Remove Midnight ransomware

Midnight ransomware is a file-encrypting malicious program that takes files hostage by encrypting them. The malware uses military-grade encryption to encrypt files, making them unopenable. When files are encrypted, an extension is added to them, which is .midnight in this case. This allows users to identify both which files have been encrypted and what ransomware specifically they are dealing with. Unfortunately, to be able to open the encrypted files, users need to have a decryptor, which only the malicious actors operating this ransomware have. They will not provide it for free, and instead try to sell it to victims. At the time of writing, only users who have file backups can recover files for free.

 

 

Midnight ransomware comes from the Babuk ransomware family, and can be identified by the .Midnight extension added to encrypted files. The ransomware targets the usual types of files, just like any other ransomware. All files that are likely to contain important information will be affected, including photos, videos, images, documents, etc. An encrypted image.jpg file would become image.jpg.Midnight. You will not be able to open any of the files with this extension unless you first run them through a decryptor. However, the decryptor is not freely available, you would need to pay for it.

Once file encryption is fully completed, you will find a How to Restore Your Files.txt ransom note in all folders that contain encrypted files. The note is written in a very mocking tone and explains that files have been encrypted, and that paying is necessary to get a decryptor. Unfortunately, that is true, as they will not just send the decryptor for free. But even if victims pay, a working decryptor is not guaranteed.

The full Midnight ransomware note is below:

Sorry,but your files are locked due to a critical error in your system.
The extension of your files is now “Midnight”.
If you yourself want to decrypt the files, you will lose them FOREVER.
You have to pay get your file decoder.
DO NOT TAKE TIME, you have SEVERAL DAYS to pay, otherwise the cost of the decoder will double. How to do it is written below
Connect to the following session ID.
Session ID: 050fab406d5a91a0c42fd929d9cdde083ae57ecd2202ef49c044e85cacb4631e5e
Please download and install the Session messenger from hxxps://getsession.org. Good luck.
We are in possession of all your data.
If you refuse to pay, we will not hesitate to sell every bit of it to your fiercest competitors or even release it to them for free.
Imagine the catastrophic disaster that will strike your company when your rivals gain access to your confidential information.
This will be the end of you. Make no mistake: you are running out of time. Pay now, or face total ruin.

When dealing with cybercriminals, it’s very important to remember that they won’t feel any obligation to assist victims, even if you pay the ransom. Many users who have paid in the past reported not receiving a decryptor, and you might find yourself in the same position. What’s more, as long as users keep paying, these attacks will continue. Ultimately, the choice of whether to pay the ransom rests with you, but it’s important to understand the associated risks to make an informed decision.

If you have a backup, restoring your files should be a straightforward process, as long as you first delete Midnight ransomware from your computer. Use an anti-virus program for the removal process, as attempting to do it manually might result in missing critical components of the ransomware. If any part remains, the ransomware could potentially recover, and if you access your backup while the ransomware is still present, your backed-up files could also become encrypted. Therefore, using anti-virus software is highly recommended.

For those who did not have backups before the infection, the only option may be to wait for a free decryptor to be released. However, a free Midnight ransomware decryptor is not guaranteed. If it does get released, it will be available on NoMoreRansom.

Ransomware distribution methods

One of the most common ways users pick up ransomware infections is through malicious email attachments, commonly referred to as malspam. This method involves malicious actors buying thousands of email addresses and sending out low-quality malspam with malicious attachments added to them. In many cases, these emails are poorly written, making them easier to spot. This actually works in favor of users as they will be able to identify the malspam with relative ease.

A major indicator of a malicious email is the presence of grammar or spelling mistakes, especially in emails that claim to be from reputable companies (e.g., parcel delivery companies, government organizations, etc.). Legitimate emails will not have any mistakes because they look unprofessional. If you notice obvious mistakes, be very careful and do not rush into opening attachments or clicking on links.

Another red flag is an email addressing you as User, Member, or Customer. If the sender claims to be from a company whose services you use, but refers to you in general terms, it’s likely either spam or malspam. Legitimate correspondence will address you by name. Because malicious actors often have access to only a very limited amount of user data, they are forced to use generic words.

It’s also important to note that some malspam can be more sophisticated, specifically when the targets are specific people or companies. Thus, it’s always advisable to scan any unsolicited email attachments with anti-virus software or services like VirusTotal.

Additionally, if you use torrent sites to download copyrighted content for free, you run the risk of infecting your computer with malware. Torrent sites are often poorly moderated, allowing cybercriminals to upload malicious files. Therefore, not only is downloading copyrighted content essentially theft, but it also poses a significant danger to your device.

How to remove Midnight ransomware

Dealing with ransomware manually is not recommended due to the complexity of the infection. It’s best to use an anti-virus program to remove Midnight ransomware from your system. The anti-virus program will handle the removal process for you. After you successfully delete Midnight ransomware, you can proceed to access your backup and recover your files.