MOON Ransomware (vortexecho@zohomail.eu) @somran2024

Security expert Tomas Meskauskas was the person who, for the first time, described the Moon virus, which belongs with the ransomware type of malicious agent. A harmful program of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the PC (photos, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, creating the README.txt files in every directory which contains the encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is known about the Moon virus?

The renaming will be done by this pattern: .moon. In the process of encryption, a file entitled, for instance, “report.docx” will be altered to “report.docx.BA3484B5-A99A-8A49-AD7D-5C03B1A5A254.moon”.

In every directory with the encoded files, a README.txt text file will be created. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can obtain this decryptor after contacting vortexecho@zohomail.eu, somran@cyberfear.com (Email), @somran2024 (Telegram) through email. That is basically the scheme of the malefaction.

Moon Summary:

The README.txt document coming in package with the Moon ransomware provides the following discouraging information:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

Your files, documents, photos, databases and other important files are encrypted.

You are not able to decrypt it by yourself! The only method of recovering files is to purchase an unique private key.
Only we can give you this key and only we can recover your files.

To be sure we have the decryptor and it works you can send an email: vortexecho@zohomail.eu and decrypt one file for free.
But this file should be of not valuable!


Do you really want to restore your files?
Write to email: vortexecho@zohomail.eu
Reserved email: somran@cyberfear.com
telegram: @somran2024


Attention!
 * Do not rename encrypted files.
 * Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
 * Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.
 * We have been in your network for a long time. We know everything about your company most of your information has already been downloaded to our server. We recommend you to do not waste your time if you dont wont we start 2nd part.
 * You have 24 hours to contact us.
 * Otherwise, your data will be sold or made public.

In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Moon looks like. Each filename has the “.moon” extension added to it.

That is how encrypted “.moon” files look.

How did my computer get infected with Moon ransomware?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most popular methods for evil-doers to have ransomware working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer-to-peer file transfer.

• If you access your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is strange to you, beware of opening those letters. 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 letters like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus model. A Trojan is a program that gets into your machine disguised as something different. For instance, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some software. However, what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful program that encrypts your data. Since the update file can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The optimal way is to use the software companies’ official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never guess what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How to remove ransomware?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your files, the Moon virus will probably deploy Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can extract your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove Moon 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 Moon 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 “Moon” 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 Moon 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 tamperers would decrypt some of your files to prove that they indeed have the decryption tool. As Moon virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software developers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the anti-ransomware instruments are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.

Sure thing, if the malefactors succeed in encoding victim’s essential files, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. However, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After obtaining the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports about racketeers just disappearing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.

The optimal safety measure against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the 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 upon when it all started. But at least it is something. It is also wise to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the system restoration.

Moon is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. Examples of those are The, Defi, King, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Moon are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes appear in each directory containing encoded files.

Some fortunate users were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free software provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decoding key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.

How to avert ransomware injection?

Moon ransomware has no superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can armour yourself from ransomware injection in three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown senders with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, check all elements of the suspicious letter with caution. A hoax letter will surely contain a mistake.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked products, most likely as a “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are difficult to tell from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try searching for information about this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.
• And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect armor for your system.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 Are the “.moon” files accessible?

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.moon” files first. Then you will be able to open them.

🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.moon” files ASAP. How can I do that?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. 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.

🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Moon virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?

Absolutely not! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will remove active infections from your system. The ransomware that has attacked your PC is probably still functional and launching checks every so often to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the infection. As it has been said above, the Moon virus comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide hackers with easy access to your computer after some time.

🤔 What should I do if the Moon virus has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.

If that happened, you need to prepare a flash memory drive with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encrypts any new files created or imported into your system. To stop this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Many of the encoded files might still be within your reach

• If you exchanged your important files by email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to send those images back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try doing it again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, phone, flash memory, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can employ data recovery programs¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you can do it only after you kill the virus with an antivirus program.

1. Here are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2024.