How to remove Muuq Ransomware

About Muuq Ransomware

Muuq Ransomware will encrypt your files and request that you make a payment in exchange for their decryptor. Ransomware is categorized as very dangerous malicious software because of the consequences the threat may have. As soon as it launches, it will start encrypting certain file types. Victims usually find that photos, videos and documents will be targeted because of their value to victims. Once files are encrypted, they can’t be opened unless they are decrypted with specific decryption software, which is in the hands of criminals accountable for this ransomware. Do bear in mind, however that malicious software researchers sometimes release free decryption tools, if they are able to crack the ransomware. Seeing as you do not have a lot of alternatives, this may be the best one you have.

Soon after you become aware of the situation, you’ll notice a ransom note. The note ought to contain an explanation about what happened to your files and how much you should pay to get them back. We can’t prevent you from paying crooks, but that option is not encouraged. Oftentimes, crooks take the money but don’t help restore files. More malicious software would be made using the money you give crooks. Consider using that money to buy backup. If you had taken the time to make backup, just delete Muuq Ransomware and proceed to file recovery.

The spread methods used will be clarified in more detail later on but the short version is that you probably fell for a fake update or opened a malicious spam email. The reason we say you probably got it via those methods is because they are the most popular among hackers.

Download Removal Toolto remove Muuq Ransomware

How is ransomware spread

You possibly got the ransomware through spam email or bogus program updates. If spam email was how the ransomware got in, you will have to familiarize yourself with how malicious spam email looks like. When you come across senders you aren’t familiar with, you have to carefully check the email before opening the attached file. You ought to also know that hackers usually pretend to be from legitimate companies in order to make people lose their guard. Amazon might be displayed as the sender, for example, and that the reason they are emailing you is because strange behavior was noticed on the account or that a new purchase was made. If the sender is actually who they say they are, it won’t be hard to check. Just find a list of email addresses used by the company and see if your sender’s is among them. You could also want to scan the attachment with some type of malware scanner.

If if spam email was not how you got it, fake software updates may have been used to infect. Bogus offers for updates pop up on various pages all the time, constantly forcing you into installing updates. You can also encounter them in advert or banner form and seeming quite legitimate. Nevertheless, for anyone who knows that actual updates are never suggested this way, it will immediately become obvious. Unless you want to endanger your computer, never download anything from ads and similarly dubious sources. Bear in mind that if software needs an update, the application will either automatically update or you’ll be alerted through the application, not through your browser.

How does ransomware behave

It is likely not necessary to clarify that your files have been encrypted. As soon as the infected file was opened, the encryption process, which you would not necessarily notice, began. You will be able to quickly differentiate between locked files as they will have a file extension attached to them. There is no use in trying to open affected files because they’ve been encrypted via a complex encryption algorithm. You will then see a ransom notification, where hackers will tell you what happened to your files, and how to go about getting them back. Ransom notes usually seem quite similar to one another, threaten with forever lost files and tell you how to recover them by paying the ransom. Paying crooks is not the best idea, even if hackers are in the possession of the decryptor. Trusting people responsible for locking your files to keep their word isn’t exactly the wisest idea. In addition, you might be specifically targeted next time, if cyber criminals know that you’re inclined to give into the demands.

Before even considering paying, try to remember if you’ve stored some of your files anywhere. Because malicious software specialists can sometimes create free decryption utilities, if one is not available now, back up your encrypted files for when/if it is. It is important to remove Muuq Ransomware from your device as soon as possible, whatever the case may be.

Backing up your files is rather important so we hope you’ll begin doing that. You could end up in a similar situation again and risk losing your files if you do not take the time to do backups. Backup prices vary depending in which backup option you pick, but the investment is definitely worth it if you have files you don’t wish to lose.

Muuq Ransomware elimination

Manual removal is likely not for you. Allow malicious software removal program to take care of the infection because otherwise, you may cause more damage. If anti-malware program can’t be run, you will have to reboot your computer in Safe Mode. Once your computer has been booted in Safe Mode, scan your computer with anti-malware and terminate Muuq Ransomware. Unfortunately, anti-malware program can’t decrypt files, it’ll merely just take care of the threat’s removal.

Download Removal Toolto remove Muuq Ransomware

Learn how to remove Muuq Ransomware from your computer

• Step 1. Remove Muuq Ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.
• Step 2. Remove Muuq Ransomware using System Restore
• Step 3. Recover your data

Step 1. Remove Muuq Ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking.

• a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.
• b) Step 2. Remove Muuq Ransomware.

a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking.

For Windows 7/Vista/XP

1. Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
2. Press and keep pressing F8 until Advanced Boot Options appears.
3. Choose Safe Mode with Networking

For Windows 8/10 users

1. Press the power button that appears at the Windows login screen. Press and hold Shift. Click Restart.
2. Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
3. Choose Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

b) Step 2. Remove Muuq Ransomware.

You will now need to open your browser and download some kind of anti-malware software. Choose a trustworthy one, install it and have it scan your computer for malicious threats. When the ransomware is found, remove it. If, for some reason, you can't access Safe Mode with Networking, go with another option.

Step 2. Remove Muuq Ransomware using System Restore

• a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
• b) Step 2. Restore files and settings.

a) Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

For Windows 7/Vista/XP

1. Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
2. Press and keep pressing F8 until Advanced Boot Options appears.
3. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

For Windows 8/10 users

1. Press the power button that appears at the Windows login screen. Press and hold Shift. Click Restart.
2. Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
3. Choose Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

b) Step 2. Restore files and settings.

1. You will need to type in cd restore in the window that appears. Press Enter.
2. Type in rstrui.exe and again, press Enter.
3. A window will pop-up and you should press Next. Choose a restore point and press Next again.
4. Press Yes.

While this should have taken care of the ransomware, you might want to download anti-malware just to be sure no other threats are lurking.  

Step 3. Recover your data

• a) Using Data Recovery Pro to recover encrypted files.
• b) Restore files through Windows Previous Versions
• c) Using Shadow Explorer to recover files

While backup is essential, there is still quite a few users who do not have it. If you are one of them, you can try the below provided methods and you just might be able to recover files.

a) Using Data Recovery Pro to recover encrypted files.

1. Download Data Recovery Pro, preferably from a trustworthy website.
2. Scan your device for recoverable files.
3. Recover them.

b) Restore files through Windows Previous Versions

If you had System Restore enabled, you can recover files through Windows Previous Versions.

1. Find a file you want to recover.
2. Right-click on it.
3. Select Properties and then Previous versions.
4. Pick the version of the file you want to recover and press Restore.

c) Using Shadow Explorer to recover files

If you are lucky, the ransomware did not delete your shadow copies. They are made by your system automatically for when system crashes.

1. Go to the official website (shadowexplorer.com) and acquire the Shadow Explorer application.
2. Set up and open it.
3. Press on the drop down menu and pick the disk you want.
4. If folders are recoverable, they will appear there. Press on the folder and then Export.

* SpyHunter scanner, published on this site, is intended to be used only as a detection tool. More info on SpyHunter. To use the removal functionality, you will need to purchase the full version of SpyHunter. If you wish to uninstall SpyHunter, click here.