MATILAN Virus (.MATILAN files) — How to remove rasnomware?

The Matilan virus belongs with the ransomware type of malicious agent. Ransomware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the PC (images, text files, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, leaving the RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt files in every directory with the encrypted files.

Matilan virus: what is known so far?

☝️ A scientifically accurate designation for the Matilan is “a ransomware-type infection”.

Matilan appends its own .MATILAN extension to every file’s name. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.MATILAN”. Just like the Excel table named “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.MATILAN”, and so forth.

In each directory containing the encrypted files, a RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt file will be found. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the Matilan developers. That is it.

Matilan overview:

In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Matilan looks like. Each filename has the “.MATILAN” extension added to it.

How did my computer get infected with Matilan ransomware?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most exploited ways for hackers to have ransomware acting in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer file transfer.

If you access your mailbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a malicious file attached to them. Thus it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with letters like these.

As for the peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never guess what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How do I get rid of the Matilan virus?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your data, the Matilan virus will probably deploy the Azorult Spyware on your machine to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Often criminals would unblock several of your files so you know that they really have the decryption tool. Since Matilan virus is a relatively recent ransomware, anti-malware designers have not yet found a way to undo its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware tools are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon arrive.

Sure thing, if the evildoers succeed in encrypting someone’s critical files, the desperate person will most likely comply with their demands. Despite that, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After getting the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about hackers simply vanishing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.

The best solution 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 disk. Surely, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that file you were working on when it all went down. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.

There are other ransomware products, besides Matilan, that work similarly. For instance, Wdlo, Kqgs, Bpqd, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Matilan are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become encrypted, their extensions changed, ransom notes emerge in each folder containing encrypted files.

Some fortunate users were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the racketeers accidentally send the decryption key to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the user to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a bandits’ instrument to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How do I avoid ransomware infiltration?

Matilan ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can armour your system from its attack taking three easy steps:

• Never open any emails from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are expecting (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the suspicious letter with caution. A fake letter will surely contain a mistake.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, most likely as a “patch” preventing the license check. But dubious programs are very hard to distinguish from reliable software, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. You can try searching for information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal way is not to use such software.

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft²

Download Removal Tool.

Run the setup file.

Press “Install” button.

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

Click on “Clean Now”.

FAQ

🤔 How can I open “.MATILAN” files?Can I somehow access “.MATILAN” files?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.MATILAN” files you will not be able to access them.

🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?

If the “.MATILAN” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. All other solutions require time.

🤔 What should I do if the Matilan malware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.

🤔 What could help the situation right now?

Some of the blocked data can be located elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You may have shared images 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 downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, phone, memory stick, etc.

HINT: You can use file recovery programs⁴ to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the video below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you can do it only after you remove the virus with an antivirus program.

Also, you can contact the following official fraud and scam sites to report this attack:

• In the United States: On Guard Online;
• In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
• In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
• In Australia: SCAMwatch;
• In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
• In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
• In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
• In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;

To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.

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