Moia ransomware removal

If your files have the .moia file extension, your computer is infected with the Moia ransomware. Because the ransomware encrypts files, you will not be able to open any of the files that have that extension. Moia ransomware comes from a known family of ransomware called Djvu/STOP and is one of the hundreds of versions currently out there. Because you cannot easily decrypt files, Moia ransomware is considered to be a very dangerous malware infection. Currently, you can recover files only if you have a backup or if you agree to pay the requested ransom to get the decryptor from the ransomware operators. However, the operators are not to be trusted, thus paying is risky.

 

 

Because they all come from the same Djvu/STOP ransomware family, Moia ransomware is identical to Rigj, Robm, Iisa, and Pqgs. They can be differentiated by the extensions they add to encrypted files. In this case, the added extension is .moia, hence why it’s known as Moia ransomware. Like all ransomware, Moia ransomware targets personal files, including photos, videos, documents, images, etc. An encrypted image.jpg file would look like this, image.jpg.moia. You will not be able to open any files with this extension unless you first run them through a special decryptor. But unfortunately, the only people with a working decryptor are the people behind this ransomware. And since they are cybercriminals, they will want you to pay money.

The process of obtaining the decryptor is explained in the _readme.txt ransom note that’s dropped in all folders containing encrypted files. The note is pretty standard. It explains that files have been encrypted and that the only way to decrypt them is to purchase the decryptor. Unfortunately, at this moment, that statement is correct. The decryptor is being sold by the ransomware operators for $980. However, according to the note, if you make contact within the first 72 hours, you will get a 50% discount. Whether that is actually the case or not, we should warn you that paying the ransom comes with certain risks. Above all else, it does not guarantee file decryption. Considering that you are dealing with cybercriminals, there is nothing to guarantee that you will actually get the decryptor. In fact, the malicious actors have failed to send the decryptor to victims in the past. So while whether to pay the ransom or not is your decision, we feel it’s necessary for you to be aware of the risks that come with paying. Furthermore, one of the reasons why ransomware is such a profitable business for many cyber crooks is because victims pay the ransom. As long as this continues, ransomware will continue to be an issue.

If you have a backup, you can start recovering files as soon as you remove Moia ransomware from your computer. Unless you know exactly what you’re doing, we don’t recommend you try to do it manually. Instead, use anti-virus software. Once the ransomware is no longer present on your computer, you can access your backup to start recovering files. Keep in mind that if ransomware is still present when you connect to backup, your backed-up files would become encrypted as well.

If you do not have a backup, your only option is to wait for a free decryptor. While you can find a free Djvu/STOP decryptor by Emsisoft,  it will not work on Djvu/STOP versions released after 2019, including Moia ransomware. Because more recent versions use online keys to encrypt files, the keys are unique to each user. Without those keys, it’s very difficult to create a working decryptor. But it’s not impossible that the keys will be released eventually, whether by the cybercriminals themselves or by law enforcement. So we recommend you back up your encrypted files and check NoMoreRansom for a free decryptor from time to time.

Ransomware distribution methods

Malspam, or malicious emails, is perhaps the most common way regular users pick up malware. It’s quite a low effort but still an effective way for cybercriminals to distribute their malware. They buy thousands of emails addresses from various hacker forums and then use them to launch their malspam campaigns. Because these emails do not target anyone specifically, they are quite generic. This makes it easy for users to identify which emails are malicious and which are safe to open. Perhaps the most obvious sign is grammar/spelling mistakes. You may have already noticed that malicious actors distributing malware often pretend to be representatives from companies whose services users use. But if those emails contain grammar or spelling mistakes, it’s quite obvious that the email is not legitimate. Another thing to take note of is how emails address you. If a company whose services you use sends you an email, it will always address you by name. So when email addresses you as “User”, “Member”, “Customer”, etc., you should be suspicious. In rarer cases, some malspam may be more sophisticated, which is why it’s always recommended to scan unsolicited email attachments with anti-virus software or VirusTotal.

Torrent users are also at a much higher risk of picking up a malware infection. You are likely aware of this already but torrent sites are quite poorly regulated. This allows cybercriminals to easily upload malicious content. Malware can often be found in torrents for movies, video games, TV shows, software, etc. If you do not know what to look for in a torrent and how to recognize malware, you could easily end up with malware when trying to download a movie. Keep in mind that not only is pirating copyrighted content illegal, it’s also dangerous for the computer.

Moia ransomware removal

When it comes to ransomware, it’s recommended to use anti-malware software. If you try to remove Moia ransomware manually, you could end up causing more damage or may not remove the ransomware fully. And if you access your backup while the ransomware is still present, your backed-up files would become encrypted as well. Thus, use anti-malware to delete Moia ransomware from your computer.