Mole00 ransomware: how to decrypt virus .MOLE00 files

Learn how to remove MOLE00 ransomware strain from Windows computer and restore encrypted .MOLE00 extension files without submitting the ransom to attackers.

The Mole ransomware family engages much more social engineering in the attack chain than the vast majority of crypto threats in the wild. Rather than drop bad payloads via tainted malspam attachments alone, the threat actors first dupe victims into visiting a fake Microsoft Word Online site and then persuade them to download and install the latest plugin version for an allegedly important document. The original deceptive email tends to be associated with failed parcel delivery, a theme that grabs most recipients’ attention right away. The newest variant of this hoax, referred to as Mole00, sticks with this particular contamination tactic. This iteration was discovered on July 3 and got its name from the .MOLE00 extension concatenated to each no-longer-accessible file.

The above-mentioned trick involving a misleading email, malicious web page and booby-trapped Word plugin ultimately deposits a process named pluginoffice.exe onto a targeted host. Once executed, this unwelcome file triggers the contamination workflow that doesn’t quite take place behind the user’s back. It displays a User Account Control dialog preceded by a “Display Color Calibration” popup. Clicking Yes on the UAC prompt actually grants the ransomware admin permissions on the system. From that moment on, the Mole00 virus starts wreaking havoc according to a well-trodden ransomware route. It establishes connection with the C2 server to exchange cryptographic keys, and then fires up the file-scrambling part of its mission.

The infection scans local drives and network shares for various types of potentially important files. This being done, it encrypts every detected item with a combo of AES and RSA cryptographic standards. The expectable byproduct of this activity is the scrambling of filenames: they are replaced with 32 hexadecimal characters and appended with the .MOLE00 extension. Also, the ransomware drops recovery manuals into folders with skewed data and on the desktop. The how-to files are currently named _HELP_INSTRUCTION.txt, while the previous Mole ransomware editions used INSTRUCTION_FOR_HELPING_FILE_RECOVERY.txt ransom notes. The message starts with the following, “All of your files are encrypted with RSA-1048 and AES-128 ciphers.” The rest of the note tells the victim to visit a decryption page using Tor browser, enter their “DECRYPT-ID” string and pay 0.5-1 Bitcoin for the private RSA key.

Regaining access to .MOLE00 files is challenging due to professional implementation of the above-mentioned cryptosystems by the crooks. Therefore those infected can either cough up the ransom (which is not recommended for ethical reasons), or give a few workarounds a shot. The latter options are extensively covered in the troubleshooting section of this post.

.MOLE00 ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like .MOLE00, one of the best shortcuts in terms of removal is to use Combo Cleaner, a lightweight and incredibly effective application with PC security and optimization features under the hood. It detects and thoroughly deletes threats while giving you insights into the overall health of your computer.

This program’s protection power spans modules that forestall all known types of malware, including ransomware and browser hijackers, and take your online security to the next level by blocking phishing sites and other suspicious web pages. Follow these simple steps to eliminate the infection for good:

1. Download Combo Cleaner installer.

Download .MOLE00 remover

^{Combo Cleaner scans your PC with no strings attached, but you’ll have to buy its fully functional version to remove the threats it detects. The disk optimization tools that find large files and duplicates are free to use.}

2. Open the CCSetup.exe file to get started. Several subsequent screens will allow you to make initial customizations so that the program works exactly as you need from the get-go.

3. The installation will be followed by an update of malware signatures. Once this process is through, click the Start Scan button in the left-hand sidebar.

4. Combo Cleaner will then check system locations that are most often polluted by Windows malware. The first scan can take a while to finish.

5. Combo Cleaner will display a system tray notification as soon as the scan is over. Click the Resolve found threats button to view the results.

6. The scan summary shows the names and types of the detected threats as well as their statuses and locations. Click the Remove all threats button and follow further on-screen prompts to get rid of these items.

Data recovery toolkit to the rescue

Some strains of ransomware are known to delete the original files after the encryption routine has been completed. As hostile as this activity appears, it can play into your hands. There are applications designed to revive the information that was obliterated because of malfunctioning hardware or due to accidental removal. The tool called Stellar Data Recovery features this type of a capability and therefore it can be applied in ransom attack scenarios to at least get the most important files back. So use the app to get an idea of what data can be restored and let it do the recovery job. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

2. Open the application, select the types of recoverable files to look for, and click Next.

3. Choose the areas you want the tool to recover from and click the Scan button.

4. Having scanned the specified locations, the program will display a notification about the total amount of recoverable data. Close the dialog and click the Recover button. This will hopefully help you get some of your valuable files back.

.MOLE00 ransomware manual removal and file recovery

Some ransomware strains terminate themselves after completing the encryption job on a computer, but some don’t. Furthermore, the .MOLE00 virus may prevent victims from using popular antimalware tools in order to stay on board for as long as possible. Under the circumstances, it may be necessary to utilize the Safe Mode with Networking or System Restore functionality.

Be advised that even after the ransomware is removed, files will still be encrypted and inaccessible. The malicious code cleanup part, however, is important because it keeps a relapse of the infection from occurring further on and eliminates all opportunistic malware.

Ways of non-ransom recovery of .MOLE00 extension files

Cracking the crypto used by this ransom Trojan is more of a science fiction thing rather than an attainable prospect for the masses. This is why the troubleshooting in predicaments of this sort is a matter of two approaches: one is to pay the ransom, which isn’t an option for many victims; and the other is to apply instruments that take advantage of the ransomware’s possible weaknesses. If the latter is your pick, the advice below is a must-try.

Ransomware Prevention Tips

To avoid .MOLE00 ransomware and other file-encrypting infections in the future, follow several simple recommendations:

These techniques are certainly not a cure-all, but they will add an extra layer of ransomware protection to your security setup.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup. Another benefit of using the antimalware tool is that it will keep ransomware threats from intruding on your computer further on.

Download .MOLE00 removal tool