Masodas Ransomware

The Masodas Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that uses encryption for holding your documents and other media captive. The Masodas Ransomware ransoms the decryption solution that could restore your data, although most users should attempt every alternate restoration possibility, first. Anti-malware products from most vendors will delete the Masodas Ransomware and other members of its Ransomware-as-a-Service family.

Unplugging Your Internet for Sparing Your Files

Reacting to a Trojan attack quickly and without hesitation can be the thing that saves your work from disaster – although doing so is easier said than done. For the file-locking Trojan family of the STOP Ransomware, and its newest member, the Masodas Ransomware, the best chances of saving one's work from encryption lies in either cutting off the Internet connection or, preferably, avoiding infection. The former resolution method is thanks to a default function for most members of the Ransomware-as-a-Service, including older releases like the Djvu Ransomware, the Masok Ransomware, the Nvetud Ransomware and the Prandel Ransomware.

As is also true of most RaaS Trojans that malware experts catch, the Masodas Ransomware's family and variants, including itself, will block the victim's files with AES and RSA encryption. The encryption routine searches for prominent types of media, such as documents, and also adds an extension ('.masodas,' in this case) into their names. However, whether the Masodas Ransomware secures it with a static method or a dynamic one depends on whether or not it can contact its Command & Control server successfully.

If the system lacks an Internet connection or the server is, for any other reason, unavailable, the Masodas Ransomware still encrypts content but does so by using a built-in RSA key. This alternative makes it much more likely that victims can unlock or decrypt their work with free software, such as Michael Gillespie's STOPDecryptor. Contrastingly, rates of decrypting content that's experienced the online version of the attack hover are roughly five percent.

Throwing Out the Decryption Crutches

Although in the Masodas Ransomware's case, a freeware decryptor is available, as noted previously, it has significant limitations. The Masodas Ransomware may show no symptoms or display fake software-updating pop-ups during its encryption routine, either of which makes it less likely that victims can respond in time. Additionally, the Masodas Ransomware can rethe Restore Points from Windows machines, which further narrows any data-recovering options.

Malware researchers are tracking victims of the Masodas Ransomware's campaign in Spain and an undisclosed Middle Eastern country, although it's very likely that other parts of the world are affected equally. Users can practice basic Web-browsing security guidelines, such as avoiding torrents and back their work up onto another device. Threats from the STOP Ransomware family impact individual, casual PC owners equally, and unprotected business networks and servers.

A credible anti-malware solution should keep this threat from installing itself at all, but also may remove the Masodas Ransomware without trouble, ordinarily.

Catching Black Hat software in the act of attack isn't always possible, but when it is, quick thinking can save more than just your computer. It also can keep you out of an awkward scenario of extortion versus losing all your work.