How to remove MafiaWare ransomware and decrypt .Locked-by-Mafia files

What is MafiaWare ransomware

MafiaWare ransomware – is a malicious program, which damage computer files and documents by encrypting them via AES encrypting method (encrypted files will have .Locked-by-Mafia file extansion). The point of such actions is offering user a special program that will restore damaged files, but user should pay ransom for his/her files. All information about payment user can find in created READ_ME.txt file. But we don’t recommend to pay ransom, because it isn’t guaranteed, that developers of MafiaWare will send special decryptor. Moreover, it is better to remove MafiaWare and restore encrypted files manually using utilities.

There is a list of file types, which can be affected by MafiaWare ransomware:

.sql, .mp4, .7z, .rar, .m4a, .wma, .avi, .wmv, .csv, .d3dbsp, .zip, .sie, .sum, .ibank, .t13, .t12, .qdf, .gdb, .sid, .ncf, .menu, .layout, .dmp, .blob, .esm, .vcf, .vtf, .dazip, .fpk, .mlx, .kf, .iwd, .vpk, .tor, .psk, .rim, .w3x, .fsh, .ntl, .arch00, .lvl, .snx, .cfr, .ff, .vpp_pc, .lrf, .m2, .xxx, .desc, .py, .m3u, .flv, .js, .css, .rb, .png, .jpeg, .txt, .p7c, .p7b, .p12, .pfx, .pem, .crt, .cer, .der, .wb2, .rtf, .wpd, .dxg, .xf, .dwg, .pst, .accdb, .mdb, .pptm, .pptx, .ppt, .xlk, .xlsb, .xlsm, .xlsx, .xls, .wps, .docm, .docx, .doc, .odb, .odc, .odm, .odp, .ods, .tax, .pkpass, .bc6, .bc7, .bkp, .qic, .bkf, .sidn, .sidd, .mddata, .itl, .itdb, .icxs, .hvpl, .hplg, .hkdb, .mdbackup, .syncdb, .gho, .cas, .svg, .map, .wmo, .itm, .sb, .fos, .mov, .vdf, .ztmp, .sis, .odt

There are two solutions of this problem. One is to use special Removal Tool. Removal Tools delete all instances of malware by few clicks and help user to save time. Or you can use Manual Removal Guide. Manual Removal Guides help user to remove malware manually. This method needs time and knowledge at IT sphere.

MafiaWare Removal Guide

1. Download MafiaWare Removal Tool.
2. Remove MafiaWare from Windows (7, 8, 8.1, Vista, XP, 10) or Mac OS (Run system in Safe Mode).
3. How to Decrypt .Locked-by-Mafia files.
4. How to restore system to previous “condition”.
5. How to protect PC from future infections.

MafiaWare Automated Removal Tools:

Download Norton Security

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Manual MafiaWare Removal Guide

Below is step-by-step instructions to remove MafiaWare from Windows and Mac computers. Follow this steps carefully and remove files and folders belonging to MafiaWare. First of all, you will need to run system in a Safe Mode. Then find and remove needed files and folders.

Uninstall MafiaWare from Windows or Mac

Windows 7/Vista:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press Settings button;
3. Choose Safe Mode;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to MafiaWare by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

Windows 8/8.1:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press Settings button;
3. Choose Safe Mode;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to MafiaWare by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

Windows 10:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press Settings button;
3. Choose Safe Mode;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to MafiaWare by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

Windows XP:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press Settings button;
3. Choose Safe Mode;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to MafiaWare by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

Mac OS:

1. Restart the computer;
2. Press and Hold Shift button, before system will be loaded;
3. Release Shift button, when Apple logo appears;
4. Find programs or files potentially related to MafiaWare by using Removal Tool;
5. Delete found files;

How to decrypt .Locked-by-Mafia files

After MafiaWare is removed, you want to decrypt your documents and files. There are different decrypting tools, that can help you.
After removing MafiaWare, you can try to decrypt Locked-by-Mafia files. All you need is decrypting tool. There may be a trouble – not all files can be decrypted and restored, it is depends on ransomware.
One of those programs is Trend Micro Ransomware File Decryptor. This software decrypt a lot of types ransomware file formats. You don’t even need to find encrypted files, it will do anything by itself. You can download Trend Micro Ransomware File Decryptor here.
Download TrendMicro Decryptor

How to restore encrypted files

If you can’t remove and decrypt files or just don’t want to use those instructions, you can try to restore system from recovery point by using special tools: Previous Versions, System Restore, Shadow Explorer. Be sure, that you have saved recovery point, otherwise you can’t do anything with some tools.

Restore encrypted files using Shadow Explorer

Shadow Explorer – is good software with simple interface, that gives an access to “shadow copies”.

1. Run the Shadow Explorer;
2. Choose local disk, that contains needed files (sector 1 on picture);
3. Choose time period, when files weren’t encrypted (sector 2 on picture);
4. Find needed files and folders, after this right-click them and Press Export;
5. Choose the export location and check files;

Restore encrypted files using Recuva

There is another program, that can help user to recover encrypted files. And this program is Recuva, software which friendly interface.

1. Run the Recuva;
2. Follow instructions and wait until scan process ends;
3. Find needed files, mark them and Press Recover button;

How to prevent ransomware infection?

Since MafiaWare classified as ransomware, it needs a method to infiltrate into personal computer. And the most usable method is attaching to e-mail with messages, that provocate to open attached document.

Be careful while reading e-mail from unknown and suspicious users. Also, you can install various programs, which will stop any actions from suspicious applications, like ransomware. The most popular programs are:
HitmanPro.Alert with CryptoGuard, Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware and CryptoPrevent. Those programs may detect many known ransomware and some unknown ransomware. It is recommended to use such programs for safety of your personal documents and files in future.