As mentioned earlier, this malware was created by a notorious cybercriminal group that is referred to as STOP/DJVU. Their mission is to demand the victims to purchase tools required for data decryption, or, in other words, extort the computer users who do not have data backups. They have devised various deceptive methods of taking their victims unawares, such as setting up traps in a form of pirated software version downloads as well as sending unsolicited but infected emails, among others.

The ransomware introduces cybercriminals’ terms in a ransom note

The letter from the attackers is contained in each of the _readme.txt file copies that the virus drops in every affected data folder. The cybercriminals warn the victim that MMVB ransomware virus attack was successful, and as a result, the victim can no longer have access to their files. Also, since very strong encryption keys were used during the process, they have no other choice than to pay ransom fee to enable them to receive some decryption tools, if they hope to retrieve the files. Typically, most ransomware attack victims, particularly those that had no backup files would be alarmed at the development. Some of them would be willing to do anything to recover their files, depending on how important it is to them. In anticipation that such a desperate situation may arise, cybercriminals would equally drop two email addresses i.e., support@bestyourmail.ch and datarestorehelp@airmail.cc, for further communication. The note also suggests that the demanded ransom amount is $980, but the attackers would be willing to accept 50% of it if only the victim writes to the attackers ASAP, not exceeding 72 hours after being informed to do so. They also warn that once the deadline for payment elapses, only the maximum ransom fee would be acceptable. To complicate the situation further for the victim, the cybercriminals would equally state that the victim can only make ransom payments with cryptocurrency. The apparent reason why they insist on this payment method is to avoid being tracked down and arrested by law enforcement agencies which the victim may inform about the situation. No matter what happens, ransomware attack victims should never comply with the demands of cybercriminals and are not advised to communicate with them at all. This advice is in tandem with the position of top global cybersecurity organizations, including the FBI. They gave reasons for insisting against such, as reproduced below:

The law enforcement agency is against payment of a ransom in any form.Cybercriminals typically repeatedly attack victims that pay the ransom because they’re greedy and never satisfied.Considering there is no assurance that the victim would recover encrypted files after payment, it becomes a huge gamble paying ransom, and evidence abound that cybercriminals rarely ever keep to their promise.It puts vast sums of money at the disposal of cybercriminals, thereby helping them to expand their operations.Ransom payment makes criminality profitable and thus should be prevented.

People should also note that MMVB virus also spreads other dangerous Trojans, generally referred as RATs. This is an acronym that stands for Remote Access Trojans. This secondary malware are used surreptitiously to obtain necessary personal details like banking details, software login credentials, passwords, etc. By stealing these pieces of sensitive information, they open up other means of committing further criminal acts against the victim. The risks associated with both the primary and secondary malware is the reason why it is indispensable to remove MMVB ransomware virus once it is found in any computer. The most reliable way to effectively get rid of this virus is set up the system through Safe Mode with Networking before applying antivirus. Another good idea is to download RESTORO and leverage its functionality to identify and repair Windows OS files that were damaged by malware.

Ransomware Summary

REPAIR VIRUS DAMAGE The encrypted files have blank icons and new extensions appended to their original names.

How to safeguard your computer against STOP/DJVU ransomware variants

Computer users should be mindful of their online activities because that would make all the difference. Computer users should avoid going to online torrent platforms, sharing software through peer-to-peer platforms, opening of emails and attachments from questionable sources and other unwholesome activities. You should also be wary of emails with spoofed originating addresses or unsolicited ones because cybercriminals can go to any length including impersonating popular brands. These sorts of emails are to be deleted the moment they appear on your computer’s inbox or spam folders. You should also note that cybercriminals usually name the malware after software in high demand because they intend to spread the virus to as many computers as possible. When the unsuspecting user downloads the compromised software contents, they would unwittingly unleash the virus that would encrypt their files. From our records gathered over the years, we realized that particular popular software contents are usually exploited, and they are listed below for your consideration:

Corel Draw;VMware Workstation;Adobe Photoshop;Cubase;Tenorshare 4ukey;AutoCad;League of Legends;Internet Download Manager.

Going to online torrent platforms may seem like a cheap sourcing alternative for software contents, but this could be counterproductive and lead to losses and disruptions, especially when you eventually become a victim. Instead of taking such dangerous route, you’re better off doing the right thing by paying the requisite fees and downloading needed software legitimately. The original software owners spend a lot of resources on research and development; therefore, they would have to request appropriate fees for them in order to remain profitable. On the other hand, cybercriminals only stole what does not belong to them and equally tries to use them in duping others. Do not encourage cybercriminals by downloading the cloned software contents to the copyright owners’ detriment. Files with macro function abilities like PDF, DOCX or XLS are often exploited by cybercriminals in their illegal activities because they make it possible for them to embed malware on cloned software. These files were created for altruistic reasons but now unfortunately exploited by these rogues. So, caution should be applied when opening attachments on such files. Likewise, victims of STOP/DJVU ransomware virus should avoid websites that provide dubious declarations of decryption tools because they’re primarily ineffective and fraudulent. We can only vouch for Emsisoft and DiskTuna because their software have proven to be reliable to a measurable extent.

Safe method to remove MMVB ransomware virus

The standard advice is that victims should remove MMVB ransomware virus once it is spotted on their computer. You can easily log into your computer using Safe Mode with Networking option and apply antivirus software. Not all antivirus software is effective, so only go for reputable ones. In addition, we recommend that you download RESTORO to repair virus-affected Windows OS items. Victims of this ransomware should take the following steps after MMVB removal procedure:

Restore lost files using backup.Report to local authorities.Change every password used on the computer.

OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system: GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs. Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer. Read full review here. RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically. RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them. Read full review here.

Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking

Before you try to remove MMVB Ransomware Virus virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, if you prefer a video version of the tutorial, check our guide How to Start Windows in Safe Mode on Youtube. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users Now, you can search for and remove MMVB Ransomware Virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable security program such as INTEGO Antivirus. For virus damage repair, consider using RESTORO.

Method 2. Use System Restore

In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won’t be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future.

Alternative software recommendations

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.

System Mechanic Ultimate Defense If you’re looking for an all-in-one system maintenance suite that has 7 core components providing powerful real-time protection, on-demand malware removal, system optimization, data recovery, password manager, online privacy protection and secure driver wiping technology. Therefore, due to its wide-range of capabilities, System Mechanic Ultimate Defense deserves Geek’s Advice approval. Get it now for 50% off. You may also be interested in its full review.

Disclaimer. This site includes affiliate links. We may earn a small commission by recommending certain products, at no additional cost for you. We only choose quality software and services to recommend.

Decrypt MMVB files

Fix and open large MMVB files easily:

It is reported that STOP/DJVU ransomware versions encrypt only the beginning 150 KB of each file to ensure that the virus manages to affect all files on the system. In some cases, the malicious program might skip some files at all. That said, we recommend testing this method on several big (>1GB) files first.

STOP/DJVU decryption tool usage guide

STOP/DJVU ransomware versions are grouped into old and new variants. MMVB Ransomware Virus is considered the new STOP/DJVU variant, just like BPTO, ISWR, ISZA, BPSM, ZOUU, MBTF, ZNSM (find full list here). This means full data decryption is now possible only if you have been affected by offline encryption key. To decrypt your files, you will have to download Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP DJVU, a tool created and maintained by a genius security researcher Michael Gillespie. Note! Please do not spam the security researcher with questions whether he can recover your files encrypted with online key - it is not possible. In order to test the tool and see if it can decrypt MMVB files, follow the given tutorial.

Meanings of decryptor’s messages

The MMVB decryption tool might display several different messages after failed attempt to restore your files. You might receive one of the following messages: Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [example ID] This message typically means that there is no corresponding decryption key in the decryptor’s database. No key for New Variant online ID: [example ID]Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible This message informs that your files were encrypted with online key, meaning no one else has the same encryption/decryption key pair, therefore data recovery without paying the criminals is impossible. Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future. If you were informed that an offline key was used, but files could not be restored, it means that the offline decryption key isn’t available yet. However, receiving this message is extremely good news, meaning that it might be possible to restore your MMVB extension files in the future. It can take a few months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. We recommend you to follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here. We strongly recommend backing up your encrypted data and waiting.

Victims of MMVB Ransomware Virus should report the Internet crime incident to the official government fraud and scam website according to their country:

In the United States, go to the On Guard Online website.In Australia, go to the SCAMwatch website.In Germany, go to the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik website.In Ireland, go to the An Garda Síochána website.In New Zealand, go to the Consumer Affairs Scams website.In the United Kingdom, go to the Action Fraud website.In Canada, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.In India, go to Indian National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.In France, go to the Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information.

If you can’t find an authority corresponding to your location on this list, we recommend using any search engine to look up “[your country name] report cyber crime”. This should lead you to the right authority website. We also recommend staying away from third-party crime report services that are often paid. It costs nothing to report Internet crime to official authorities. Another recommendation is to contact your country’s or region’s federal police or communications authority.