Mallox ransomware (virus) - Free Guide
Mallox virus Removal Guide
What is Mallox ransomware?
Mallox ransomware blocks access to all personal files and then demands the payment for reverting the process
Ransomware can be stopped by security software before it manages to encrypt files
Ransomware is a type of malware that is used for money extortion thanks to its ability to encrypt all personal files on the targeted Windows machine. In the past decade, it has been one of the most prevalent and lucrative illegal businesses in the cybercrime scene. Attackers increasingly target medium to large organizations and businesses, which was enforced even further by a coronavirus pandemic. Likewise, new strains that focus on home users appear almost daily.
Mallox ransomware showed up in late October 2021, with its main target being personal Windows computers, meaning that the operations are on the lower scale, at least for now. Just like any other malware of this type, it gains access to users' computers in stealthy ways and begins changing the system immediately.
Soon after the infection begins, the ransomware then applies a sophisticated encryption algorithm[1] to lock all documents, databases, pictures, and other personal files on the device, appending .mallox extension in the process. When it comes to data encryption, there are two aspects that should be noted:
- Files are not damaged or corrupted but locked under a complex password
- The virus does not touch certain directories or files, mainly executables, and everything that is needed by Windows to boot and run.
As soon as the data-locking process is finished, the malware then delivers the ransom note – a text file titled “RECOVERY INFORMATION.txt.” In the note, the attackers claim that the only way to restore files is to pay for a decryptor and recommend users contact them via mallox.israel@mailfence.com or mallox@tutanota.com emails.
We strongly advise you not to pay the ransom, as there is no guarantee you retrieve access to your files. Instead, check all the information below, as we provide alternative methods that could help you recover at least some of your data without paying and risking losing your money.
Name | Mallox ransomware |
---|---|
Type | Ransomware, file-locking virus |
File extension | .Mallox, appended to each of the personal files on the infected computer |
Ransom note | RECOVERY INFORMATION.txt |
Contact | mallox.israel@mailfence.com, mallox@tutanota.com |
File Recovery | If no backups are available, recovering data is almost impossible. However, we suggest you try the alternative methods that could help you in some cases – we list them below |
Malware removal | Perform a full system scan with powerful security software, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner |
System fix | Malware can seriously tamper with Windows systems, causing errors, crashes, lag, and other stability issues after it is terminated. To remediate the OS and avoid its reinstallation, we recommend scanning it with the FortectIntego repair tool |
The ransom note analysis
A ransom note is one of the main components of a ransomware scheme. It informs users about what happened to their files and what they can do to retrieve them. Almost all file-locking malware authors use a ransom note to communicate with their victims. Otherwise, the payment simply can't be made, and it serves as a loss for hackers. The Mallox virus delivers the following message:
YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!
TO DECRYPT, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS:
To recover data you need decrypt tool.
To get the decrypt tool you should:
1.In the letter include your personal ID! Send me this ID in your first email to me!
2.We can give you free test for decrypt few files (NOT VALUE) and assign the price for decryption all files!
3.After we send you instruction how to pay for decrypt tool and after payment you will receive a decryption tool!
4.We can decrypt few files in quality the evidence that we have the decoder.CONTACT US:
mallox.israel@mailfence.com
mallox@tutanota.comYOUR PERSONAL ID:
The note does not differ much from other malware strains, such as Rivd or CryptoJoker 2021. It is typical for the attackers to offer an allegedly free test decryption service, which is meant to prove that the decryption is possible. In other words, crooks are trying to gain users' trust, increasing the chances of them paying the ransom.
Ransomware authors provide a ransom note to ensure that victims contact them via the provided emails
However, keep in mind that ransomware authors are not your friends, and they don't really care for you or your files (they illegally encrypted your data in the first place!). Therefore, you should dismiss all the requests to contact them and instead use the alternative solutions we provide below. You should start with Mallox virus removal and only then proceed with data recovery options.
Using security software to remove Mallox ransomware
Ransomware is among the most devastating computer infections, be it for home users or corporations. Not only can they hold files hostage, but they also compromise the security of the infected machine. Likewise, cybercriminals might employ additional modules to secretly steal personal data in the background as long as the malware is running.
One of the common traits of ransomware is that it often self-deletes after the job of file encryption is complete. Thus, even if you might not find ransomware infection, there could be plenty of malicious files, modules, processes, components, or even other malware running in the background. For that reason, you should always start with a computer scan with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes security software.
Before you proceed, it is important to note that malware can spread to other computers connected to the same network or LAN, so it is vital to immediately disconnect the infected PC from the internet. You can simply pull out the Ethernet cable or disconnect from WiFi by right-clicking the internet icon in the taskbar. Only then proceed with the virus elimination. If your security software is being blocked in normal mode, access Safe Mode as explained below.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing the F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. – it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on the Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find the Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Click Restart.
- Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Note that all sorts of computer problems might arise after the virus is eliminated. Since new ransomware is commonly riddled with bugs or other issues, it might damage or even destroy certain Windows components and settings. As a result, you might experience crashes, failure to load files/programs, BSODs, errors, and other issues.
To avoid reinstalling the whole operating system, we strongly recommend employing PC repair software FortectIntego. It can replace the damaged system files with brand new ones with the help of its unique reconstruction capabilities without having to reinstall the OS. Likewise, the app can also help you clean the system from useless files, protect your privacy, and get rid of the most common Windows problems that arise due to other reasons.
Making encrypted file backups
Companies and businesses have procedures for keeping file backups, hence this feature of ransomware is relatively harmless to those entities (although cybercriminals are now stealing classified company information before deploying the ransomware).[2] Unfortunately, regular computer users, especially those who get infected with ransomware for the very first time, rarely have file backups available.
Therefore, before you proceed with the next step, you should make backups of your encrypted files. Simply insert a USB stick or other storage device and copy the field over. You can also use cloud storage such as OneDrive or Google Drive. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this at the very bottom of this post. Note that this step is necessary in order to avoid file corruption when attempting to restore them using the methods provided in the next section.
File recovery process
There is a lot of misunderstanding about how ransomware works from those affected. Most users who get infected with ransomware actually have never even heard of it before. Those who do, usually know very little about it as well, although file encryption is a very distinct feature of this malware type.
Some users believe that their files have been damaged in some kind of way, mainly because they can no longer be opened, and they are also stripped of their normal icons. However, this is not true, at least in most cases. A sophisticated encryption algorithm uses a randomly-generated alphanumeric key that is used to lock every personal file on the system. Cybercriminals hold that key and obviously aren't willing to provide it for free.
In other cases, people believe that their files will turn back to normal as soon as they perform a full system scan with anti-malware software. This is also not correct, as security software is simply not designed for that. Although, it is important to point out that anti-malware should always be used to remove the infection from the system regardless.
With all that being said, if you have no working file backups you created before, the chances of restoring the encrypted data successfully are rather slim. Nonetheless, we strongly advise following these steps instead of doing business with cybercriminals. If you do, you risk losing your money in addition to files, so be warned.
1. Use data recovery software
- Download Data Recovery Pro.
- Double-click the installer to launch it.
- Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
- As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
- Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
- Press Next.
- At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
- Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
- You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
- Press Recover to retrieve your files.
2. Wait for a decryption tool
Mallox is a new ransomware strain, which means that there is no free decryption tool for the public available. However, cybercriminals who are new in the scene commonly make mistakes when building ransomware, and security experts can make use of this flaw, creating a free decryptor. In other cases, cybercriminals' servers might be captured by the law authorities[3] and the keys released. Follow these links and look for a decryption tool:
- No More Ransom Project
- Free Ransomware Decryptors by Kaspersky
- Free Ransomware Decryption Tools from Emsisoft
- Avast decryptors
To protect yourself from further infections of ransomware, always keep your files on backups, and never ignore the warnings of your security software, which should be running in the background at all times. Below you will also find instructions on how to report the incident to the authorities.
Getting rid of Mallox virus. Follow these steps
Create data backups to avoid file loss in the future
One of the many countermeasures for home users against ransomware is data backups. Even if your Windows get corrupted, you can reinstall everything from scratch and retrieve files from backups with minimal losses overall. Most importantly, you would not have to pay cybercriminals and risk your money as well.
Therefore, if you have already dealt with a ransomware attack, we strongly advise you to prepare backups for future use. There are two options available to you:
- Backup on a physical external drive, such as a USB flash drive or external HDD.
- Use cloud storage services.
The first method is not that convenient, however, as backups need to constantly be updated manually – although it is very reliable. Therefore, we highly advise choosing cloud storage instead – it is easy to set up and efficient to sustain. The problem with it is that storage space is limited unless you want to pay for the subscription.
Using Microsoft OneDrive
OneDrive is a built-in tool that comes with every modern Windows version. By default, you get 5 GB of storage that you can use for free. You can increase that storage space, but for a price. Here's how to setup backups for OneDrive:
- Click on the OneDrive icon within your system tray.
- Select Help & Settings > Settings.
- If you don't see your email under the Account tab, you should click Add an account and proceed with the on-screen instructions to set yourself up.
- Once done, move to the Backup tab and click Manage backup.
- Select Desktop, Documents, and Pictures, or a combination of whichever folders you want to backup.
- Press Start backup.
After this, all the files that are imported into the above-mentioned folders will be automatically backed for you. If you want to add other folders or files, you have to do that manually. For that, open File Explorer by pressing Win + E on your keyboard, and then click on the OneDrive icon. You should drag and drop folders you want to backup (or you can use Copy/Paste as well).
Using Google Drive
Google Drive is another great solution for free backups. The good news is that you get as much as 15GB for free by choosing this storage. There are also paid versions available, with significantly more storage to choose from.
You can access Google Drive via the web browser or use a desktop app you can download on the official website. If you want your files to be synced automatically, you will have to download the app, however.
- Download the Google Drive app installer and click on it.
- Wait a few seconds for it to be installed.
- Now click the arrow within your system tray – you should see Google Drive icon there, click it once.
- Click Get Started.
- Enter all the required information – your email/phone, and password.
- Now pick what you want to sync and backup. You can click on Choose Folder to add additional folders to the list.
- Once done, pick Next.
- Now you can select to sync items to be visible on your computer.
- Finally, press Start and wait till the sync is complete. Your files are now being backed up.
Report the incident to your local authorities
Ransomware is a huge business that is highly illegal, and authorities are very involved in catching malware operators. To have increased chances of identifying the culprits, the agencies need information. Therefore, by reporting the crime, you could help with stopping the cybercriminal activities and catching the threat actors. Make sure you include all the possible details, including how did you notice the attack, when it happened, etc. Additionally, providing documents such as ransom notes, examples of encrypted files, or malware executables would also be beneficial.
Law enforcement agencies typically deal with online fraud and cybercrime, although it depends on where you live. Here is the list of local authority groups that handle incidents like ransomware attacks, sorted by country:
- USA – Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3
- United Kingdom – ActionFraud
- Canada – Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Australia – ScamWatch
- New Zealand – ConsumerProtection
- Germany – Polizei
- France – Ministère de l'Intérieur
If your country is not listed above, you should contact the local police department or communications center.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Mallox and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting ransomware
Protect your privacy – employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
- ^ Encryption Algorithm. Techopedia. Professional IT insight.
- ^ Merrill Warkentin. Ransomware, data breach, cyberattack: What do they have to do with your personal information, and how worried should you be?. The Conversation. Research-based publications.
- ^ Joseph Menn and Christopher Bing. Governments turn tables on ransomware gang REvil by pushing it offline. Reuters. Breaking International News & Views.