Do you know what Mind Ransomware is?
Mind Ransomware is a malicious computer infection that can be found described under the name of MindSystem Ransomware, too. It is very common for programs to have several names or keywords because their developers seldom release them with an actual title given. The ones who give the title to these infections are the researchers or the users who report them. So we often find the same program under several different names. Despite that, it is obvious that it is the same infection and you need to remove Mind Ransomware immediately. That is probably the reason you opened this description.
The program must have entered your computer when you downloaded an attachment you received from an unknown third party. Ransomware programs usually get distributed via spam email attachments. One of the most frustrating aspects of this type of distribution is that fact that users can easily avoid getting infected with Mind Ransomware and other ransomware infections, but they tend to ignore the potential risks behind downloading files from unknown senders. Hence, quite a lot of users download and open dangerous files without even realizing it.
How would it be possible to avoid that? First, you should check the email messages and their senders. It is quite often that the mails that distribute malware look like financial reports or online shopping invoices. If you did not buy anything recently or if you are not in any way affiliated with the financial institution that supposedly sent you the report, it is a most definite scam. Finally, if you think that the attached file is important, but you still want to check whether it is safe or not, you can simply scan it with a security program. Do not have a security tool installed on your system? Well then, it is about time you invested into one.
When we take a closer look at how this ransomware program behaves, we can see that the program is very intrusive and destructive. Some ransomware infections simply encrypt the target files and then display the ransom note. However, Mind Ransomware takes it a step further. Once the program gets into your system, it kills the Explorer process. We do not mean the Internet Explorer browser. We mean the Explorer interface that allows you to navigate your computer and check your storage directories and other folders. Basically, the only thing you can see when Explorer is killed is your desktop.
Mind Ransomware also disables your Task Manager, and we believe that the program does that in order to prevent you from closing it. It also disables the lock functionality, and the Windows + L key combination does not work anymore. In other words, you will see the ransom note on your desktop all the time. It also does not allow you to change your password or shut down your computer. You cannot log off or switch users (in case there is more than one account on the computer). Everything is done in order to push you into paying the ransom.
The message this infection displays says the following:
[Your files has been encrypted by MindSystem Ransomware]
To Recover them, just use the decryptor with your unique key
For education only! MindSystem 2017
From the message, we can see that the program tries to pass for an educational ransomware that is usually used to scare users or “educate” them about the dangers of such infections. The key that Mind Ransomware is talking about is dropped on your desktop as the key.txt file. Therefore, if this decryption code works, you should be able to restore your files.
Nevertheless, even if the files get restored, the infection still remains on your system and it can encrypt your files again! Thus, follow the instructions below to remove Mind Ransomware from the system through and through.
To avoid similar intruders in the future, be sure to employ safe web browsing habits. Your system’s security should be one of your top priorities because it is not just the data that you have to protect. It is your financial stability, too. So if you have more questions about what you should do to safeguard your PC from dangerous threats, please contact us by leaving a comment.
How to Remove Mind Ransomware
- Press Win+R and type in the following paths into the open box:
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
%USERPROFILE%\Downloads
%TEMP% - Click OK to access each directory separately.
- Delete suspicious files from each directory.
- Press Win+R and type gpedit.msc. Click OK.
- Open Local Group Policy Editor.
- Go to Configuration/Administrative Templates/System.
- On the right side, disable the Prevent access to the command prompt setting.
- Double-click Prevent Access to registry editing tools.
- Select Disable in a pop-up and click OK.
- Restart your PC.
In non-techie terms:
Mind Ransomware is an extremely annoying infection that can prevent you from using your computer. If it is hard to restore computer functionality using the instructions we provided, please let us known, and we will walk you through the process step by step. The bottom line is that you must remove Mind Ransomware, and it might take a little bit more to delete it than, say, dealing with a browser hijacker. Thus, do not hesitate to ask for professional assistance if you feel you need one.