This article will aid you to remove Marlboro ransomware completely. Follow the ransomware removal instructions given at the bottom of the article.
Marlboro ransomware is a cryptovirus which has been discovered recently. Your files will become encrypted and receive the .oops extension when the encryption process is finished. Then, the Marlboro ransomware displays a ransom message with demands for payment. Read below to see with what ways you could try to restore some of your files.
Threat Summary
| Name | Marlboro |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Short Description | The ransomware encrypts files on your computer allegedly with RSA-2048 combined with AES-128 bit encryption. |
| Symptoms | The ransomware will encrypt your files and put the .oops extension on each of those files when encryption is done. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Marlboro. |
| Data Recovery Tool | Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive. |
Marlboro Ransomware – Update
Marlboro Ransomware – Distribution
The Marlboro ransomware can be distributed by using different tactics. The file which drops the payload file of the ransomware containing the malicious script of the cryptovirus is spread as a binary. That dropper uses the name “u00000.EXE.bin” and is analyzed on the VirusTotal website and can be viewed from the screenshot down here:
Marlboro ransomware might also be distributing that payload dropper on social media networks and file-sharing services. Freeware programs found on the Web might be promoted as useful but also could be hiding the downloader of the payload. Refrain from opening files right after you have downloaded them, especially if they come from dubious sources, such as emails from unknown senders. Instead, you should first scan the files with a security tool and check the size and signatures for each of those files for anything out of the ordinary. You should read the ransomware preventing tips thread in the forum section.
Marlboro Ransomware – Description
Marlboro ransomware is also a cryptovirus. Countries that it is currently targeting are Serbia, Malaysia, Costa Rica and the Czech Republic. The ransomware will encrypt files on your computer machine while appending the same extension to all of them after the encryption process is complete.
Marlboro ransomware could make entries in the Windows Registry to achieve persistence. Those registry entries are usually designed in a way that will start the virus automatically with each launch of the Windows Operating System.
The ransom note will appear after the completion of the encryption process. The note states what the demands of the cybercriminals are for the ransom price, along with all other instructions and demands for decrypting your data. The note is contained in a file called _HELP_Recover_Files_.html. You can check out the ransom note in the snapshot provided below:
The ransom note reads the following:
!!! IMPORTANT INFORMATION !!!
All of your files are encrypted with RSA-2048 and AES-128 ciphers.
More information about RSA and AES can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_(cryptosystem)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_StandardDecrypting of your files is only possible with private key and decrypt program, which is on our secret server.
To receive your private key you need to make payment to us.
After you make payment run program called ‘DecryptFiles’ that is located on your Desktop and your Documents.
Program will automatically decrypt all of your files!If you try to decrypt files with another software your files can be forever lost.
How to buy decrypter?
1. You can make a payment with BitCoins, there are many methods to get them.
2. You should register BitCoin Wallet
3. Purchase Bitcoins – Although it is not very easy to buy bitcoins, it is getting simpler every day.
Here are our recommendations:
Localbitcoins.com (WU) – Buy Bitcoins with Western Union
Coincafe.com – Recommended for fast, simple service.
Localbitcoins.com Service allows you to search for people in your community willing to sell bitcoins to you directly.
CEX.IO – Buy Bitcoins with VISA/MASTERCARD or Wire Transfer
btcdirect.eu – THE BEST FOR EUROPE4. Send 0.2 BTC to Bitcoin address:
5. After you make payment, run program called ‘DecryptFiles’that is located on your Desktop and your Documents.
Program will automatically decrypt all of your files!
The criminals that stand behind the cyber threat that is the Marlboro ransomware virus want 0.2 BitCoin for decryption. The virus also puts a custom decryptor on your Desktop, as you can see from the screenshot down here:
However, the ransomware is decryptable even without paying, according to malware researchers. You should NOT under any circumstances pay those crooks. Nobody could give you a guarantee if your files will get recovered in actuality. Moreover, you should not ever give money to criminals, as this will most likely just support them financially and give them enough motivation to create more ransomware viruses or get involved in other criminal activities.
Below you can see the full list with file extensions that the Marlboro ransomware searches to encrypt.
→.mid, .wma, .flv, .mkv, .mov, .avi, .asf, .mpeg, .vob, .mpg, .wmv, .fla, .swf, .wav, .mp3, .qcow2, .vdi, .vmdk, .vmx, .gpg, .aes, .ARC, .PAQ, .tar, .bz2, .tbk, .bak, .tgz, .rar, .zip, .djv, .djvu, .svg, .bmp, .png, .gif, .raw, .cgm, .jpeg, .jpg, .tif, .tiff, .NEF, .psd, .cmd, .bat, .class, .jar, .java, .asp, .aspx, .brd, .sch, .dch, .dip, .vbs, .asm, .pas, .cpp, .php, .ldf, .mdf, .ibd, .MYI, .MYD, .frm, .odb, .dbf, .mdb, .sql, .SQLITEDB, .SQLITE3, .asc, .lay6, ., .lay, .ms11, .sldm, .sldx, .ppsm, .ppsx, .ppam, .docb, .mml, .sxm, .otg, .odg, .uop, .uot, .potx, .potm, .pptx, .pptm, .std, .sxd, .pot, .pps, .sti, .sxi, .otp, .odp, .wks, .xltx, .xltm, .xlsx, .xlsm, .xlsb, .slk, .xlw, .xlt, .xlm, .xlc, .dif, .stc, .sxc, .ots, .ods, .hwp, .dotm, .dotx, .docm, .docx, .DOT, .max, .xml, .txt, .CSV, .RTF, .pdf, .XLS, .PPT, .stw, .sxw, .ott, .odt, .DOC, .pem, .csr, .crt, .key, .dat
Extensions List Source: MalwareHunterTeam
Every file that gets encrypted will receive the same extension appended to each of them, which is .oops. The encryption algorithm is a mixture of the 2048-bit RSA and 128-bit AES algorithms or at least, that is what is stated in the ransom note.
The Marlboro cryptovirus is reported by malware researches to erase the Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system by utilizing the following command in the Command Prompt:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
Read on through and find out what kind of ways you can try out to restore some of your files.
Remove Marlboro Ransomware and Restore .oops Files
If your computer got infected with the Marlboro ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this ransomware as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Step 5
Step 1: Scan for Marlboro with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall Marlboro and related malware from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully delete most unwanted and malicious programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Marlboro on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Marlboro there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Step 4: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Marlboro
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Marlboro.
Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft.
Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable.
Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below:
1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below:
2. Agree with the license terms:
3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath:
4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded.
Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus.
Method 2: Use data recovery software
Ransomware infections and Marlboro aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Marlboro-FAQ
What is Marlboro Ransomware?
Marlboro is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files.
Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithms to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
What Does Marlboro Ransomware Do?
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid.
Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
How Does Marlboro Infect?
Via several ways.Marlboro Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, containing virus attachment. This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users.
Another way you may become a victim of Marlboro is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to Open .Marlboro files?
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .Marlboro files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Marlboro files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Can I Restore ".Marlboro" Files?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Marlboro files.
These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How To Get Rid of Marlboro Virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program.
It will scan for and locate Marlboro ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Marlboro files.
Can I Report Ransomware to Authorities?
In case your computer got infected with a ransomware infection, you can report it to the local Police departments. It can help authorities worldwide track and determine the perpetrators behind the virus that has infected your computer.
Below, we have prepared a list with government websites, where you can file a report in case you are a victim of a cybercrime:
Cyber-security authorities, responsible for handling ransomware attack reports in different regions all over the world:
Germany - Offizielles Portal der deutschen Polizei
United States - IC3 Internet Crime Complaint Centre
United Kingdom - Action Fraud Police
France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
Italy - Polizia Di Stato
Spain - Policía Nacional
Netherlands - Politie
Poland - Policja
Portugal - Polícia Judiciária
Greece - Cyber Crime Unit (Hellenic Police)
India - Mumbai Police - CyberCrime Investigation Cell
Australia - Australian High Tech Crime Center
Reports may be responded to in different timeframes, depending on your local authorities.
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Can Marlboro Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it.
In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
Should I Pay Ransomware?
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine.
It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity.
About the Marlboro Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Marlboro how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Marlboro ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources.
How to recognize trustworthy sources:
- Always check "About Us" web page.
- Profile of the content creator.
- Make sure that real people are behind the site and not fake names and profiles.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.