MoonCryptor ransomware / virus (Free Guide) - Quick Decryption Solution

MoonCryptor virus Removal Guide

What is MoonCryptor ransomware virus?

MoonCryptor threatens to delete files if victims don’t hurry up with ransom payment

Ransom note by MoonCryptor

MoonCryptor is a crypto-malware that uses a combination of AES 256 and RSA 1024 ciphers to take user’s files to hostage. Ransomware[1] appends .fmoon file extension to the targeted files and gives five days for paying the ransom.

The threatening part of the ransomware is that it claims to start deleting random files if the ransom isn't paid within 20 minutes. Therefore, we recommend rushing with MoonCryptor removal just to make sure that you do not lose any of your files. After the elimination, you might restore some of your files using alternative recovery methods.

The malware is executed from MoonCryptor.exe file that might be dropped on the system when a person opens malicious email attachment or downloads another infected file. On the affected device MoonCrypter virus might modify the system and affect numerous processes. As a result, the crypto-malware runs at Windows startup and makes the system vulnerable.

The MoonCryptor ransomware aims at the most popular file types that are stored on the affected computer. Therefore, after the attack, MS Office documents, PDF, pictures, multimedia and many other files will be locked with .fmoon file extension.

According to the ransom note, only the Moon Decryptor can help to survive ransomware attack. However, it may not be true. The latest research analysis does not show any signs that ransomware can delete Shadow Volume Copies, so you might be able to restore files using third-party tools

Hence, you should not pay the ransom and run a full system scan with professional security software. FortectIntego or Malwarebytes can help to remove MoonCryptor quickly and safely. Then you will be able to use backups or try alternative data recovery methods.

The picture of MoonCryptor ransomware virusMoonCryptor ransomware virus threatens to delete accidental files if victims do not pay the ransom within 20 minutes. However, the final deadline for the payment is 5 days.

Protect your PC from file-encrypting virus

The malicious payload might be installed on your computer in a tricky manner. Crooks might present this file as a:

  • crucial software update;
  • important email attachment;[2]
  • useful program.

The variety of distribution and social engineering techniques help to reach victims all over the world, including China,[3] Japan or Indonesia. Therefore, paying attention to cyber security is a must no matter where you live.

Keep in mind that even the most powerful security software can block ransomware once you download the malicious file yourself. These files typically are designed to bypass computer’s protection and launch hazardous tasks silently. Therefore, in order to avoid MoonCryptor and other viruses from the same category, you should:

  • be careful with spam emails and their attachments;
  • install updates from reliable sources only;
  • download programs from the publisher’s website instead of torrents or similar file-sharing platforms;
  • not click on any suspicious link, ad or other content.

Clean your computer from MoonCryptor

FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes or your preferred malware elimination software will help to remove MoonCryptor from the computer safely and quickly. In order to download, install and run security software, you have to reboot the computer to Safe Mode with Networking. This step helps to disable the malware and prevent him from blocking removal procedure.

After MoonCryptor removal, you can look up for data recovery options. If you have backups, you can copy them and replace with encrypted data. Additionally, you can check alternative recovery methods that are presented at the end of the article.

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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.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of MoonCryptor virus. Follow these steps

Manual removal using Safe Mode

Follow these steps to launch automatic ransomware termination:

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
  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. 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.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list. Windows 7/XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot. Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options. Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings. Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking. Enable safe mode

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:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

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:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. 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).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. 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 MoonCryptor using System Restore

  • Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
    Windows 7 / Vista / XP
    1. Click Start Shutdown Restart OK.
    2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
    3. Select Command Prompt from the list Select 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'

    Windows 10 / Windows 8
    1. Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
    2. Now select Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
    3. Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window. Select 'Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt'
  • Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
    1. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter. Enter 'cd restore' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    2. Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again.. Enter 'rstrui.exe' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    3. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of MoonCryptor. After doing that, click Next. When 'System Restore' window shows up, select 'Next' Select your restore point and click 'Next'
    4. Now click Yes to start system restore. Click 'Yes' and start system restore
    Once you restore your system to a previous date, download and scan your computer with FortectIntego and make sure that MoonCryptor removal is performed successfully.

Bonus: Recover your data

Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove MoonCryptor 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 MoonCryptor, you can use several methods to restore them:

Data Recovery Pro – useful tool after ransomware attack

If you do not have backups, this program might help to restore some of the encrypted files.

  • Download Data Recovery Pro;
  • Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
  • Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by MoonCryptor ransomware;
  • Restore them.

Try Windows Previous Versions feature

If System Restore has been enabled before ransomware attack and you need to restore only a few files after the MoonCryptor attack, you might find this Windows feature useful:

  • Find an encrypted file you need to restore and right-click on it;
  • Select “Properties” and go to “Previous versions” tab;
  • Here, check each of available copies of the file in “Folder versions”. You should select the version you want to recover and click “Restore”.

Take advantage of ShadowExplorer

MoonCrypter is not expected to delete Shadow Volume Copies, so this tool might help to recover data from them:

  • Download Shadow Explorer (http://shadowexplorer.com/);
  • 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.

The official decryption software for MoonCryptor is not available yet.

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from MoonCryptor 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.

About the author
Ugnius Kiguolis
Ugnius Kiguolis - The mastermind

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