How to remove Montserrat ransomware

Montserrat ransomware – dangerous malware that adds the .encrypted backup appendix to each locked component

Montserrat ransomware, also known as BaCkUp ransomware, is a newly-released cyber threat that uses both an appendix and file marker to sign encrypted files and documents. The main targets are English-speaking users that employ Windows machines for their computing work. The stealth infiltration begins with a spam message or software crack. After opening such content, Montserrat virus ends up on the machine and starts modifying registries. The malware also brings the Backup.exe executable to the system which allows the parasite to fulfill its module. This leads to the secret encryption of various files and all data ends up with the .encrypted_backup appendix and the .BaCkUp file marker. Afterward, the cyber threat provides the How to the restore data.html message where the crooks' demands are expressed. These people require to write them via montserrat501@protonmail.com or montserrat501@airmail.cc email addresses and offer to send a file that holds no larger of size than 10 MB to receive evidence that the decryption software truly exists.

Montserrat ransomware is detected by 46 AV engines at the time of writing. According to VirusTotal file detection information,^[1] some of the detection names include Trojan.GenericKD.42093054, Win32:RansomX-gen [Ransom],  Trojan.Win32.Zudochka.dtd, Ransom.Montserrat, Trojan.Encoder.30337, Trojan.TR/FileCoder.ofeiy, and others.

Montserrat ransomware does not provide any particular ransom demands via the ransom message, however, the criminals are most likely to urge for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (the most popular one), Litecoin, Monero, or Ethereum as these types of transfers ensure the anonymity of the entire process. Take a peek how to the ransom note looks like:

Your data has been encrypted!
To restore it, contact us using the following e-mail:
montserrat501@protonmail.com
If you didn’t get a response in 24 hours, write to:
montserrat501@airmail.cc
You must include the following ID information in your message:
[Redacted] To prove that we are able to restore your files, you can attach a single encrypted file not larger than 10MB.
It will be decrypted and sent back to you.
Any modification of encrypted files will lead to irrecoverable data loss!

Montserrat ransomware uses an AES encryption cipher^[2] to lock up all components that are found on the computer. The malware targets files such as databases, images, audio, video, excel sheets, word documents, powerpoints, and similar data. After the locking, both encryption and decryption keys are safely stored on remote servers.

Montserrat ransomware developers might try to harden the decryption process for you. They might have included a specific module into the ransomware that allows it to execute PowerShell commands and eliminate the Shadow Volume Copies of all encrypted files. This way the chances of decrypting data independently lessen.

Furthermore, Montserrat ransomware might hold other commands and modify locations such as the Windows Registry and Task Manager for carrying out its activities. Sometimes, this type of malware ensures that the system will be scanned for encryptable files and documents once in a while, for example, half an hour.

Continuously, Montserrat ransomware will make sure that it is loaded every time when you boot your Windows computer system, it might end up disabling some antivirus software and modifying the Windows hosts file. The last activity is carried out to prevent you from visiting security-related websites where you might get valuable information on the virus's removal.

In addition, Montserrat ransomware can bring other malicious products to the system, this way you will have to different types of malware operating on your machine at once. The risk of system and software damage will definitely increase if your computer system receives such type of infection as a Trojan virus.

The only way to avoid such risk is to remove Montserrat ransomware from your Windows computer system by employing reliable software. However, if the ransomware virus has already managed to bring other threats into your machine, they will need to be eliminated too. If some damage was caused to your computer, try using FortectIntego to repair it.

If your antimalware is somehow failing to detect the ransomware or you have run into difficulties while performing the  Montserrat ransomware removal process, you should boot your machine in Safe Mode with Networking or activate System Restore. We have provided some instructing steps on these two methods, take a look at the end of this article.

One more tip from our side would be not to pay the Montserrat ransomware cybercriminals as you can easily get scammed. These people might urge for a big price between $200 and $2000 in Bitcoin or another type of cryptocurrency that you will not receive back. Instead of risking in your money, go to the end of this page and find some alternative data recovery tips.

Ransomware often gets delivered via cracked software and email spam

Cybersecurity experts from LosVirus.es^[3] claim that ransomware virus ends up on the system by using multiple deceptive techniques. However, the most commonly used infiltration methods are the following ones:

• Email spam. When the malware gets delivered via phishing email messages and their clipped attachments/links included. The criminals pretend to be from reliable shipping organizations such as FedEx or from other well-known firms/institutions that are related to banking, healthcare, education.
• Software cracks. A big variety of illegitimate products and services are distributed on peer-to-peer networks^[4] such as The Pirate Bay, eMule, and BitTorrent. These websites have weak protection and crooks can easily misuse them for their malicious purposes.
• Fake software updates. Some ransomware infections are spread via fake JavaScript, Adobe Flash Player, or other types of updates. The updating windows might pop up whenever visiting an unsecured source and start encouraging you to download a particular upgrade for your outdated software.

These are just the most popular techniques that are used for spreading ransomware but there, of course, are many more of them, for example, exploit kits, malvertising, malicious links, PUPs, etc. The best way to protect yourself is to take all security measures seriously. You should be careful with all the emails that you receive and always identify the sender.

If the email message comes with suspicious attachments, links, or a lot of grammar mistakes included, you should delete the message right away. Continuously, do not download software from unreliable sources such as p2p networks. Get all of your products from original developers and avoid installing malware via software cracks.

Continuously, do not download any unknown updates. If you have been randomly provided with an upgrade, you should check the app's official website and look for pending updates there. Last but not least, always have an active antivirus tool that will inform you if something potentially malicious is trying to invade your computer system.

The removal process of Montserrat ransomware

Montserrat ransomware removal is a process that should be completed with big care and requires a lot of effort. You should not try to eliminate the malware without using antimalware help. Manual elimination is not a possibility in this case and you might easily fail while trying to get rid of the cyber threat on your own.

Continuously, the automatical system software is more capable to remove Montserrat ransomware from all infected locations on the computer. The program will scan the entire machine and search all potentially affected directories. Afterward, the automatical program will be able to deal with the cyber threat safely and effectively.

When Montserrat ransomware is gone, it is time to search for system damage. You can employ software such as SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes and perform a full machine checkup process with these programs. When the scan results show which locations have been damaged, you can try fixing them by employing another tool such as FortectIntego.