Remove Muhstik Ransomware (+File Recovery)

How to Remove Muhstik Ransomware?

If your files have the .muhstik extension, you are in for trouble. Your computer harbors a nasty virus. A ransomware menace lurks in the shadows of your OS and wreaks havoc. Brace yourself! The news is bad! You are stuck with an advanced virus. Muhstik ransomware is reported to corrupt not only Windows systems but also Mac and NAS devices. This virus follows programming to corrupt your personal files and to hold them as hostages. Pictures, music, databases, archives – there are not immune files. The ransomware detects the user-generated files and locks it with strong encryption algorithms. You can, of course, still see the icons of your files, but you can’t view nor edit them. You can’t create new files either. Muhstik encrypts everything you download or create. The ransomware makes your device useless and pushes you into paying an astonishing ransom. Do not make that mistake! Such actions will only encourage the ransomware’s operators to continue with their criminal activities. Don’t become their sponsor! Bear in mind that you are dealing with criminals. These people tend to double-cross their victims. You have no guaranteed that they’ll deliver a description tool. So, don’t rush. Consider your options!

How did I get infected with?

Muhstik can reach your device through phishing campaigns, fake updates, corrupted links, pirated software, and spam messages. And on top of all that, an infected device can transmit the virus to the devices that share the same network. This ransomware has numerous tricks up its sleeve. It spread like wildfire and corrupts everything. Once on your device, it performs various operations. The virus corrupts your entire system and starts the file-encryption processes. This, of course, happens without any noticeable symptoms. You can’t catch the virus in time to prevent its corruption. The virus reveals its presence after it gets your data under lock and key. It drops its ransom note – a file named README_FOR_DECRYPT.txt which briefly explains your situation, as well as lists the hackers’ demand. The virus might also open a window that contains the same information.

Why is Muhstik dangerous?

Problems follow as soon as Muhstik sneaks into your computer. The ransomware corrupts your entire system and wreaks your data. Your pictures, databases, archives, documents – everything gets the .muhstik extension and becomes useless. The virus wrecks your device and gives you no choice but to pay the astonishing ransom. Don’t swing into action! You have no guarantees that the hackers will keep their part of the deal. Practice shows that the criminals tend to ignore their victims once they receive the money. There are cases when the victims paid, just to get blackmailed for more. There are also instances when the victims received nonfunctional or partly-functional decryption tools. What will you do if this happens to you? You can’t ask for a refund. The criminals demand Bitcoin – an untraceable currency. No one can help you get your money back once you complete the transaction. Don’t give into naivety! Paying the ransom is a waste of time and money. Not to mention that you pay for decryption, not for virus removal. Even if you use a hackers’ tool to remove the encryption lock, your computer will remain unreliable. Security researchers point out that Muhstik can be used for data harvesting and espionage. You are dealing with dangerous criminals. Do not play games with them. Your best and only course of action is the removal of the ransomware.

Muhstik Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover Muhstik Encrypted Files

STEP 1: Stop the malicious process using Windows Task Manager

• Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Locate the process of the ransomware. Have in mind that this is usually a random generated file.
• Before you kill the process, type the name on a text document for later reference.

• Locate any suspicious processes associated with Muhstik encryption Virus.
• Right click on the process
• Open File Location
• End Process
• Delete the directories with the suspicious files.
• Have in mind that the process can be hiding and very difficult to detect

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

STEP 3: Locate Muhstik encryption Virus startup location

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”
• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to:

Navigate to your %appdata% folder and delete the executable.

You can alternatively use your msconfig windows program to double check the execution point of the virus. Please, have in mind that the names in your machine might be different as they might be generated randomly, that’s why you should run any professional scanner to identify malicious files.

STEP 4: How to recover encrypted files?

• Method 1: The first and best method is to restore your data from a recent backup, in case that you have one.

• Method 2: File Recovery Software – Usually when the ransomware encrypts a file it first makes a copy of it, encrypts the copy, and then deletes the original. Due to this you may try to use file recovery software to recover some of your original files.
• Method 3: Shadow Volume Copies – As a last resort, you can try to restore your files via Shadow Volume Copies. Open the Shadow Explorer part of the package and choose the Drive you want to recover. Right click on any file you want to restore and click Export on it.