Do you know what Mpal Ransomware is?
Mpal Ransomware does not care if the personal files on your Windows operating system are extremely sensitive and important to you. In fact, this malware bets on you relying on one single copy of every personal file because if files are encrypted and cannot be replaced, the attackers behind the infection can have a chance of forcing victims to give up their savings. It does not look that this malware has a specific target, but the ransom note it delivers is in English, and so the scope of the attack can be vast. We hope that you will not need to pay any attention to this ransom note because you will be able to replace the corrupted files or perhaps even restore them using third-party software after removing Mpal Ransomware. Even if that is not the case, remember that the ransom note is misleading and cannot be trusted. Continue reading to learn more about that as well as how to delete the infection.
Are you familiar with the STOP Ransomware family? It is a family of malicious programs that use the same code, which is why they are identical. Mpal Ransomware is a clone of Covm Ransomware, Koti Ransomware, Mzlq Ransomware, Sqpc Ransomware, and hundreds of other infections alike. For the most part, they spread across unprotected systems using misleading emails (the launcher is concealed as an attachment) or malicious downloaders (the launcher is hidden or concealed as a harmless file/program). If the targeted user is tricked into executing Mpal Ransomware, this malware starts encrypting files immediately. As it does that, it also attaches the “.mpal” extension to all original names, and that is done to mark the corrupted files. Unfortunately, once files are encrypted, they cannot be read, but a tool named STOP Decryptor might help make them readable again. This tool is free because it was created by cybersecurity researchers, but it does not guarantee full decryption.
Mpal Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Hopefully, you do not need to rely on a free decryptor to get all of your files restored. It is much more ideal if you have copies of all important personal files stored online or on an external hard drive, and now you can use them as replacements for the encrypted files. Of course, before you can do that, you must delete Mpal Ransomware from your operating system. If you do not have these options to restore or replace files, you might assume that you have to follow the instructions introduced via “_readme.txt,” a ransom note files that is used by all STOP Ransomware variants. The message is always the same, and it claims that you need to pay $490 for a decryption tool and a unique key to get your files restored. Before victims can pay the ransom, they are also instructed to contact the attackers via email (helpdatarestore@firemail.cc or helpmanager@mail.ch). Needless to say, we do not recommend doing any of this because this could put you at even more risk. Also, you are unlikely to get anything in return for your ransom payment.
You might be able to delete Mpal Ransomware using the guide below, but if this is the path you choose, note that your operating system will remain just as vulnerable as it was before the attack. If you want to solve both problems – which are malware removal and system’s protection – we suggest installing legitimate anti-malware software right away. This software will automatically delete all threats and, at the same time, secure your system to keep new threats from successfully attacking you or your files again. Once you remove the threat, we hope that you can replace or restore all corrupted files.
Remove Mpal Ransomware
- Simultaneously tap Win+E keys to access File Explorer.
- Type %homedrive% into the field at the top and tap Enter.
- Right-click the file named _readme.txt and choose Delete.
- Right-click the folder named SystemID and choose Delete.
- Type %localappdata% into the field at the top and tap Enter.
- Right-click the {random name} folder that contains malware files and choose Delete.
- Close File Explorer and then Empty Recycle Bin.
- Install a trusted malware scanner to inspect your system for leftovers.
In non-techie terms:
Mpal Ransomware is a serious infection that can encrypt your most vulnerable files, including photos, documents, media files. Once they are encrypted, they are unreadable, and the attackers are hoping to use this to get money from you. The ransom note they drop instructs to pay a ransom in return for a decryptor, but there are no guarantees that you would get it. In fact, we are pretty certain that you would not get the decryptor you need. Hopefully, after you remove Mpal Ransomware, you can replace the corrupted files with copies stored in a safe location, or you can use a free decryptor to get them restored. Before you do that, you must remove the infection, and while some users might be able to do that manually, we suggest thinking about your overall security as well, and if you do, installing reliable anti-malware software is the way to go.