomware utilized Bitcoin as a secondary payment method. The efficiency of this cryptographic virus was huge, and it was due several things. One of them was its rapid spread on a massive scale using an already existing botnet – GameOver Zeus. The payload file was placed as email attachments and targeted companies and businesses. The encryption was highly sophisticated – it used AES 256-bit algorithm to encrypt files with a specific extension, then a 2048-bit RSA key to encrypt the AES one. That key was sent to command-and-control servers, established on the Tor network. It demanded $300 as payment.
It is terrible that a Bitcoin payment service, like the one used by MOLE hosted on a Tor network is virtually untraceable, but the worst part is that ransomware is now served on a daily basis and shows no signs of stopping. The good thing is that it inspired security specialists to enhance their security programs and develop anti-ransomware tools.
Once you have clicked a compromised file containing MOLE , it enters your system and gets activated just like its predecessor. It will then scan your whole system to look for files with the following extensions to encrypt them. The files targeted by the virus are the following file types:
- Document
- Pictures
- Audio
- Video
- Database
- Adobe Reader, PDF
- VMware, Photoshop
- Microsoft Office files
MOLE Ransomware – How to Remove It
If you have been attacked by MOLE virus, you must first remove it from your system. To do that, make sure you use a powerful anti-malware tool that will scan your computer and clean the malicious components from it. Only then you can try to restore some of your files via file recovery tools. It’s no lie that once the files have been scrambled by a ransomware infection from the rank of Zepto, Locky, Cerber, etc., it’s almost impossible to restore any of them. Paying the cyber crooks in an exchange for a decryption key, however, is also not the solution since the virus remains in your system and could strike back any time.
Paying the cyber crooks only encourages them to spread the infection. Instead, we suggest that you use a powerful anti-malware tool that will scan your system, detect the virus and remove it permanently from your system. Once this ransomware is fully removed from your PC, you can try to recover some of you files via file recovery tools, like the ones in the instructions below.
Remove MOLE Ransomware Fully and Restore Your Files
For the removal of this ransomware virus, recommendations are to use the instructions we have provided below. For fastest and most efficient removal however, you may want to download and scan your computer with an advanced anti-malware program. It will make sure to protect you in the future as well.
Booting in Safe Mode
For Windows:
1) Hold Windows Key and R
2) A run Window will appear, in it type “msconfig” and hit Enter
3) After the Window appears go to the Boot tab and select Safe Boot
Cut out MOLE in Task Manager
1) Press CTRL+ESC+SHIFT at the same time.
2) Locate the “Processes” tab.
3) Locate the malicious process of MOLE, and end it’s task by right-clicking on it and clicking on “End Process”
Eliminate MOLE‘s Malicious Registries
For most Windows variants:
1) Hold Windows Button and R.
2) In the “Run” box type “Regedit” and hit “Enter”.
3) Hold CTRL+F keys and type MOLE or the file name of the malicious executable of the virus which is usually located in %AppData%, %Temp%, %Local%, %Roaming% or %SystemDrive%.
4) After having located malicious registry objects, some of which are usually in the Run and RunOnce subkeys delete them ermanently and restart your computer. Here is how to find and delete keys for different versions.
For Windows 7: Open the Start Menu and in the search type and type regedit –> Open it. –> Hold CTRL + F buttons –> Type MOLE Virus in the search field.
Win 8/10 users: Start Button –> Choose Run –> type regedit –> Hit Enter -> Press CTRL + F buttons. Type MOLE in the search field.
Automatic Removal of MOLE
Recover files encrypted by the MOLE Ransomware.
Method 1: Using Shadow Explorer. In case you have enabled File history on your Windows Machine one thing you can do is to use Shadow Explorer to get your files back. Unfortunately some ransomware viruses may delete those shadow volume copies with an administrative command to prevent you from doing just that.
Method 2: If you try to decrypt your files using third-party decryption tools. There are many antivirus providers who have decrypted multiple ransomware viruses the last couple of years and posted decryptors for them. Chances are if your ransomware virus uses the same encryption code used by a decryptable virus, you may get the files back. However, this is also not a guarantee, so you might want to try this method with copies of the original encrypted files, because if a third-party program tampers with their encrypted structure, they may be damaged permanently. Here are the vendors to look for:
- Kaspersky.
- Emsisoft.
- TrendMicro.
Method 3: Using Data Recovery tools. This method is suggested by multiple experts in the field. It can be used to scan your hard drive’s sectors and hence scramble the encrypted files anew as if they were deleted. Most ransomware viruses usually delete a file and create an encrypted copy to prevent such programs for restoring the files, but not all are this sophisticated. So you may have a chance of restoring some of your files with this method. Here are several data recovery programs which you can try and restore at least some of your files: