How to remove MUST ransomware & restore infected data

Complete guidelines to delete MUST ransomware

MUST ransomware is malicious computer infection that has the ability to invade into all versions of Windows OS including recent version Windows 10. The main purpose of this virus is to locks down all useful files and demands ransom money to get return all files. It mostly targets all kinds of system files including Word, Excel, Image, Pictures, Presentations and so on. During encryption process, it renames all encrypted files by appending .MUST extension together with victim’s ID and developers email address to each and every encrypted file. By doing this, the virus makes all files inaccessible.

Short summary

Name- MUST ransomware

Type- Ransomware, Crypto-virus, File-lockers

Family- Dharma ransomware

Encrypted files extension- .MUST

Description- Destructive malware that aims to encrypt users’ crucial files and then ask them to pay off for the decryption key.

Ransom Note- Text presented in the pop-up window and FILES ENCRYPTED.txt  

Attackers’ Contact- [email protected]  

Symptoms- All of your important files and data are locked and can’t be opened without using a private key.

Distribution-Spam email campaigns, Executable files etc.

Damage- Causes permanent data loss and can also drop other pernicious infections onto the compromised device.

Removal- Both manual and automatic guidelines as provided under this article.

Complete details about MUST ransomware:

Once the locking process is completed, MUST ransomware displays ransom demanding message in a pop-up window and FILES ENCRYPTED.txt text file. The created text file states victims that all their files are encrypted and in order to recover it you must need to contact to the provided email addresses. Furthermore, users are also informed victims that if they did not receive response from the cyber criminals within 12 hours then they can use secondary email address. Once contacted, they often ask you to pay money as soon as possible.

No info or ransom size or preferred payment method is disclosed but MUST ransomware developers might demands sums up to thousands of dollars. The note ends with warnings which threaten victims not to rename encrypted files using third party software or decrypt files manually as it might results into permanent data loss. Although paying the criminals to regain locked files might seem like the easiest way but this malicious threat thinks different.

Should I pay the ransom?

Research says that the hackers often ignore victims once the payment is done. They don’t fulfill their promises and disappear without providing the decryption key. So there is no need to deal with the crooks as their only motive is to extort revenues from innocent PC users. Sometimes, MUST ransomware developers give fake key that only hurts the computer instead of decoding the files. Giving ransom to the hackers is not a wise thing to do in any circumstance. You might end up with losing both data as well as money.

How to retrieve the files back?

By going through the above mentioned details, it is advised to remove this deadly virus immediately from computer without wasting any time. The longer it stays inside, it keeps messing up important files and running the computer rapidly. Apart from encrypting, it also deletes the files which cannot be restored even with a decryption key. So, remove MUST ransomware quickly from the machine and then restore the infected files through backup or recovery tool.

Distribution methods of MUST ransomware:

Ransomware and other type of viruses mostly distributed through spam email campaigns, fake software updaters, untrustworthy software download sources and Trojans. Trojans are the virus that is designed only for the motive to distribute other malware. Fake software updating tools infect system by exposing software flaws/bugs or directly download/install malware instead of providing any update. Last but not the least, spam email campaigns are used to deliver deceptive emails containing malicious attachments. Such an attachment typically includes files or links added with malicious scripts that initiates scripts for malware, once clicked and causes infections.

Text presented in MUST ransomware’s pop-up window:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED
Don’t worry,you can return all your files!
If you want to restore them, follow this link:email [email protected] YOUR ID –
If you have not been answered via the link within 12 hours, write to us by e-mail:[email protected]
Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove MUST ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete MUST ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove MUST 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 MUST ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with MUST 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 MUST 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 MUST 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 MUST 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 MUST 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 MUST 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 MUST 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 MUST 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 MUST 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.