MZOP Virus (.mzop File) Ransomware 🔐 Fix & Decrypt Data

The Mzop virus, known as a ransomware infection, belongs to the STOP family. This malware is known for malicious file ciphering. When the Mzop virus infects a computer, it targets various types of files, like videos, photos, documents, and more. It changes the file structure and adds the “.mzop” extension to each file, making them unusable without the decryption.

Mzop Virus Overview

Mzop

🤔 Mzop virus can be classified as ransomware that belongs to the DJVU/STOP family. Its primary purpose is to encrypt your files. After that ransomware virus asks its victims for a ransom payment – ($490 – $980) in Bitcoin.

The Mzop virus is a type of malware that ciphers your files and forces you to pay for their decryption. This ransomware encrypts a wide selection of file types. Encrypted files become identifiable by a distinct “.mzop” extension. As a result, the affected files become inaccessible and unusable.

Subsequently, the ransomware asks for a file decryption payment in Bitcoin from the victims, ranging from $490 to $980. In all cases, a text file with ransom payment guidances is named as “_readme.txt“.

Mzop Ransomware operates by Salsa20 encryption algorithms to scramble the contents of the targeted files. Since Mzop virus applies such a strong ciphering method, it becomes particularly hard, if not impossible, to find the decryption key without cooperating with the attackers.

Once the files are encrypted, the Mzop virus displays a ransom note to the user, asking for a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. The ransom note contains instructions on the ways of making the payment and also often contains threats of permanent data loss or increased ransom amounts if the demands are not met within a specified timeframe.

I have compiled a comprehensive list of the solutions, tips, and methods to stop the Mzop malware and recover your files. There are cases when it may be feasible to restore your files, but sometimes, it may be impossible.

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📌 Important Note!

It is critical to say that paying off the bill does not guarantee the successful recovery of your files. The scoundrels behind the Mzop virus are known for their untrustworthiness. There were the cases where victims have paid the ransom, only to be denied by the cybercriminals with the decryption key provision.

Mzop uses a unique key for each victim, with one exception:

The Mzop virus bears resemblance to other DJVU ransomware samples such as Mzhi, Mzqt, Azop, and Azqt. This virus encrypts a wide range of common file types and appends its distinct “.mzop” extension to all files. For instance, a file named “1.jpg” would be altered to “1.jpg.mzop” and “2.png” to “2.png.mzop“.

After successful encryption, the virus spawns a special text file named “_readme.txt” and places it in every folder containing the encrypted files. It as well adds this file to the desktop, so the victim will not miss its appearance even without opening folders.

The image below provides a visual representation of files with the “mzop” extension:

Encrypted Files by STOP/DJVU Ransomware

Name	Mzop Virus
Ransomware family¹	DJVU/STOP² ransomware
Extension	.mzop
Ransomware note	_readme.txt
Ransom	From $490 to $980 (in Bitcoins)
Contact	[email protected], [email protected]
Detection	Ransom:Win32/WannaCrypt!pz, Ransom:MSIL/HiddenTear.RDA!MTB, TrojanDownloader:MSIL/Dae.YA!MTB
Symptoms	Disables Volume Shadow copies, making victim’s attempts to restore data futile; Installs password-stealing Trojan on the system, like Vidar Stealer or RedLine Stealer; Successfully installs a SmokeLoader backdoor for remote access; Updates the HOSTS file with a list of domains to block access to certain security-related sites; Implements encryption to lock most of your files (photos, videos, documents) and adds a particular “.mzop” extension;
Fix Tool	To remove possible malware infections, scan your PC: 6-day free trial available.

This message asking payment is for restore files via decryption key:

_readme.txt (STOP/DJVU Ransomware) – The scary warning insisting users to pay the ransom to unlock the encrypted data contains these annoying warnings.

Mzop ransomware arrives as a set of operations that are meant to execute different tasks on a victim’s computer. One of the first processes being launched is winupdate.exe, a tricky process that shows a fraudulent Windows update alert during the attack. This is meant to convince the victim that their PC has become slow because of a Windows update.

At the same time, the ransomware runs another process (usually named by four random characters) which starts scanning the PC for target files and ciphering them. Then the ransomware deletes Volume Shadow Copies from the disk by the following CMD command:

vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet

Once erased, it becomes virtually impossible to recover the previous computer state using System Restore Points. The issue is, ransomware operators are eliminating any built-in Windows approaches that could aid the victim to recover files for free. In addition, the rascals modify the Windows HOSTS file by including a list of domains to it and linking them to the localhost IP. As a result, the victim will encounter a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error when accessing one of the blocked websites.

We’ve observed that ransomware attempts to restrict websites that post various how-to guides for computer users. It is evident that by limiting specific domains, the perpetrators are attempting to hinder the victim from accessing relevant and helpful ransomware-attack-related information online. Malware also keeps two text files on the victim’s computer that offer particulars related to the attack – the public key of this victim and personal ID. These two files are named bowsakkdestx.txt and PersonalID.txt.

After all these modifications, the malware doesn’t halt. Variants of STOP/DJVU are inclined to install Vidar password-stealing Trojan on compromised systems. This threat has an huge list of capabilities, including:

Manipulating and viewing files on the victim’s computer without their knowledge.
Extracting sensitive information such as browser cookies, saved passwords, and browsing history.
Obtaining unauthorized access to login credentials of Steam, Telegram, and Skype.
Granting the hackers remote control over the victim’s computer for various malicious activities.
Stealing cryptocurrency wallets from the victim’s system.
Gathering sensitive data by running malicious software on the victim’s computer.

The encryption algorithm used by DJVU/STOP virus is AES-256. So, once your data is encrypted with an online decryption key, the chances to get your files back are quite low. Thing is, online key is unique for each victim, and finding a suitable one will take too much time.

Obtaining the online key in another way is also close to impossible. It is stored on a command server controlled by the crooks who promote the Mzop infection. For receiving decrypting code the payment should be $980. To see the payment details, the victims should contact the hackers by email ([email protected]).

The message by the ransomware states the following information:

ATTENTION!

Don't worry, you can return all your files!

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.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.

What guarantees you have?

You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.

You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:

https://we.tl/t-WJa63R98Ku

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.

Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:

[email protected]

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

[email protected]

Your personal ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Do not pay the ransom!

Please, try to use the available backups, or Decrypter tool

The _readme.txt file also indicates that the computer owner should contact the hackers’ representatives during 72 hours after the attack. If user contacts hackers during 72 hours, hackers grant a 50% off. This decreases the ransom sum down to $490.

Yet, stay away from paying off the ransom! I highly recommend that you do not contact these frauds and do not pay. One of the most real working solution to recover the lost data is just using the backups you have, or using Decrypter tool from Emsisoft.

The distinctiveness of such malware is the employment a similar set of actions for decryption key generation. Thus, unless the ransomware is still under the stage of development or possesses with some hard-to-track encryption, manual data recovery is a thing you can’t perform. The exclusive resolution to prevent the data loss is to regularly make backups of your crucial files.

Keep in mind that even if you do create such backups regularly, they ought to be located into a specific location without loitering, not being connected to your main workstation. For instance, the backup may be kept on the USB flash drive or some optional external hard drive storage. Alternatively, you may refer to the help of online (cloud) information storage.

It goes without saying, when you maintain your backup on your regular device, it may be similarly ciphered as well as other data. For this reason, storing the backup on your computer’s disk is surely not a wise idea.

How I was infected?

Ransomware has a various methods to built into your system. But it doesn’t really matter what way had place in your case.

Ransomware attack following a successful phishing attempt.

Nevertheless, these are the common leaks through which it may be injected into your PC:

Concealing the virus within seemingly legitimate apps, especially utilities provided as freeware or shareware.
Spreading the virus through spam emails containing suspicious links that lead to the virus installer.
Exploiting online free hosting resources to host and distribute the virus files discreetly.
Obtaining pirated software from illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) resources, which may unknowingly contain malware.

Instances have been reported when the Mzop virus was disguised as a legit thing, for example, the messages demanding to start a browser update or a vastly needed codec for online media playback. This is commonly the way how some online deceptions aim to force you into installing the ransomware manually, by actually making you directly engage in this process.

Surely, the bogus update alert will not indicate that you are going to actually embed the virus. This process will be concealed under some alert stating that you should install an urgent security update or some questionable program whatsoever.

Without a doubt, the software cracks represent the threat too. Using P2P is both illegal and may end up with the introduction of serious malware, including the Mzop ransomware.

To sum up, what can you do to avoid the penetration of the ransomware into your system? Even though there is no 100% guarantee to stop your PC from getting infected, there are some tips I want to give you to shield the Mzop penetration. You must be cautious while installing free software today.

Make sure you always read what the installation window offers aside from the main free program. Stay away from opening dubious email attachments. Do not run files from the unknown senders. Of course, your current anti-malware software must always be updated.

The malware does not show itself openly. It will not appear in the list of your available programs. Instead, it will be masked under some malevolent process running consistently in the background, starting from the moment when you boot up your computer.

How To Remove Ransomware?

Video Guide

How To Decrypt .mzop Files?

How to restore big files?

Try deleting .mzop extension on a few big files and opening them. This malware has issues with large files encryption. Either the virus read and did not lock the file, or it failed and did not add the filemarker. If you have files that are very large (2GB+), such a situation is highly probable. Please, text me in the comments whether this helped you or not.

The newest extensions released around the end of August 2019 after the criminals made changes. This includes Mzhi, Mzqt, Azop etc.

As a outcome of the modifications made by the criminals, STOPDecrypter is no longer backed. It has been replaced with the Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Djvu Ransomware developed by Emsisoft.

You can download free decryption tool here: Decryptor for STOP Djvu.

Select folders for decryption.

Based on the default configurations, the decryptor will by default choose the available directories in order to unlock the currently available drives (the connected ones), including the network drives. Extra (optional) locations can be selected with the assistance of the “Add” button.

Decryptors typically offer several options considering the specific malware family. The existing possible options are shown in the Options tab and can be activated or turned off there. You may locate a comprehensive list of the currently active Options below.

Click on the “Decrypt” button.

As soon as you add all the desired locations for decryption into the list, click on the “Decrypt” button in order to initiate the decryption procedure.

Note that the main screen may turn you to a status view, letting you know of the active process and the decryption statistics of your data:

The decryptor will notify you as soon as the decryption procedure is completed. If you need the report for your personal papers, you can save it by choosing the “Save log” button. Note that it is also possible to copy it directly to your clipboard and to paste it into emails or messages here if you need to do so.

The Emsisoft Decryptor might display different messages after a failed attempt to restore your files:

✓ Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [your ID]

Emsisoft failed to find a correspondnig decryption key in their database.

✓ No key for New Variant online ID: [your ID]

Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible

Malware used an online key to cipher your files. So no one else has the same encryption/decryption key pair. File recovery without paying the ransom is impossible. 🙁

✓ Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]

This ID appears be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.

Malware used an offline key, though the file recovery operation failed (the offline decryption key isn’t available yet). Nonetheless, receiving this message is good news for you, since it is possible to restore your files in the future. 🙂
It can take a few weeks or months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. Please follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here.

✓ Remote name could not be resolved

It’s an indication of a DNS issue on your PC. Our first recommendation is to reset your HOSTS file back to default.

How to Restore .mzop Files?

In some case ransomware is not doom for your files…

The Mzop ransomware encryption mechanism feature is next: it encodes every file byte-by-byte, then saves a duplicate, removing (not overriding!) the initial file. Hence, the information of the file placement on the disk drive is lost, but the original file is not removed from the physical disk. The cell, or the sector where this file was kept, can still keep this file, but it is not listed by the file system and can be overwritten by data that has been loaded to this drive after the deletion. Hence, it is possible to restore your files using special software.

I recently had my pc infected by the this virus. It managed to bypass 2 Antivirus software and 2 malware fighters.

Anyway, after realizing it was an online algorithm, it is impossible to retrieve my encrypted files. I also had my backup drive plugged in at the time of the virus, and this was also infected, or so I thought. Every folder within my backup drive had been infected and was encrypted. However, despite losing some important files, I retrieved almost 80% of my 2TB storage.

When I started going through the folders, I noticed the readme.txt ransom note in every folder. I opened some of the folders and found that all files that were not in a subfolder within that folder had been encrypted. However, I found a flaw and glimmer of hope when I went into the subfolders in other folders and found that these files had not been encrypted. Every folder within my c and d drives, including subfolders, had been encrypted, but this was not the case with the backup drive. Having subfolders created within a folder has saved 80% of my data.

As I said, I believe this to be only a small loophole on a backup drive. I’ve since found a further 10 % of my data on another hard drive on a different pc. So my advice is if you use a backup drive, create subfolders. I was lucky, I guess. But I was also unlucky that the virus hit as I was transferring some files from my backup.

Hopefully, this can help some other people in my situation.

Jamie Newland

Some pointers for recovery repair of Mzop files (true for all STOP/DJVU variants):

I have seen Stop/Djvu variants fail to encrypt deeper nested folders, so that you can check that. You may find those are not encrypted.

This ransomware saves encrypted data to a new file, deletes the original. So there’s a slight chance part of that deleted file can be recovered using file recovery software. It’s unlikely the folder structure can be restored, so a free tool like PhotoRec may be as good as any.

This ransomware only partially encrypts (about the first 150 KB), so depending on file size and type of data, the not encrypted part may be recoverable.

Joep

Recovering your files with PhotoRec

PhotoRec is an open-source program, which is originally created for file retrieval from damaged disks, or for file retrieval in case if they are unintentionally deleted. However, with time flow, this program received the ability to recover the files of 400 different extensions. Hence, it can be used for data recovery after the Mzop attack.

First, you need to download this app. It is 100% free, but the developer notifies that there is no warranty that your files will be recovered. PhotoRec is distributed in a pack with another utility of the same developer – TestDisk. The program archive will have TestDisk name, but don’t worry. PhotoRec files are right inside.

To run PhotoRec, find and open “qphotorec_win.exe” file. No installation process is required – this program has all the files it need inside of the archive, hence, you can mount it on your USB drive, and help your friends/parents/anyone who has been attacked by Mzop ransomware.

Upon the start, you will see the screen showing you the complete list of your drives. However, this details are likely unhelpful, because the required menu is placed a bit higher. Click this menu, then choose the disk which was attacked by ransomware.

After selecting the disk, you need to pick the destination folder for the retrieved files. This menu is located at the lower part of the PhotoRec window. The best option is to export them on USB drive or any other type of removable disk.

Then, you need to designate the file formats. This option is located at the bottom, too. As it was mentioned, PhotoRec can recover the files of about 400 different formats.

Finally, you can initiate files restoration by pressing the “Search” button. You will see the screen where the findings of the scan and recovery are shown.

Mzop files recovery Video Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.mzop” files?

No way. These files are encrypted by ransomware. The contents of encrypted files are not available until they are decrypted.

🤔 Encrypted files contain important information. How can I decrypt them urgently?

If your data remained in the .mzop files are very valuable, then most likely you made a backup copy. If not, then you can try to restore them through the system function – Restore Point. All other methods will require patience.

🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to remove Mzop. Does this mean that the program will delete my encrypted files?

Of course not. Your encrypted files do not pose a threat to the computer. What happened has already happened.

🤔 This virus has blocked infected PC: I can’t get the activation code.

In this situation, you need to prepare the memory stick with a pre-installed

🤔 Decryptor did not decrypt all my files, or not all of them were decrypted. What should I do?

Have patience. You are infected with the new version of STOP/DJVU ransomware, and decryption keys have not yet been released. Follow the news on our website. We will keep you posted on when new keys or new decryption programs appear.

🤔 What can I do right now?

The Mzop ransomware encrypts only the first 150KB of files. So MP3 files are rather large, some media players (Winamp for example) may be able to play the files, but – the first 3-5 seconds (the encrypted portion) will be missing. You can try to find a copy of an original file that was encrypted: Files you downloaded from the Internet that were encrypted and you can download again to get the original.