Blackmist Ransomware

What is Blackmist Ransomware?

According to our cybersecurity specialists, Blackmist Ransomware is still in development, but an unfinished version has been reported to have been released. If your PC were to become infected with it, then you ought to remove it without hesitation because there is no free decryption key available. Furthermore, the criminals threaten to delete your files if you do not pay that ransom the criminals ask you to. It can encrypt many of your personal files, block your browser from launching, and so on. For more details, please read this whole article.

Where does Blackmist Ransomware come from?

The cybercriminals responsible for creating this ransomware are unknown, and there is no link between this new ransomware and any other ransomware-type application. Hence, it is unique and quite sophisticated. However, it is still in development, so many things are subject to change and improve. The methods used to distribute it, however, are also unknown but we suspect that its creators may have opted for email spam to be used to distribute this ransomware.

They might have set up an email server that has been configured to send fake emails that may have been disguised as receipts or invoices or business-related correspondence. The emails can feature an attached file that will infect your PC with Blackmist Ransomware is you open it. However, instead of a file that might be disguised as a PDF or DOCX, the emails can feature a link that will redirect you to this ransomware’s file download. The infection should be stealthy and this ransomware ought to go to work as soon as it is on your PC, provided you do not have an anti-malware program to stop it dead in its tracks.

What does Blackmist Ransomware do?

If your PC were to become infected with this ransomware, then it will copy its main executable in named modual.exe to %Temp%. However, the file from the email can remain on your PC as well. Once this ransomware is executed, it detects/enumerates all of the processes running on your PC, collects system information, detects default browser, and so on. It will terminate processes such as explorer.exe, chrome.exe, and taskmgr.exe. It will check whether your system has an Internet connection and can delete the first executable that infection your PC via email. However, that might not always happen, so you need to check your PC to make sure that it is gone. Testing has shown that Blackmist Ransomware might create two registry keys for autostarting it on system startup. These keys might look like HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows|Load|%TEMP%\modual.exe and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows|Load|%TEMP%\modual.exe.

We have concluded that Blackmist Ransomware was set to encrypt file types that include .png, .jpg, .docx, .rtf, .txt, .exe. As you can see, the list of files it encrypts includes documents, pictures, and executables. It uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt your files which ensures a strong encryption. Once the encryption is complete, this ransomware will open its user interface window. In the Info tab it states that to restore your PC fully it will cost you $100.00, to get Internet access is $30.00, selective file restore is $100.00, pictures restore is 40.00, and three file restore is $40.00. A list of options with options is not something we see often.  If you do not want to pay the ransom, then you ought to remove this ransomware. Besides, there is no guarantee that you will get what you pay for.

How do I remove Blackmist Ransomware?

Blackmist Ransomware is nothing but a malicious program set to encrypt your personal files and cause your computer to run improperly in order to try to extract money from you. You should not pay the ransom because there is no telling whether the cybercriminals will decrypt your files. Therefore, you should delete this ransomware instead using the manual removal guide provided below.

Removal Instructions

1. Press the Failsafe button on the top left of the screen.
2. Press Windows+E keys.
3. Type %Temp% in the File Explorer’s address box.
4. Hit Enter.
5. Find modual.exe, right-click it and click Remove.
6. Then, type %USERPROFILE%\Desktop and %USERPROFILE%\Downloads and hit Enter.
7. Locate the recently downloaded malicious file and delete it.
8. Right-click the Recycle Bin and click Empty Recycle Bin.
9. Press Windows+R keys.
10.  Go to the following keys.
    • HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
    • HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
11. Select Load which should contain %TEMP%\modual.exe in the data value section.
12. Right-click it and click Delete.
13. Close Registry Editor. Download Removal Tool100% FREE spyware scan and
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Stop these Blackmist Ransomware Processes: