Montana ransomware aims to encrypt your filesContents of the ransom note explainedWays to avoid ransomware infectionsRemove MONTANA ransomware immediately
The primary aim of viruses like Montana ransomware is to infect as many computers as possible, make all files on them inaccessible by encrypting them, and collect ransoms from the victims.
Contents of the ransom note explained
The ransom note left by this virus, called !HELP!.txt, is a file generated by the virus that contains a message from the cybercriminals who developed the program. The message states that the data on the computer was encrypted and that some sensitive information was stolen (transmitted to the criminals). The note then warns the victim not to modify the files, also not to rename or move them. According to the criminals, this might make file decryption impossible. The developers of the ransomware claim that there is only one way to recover encrypted files – to pay a ransom. To prove that they actually have the decryption key and software, they suggest testing them. The victim can send up to 2 encrypted .montana files for free decryption. The note then suggests that the network was compromised and the criminals can provide recommendations on how to secure it as a “bonus”. However, the further lines state that if the victim refuses to pay the ransom, the criminals will publish the stolen information to media. Finally, the note provides victim’s personal ID and two contact emails – montanarecover@mail.ee and montanarecover@cock.li. If you have been hit by this virus, we recommend you remove MONTANA ransomware from the system using malware removal software. To repair damage caused for your computer system components, scan and apply fixes with RESTORO. Ransomware-type viruses are extremely popular extortion tools used by cybercriminals worldwide. The most active viruses of this kind nowadays is STOP/DJVU family (MMPA, FOQE, NYPG) and DHARMA (FLYU, LCK). We never support paying ransoms to criminals, because it simply helps to grow this cybercrime industry, which is why there are so many viruses if this kind nowadays.
Ways to avoid ransomware infections
Computer users should beware of ransomware distribution tactics in order to avoid installing these viruses by accident. That said, the first method you should know is malicious email spam including attachments. The criminals might try to disguise themselves as representatives of well-known companies such as DHL, TNT or eBay and offer a fake “shipment tracking information” or invoice documents. Unfortunately, as soon as the victim opens such attachment, the malicious script inside of it will download and execute malicious payload on the computer. Another ransomware distribution method doesn’t even involve targeting the potential victims via email. The attackers can simply insert the malware into a fake software crack torrent. Many crypto-malware victims have reported downloading similar viruses via software cracks, keygens, and similar files. We would like to remind you that if you want to obtain a legitimate and secure software version, you should visit the software vendor’s official website and purchase it from there rather than searching for unconfirmed and illegal spin-offs online. Needless to say, one of the best ways to avoid ransomware damage is to keep your antivirus up-to-date, avoid visiting suspicious domains, clicking on shady ads and downloading illegal files via peer-to-peer file sharing agents. In addition, you simply must create regular backups for your files, or at least to the most important ones (work files, family memories and similar). Data backups help to recover lost data in case of an unexpected malware attack.
Remove MONTANA ransomware immediately
Our team has prepared in-detail Montana ransomware removal guidelines which are provided down below. You must follow each step carefully to ensure a successful virus elimination. Make sure you use a robust malware removal software to cleanse the system from malware remains. Remove MONTANA virus safely in Safe Mode as explained below. Do not forget to repair virus damage caused by this ransomware variant using RESTORO, a well-known PC repair and maintenance tool. OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system: GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs. Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer. Read full review here. RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically. RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them. Read full review here.
Alternative software recommendations
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking
Before you try to remove the virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, see a video tutorial on how to do it: Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10 users Now, you can search for and remove MONTANA ransomware virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable malware removal program. In addition, we suggest trying a combination of INTEGO Antivirus (removes malware and protects your PC in real-time) and RESTORO (repairs virus damage to Windows OS files).
Method 2. Use System Restore
In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10 users After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won’t be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future. Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.
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