Mado Ransomware Removal Guide

Getting infected with something like Mado Ransomware might not be something nice, but there is no need to panic either. This program can successfully encrypt your files, and once the encryption process started, there’s no going back. So, worrying over it will only lose you a few necessary brain cells. Instead, it is recommended to focus on Mado Ransomware removal and protecting your data and your system from similar intruders in the future. For the manual removal instructions, you can scroll down to the bottom of this description. For various security tips, continue reading below.

Mado Ransomware comes from the STOP Ransomware family. We have talked about programs from this group before, and this app is pretty much the same as Npsk Ransomware, Nppp Ransomware, and a ton of others. To avoid things like Mado Ransomware, we have to know how they spread.

Security researchers suggest that these programs employ spam email campaigns to reach their victims. The ransomware installer file may come with a spam email attachment that masquerades as a legitimate document. It might look like an online shopping invoice or some financial report. If you haven’t been expecting a document like that, you would do yourself a favor if you scanned the received files with a security tool of your choice.

Aside from spam emails, Mado Ransomware might also come bundled with freeware. You should be especially careful if you download programs via p2p sharing sites. For instance, if you torrent a program and you use a pirated activation code instead of a licensed one, it is very likely that along with the program you want, you might also get a malicious infection. So, it’s not just about piracy, it’s about your safety, too. Be sure to adopt safe web browsing and program acquisition practices.

If Mado Ransomware enters your system anyway, you will soon see that all of your file icon changes. It happens because the infection encrypts your files, and the system is no longer able to read them. The infection will also add the ‘.mado’ extension to every single file, and that extension is like a stamp that says this file was affected by Mado Ransomware. However, you don’t really need this stamp to realize that something terrible happened, and you can no longer access your data.

There might be a silver lining to this, however. There is a public decryption tool for the STOP Ransomware infection. If a program that is based on STOP Ransomware uses an offline key to encrypt target files, it is possible to use the same public decryption tool to restore the affected data. Please note that the public decryption tool would not work if an online key was used to lock up your files. Hence, it’s still better to have a file backup.

Aside from the encryption, Mado Ransomware also drops a ransom note that says the same thing as all the other ransom notes from this group:

All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.

<…>
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.

Do you really have to contact these criminals? No. Don’t even think of using the emails in that ransom note. Paying would hardly solve anything, and you might end up without your files and without your money. If you feel at a loss, it’s a lot better to address a local professional, who would tell you more about various methods you can employ to try and restore your files.

How to Remove Mado Ransomware

1. Delete the most recent files from Desktop and the Downloads folder.
2. Press Win+R and type %TEMP%. Click OK.
3. Delete the most recent files and press Win+R again.
4. Type %LOCALAPPDATA% into the Open box. Press OK.
5. Remove a folder with a long random name.
6. Perform a full system scan with a licensed security tool.