Remove MARS ransomware And Decrypt Locked Files

Proper Guide To Delete MARS ransomware

MARS ransomware is a very dangerous file-encrypting virus that was first spotted by security expert Michael Gillespie. As soon as this hazardous ransomware infiltrates the Windows computers, it encrypts important files and documents stored inside the machines and then forces its victims to pay the attackers an amount of ransom in exchange for the decryption tools. It uses a sophisticated cryptography to lock the targeted data and makes them completely inaccessible or unusable. This deadly crypto-malware renames the compromised files by appending “.mars” extension with each of them as suffix and hence, they can easily be identified.

Depth Analysis of MARS ransomware:

MARS ransomware encrypts files of multiple formats such as accdb, doc, docx, dwg, psd, dbf, ppt, pptx, pdf, odt, ods, fpt, php, cdr, mdb, xls, xlsx. After completing the encryption process, this deadly malware leaves a ransom note titled “!!!MARS_DECRYPT.TXT” on each affected folder and informs victims about the unpleasant situation. The text file states that all your files have been encrypted and to regain access to them, you need to purchase the decryption software from the attackers. The cost of the tool is $500 that has to be paid in BitCoins cryptocurrency.

MARS ransomware authors also offer to decrypt 3 encrypted files for free that have to be sent via the email, to prove that the decryption is possible. The mail should also include unique ID. Hackers promise that once the payment is made, they will send the required decryptor and instructions on how to use it. The text file also states that if victims can’t contact the attackers via the provided email addresses, then they can establish contact via Telegram by contacting mars_dec.

Should You Pay The Ransom?

Unfortunately, there is no any method to open the files locked by MARS ransomware other than using the proper decryption tool. Due to this, many victimized users agree to deal with the cyber criminals but often end up with losing both files as well as money. Once thing all ransomware affected people should remember that the only motive of such hackers is to extort illicit profits from the novice users. There is absolutely no guarantee that attackers will deliver the required decryption tools even if the ransom is paid.

What Should The Victims Do?

For victimized people, the first thing they need to do here is to perform MARS ransomware removal from the work-station immediately. As far as restoring the infected files is concerned, you should use a recently made backup that you have saved on any external drive. However, if you don’t have an appropriate backup, then you can try an effective file-recovery application. Paying ransom to such people is never recommended as it has been their tendency that they often ignore the victims after taking the demanded fee.

Threat Details

Name: MARS ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus, File-encrypting malware

Short Description: Precarious virus that encrypts users’ crucial files and then asks them to pay the attackers an amount of ransom to get the decryption software/key.

Extension:  “.mars”

Ransom Demanding Notes: “!!!MARS_DECRYPT.TXT”

Ransom size: $500 in Bitcoins

Attackers’ contact: [email protected], [email protected], mars_dec (Telegram)

Symptoms: Encrypted files become inaccessible and useless stored inside the compromised PCs, previous functional data now have different extension, A ransom demanding message is left on each affected folder. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: Spam emails, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

Ways To Spread MARS ransomware:

Similar to other hazardous threats of same type, this particular one also usually infiltrates the targeted systems via email spam. Cyber criminals create persuasive email messages and send them out to thousands of users. Such deceptive mails generally recommend seeing “an important attachment” such as invoice, missing or pending tax payment and so on. Recipients are convinced to see the attached contents, fill some details in and answer to the sender quickly.

However, the moment users open the document and enables editing, the malicious script triggers to infect the whole computer system in an irretrievable way. And therefore, you should avoid opening emails coming from unknown senders as you never know what they are bringing to your work-station. In case your device is already infected with this crypto-malware, you must remove MARS ransomware from the machine without wasting any time.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

All your files have been encrypted with MARS Virus.

Your unique id: –

Our virus encrypted 231 of your office files (xls, xlsx, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, odt, ods, pdf, dwg, psd, dbf, fpt, php, cdr, mdb, accdb).

You can buy decryption for 500$ in Bitcoins.

But before you pay, you can make sure that we can really decrypt any of your files.

The encryption key and ID are unique to your computer, so you are guaranteed to be able to return your files.

To do this:

1) Send your unique id – and max 3 files for test decryption to [email protected] or [email protected]

2) After decryption, we will send you the decrypted files and a unique bitcoin wallet for payment.

3) Be careful! Fakes are possible in Telegram, never pay until you receive test files after decryption!

4) After payment ransom for Bitcoin, we will send you a decryption program and instructions. If we can decrypt your files, we have no reason to deceive you after payment.

or do this(If you have not received a reply by email):

1) Download and install Telegram Messanger: hxxps://desktop.telegram.org/ (for Windows, Linux, macOS)

2) Find user mars_dec

3) Send your unique id – and max 3 files for test decryption.

4) After decryption, we will send you the decrypted files and a unique bitcoin wallet for payment.

5) Be careful! Fakes are possible in Telegram, never pay until you receive test files after decryption!

6) After payment ransom for Bitcoin, we will send you a decryption program and instructions. If we can decrypt your files, we have no reason to deceive you after payment.

FAQ:

Can I get a discount?

    No. The ransom amount is calculated based on the number of encrypted office files and discounts are not provided. All such messages will be automatically ignored.

What is Bitcoin?

    read bitcoin.org

Where to buy bitcoins?

    hxxps://bitcoin.org/en/buy

    hxxps://buy.moonpay.io

    or use google.com

Where is the guarantee that I will receive my files back?

    The very fact that we can decrypt your random files is a guarantee. It makes no sense for us to deceive you.

How quickly will I receive the key and decryption program after payment?

    As a rule, within a few hours, but very rarely there may be a delay of 1-2 days.

How does the decryption program work?

    It’s simple. You need to copy the key and select a folder to decrypt. The program will automatically decrypt all encrypted files in this folder and its subfolders.

I will complain about your Telegram account and mailbox’s..

    God help you. You won’t find us anyway. But many people will be deprived of any opportunity to recover their files.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete MARS ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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