How to remove Mhkwl Ransomware

Easy methods to delete Mhkwl Ransomware in Windows 10/8/7 computer

Mhkwl Ransomware is very dangerous file virus considered as Ransomware. This ransomware-type malware is made using very powerful encryption algorithm techniques by cybercriminals. It encrypts all formats of files including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other formats of files stored in your computer hard drive. In sort, you can’t open or access your personal files/locked files anymore due to its dubious behaviours. Initially, it blocks all security programs installed in your computer to avoid the malicious activities relating to this malware.

Mhkwl Ransomware modifies each file by adding a random character string, and ‘.mhkwl’ File Extension. For example, it renames ‘1.png’ filename to ‘1.png.MGYVknZZsa7hqdl43-xdVkSFmdjfkdbL7swJ71pRZb7_1nJ97Sb9nos0.mhkwl’. After encryption process is finished, ‘etrU_HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt’ text files as ransom notes are dropped onto your computer’s desktop. The ransom note contains the information about this ransomware, how you can recover/decrypt your locked files, cybercriminals’ email ID, and ransom money details as well. The text presented in ransom note states that all formats of files stored in your computer hard drive and requires paying certain amount of ransom money to decrypt your locked files.

According to attackers behind this ransomware, you need to pay certain amount of ransom money to decrypt your locked files and for this, you need to establish the contact with cybercriminals behind this ransomware via provided email address. It claims that in order to remove this ransomware, renames locked files manually, or use third-party decryption software, then you will lose your all personal files or locked files permanently. As proof that they have right decryption keys/software, they can provide some free decryption service for some locked files and can ask you to send 2-3 locked files to provided email ID.

After free decryption service is successful, they force you to pay certain extortion money to decrypt your all locked files. Keep in mind that they are not going to recover your locked files even when ransom money is paid. Paying ransom money may lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, or identity theft. If you really want to recover your locked files, then you should at first try to find and remove Mhkwl Ransomware related files in computer completely. After malware or ransomware removal, you can go to data recovery solution to restore your locked files or data.

How did you get Mhkwl Ransomware in Windows computer?

Ransomware-type malware is distributed through spam email campaign or malspam campaign. Scammers or malware programmers send spam emails in your mailbox which contain some messages along with suspicious hyperlinks or attachments. They use ‘Urgent’, ‘official’, ‘priority’ or other similar keywords in subject/title of emails as proof that they are genuine senders. The attachments can be Microsoft Office Documents, PDF, RAR, JavaScript or other formats of files. Once opened, it executes certain codes/scripts to infect your computer with malware or viruses. For example, Microsoft Office Documents as malicious attachments infect your computer by enabling malicious macro commands.

How to protect your system against Ransomware-type malware?

It is strongly recommended you not to open any attachments or hyperlinks presented in spam emails. Any applications must not be downloaded, installed or purchase from unofficial/unsafe websites, fake software downloaders, installers or updaters and other third-party sources. You should keep up-to-date your operating system and all other software installed in your computer, and run regular system scan for malware or viruses in computer with latest updated powerful antivirus software that could help you to find and remove all types of malware in computer.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

Your network has been breached and all data were encrypted.

Personal data, financial reports and important documents are ready to disclose.

To decrypt all the data and to prevent exfiltrated files to be disclosed at

hxxp://hiveleakdbtnp76ulyhi52eag6c6tyc3xw7ez7iqy6wc34gd2nekazyd.onion/

you will need to purchase our decryption software.

Please contact our sales department at:

hxxp://hivecust6vhekztbqgdnkks64ucehqacge3dij3gyrrpdp57zoq3ooqd.onion/

Login:    –

Password: –

To get an access to .onion websites download and install Tor Browser at:

hxxps://www.torproject.org/ (Tor Browser is not related to us)

Follow the guidelines below to avoid losing your data:

– Do not modify, rename or delete *.key.mhkwl files. Your data will be

undecryptable.

– Do not modify or rename encrypted files. You will lose them.

– Do not report to the Police, FBI, etc. They don’t care about your business.

They simply won’t allow you to pay. As a result you will lose everything.

– Do not hire a recovery company. They can’t decrypt without the key.

They also don’t care about your business. They believe that they are

good negotiators, but it is not. They usually fail. So speak for yourself.

– Do not reject to purchase. Exfiltrated files will be publicly disclosed.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove Mhkwl Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete Mhkwl Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Mhkwl Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete Mhkwl Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Mhkwl Ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to Mhkwl Ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove Mhkwl Ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of Mhkwl Ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by Mhkwl Ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like Mhkwl Ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by Mhkwl Ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with Mhkwl Ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove Mhkwl Ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.