Remove Montana Ransomware And Restore Encrypted Files

Simple Steps To Delete Montana Ransomware

Montana Ransomware is a dangerous file-encrypting malware that encrypts images, videos, audios, databases, archives, documents, presentations and other common file types once getting into the Windows computers. The main purpose of the creators behind such lethal attack is to demand large amount of ransom for the alleged decryption tool. It’s a new variant of Montana Ransomware and often marks the encrypted data with “.montana” extension after successful encryption. Due to this weird extension, all the compromised files can be easily identified. Once the encryption process is completed this hazardous crypto-virus delivers a ransom note named “!HELP!.txt” into each affected folder and informs victims regarding the attack.

Depth Analysis of Montana Ransomware:

The text file displayed by Montana Ransomware states that all victims’ files have been encrypted and that some data were also exfiltrated (i.e. stolen). Users are then asked to purchase the decryption tools from the attackers to regain access to the compromised data. For more details, they need to contact the criminals via the promised email. Victims can also test the decryption for free by sending two locked files to the crooks. Hackers will decode them and send back to the users to prove that the decryption is possible.

Montana Ransomware also warns victims not to rename, modify, copy or move the encrypted files or attempt to decrypt them using any third-party software, as this might damage the files and remain them decrypted forever. The note also warns that if the affected people deny making the payment, the stolen files will be revealed. At the end, you might have to pay the criminals a ransom amount of $200 to $1500 in BitCoins cryptocurrency.

Text Presented In The Ransom Note:

Hello.

If you are reading this, it means your data is encrypted and your private sensivitive information was stolen!

Read carefully the whole instructions to avoid problems with your data.

You have to contact us immediately to resolve this issue and make a deal!

!!!WARNING!!!

DO NOT modify, rename, copy or move any file. You can DAMAGE them and decryption will be impossible!

DO NOT use any third-party or public decryption software, it also may DAMAGE files.

There is ONLY ONE possible way to get back your files.

Do not waste your time, contact us and pay for special DECRYPTION TOOL. The tool is all you need.

For your guarantee we can decrypt 2 of your text or image files for free, as a proof that it works.

Your network was fully COMPROMISED! We can discuss how to secure it as a bonus.

The data that we gathered could be published in MASS MEDIA for BREAKING NEWS!

If we make a deal everything would be kept in secret and all your data will be restored.

I could make them public them if you decide not to pay.

Contact us immediately:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Your Personal ID: –

Should You Pay The Ransom?

Most of the times, it is not possible to decrypt the locked files without using the decryption software. However, it’s not a good idea to deal with Montana Ransomware developers. Remember that such types of people only aim to swindle money from the victimized users. You have absolutely no guarantee that they will decode your files even if the ransom is paid. Moreover, paying ransom to such criminals will only encourage them to create and more such viruses for further revenues. So, never trust on the attackers under any circumstance.

Quick Glance

Name: Montana Ransomware

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

Short Description: Hazardous malware which encrypts users’ essential files and then forces them into paying the attackers an amount of ransom to get the decryption software/key.

Extension:  “.montana”

Ransom Demanding Note: “!HELP!.txt”

Attackers’ contact: [email protected] and [email protected]

Symptoms: Encrypted files become inaccessible stored inside the compromised devices, previous functional data now have different extension, A ransom demanding message is left on each affected folder. Victims are asked to pay an amount of ransom to get the functional decryptor and 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.

What Should The Victims Do?

The first thing any victimized user requires to do is to perform Montana Ransomware removal immediately. As far as restoring the compromised data is concerned, you can use Volume Shadow Copies (temporary backup made of by OS itself). However, some ransomware infections are able to delete the Volume Shadows that makes data-recovery even more complex. If this is the case here, you should use alternative methods such as backups or a powerful file-recovery application.

Ways To Spread Montana Ransomware:

These file-encoding viruses are mostly spread through spam campaigns during which, hundreds of malicious emails are sent. These mails include download links of spiteful files or direct contain malicious files which upon getting opened, run or executed, leads to the virus penetration. The attached file can be in multiple formats such as PDF and Microsoft Office documents, archives, executables, JavaScript, etc.

And therefore, it is highly important to ignore suspicious emails that you receive from senders whom you don’t know or you were not expected to receive. In case your device is already infected with this precarious malware, you must remove Montana Ransomware from the computer without wasting any time.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Montana Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Montana 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 Montana Ransomware using “System Restore”

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