The Mirror virus falls under the Dharma ransomware family. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (images, documents, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, creating the info-MIRROR.txt text files in every directory with the encrypted files.
Mirror virus: what is known so far?
☝️ Mirror is a Dharma family ransomware-type malicious agent.
The renaming will be executed by the following pattern: id-xxxxx.[contact-email].Mr. During the encryption, a file named, for instance, “report.docx” will be turned into “report.docx.id-9ECFA84E.[[email protected]].Mr”.
In each directory that contains the encoded files, a info-MIRROR.txt text file will appear. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can obtain this decrypting software after contacting [email protected] through email. That is pretty much the scheme of the crime.
Mirror Summary:
| Name | Mirror Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | Dharma ransomware |
| Extension | .Mr |
| Ransomware note | info-MIRROR.txt |
| Contact | [email protected] |
| Detection | MSIL/TrojanDownloader.Agent.QGT Virus Removal, Ransom:Win32/Tescrypt!pz Virus Removal, Win32/Filecoder.CryptProjectXXX.C Virus Removal |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .Mr extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Mirror virus |
The info-MIRROR.txt file coming in package with the Mirror malware states the following:
All your data has been locked us You want to return? write email [email protected] or [email protected]
In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Mirror looks like. Each filename has the “.Mr” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.Mr” files look.
How did my machine catch Mirror ransomware?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware injection.
Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for evil-doers to have the Mirror virus working in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer networks.
- If you open your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is strange to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a harmful file attached to them. Thus it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
- Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan horse scheme. A Trojan is an object that gets into your machine disguised as something legal. For example, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some software. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that corrupts your data. Since the update package can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
- As for the peer-to-peer networks like torrent trackers or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never know what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.
How to remove ransomware?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Mirror virus will probably install Vidar Stealer on your machine to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling card file.
Remove Mirror with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware
We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Mirror as well as other malware hiding on your computer.
To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:
1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.
2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.
3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.
4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.
Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.
5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.
6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.
8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.
Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.
Trojan Killer for “Mirror” removal on locked PC
In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.
There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.
Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.
Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:
1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.
2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.
3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.
4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.
Step 2: Update Signature Databases:
5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.
6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.
Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:
7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.
8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.
9. Insert the USB flash drive.
10. Run tk.exe
11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.
Step 4: Remove Found Threats:
12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.
13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.
14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer:
15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.
16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.
Congratulations on effectively removing Mirror and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.
Sometimes racketeers would decode some of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption program. Since the Mirror virus is a relatively recent ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a method to undo its work. Nevertheless, the decryption tools are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.
Understandably, if the evildoers succeed in encoding the victim’s critical data, the hopeless person will probably fulfill their demands. However, paying a ransom does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After getting the ransom, the racketeers may deliver the wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports about racketeers just disappearing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.
The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have an OS restore point or copies of your critical files in the cloud drive or at least on an external drive. Of course, that might be insufficient. The most crucial thing could be that file you were working on when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.
There are other ransomware products, besides Mirror, that work similarly. Examples of those are Kvip, Slime, Dx31, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Mirror are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: documents become encrypted, their extensions changed, and ransom notes emerge in each directory containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate people were able to decode the blocked files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decoding key to the victims in the ransom note. Such an extraordinary failure allows the user to restore the files. But obviously, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a criminal’s technology to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How do I avert ransomware attack?
Mirror ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.
You can protect your PC from its infiltration within three easy steps:
- Ignore any letters from unknown mailers with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the suspicious email with caution. A fake letter will always contain a mistake.
- Avoid using cracked or untrusted programs. Trojans are often distributed as an element of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, untrusted programs are very hard to distinguish from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try to find information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal way is not to use such programs at all.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect defense for your PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 Is it possible to open “.Mr” files?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.Mr” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
If the “.Mr” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. The rest of the methods require patience.
🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Mirror virus?
Absolutely not! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with real viruses. The malware that has infiltrated your system must be still active and launching checks periodically to arrest any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been mentioned above, the Mirror virus comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide hackers with easy access to your PC after some time.
🤔 What should I do if the Mirror ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code?
In such an unfortunate situation, you need to have a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to do the cleaning. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encodes any new files created or brought into your computer. To block this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What can I do right now?
Some of the encrypted files can be found elsewhere.
- If you sent or received your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to post those images back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try to do it again.
- Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a notebook, cellphone, flash memory, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can use data recovery utilities2 to get your lost data back since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.
