Mkos File Extension Virus - How to remove

Mkos is a PC virus and it gives a second extension – “.mkos” – added to your file names. Most of the files can’t be opened anymore because the Mkos virus broke them using cryptography. There might be some ways to fix the files, though the virus needs to be deleted before that. Pirating sites, cracking and software activation tools spread the Mkos file virus and other malware, so your computer might need a thorough scan with an antivirus program.

Mkos is a file extension virus, ransomware:

Mkos infection symptoms	Files renamed to end with “.mkos” and don’t open, some websites are blocked, ads, pop-ups, slow computer, hacked accounts.
How the file virus infects computers	Downloaded with illegal software activation tools, downloaded with pirated software.
How to fix the files	Restore files from a backup, use the free decrypter, use shadow volume copies, data recovery.
How to remove Mkos	Scan your computer with an anti-malware program (SpyHunter), delete the file that brought you the infection, change account passwords and use 2-step verification.

Symptoms of the Mkos file virus

• At first, Mkos shows a Windows Update pop-up. This fake alert is shown to distract you and has nothing to do with the real Windows.
• Another Mkos symptom is when your files get renamed with “.mkos” as their new file type. Their icon turns into a blank sheet and they can’t be opened normally.
• Mkos also puts _readme.txt files all over your computer. These text files are all the same and contain a message from the makers of the Mkos virus. The cybercriminals ask you to pay $490 to get your files back.
• Various cybersecurity websites are blocked. This makes it harder for victims to find out what Mkos is.
• Mkos installs a trojan info stealer that might download malware. Redirects, pop-up ads, and a slow computer are some of the symptoms.

Mkos is recognized by antivirus programs, but they might be unable to stop this file virus from running.

If Mkos malfunctioned or you removed or interrupted it at some point, some of the symptoms may be different. Also, some of the Mkos-locked files might still open, like some songs, video recordings, and some archives. However, even those files are still partially broken.

You probably got infected with Mkos after downloading it from a pirating site. You may have downloaded it in an activation tool, a cracking program, or an unlocked suite. Many different software products get infected with Djvu file viruses (Mkos is a type of Djvu, together with Nbes, Merl, Gesd, and others) and people all over the globe are vulnerable.

Mkos likely installs an info stealer called Azorult. It steals passwords and installs more malware. If a miner is downloaded on your computer, expect a slower computer. If adware is installed, you will see a ton of ads and pop-ups in your computer. If your passwords are stolen, your accounts may be hacked.

How to fix Mkos files

How Mkos locks your files

Mkos files extension virus does worse than just rename files. Actually, it seems to delete your old files. The new ones have been run through a cryptographic algorithm – an algorithm specifically made to obscure information and make text look like nonsense. It is as if Mkos took your files and corrupted them. Even if you delete the “.mkos” bit from your file names, they won’t work. The bigger files are only partially corrupted, though – Mkos saves time by only encrypting portions of those files.

What Mkos did is reversible. Cryptography allows the corruption process to be undone completely – if you have the number called the decryption key. Unfortunately, only the criminals behind Mkos have every victim’s decryption keys. And every victim needs a unique key with one exception – when Mkos is forced to run offline. All the victims whose Mkos file virus ran offline had the same encryption key used on their files.

The Mkos decryption keys are only known to the criminals and can’t be guessed (modern computers are just not good enough). You can’t do anything now about how your files were encrypted. Only find out more and look into your options. Be careful – if someone contacts you asking for payment in exchange for fixing all your files, they’re either a scammer who will run with your money, or they’ll just buy the decryption key from the criminals.

How to decrypt the files

The Djvu decrypter developed by Emsisoft may be useful to you. As soon as some poor victim pays the criminals the ransom and gets the offline decryption key (and it might not even happen), then reveals the key to the public, Emsisoft will update their decrypter to support this Mkos offline key for the other victims.

Check if it applies to you by reading your C:\SystemID\PersonalID.txt file. Mkos created this file to store your IDs (which are not keys but they are related). In the past, IDs that end with the symbols “t1” have signified that the offline key was used. This isn’t 100% accurate, though.

It’s possible, though unlikely, that the people behind Mkos file virus will be found out and arrested, or that they’ll retire and publish all the keys for everyone for free.

So, you can keep the “.mkos” files – put them on a backup, don’t change them, and make backups of Mkos’s files, too – PersonalID.txt, bowsakkdestx.txt, etc. These files are not dangerous, so they’re fine to keep.

Also, you can use data recovery programs to restore deleted files. The less you used your computer, the more success you will have. Shadow volume copies could also help you get your files back. However, Mkos deletes them and backup folders, so that might not work.

However, if you have backups, you don’t need to worry about any of this. Just delete all the malware and then restore your files.

How to remove Mkos

Delete the file that was infected with Mkos in the first place. Otherwise, you will reinfect your computer with Mkos. Also, remove all malware. You could reinstall Windows, or you could use any competent anti-malware scanner (SpyHunter) to take care of the problem. Change your passwords and activate 2-step verification if the antivirus program found the info stealer on your computer.

Before that, though, you may need to unblock the websites that Mkos blocked.

Important -- edit the hosts file to unblock security websites

TL DR : The hosts file is edited to block security sites Before the virus can be removed, it's necessary to fix the hosts file (the file which controls which addresses connect to which IPs). That is the reason the majority of security websites is inaccessible when infected with this particular parasite. This infection edits this file to stop certain websites, including anti-malware download sites, from being accessed from the infected computer, making browsers return the "This site can't be reached" error. Luckily, it's trivial to fix the file and remove the edits that were made to it.

Find and edit the hosts file

The hosts file can be found on C:/Windows/System32/Drivers/etc/hosts. If you don't see it, change the settings to see hidden files.

1. In the Start Menu, search for Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, find Appearance and Personalization.
3. Select Folder Options.
4. Open the View tab.
5. Open Advanced settings.
6. Select "Show hidden files...".
7. Select OK.

Open this file with administrator privileges.

1. Open the Start Menu and enter "notepad".
2. When Notepad shows up in the result, right-click on it.
3. In the menu, choose "Run as administrator"
4. File->Open and browse for the hosts file.

The hosts file should look like this: Delete additional lines that they connect various domain names to the wrong IP address. Save the file.

Download and run the antivirus program

After that, download antivirus programs and use them to remove the ransomware, the trojan, and other malware. Spyhunter (https://www.2-viruses.com/reviews/spyhunter/dwnld/).

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Mkos File Extension Virus encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Mkos File Extension Virus has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Mkos File Extension Virus

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Mkos File Extension Virus. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Mkos File Extension Virus affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Mkos File Extension Virus tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Mkos File Extension Virus encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.