Mobef Ransomware - How to remove

Mobef Ransomware is a relatively new virus belonging to the ransomware family of viruses. Its name suggests that in order to get rid of the infection, you will have to transfer the requested sum of money to the cyber criminals. This ransomware program aims at encrypting your computer files with complex algorithms, especially your personal and valuable data.

About Mobef Ransomware

Mobef Ransomware encrypts your personal data with DES, RSA and AES algorithms. The file extensions that this malicious program affects include .doc, .pdf, .ppt, .xls, .zip, etc. There is a probability for almost any file on your computer to be infiltrated by this ransomware.

Soon after the encryption is finished, you will be presented with a pop-up notification. Additionally, text files, named as, for instance, 5-02-2016-INFECTION.TXT, will show up in every directory enclosing encrypted files. Both the pop-up and these text files will contain e-mail addresses (e.g., [email protected] or [email protected]) which you are supposed to contact. When contacted, they provide further instructions on how to pay the ransom to get your files decrypted.

How Mobef Ransomware Gets on Your Computer

There are two main methods Mobef Ransomware appears on your computer. The first one is using exploits and security wholes. In this case, programs like Spyhunter would protect your computer. If you don’t have an anti-malware program installed, your computer can get infected with similar programs any time.

The other method is specific to ransomware viruses. Commonly, this malicious threat spreads through spam e-mails sent by unknown senders, to be more precise, through spam e-mails’ attachments. Once opened, these attachments infiltrate your computer with the virus. Hence, be very careful and do not open e-mails and their attachments sent by secret senders.

How to Decrypt Files Encrypted by Mobef Ransomware

There are two solutions to this problem. The first one is paying money to the cyber blackmailer. This is a very risky action since your files most probably will not be decrypted. You can be blackmailed further for even higher sums of money. And you will never know when this is going to end. Furthermore, you will encourage cyber criminals to continue their activities and designed more threats like Mobef Ransomware.

The second solution is to use a decryption tool, for example, Emsisoft’s AutoLocky Decryptor. you can also try recovering your files form a backup, if you have one.

We also recommend getting the best protection to your computer and install both antivirus and anti-malware program, for example, Spyhunter or StopZilla.

How to recover Mobef Ransomware 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 Mobef Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Mobef Ransomware

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 Mobef Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Mobef Ransomware 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 Mobef Ransomware 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 Mobef Ransomware 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.

Manual removal