MADA Ransomware

The MADA Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that can encrypt media to keep you from opening it until you agree to pay its ransom, as well as deleting them potentially. Try to avoid paying the threat actor, who may not give you a matching decryption solution. Instead, use backups or free decryption programs to save your files while anti-malware software removes the MADA Ransomware from your computer.

Crooks Going a Little MAD for Bitcoins

The file-erasing antics of the Jigsaw Ransomware appear to have either a competitor or an update: the MADA Ransomware, a Trojan offering identical features for erasing data after it already holds them hostage. Malware researchers aren't able to confirm any active infection methods, but the Trojan's functions are working as anticipated and may block you from opening your files or removing them under some arbitrary conditions permanently.

Based on their names and associated file data, the MADA Ransomware's installers may arrive on random PCs with the disguise of fake versions of the Chrome browser. The Trojan uses an unknown encryption method for scanning and locking a variety of content automatically, which often can include documents and other media associated with programs like Microsoft's Word or Adobe's Acrobat Reader. The MADA Ransomware also may or may not include secondary changes to these files, such as an added extension ('dog.bmp.encrypted,' 'dog.bmp.locked' and so on).

Although malware experts have yet to surmise the suitability of unlocking the above media freely, the MADA Ransomware's author offers a premium solution: paying Bitcoins with further details available by contacting his e-mail address. Most notably, however, the same ransom message also carries warnings about the MADA Ransomware's deleting files on a timer or during a system reboot, which is a hallmark of the notorious Jigsaw Ransomware's campaign.

Putting the Puzzle Pieces of Your Files Back Together

If the MADA Ransomware is, in fact, a modification of the original Jigsaw Ransomware, free decryption utilities may be compatible with it. Speak with an anti-malware specialist with experience versus cryptography-including threats for additional help on how to determine any possible recovery methods via third-party programs. Malware experts don't encourage delivering the ransom, which isn't a surefire promise of getting the decryptor necessarily. Having backups from before the infection always is the most definitive way of retrieving any content that Trojans with this payload type try to harm.

The fact that the MADA Ransomware's author uses a Gmail-based account for negotiations makes it unlikely that this project is a heavily-funded or professional one. Infection strategies for low-level campaigns of this type can use corrupted Web advertisements, spam e-mails, or content on file-sharing networks for soliciting downloads from their victims. All of these attacks are preventable by conventional anti-malware technology that should eliminate the MADA Ransomware, while also blocking its payload.

Whether it's deletion or encryption, the MADA Ransomware is a problem for users who don't care to give their files the attention that they deserve. As long as it's inexpensive and easy to copy your media, there's no reason not to take the next step and make sure that those copies are residing somewhere safe.