How to avoid having files encrypted by Maze ransomware

What is Maze?

There is more than one version of Maze ransomware (the previous version is also named Maze). The new version was discovered by nao_sec.

Ransomware-type programs encrypt data and create ransom messages that contain information about how to decrypt files, however, victims cannot generally regain access to their files without tools held only by developers of the ransomware. This variant of Maze does not encrypt files if it detects the "C:\hutchins.txt" file on the system.

If this is NOT the case, Maze encrypts files, renames them by adding a random extension (for example, "1.jpg" becomes "1.jpg.sA16PA"), creates the "DECRYPT-FILES.txt" file, and changes the desktop wallpaper.

The modified wallpaper contains a ransom message stating that the victim's files have been encrypted using RSA-2048 and ChaCha encryption algorithms. The only way to decrypt them is apparently to purchase a decryptor by following instructions provided in the "DECRYPT-FILES.txt" text file (ransom message).

The message states that victims must pay the ransom through a website link, which can be opened with the Tor browser. Another way to make payment is to use another website (the link is also provided in the ransom message), which can be opened with any browser. In any case, it is made clear that victims cannot decrypt their files without the correct tool/key.

The Tor website states that victims must pay $500 in Bitcoins using the BTC wallet address provided. It is mentioned that, unless victims pay the ransom within a particular time frame (a countdown timer is displayed at the top of the Tor web page), the size of the ransom is doubled. It is possible to decrypt three files free of charge through the same website.

Generally, cyber criminals offer free decryption to 'prove' that they have tools/keys capable of decoding files. Despite this, people who design ransomware can never be trusted. Only they have a decryption tools/keys, however, they rarely provide these, even if victims pay the ransoms.

Since there are no free tools capable of decoding files encrypted by Maze, we suggest that you restore them from a backup.

Screenshot of a message encouraging users to pay a ransom to decrypt their compromised data:

This ransomware is similar to other programs of this type including, for example, Uta, MedusaLocker, and Leto. They encrypt data and create/display ransom demand messages. The main differences are usually cost of decryption tool/key and cryptographic algorithm used to encrypt data.

Unfortunately, most encryptions are impossible to decrypt without using tools held only by the cyber criminals who designed the ransomware, unless the ransomware is not fully developed, contains bugs, flaws, etc. To avoid data loss caused by ransomware, maintain regular data backups and store them on remote servers or unplugged storage devices.

How did ransomware infect my computer

Research shows that cyber criminals distribute Maze using SpelevoEK (exploit kit). Exploit kits are tools used to initiate 'exploits' against vulnerable (usually outdated) software or to inject malicious code into vulnerable websites.

Other ways to proliferate ransomware-type programs (and other malware) are via emails, Trojans, untrustworthy software download channels, software 'cracking' tools, and fake updaters. Emails/spam campaigns can be used to infect computers through files that are attached to email messages.

Typically, cyber criminals attach Microsoft Office documents, archive files (ZIP, RAR), executable files (.exe and other files of this kind), PDF documents, JavaScript files, etc. Their main goal is to trick recipients into opening the attachments. If opened, they infect systems with malware.

Another way to proliferate infections is via Trojans, which are malicious programs. If already installed, they open backdoors for other malware. In this way, they cause chain infections. Examples of untrustworthy download sources are file hosting, freeware download websites, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks such as torrent clients, eMule, and other similar channels/tools.

Cyber criminals use them to upload malicious files that are disguised as legitimate or harmless. By downloading and opening/installing them, many people install malicious programs inadvertently. Software 'cracking' tools are used by people (illegally) to avoid having to pay for activation of licensed software.

In fact, these tools often install malware rather than activating any installed software free of charge. Fake (unofficial) software updating tools cause damage by exploiting bugs/flaws of outdated software that is already installed on the system, or simply by installing malicious programs rather than updates.

How to protect yourself from ransomware infections

Do not open email attachments that are presented in emails received from unknown, suspicious addresses. Typically, these are irrelevant to recipients. To trick people into opening attachments or web links, cyber criminals often present their emails as official, important.

Download all software from official, trustworthy websites and via direct links. All other channels/sources mentioned above should not be trusted or used. Unofficial/third party tools that supposedly update installed software are often used to proliferate malware. Therefore, they should not be used.

The safest way to update software is to use tools and functions provided by official software developers. If installed software requires activation, this should NOT be done using 'cracking' tools. They are illegal and people who use them often end up installing malicious programs.

Regularly scan the operating system with reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software and keep it up-to-date. If your computer is already infected with Maze, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this ransomware.

Text presented in Maze ransomware desktop wallpaper:

Maze Ransomware

Dear *****, your files have been encrypted by RSA-2048 and ChaCha algorithms
The only way to restore them is to buy decryptor

These algorithms are one of the strongest
You can read about them at wikipedia

If you understand the importance of situation you can restore all files by following instructions in DECRYPT-FILES.txt file

You can decrypt files for free as a proof of work
We know that this computer is very valuable for you
So we will give you appropriate price for recovering

Screenshot of Maze text file ("DECRYPT-FILES.txt"):

Text in this file:

Attention!

----------------------------
| What happened?
----------------------------

All your files, documents, photos, databases, and other important data are safely encrypted with reliable algorithms.
You cannot access the files right now. But do not worry. You have a chance! It is easy to recover in a few steps.

----------------------------
| How to get my files back?
----------------------------

The only method to restore your files is to purchase a unique for you private key which is securely stored on our servers.
To contact us and purchase the key you have to visit our website in a hidden TOR network.

There are general 2 ways to reach us:

1) [Recommended] Using hidden TOR network.

  a) Download a special TOR browser: hxxps://www.torproject.org/
  b) Install the TOR Browser.
  c) Open the TOR Browser.
  d) Open our website in the TOR browser: hxxp://aoacugmutagkwctu.onion/1dcb0b851e857d00
  e) Follow the instructions on this page.

2) If you have any problems connecting or using TOR network

  a) Open our website: hxxps://mazedecrypt.top/1dcb0b851e857d00
  b) Follow the instructions on this page.

Warning: the second (2) method can be blocked in some countries. That is why the first (1) method is recommended to use.

On this page, you will see instructions on how to make a free decryption test and how to pay.
Also it has a live chat with our operators and support team.

----------------------------
| What about guarantees?
----------------------------

We understand your stress and worry.
So you have a FREE opportunity to test a service by instantly decrypting for free three files on your computer!
If you have any problems our friendly support team is always here to assist you in a live chat!

----------------------------
THIS IS A SPECIAL BLOCK WITH A PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION! DO NOT TOUCH IT WE NEED IT TO IDENTIFY AND AUTHORIZE YOU
---BEGIN MAZE KEY---
-
---END MAZE KEY---

Screenshot of Maze Tor website:

Text in this page:

Maze Ransomware

What's just happened?

If you see this page it means you are lucky, because we kindly give you the chance to recover your data. Please upload your ransom note using the form below and start recovering your data. If the ransom note is recognized by our parser, you will be successfully authorized and provided with further instructions.
Upload your ransom note DECRYPT-FILES.txt
Guarantees?

We can recover your files, as our ransomware is carefully designed to keep the integrity of your encrypted data.

Don't be afraid and start recovering!
Antivirus corporations?

If you are waiting for a free solution to come, we must disappoint you.

Our ransomware uses a strong combination of algorithms. It will require decades to crack.

Start working with us.
Price?

We understand that the customer cannot always pay the ransom. We have discounts and sometimes you might recover your files just by working with us.

Maze Ransomware 2019 ?Because we always give a second chance! î

To recover your files, you must pay the ransom.

Your current ransom price 500$ (USD)

You must hurry up because the ransom price will double after the counter at the top right of this page will reach zero. If you fail to pay until that time, the price will increase x2 (doubled), so if it was 500 USD it will become 1000 USD. You can send the money in chunks (parts), the price will be recalculated on each successful transaction.
Transaction will be completed after 3 confirmations from the network.

To pay the ransom you must buy bitcoin, and send exactly this amount of btc 0.0619667 BTC to address:

3JGqKRWSsXQsnHWDpHXXNg7TJcubszJher
To see how to buy the bitcoins, click Buy Bitcoins at the tab menu on top of the page.

We are providing 3 test decrypts, to prove that we can recover your files.
Click Test Decrypt at the menu on top of this the page to decrypt 3 files for free.
Attention! We are decrypting only image files for free, as they do not have any significant value to you.

Appearance of Tor website (GIF):

Screenshot of files encrypted by Maze (random extension):

Update December 18, 2019 - The developers of Maze 2019 ransomware have recently started using a new method to threaten victims and to encourage them to pay ransoms. What crooks do is steal a certain amount of data with an intention making it public if the victim refuses to pay.

They have developed a public website to store the stolen data of various victims. Although the developers use this tactic mainly against various businesses and companies (since these are way more likely to pay than regular users), there's no guarantee that the situation won't eventually change. At this current moment the aforementioned website contains 8 different entries.

Update May 15, 2020 - The developers of Maze ransomware have recently started looking for affiliates and offering Maze as ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS). This business model is basically based on the work distribution - the affiliate is responsible for malware distribution, while the developer provides affiliates with necessary tools to perform malicious actions.

The revenue is distributed either in percentage (the developers get a certain share) or either affiliate pays a subscription fee.

Screenshot of Maze ransomware's admin panel:

Update February 10, 2020 - The master decryption keys for Maze, Egregor and Sekhmet ransomware have been recently leaked. This allowed Emsisoft to release a decryption tool that allows victims to restore data for free. You can download this decryption tool and find its user manual in Emsisoft's website.

Screenshot of Emsisoft's decryptor for Maze/Egregor/Sekhmet ransomware:

Maze ransomware removal:

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Removal and file recovery procedure

If your files are encrypted with a new extension and a ransom note has appeared, you've been hit by ransomware. Don't pay. The procedure below works in order: contain the infection, identify the variant, remove the ransomware itself (so anything you restore doesn't get re-encrypted), and try to recover files using free decryption tools, Windows Volume Shadow Copies, or backups. Run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner to remove the infection - then move on to file recovery.

Common ransomware behaviors

VisibleEncrypts your files and renames them

The ransomware reads each file, encrypts the contents with the attacker's public key, and writes the encrypted bytes back to disk. Most variants also rename the file by appending a new extension - .net, .locked, .crypt, .lockbit, .djvu, etc. Without the matching private key, the encrypted files cannot be opened normally. Recovery depends on a free decryption tool, a recoverable Volume Shadow Copy, or a clean backup.

VisibleDrops a ransom note in every encrypted folder

A text or HTML file (usually named HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt, README.txt, _readme.txt, or similar) is placed in every folder that contains encrypted files. The note explains the situation, lists a payment amount in cryptocurrency, gives a deadline, and provides a contact email or .onion site. Save the note - don't delete it. Its exact wording, the email address, and the bitcoin wallet are how you identify the variant in the next phase.

VisibleReplaces the desktop wallpaper

Many ransomware variants change the Windows wallpaper to a black or red image with the ransom message and instructions. The wallpaper is just a visual scare tactic - it doesn't add any actual capability and reverts to normal once the ransomware is removed. Photograph it before removal in case the contact details are useful for variant identification or for reporting to authorities.

HiddenDeletes Volume Shadow Copies

One of the first things modern ransomware does after launching is run vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet to wipe Windows' built-in Volume Shadow Copies - the snapshots that Previous Versions and System Restore rely on. Some ransomware doesn't fully succeed (especially on systems where the user lacks full admin rights), leaving partial shadow copies recoverable. Phase 4 step 11 covers how to check what survived.

HiddenDisables Windows Defender and other security tools

Before encrypting, the ransomware tries to silence anything that could alert you or block it - Windows Defender real-time protection, third-party antivirus services, backup agents (Veeam, Acronis), and sometimes the Windows Event Log service. It often modifies Group Policy or registry keys to keep these off after reboot. Phase 3 step 9 explicitly turns Tamper Protection back on so the next ransomware attempt can't repeat the trick.

HiddenSpreads laterally to other PCs on the network

Network-aware ransomware (LockBit, Conti, BlackCat, Akira families) doesn't stop at the first machine. It scans for SMB shares, mapped drives, and other PCs on the same network, then encrypts whatever it can reach. On Windows domains, a single compromised user with admin rights can lead to all-domain encryption. This is why Phase 1 step 2 disconnects the network as the very first action - it stops the spread immediately.

HiddenSteals data before encrypting (double extortion)

Modern ransomware (LockBit, BlackCat / ALPHV, Akira, Cl0p, Royal) almost always exfiltrates data before encrypting. The attacker then runs a "double extortion" play: pay the ransom for decryption, plus pay again to prevent the stolen data from being leaked on the group's leak site. Paying the first ransom does not get the leaked data back - assume that anything the ransomware could read was uploaded. This is one more reason not to pay: the data is already out.

Tools you'll need

Combo Cleaner Antivirus 7-days free trial

Recommended primary scanner. VB100 certified. Removes the ransomware infection so file recovery doesn't get re-encrypted.

Microsoft Defender Offline Free · built-in

Built into Windows. Scans before Windows fully loads to catch persistence the running scanners miss.

Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT) Free

Microsoft's free on-demand scanner. Always-current signatures - the binary expires every 10 days.

ID Ransomware Free · web

Upload a ransom note and a sample encrypted file - identifies the variant family and tells you whether a free decryptor exists.

No More Ransom Project Free · web

Joint project of Europol, Dutch Police, and security vendors. Free decryption tools indexed by ransomware family.

Shadow Explorer Free

Browse Windows Volume Shadow Copies as a normal file tree - useful when ransomware partially failed to delete them.

Recuva Free

Deleted-file recovery. Long-shot for ransomware - only helps if the variant deleted unencrypted originals before encrypting copies.

Phase 1~ 5 min

Don't pay & contain

---

1

Don't pay the ransom

1 min · read⚠ Do not skip

Paying the ransom does not guarantee you'll get your files back. Major ransomware response studies consistently show that a meaningful percentage of paying victims either receive a non-working decryptor, only partial decryption, or no decryptor at all. Beyond that:

• Paying confirms you as a willing target - re-attack rates within 12 months are high
• Several ransomware groups have been sanctioned (US OFAC, UK OFSI). Paying these groups may be illegal under sanctions law in your country
• The ransom funds the next attack - on you or someone else
• Modern ransomware almost always exfiltrates data first, so paying doesn't get the leaked data back. Assume anything the malware could read was uploaded
• Decryptors, even when they work, often leave files corrupted because the encryption itself was buggy or rushed

The path below tries every legal, free recovery option first. Pay only as an absolute last resort, after consulting a lawyer and your country's cyber crime authority.

2

Disconnect from the network and log out of cloud storage

2 minNo tool needed

Pull the Ethernet cable and turn off Wi-Fi on the affected PC. If multiple computers share the network, do the same on every machine you suspect could be affected, including any servers and NAS units.

Then sign out of cloud storage clients (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud) from their app settings. If you can, pause the sync. Some ransomware uses the running sync client to push encrypted versions over your clean cloud copies.

Why this matters

Modern ransomware spreads laterally across SMB shares, mapped drives, RDP, and reachable network neighbors. Disconnecting stops the spread the moment you do it. Logging out of cloud sync clients prevents the ransomware from encrypting the cloud copies of your files via the sync API.

3

Unplug external drives and USB storage

1 minNo tool needed

Safely eject any external drives, USB sticks, SD cards, and network-attached storage shares - then unplug them. If a drive was connected when the ransomware ran, the files on it may already be encrypted, but unplugging stops further damage.

Critically: don't reconnect any drive (including your most recent backup) to this PC until the ransomware is removed in Phase 3. Reconnecting an external backup to an actively-infected PC is the most common way that backup gets encrypted too.

Phase 2~ 5 min

Identify the variant

---

4

Save the ransom note and a sample encrypted file

2 min

Copy the ransom note and one small encrypted file (under 1 MB) to a USB stick, or photograph the note with your phone. You'll need both for the variant identification step.

The ransom note is usually one of:

• A .txt file in every encrypted folder (typically HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt, README.txt, or _readme.txt)
• An .html file with the same purpose
• A changed desktop wallpaper - photograph it
• A lock-screen interrupt that runs at startup - rarer

Important

Don't delete the note. Variant identification depends on its exact wording, the contact email, and the bitcoin wallet address. The note is also evidence if you report to authorities.

5

Identify the variant with ID Ransomware

Tool: ID Ransomware3 min

From a clean device (your phone is fine, or another PC that wasn't on the affected network), visit id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com. Upload the ransom note and the sample encrypted file. The site identifies the variant family and tells you whether a free decryptor exists.

Pro tip

ID Ransomware is run by the Malware Hunter Team. Files you upload are kept private - they're used for analysis, not published. If you're concerned about uploading data anyway, you can paste the contact email and bitcoin wallet from the note - those are often enough for identification.

Phase 3~ 30-45 min

Remove the ransomware

---

The ransomware itself must be removed before any file recovery. If it's still active, anything you restore in Phase 4 gets re-encrypted within minutes.

6

Boot to Safe Mode with Networking and download the scanners

5 min

Safe Mode loads only the minimal Windows drivers, which prevents most ransomware from auto-running while you set up the scanners.

Windows 11: open Settings → System → Recovery, click Restart now next to Advanced startup. After the restart, click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press 5 or F5.

Windows 10: click the Windows logo, hold Shift, click the Power icon and choose Restart. From the Choose-an-option screen, click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press F5.

Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in step 8) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in step 9). Save both installers to your Desktop, then disconnect Wi-Fi again before scanning.

7

Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Tool: Built into Windows15 min

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads.

Why this comes first

Some ransomware variants drop bootkit components or kernel hooks that hide from any scanner running on the same Windows session that's already infected. A pre-boot offline scan sees the disk before the malware can load itself.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

8

Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

Tool: Combo Cleaner20-40 min

Run the installer you downloaded in step 6 and start a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete, review what it detected, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner quarantines the ransomware executable and the registry / scheduled-task entries that re-launch it on reboot.

9

Run Microsoft Safety Scanner and re-enable Defender

Tool: MSERT15 min

Run Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe) as a second-opinion full scan. The binary expires every 10 days so the copy you downloaded has the latest signatures.

Once it finishes, open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Many ransomware variants disable Defender during the attack - this is where you switch it back on so the next attempt can't repeat the trick.

Why a second scan

Different scanning engines catch different threats. Running an additional Microsoft scan after Combo Cleaner is the most underused verification step in malware removal - and free.

Phase 4~ 30-60 min · results vary

Try to recover files

---

Try the steps in order. The first decryptor that works ends the recovery process - no need to do all four.

10

Check the No More Ransom Project for a free decryptor

Tool: nomoreransom.org★ Cleanest path if listed5 min

Visit nomoreransom.org and search the Decryption Tools list for the variant name returned by ID Ransomware. The project is run by Europol, the Dutch Police, and security vendors - everything listed is legitimate and free.

If a decryptor exists, download it onto a clean PC, copy it across, and follow its instructions exactly. Decryptors usually want you to point them at a sample encrypted file plus its known unencrypted version (sometimes any image you previously had a backup of works).

Free decryptors exist for parts of the STOP/Djvu, GandCrab, REvil, Avaddon, Conti and Hive families, among others. Most modern variants don't have public decryptors - if yours isn't listed, that's expected; move to the next step.

11

Try Windows Volume Shadow Copies

Tool: Shadow Explorer / vssadmin15 min

Windows automatically creates Volume Shadow Copies of files when System Restore points are made or scheduled backups run. Most ransomware tries to wipe these (vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet), but the deletion sometimes fails partially - especially if the running user doesn't have full admin rights. When it does fail, snapshots survive that contain pre-encryption versions of your files.

First, check what's there. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

vssadmin list shadows

If you see entries listed, shadow copies survived. To restore from them:

• Built-in: right-click any folder → Properties → Previous Versions tab. Pick a snapshot dated before the infection and restore.
• Better tool for browsing: install Shadow Explorer (free). It shows all snapshots as a normal file tree and lets you copy out only the files you want.

Why check this even when there's a decryptor

Shadow Copies recover the original files exactly, with no risk of decryption errors. If they survived, this is faster and cleaner than running a decryptor on the encrypted set.

12

Restore from cloud or external backup

Tool: your backup software30 min

If you have a backup that pre-dates the infection, this is the cleanest recovery available. Important precautions:

• Don't reconnect a backup drive until Phase 3 is complete. If the ransomware is still active, plugging in the backup encrypts it too.
• For cloud backups (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud), use the Version History feature to roll individual files back to pre-encryption versions.
• OneDrive specifically has a "Restore your OneDrive" feature: if it detected mass file changes, you can roll back the entire account up to 30 days. Sign in at OneDrive on the web, click the Settings gear, and choose Restore your OneDrive. Microsoft 365 subscribers also get ransomware detection alerts; non-subscribers get one free recovery.
• Verify the restored files open correctly before you delete the encrypted set. Test a few documents, photos, and any database / project files.

13

Try Recuva as a last-resort recovery

Tool: Recuva30 min

Recuva is a long shot, not a primary recovery tool. Most modern ransomware encrypts files in place - it reads the original, encrypts the data, and writes the encrypted bytes back to the same disk location. In that case, the original isn't deleted, just rewritten - and Recuva has nothing to find.

But for older or simpler variants that deleted originals before creating encrypted copies (rather than encrypting in place), Recuva can sometimes pull the originals from unallocated disk space. Worth trying as a last resort, especially before you use the disk much further.

If you try it:

• Stop using the disk as much as possible - every disk write reduces recovery odds
• Run Recuva from a USB stick, not from the affected disk
• Use Deep Scan mode (slower but the only mode worth running for this scenario)

Don't skip the steps above expecting Recuva to bail you out. It works in maybe 5-20% of cases, depending on the variant and how soon you try.

Phase 5~ 20 min + ongoing

Report & prevent re-infection

---

14

Report the attack to authorities

10-20 min

Even if your files aren't recovered, your report helps authorities track variants, attribute groups, and warn future victims. In some jurisdictions (especially the US and UK) early reporting can sometimes help recall a wired ransom payment via banking partners.

United States: ic3.gov (FBI) + stopransomware.gov (CISA)

United Kingdom: reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud) + NCSC

Canada: antifraudcentre.ca

Australia: ReportCyber

Spain: Policía Nacional (Oficina Virtual de Denuncias)

France: cybermalveillance.gouv.fr

Germany: BKA

Italy: Polizia Postale

Netherlands: Politie

Poland: CERT Polska

Portugal: CNCS

EU (other): your national CERT

Save the report number - banks, insurers, and credit bureaus will ask for it. If you operate a business, you may also have legal disclosure obligations (GDPR in the EU, state breach laws in the US) that run on a 72-hour clock.

15

Plan 3-2-1 backups going forward

30 min initial

The single best defense against ransomware is a tested backup. Use the 3-2-1 rule:

• 3 copies of your data
• 2 different storage media (e.g., internal drive + external drive)
• 1 offline / air-gapped copy (an external drive that isn't always connected)

Recommended cadence:

• Daily: cloud sync (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive) - convenient, but vulnerable if the ransomware reaches the sync folder. The Version History feature is what saves you
• Weekly: external drive that you connect briefly, then disconnect - the air-gap is what protects against ransomware
• Monthly: a second external drive stored off-site (different physical location) - protects against fire, theft, flood

Important

Test the backup at least once. Open a few files from it, check sizes match, restore one to a different folder. An untested backup isn't a backup - it's a hope.

16

Patch the entry point and monitor for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most reinfections happen via the same vector that worked the first time. Until you've patched the entry point, watch for:

• Unusual disk activity, unexpected file modifications, or unfamiliar processes in Task Manager
• Unexpected reboots or new accounts you didn't create
• Defender or your antivirus turning itself off again

Common entry vectors and what to do about each:

• Phishing email with a malicious attachment - review email filters and train yourself / staff to recognise the patterns - see pcrisk's Phishing/Scam reference
• Exposed RDP with weak passwords - disable Remote Desktop from Settings → System → Remote Desktop if you don't need it. If you do, put it behind a VPN and require a long password plus MFA
• Unpatched VPN appliances or public-facing apps - check the vendor's advisories page and apply the latest firmware
• Cracked / pirated software - was the most common vector for STOP/Djvu in particular. Don't run software from torrent sites

Run a Combo Cleaner scan weekly for the first month. Update Windows, browsers, and applications aggressively.

Important: Removing a ransomware infection requires a full system scan, not a manual file delete. If you're not confident with the manual procedure, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there - that combination removes the vast majority of consumer ransomware variants. Then move to Phase 4 for file recovery, or to Phase 5 if your files are unrecoverable and you need to start fresh from a clean Windows install.