Mtogas ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Mtogas ransomware is the cryptovirus that is considered a serious cyber infection since the attack can lead to either permanent data damage or money loss. Even when the demanded ransom gets paid, there is no guarantee that encoded files will get recovered, so paying shouldn't be considered an option.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Mtogas ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Spam email attachments, software cracks, fake updates[2] |
|---|---|
| Name | Mtogas ransomware |
| Type | Cryptovirus |
| Family | Djvu/STOP virus |
| File extension | .mtogas |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 13 more facts
| Decryption | Try STOP https://twitter.com/demonslay335/status/1163901749310001152 for the affected files |
|---|---|
| Ransom amount | $980/$490 |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .mtogas |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .mtogas |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 26 August 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.mtogas - Note file:
_readme.txt
From our report of Aug 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Mtogas ransomware
- Try STOP decrypter for the affected files
- Get and clean the machine to remove Mtogas ransomware virus damage
How Mtogas ransomware behaves
From our report of Aug 2019 · not reviewed since
Mtogas ransomware is the virus that uses cryptography to deny users' access to their files and demand ransom
Mtogas ransomware is the cryptovirus that is considered a serious cyber infection since the attack can lead to either permanent data damage or money loss.
Even when the demanded ransom gets paid, there is no guarantee that encoded files will get recovered, so paying shouldn't be considered an option. Also, scammers, cybercriminals, hackers and other malicious actors only care about their own gains, not the victim or their belongings.
Especially when Mtogas ransomware virus belongs to a family of Djvu ransomware that is known for years as one of the more persistent. Even when the decryption software got developed for this version of the STOP virus, developers remain to release new virus at least once a month.
If you encountered the more recent version of the cryptovirus, you might need to wait for the update on the decryption software, so remove Mtogas ransomware virus from the machine in the meantime.
Mtogas ransomware starts its campaign immediately after infiltration and file encryption is the first step, and the main aim of the threat. Cryptovirus employs encryption algorithms and makes the list of files that are suitable for the encoding process. Photos, videos, audio files, documents, and archives are the ones that get locked by the threat. System files and other formats like EXE, DLLs are not affected by the encryption.
Once those chosen files get encrypted, .mtogas file marker appears at the end of each filename. This is how you can differentiate which files are encoded. However, immediately after that Mtogas ransomware delivers a file _readme.txt that contains the following ransom note:
Although this message may be encouraging to pay the ransom quickly, experts always recommend staying away from cybercriminals. Especially when dealing with money and crypto-extortion based threats like Mtogas file locking virus.Unfortunately, Mtogas ransomware virus does more than file locking.
This threat can affect the performance of your machine significantly with all the changes it makes in the background. Ransomware can delete files or disable particular program updates. When AV tools get disabled, it becomes easier to spread other malware and more difficult for the victim to get rid of the cryptovirus.
You should react to the infection and remove Mtogas ransomware as soon as possible because the virus may even delete encoded data completely from the machine, so no decryption tool can help from there.
If you plan to recover data from the backup, on the other hand, you don't need those encrypted and damaged files. Nevertheless, the more time ransomware has on the system, the more damage it makes to the machine.
Mtogas ransomware removal is not that difficult if you react as soon as possible and install a reliable, powerful anti-malware tool. Tools that are designed for fighting cyber threats can scan your machine, check for malware, damage and useless files or corrupted applications. Once you scanned the system thoroughly and the program indicated all possible threats, you can terminate the cryptovirus and other related malware.
From our report of Aug 2019 · not reviewed since
Ransomware is downloaded by the victim manually
Malware in pirated files, cracked software or file attachments from spam or malicious emails - the main techniques used to spread ransomware.
Even antivirus programs cannot always show warnings or alerts about the possible infection because this silent method includes deceptive emails and installations setups.
The primary medium used by many ransomware strains - spam emails with malicious attachments. Emails often have common subject lines, so people are more willing to open the email once received. However, invoices, receipts and order information, or different claims about financial details hide malware scripts or direct ransomware payload.
A malicious macro virus can get hidden in the PDF, document or executable files and once the victim downloads this data on the system and opens it without paying attention, it loads on the computer behind the users' back. This is how silently ransomware infects the device. Once it loads on the network, encryption starts immediately.
The Mtogas ransomware note
ATTENTION!
Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
https://we.tl/t-o7ClqIH7RS
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.
How to remove Mtogas ransomware
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove Mtogas ransomware and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Mtogas ransomware encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Copy
_readme.txtand one or two files ending in.mtogasto a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For Mtogas ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while Mtogas ransomware still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
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.
From our report of Aug 2019 · not reviewed since
Stay away from paying and remove Mtogas ransomware virus damage alongside other installed malware
Mtogas ransomware virus is the threat that focuses on getting money from the victim, so it tries to scare them into paying for the alleged decryption or different services that criminals supposedly provides. However, cybercriminals behind the ransomware cannot be trusted, no matter how many promises they give.
You need to perform Mtogas ransomware removal as soon as the ransom message appears on the screen and criminals claim to damage your device. The sooner you react, the better because virus damage can be avoided if you delete the malware in time.
So get the anti-malware tool like , , or and remove Mtogas ransomware completely from the machine during a full scan. Tools like this can check the system for any dangerous files and programs and eliminate them all at once. You need to have a virus-free device before you attempt any method of data recovery, including decryption.
[GI=method-1]Run your machine in the Safe Mode with Networking to allow the AV tool to run a thorough scan:
[GI=method-2]Try System Restore as a feature for the virus elimination:
If you are willing to recover data that was encrypted by the ransomware virus or even deleted by you, try using this software
Windows Previous Versions feature might help you with file recovery
Try using this feature for files and documents that have been encrypted by Mtogas virus. However, System Restore should be enabled beforehand
Use ShadowExplorer, it can allow you to restore some encrypted files
If the virus did not eliminate Shadow Volume Copies of your files, you can use ShadowExplorer and restore data
You can try STOP decryptor for this malware as it works for many versions of ransomware virus that come from the Djvu/STOP family.
Get the decrypter fro Mtogas ransomware
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .mtogas and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about Mtogas ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .mtogas files?
That depends on the family behind the .mtogas extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
How do I open .mtogas files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .mtogas ending shows that Mtogas ransomware encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for Mtogas ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Mtogas ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Mtogas ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .mtogas and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before. Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
How did Mtogas ransomware get on my computer?
The way Mtogas ransomware spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .mtogas and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Is Mtogas ransomware the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
What does _readme.txt tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name _readme.txt, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
My files got .mtogas overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .mtogas extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
Will Fortect remove Mtogas ransomware?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Mtogas ransomware, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- CSOonline: Ransomware damage costs predicted to hit $11.5B by 2019 (read October 6, 2026)
- Techradar: Fake Office 365 site installs malware as browser update (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)