I wrote this article to help you remove .Mole Ransomware. This .Mole Ransomware removal guide works for all Windows versions.
Today`s article focuses on one of the most recently discovered ransomware threats, namely the .Mole Ransomware. As you may know, ransomware pieces are considered the absolute worst type of cyber infection that you can possibly encounter. And they totally deserve their reputation too. These crypto viruses have only one goal – to steal your money. Actually, “steal” is not the right verb here. Unlike other infections that attempt to purloin your credit card number, for instance, ransomware practically makes you give it your money. It blackmails you. How? It is pretty simple. Pretty much all ransomware strains follow a standard pattern.
First, they sneak into your system undetected. Then, they encrypt your personal files that you have stored on your machine. And finally, they extort you for money in exchange for releasing said files. As much as we hate to say it, this is a very clever tactic. Now, let`s get into details and help you understand what kind of infection you are actually dealing with.
As a classic member of the ransomware family, Mole doesn’t differentiate. It slithers into your system behind your back, with the help of trickery and deception. This ransomware is still a program and it needs your permission on its installment. However, if it asks you straightforwardly, you would never even give it green light. That’s why it turns to the old but gold means of infiltration to dupe you. One of the most popular method that ransomware pieces use is spam email messages and malicious attachments.
Sometimes crooks send the infection directly to your inbox and you do the rest by not being careful. Do not open messages from unknown senders EVEN IF they look legitimate. Hackers disguise them in order to trick you and you should know better. Be more cautious. Also, stay away from shady pages and suspicious third-party ads, as one wrong click is enough to invite this pest into your machine. The key for safety is vigilance. Crooks mostly rely on your haste, distraction, and negligence to succeed. Don’t grant them. Keep your machine safe.
However, like in your case, Mole still managed to enter your PC. Once in, it doesn’t waste time. It performs a quick scan of your computer in search for your valuable data. And it doesn’t take long before it finds everything. When it does, it encrypts your files with a strong encryption algorithm thus making them inaccessible to you. All of a sudden you cannot open any of your pictures, videos, music files, MS Office files, presentations, documents, etc. They are locked and beyond your reach. Nothing you do can change that. Moreover, to solidify its hold over your data, the pest appends the “.mole” extension to each encrypted file. Seeing your data with this appendix means that the encryption process is over.
The ransomware took your data and not it is time for its next and most important move. When the file-locking process is complete, the infection drops a note for you. The ransom note. This is basically a message from the crooks explaining your unpleasant situation. The note states that your files are encrypted and the only way to free them is if you apply a special decryption tool. Of course, the tool doesn’t come for free. This is the blackmailing part. You are supposed to pay the hackers a hefty amount of money after which they will send you the key. Supposedly!!! We cannot stress on that enough. There is no guarantee that the cybercriminals will actually keep their end of the bargain. Most of the times, they don’t.
They only care about money. Your data is their last concern. So, you may not receive anything. Or, they may send you a tool that doesn’t work. There is a third scenario as well. You pay the ransom demanded and the crooks send you the tool you need. But then what. The decryptor only removes the encryption, not the infection. Mole remains on your system and it can strike again anytime it wants. The question is how many time are you willing to pay these people? You do realize that by paying you are helping them expand and create more malware. No to mention that you are also exposing your personal and financial information to danger.
Either way, you still lose. Forget about paying. Your first priority is to remove the infection from your machine and then free your data. Our removal guide below can help you do both. All you have to do you follow the steps in the exact order given. And a rule of thumb for the future: always create backups of your most important data. This way you will be sure that whatever happens you are able to restore your files.
.Mole Ransomware Removal
Method 1: Restore your encrypted files using ShadowExplorer
Usually, .Mole Ransomware deletes all shadow copies, stored in your computer. Luckily, the ransomware is not always able to delete the shadow copies. So your first try should be restoring the original files from shadow copies.
- Download ShadowExplorer from this link: http://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html.
- Install ShadowExplorer
- Open ShadowExplorer and select C: drive on the left panel
- Choose at least a month ago date from the date field
- Navigate to the folder with encrypted files
- Right-click on the encrypted file
- Select “Export” and choose a destination for the original file
Method 2: Restore your encrypted files by using System Restore
- Go to Start –> All programs –> Accessories –> System tools –> System restore
- Click “Next“
- Choose a restore point, at least a month ago
- Click “Next“
- Choose Disk C: (should be selected by default)
- Click “Next“. Wait for a few minutes and the restore should be done.
Method 3: Restore your files using File Recovery Software
If none of the above method works, you should try to recover encrypted files by using File Recovery Software. Since .Mole Ransomware first makes a copy of the original file, then encrypts it and deletes the original one, you can successfully restore the original, using a File Recovery Software. Here are a few free File Recovery Software programs:
