Do you know what Mado Ransomware is?
Hackers behind Mado Ransomware demand their victims to pay ransom in exchange for decryption tools that they promise to deliver. According to cybercriminals, their decryption tools are the only means to decrypt the ransomware’s enciphered files. While it is mostly true, we do not recommend dealing with the malware’s creators. They say they can guarantee that you will get the promised tools, but since you could not take your money back, cybercriminals do not really have to deliver them. Thus, if you come across this ransomware application or a threat alike, we recommend thinking careful about what your next step ought to be. Before deciding what to do, it would be smartest to get to know this malware better and you can do so by reading our full report. Also, our researchers advise deleting Mado Ransomware as leaving it on your device could endanger your future files.
One of the things that we noticed while testing the malicious application is how similar it is to threats from the Stop Ransomware family. Thus, we thing that same as them, Mado Ransomware could be spread through malicious email attachments, installers, and similar files received or downloaded from unreliable sources. Therefore, we highly recommend not to launch files if you are not completely sure that they are harmless. If you want to be certain, you could scan data from the Internet with a reputable antimalware tool that could detect if it contains malicious components. Always keep in mind that even a file that looks like a picture or a document can be a vicious threat in disguise. Thus, if you want to protect your computer, you cannot let your guard down even for a second.
Mado Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
If Mado Ransomware is launched, it should settle in by placing its files in a randomly named folder that ought to be in the %LOCALAPPDATA% directory. It might create some other data too that you can find listed in our removal guide. Next, the threat should start encrypting pictures, documents, and various other files that could be valuable. All the affected files should be marked with the .mado extension, for example, flower.jpg.mado. Eventually, the malicious application should drop a ransom note called _readme.txt. It ought to carry a message saying that all files were encrypted and can only be decrypted with special tools that the malware’s developers have. As you can imagine, the note should also say that users must pay ransom to receive decryption tools and that hackers promise to send them as soon as they get their money.
While the hackers could provide decryption tools that might restore all the Mado Ransomware’s encrypted files, it does not mean that they will do so even if you put up with their demands. You should know that you might be able to restore at least a small part of your data with a free decryption tool created by cybersecurity specialists that might work on data encrypted by threats from the Stop Ransomware family. Plus, if you back up your files, you might be able to replace all or most of the encrypted files.
Naturally, if you have another way to restore the malware’s encrypted files or just do not want to risk being scammed, we advise you to ignore the hackers’ offer. Lastly, we recommend erasing Mado Ransomware because it can auto-start with the operating system and encrypt files that it has not affected yet, for example, data you might yet create. To erase Mado Ransomware, you could use the removal guide available below or employ a reputable antimalware tool.
Delete Mado Ransomware
- Restart your device in Safe Mode with Networking.
- Press Windows key+E.
- Go to your Desktop, Temporary Files, and Downloads directories.
- Find the file launched before the threat infected the computer, right-click this suspicious file, and click Delete.
- Navigate to these locations:
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data
%LOCALAPPDATA% - Search for randomly named folders, for example, 0115174b-bd55-499d-9f16-9e28ac1b8ef4 that should contain malicious .exe files.
- Right-click the randomly named malware’s folders and select Delete.
- Find this location: %WINDIR%\System32\Tasks
- Locate a task called Time Trigger Task, right-click it, and select Delete.
- Close File Explorer.
- Click Windows key+R.
- Type regedit and press Enter.
- Find the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- Search for a value name belonging to the malicious application, for example, SysHelper.
- Right-click the malicious value name and press Delete.
- Close Registry Editor.
- Empty Recycle Bin.
- Reboot the system.
In non-techie terms:
Mado Ransomware can lock all your files if it gets in. Unfortunately, the malware encrypts them with a secure encryption algorithm, which means that all affected files ought to become unusable without special decryption tools. Of course, the malicious application’s developers claim to have them and even offer proving it by decrypting a single file free of charge. As for restoring the rest of encrypted files, victims are offered to buy decryption tools. The only problem is that there are no guarantees that hackers will deliver them, which means, users who agree to pay ransom could lose their money in vain. If you do not want to risk it happening, we advise not to deal with cybercriminals. Also, our researchers recommend deleting Mado Ransomware with a reliable antimalware tool or while following the removal guide available above because the threat could still be dangerous if it stays on a system.