Mind ransomware – a file-locking cyber threat which can also be called MindSystem
MindSystem ransomware - a cryptovirus which has been detected by numerous anti-virus vendors for more than a year.
Mind ransomware (alternatively known as MindSystem and MindSystem 2017 ransomware[1]) operates as a new file-encrypting threat capable of encoding data. According to the GUI, it does not seem to be created for commercial use, as it does not indicate ransom amount nor further information about data recovery. However, along with the source code, the developer also gives an encryption code which facilitates the entire encryption process. According to VirusTotal data, the main malware's file, MindSystemNotRansomWare.exe, is detected as TR/FileCoder.dhghw, Gen:Heur.MSIL.Krypt.4, Trojan.SuspectCRC, etc. The virus can also drop key.txt and file.txt files on the system. After the encryption, the malware is set to append .mind file extension.
Name
MindSystem ransomware
Type
Cryptovirus
Variant of
HiddenTear ransomware family
Detected as
TR/FileCoder.dhghw, Gen:Heur.MSIL.Krypt.4, etc.
Extension appended
.mind
Main dangers
Encrypts valuable files, makes its victims pay the ransom
Though the author indicates that the malware should be used only for educational purposes, it might turn out into the same case of HiddenTear which continues serving the misdeeds of cybercriminals even though it was created for the supposedly practical purpose as well.
At the moment, the activity of the ransomware is still low. After being detected in September 2017, it returned to the Internet community at the end of 2018. The ransomware code is also associated with xxxxs://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/2017/31/2/1501621309-ransomware.png domain. It is likely that it might disperse to other domains. If you think that you have visited one of these domains and let the malware infiltrate the system, remove MindSystem virus. FortectIntego or SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner will accelerate the process.
On the overall, the motive of creating this ransomware sparks doubts. Since the ransomware market is booming, especially with a hike in Locky(Lukitus) distribution, the veneer of “educational” malware might be only a diversion. Thus, it would be useful to prepare for further development. If you suspect any signs of the malware, proceed to Mind ransomware removal.
MindSystem ransomware virus is presented as the ransomware designed for educational purposes. Ways to get infected with the infection
The virus is likely to be distributed in spam emails. Pay attention to spam folders and avoid opening any attached files without verifying their authenticity. Malware developers tend to disguise under the name of official institutions to gain more credibility.
Some felons also shift to employing hacking tools such as RIG[2] exploit kit to facilitate the distribution campaign. In this case, mere vigilance will not be sufficient.
Install a security tool to eliminate to lower the risk of encountering this malware. In addition, be wary of shady browser extensions and tools promoted in dubious domains.
Delete Mind crypto-virus to unlock your files
Getting rid of crypto-malware from Windows is never a pleasant and quick procedure. However, you can speed it up MindSystem 2017 removal with the assistance of malware elimination tool. In case you are dealing with a modified version of the virtual threat, you might need to reboot the system in Safe Mode.
After that, you should be able to remove Mind virus. Below you will some suggestions how you can restore data in case you are dealing with full-fledged ransomware. Note that MindSystem crypto-virus might target every netizen, regardless of whether you reside in Denmark or Poland[3].
Compatible with Microsoft Windows
Compatible with macOS
What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Important! → Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
When your computer becomes active, start pressing 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 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 Advanced Startup section.
Click Restart now.
Select Troubleshoot.
Go to Advanced options.
Select Startup Settings.
Press Restart.
Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
Click on More details.
Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
Right-click and select Open file location.
Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
Go to Startup tab.
Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files Downloads Recycle Bin Temporary files
Pick Clean up system files.
You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData% %LocalAppData% %ProgramData% %WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
Remove Mind using System Restore
In case of dealing with a highly elaborate file-encrypting threat and Safe Mode does not grant you access to malware elimination utility, you might benefit from the system restore.
Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt Windows 7 / Vista / XP
Click Start→Shutdown→Restart→OK.
When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8
Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
Now select Troubleshoot→Advanced options→Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of Mind. After doing that, click Next.
Now click Yes to start system restore.
Once you restore your system to a previous date, download and scan your computer with FortectIntego and make sure that Mind removal is performed successfully.
Bonus: Recover your data
Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove Mind from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.
If your files are encrypted by Mind, you can use several methods to restore them:
Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by Mind ransomware;
Restore them.
The benefits of ShadowExplorer
In case you ran out of options, this software might be the only chance to recover encrypted files as it uses shadow volume copies automatically created by the operating system.
Follow a Shadow Explorer Setup Wizard and install this application on your computer;
Launch the program and go through the drop down menu on the top left corner to select the disk of your encrypted data. Check what folders are there;
Right-click on the folder you want to restore and select “Export”. You can also select where you want it to be stored.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Mind and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting ransomware
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable. Family photos, work documents, school projects – these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur: power cuts, Blue Screen of Death errors, hardware failures, crypto-malware attack, or even accidental deletion.
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
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