MarsJoke ransomware is malicious software that encrypts files on the infected computer and demands a ransom for the decryption key. This ransomware is classified as a high-risk threat as it can cause serious damage to the affected system and put the user's personal data at risk.

How does MarsJoke work?

It usually arrives on the victim's computer via spam emails or malicious websites. Once it has infected the system, it will start to encrypt the user's personal data, such as photos, documents, and other important files. The encrypted files will have a ". MarsJoke" extension added to them.This ransomware will then display a ransom note on the victim's screen, demanding a payment to be sent to a specific Bitcoin address. The note also states that the ransom must be paid within 72 hours, or the price will double. It also threatened to delete the decryption key if the victim attempts to remove the MarsJoke ransomware from their system.

What encryption algorithm does MarsJoke use?

This ransomware uses the RSA-2048 encryption algorithm to encrypt the victims' files. This type of encryption is very difficult to crack, which is why MarsJoke ransomware is considered to be such a high-risk threat.

How much is the MarsJoke ransomware ransom?

It varies depending on the individual case, but MarsJoke ransomware usually demands around 0.5 BTC.

History

MarsJoke was first discovered by malware researcher Michael Gillespie in August 2016. It is believed to be a variant of the Hermes ransomware, which was first seen in the wild in February 2016.

What was the biggest MarsJoke ransomware attack?

The biggest MarsJoke ransomware attack to date occurred in December 2016 when over 100,000 computers were infected with the MarsJoke ransomware. The attacks affected organizations in over 150 countries, including hospitals, banks, and government agencies.

Protection

There are several things you can do to protect yourself from MarsJoke:- Keep your operating system and software up-to-date: this ransomware exploits vulnerabilities in outdated software to infect computers. By keeping your operating system and software up-to-date, you can close these vulnerabilities and make it more difficult for MarsJoke ransomware to infect your computer.- Use a reputable antivirus program: A good antivirus program can detect and remove MarsJoke before it has a chance to encrypt your files.- Be careful what you click: MarsJoke is often spread through spam email attachments or links to malicious websites. Be very careful about what you click, even if the email appears to be from a trusted source.- Back up your data: MarsJoke encrypts your personal data, which can be difficult or impossible to recover. However, if you have backed up your data, you can restore it after you have removed the MarsJoke ransomware from your computer.

What should you do?

MarsJoke is a serious threat to your computer and your personal data. If you have been infected with this malware, we recommend that you do not pay the ransom. There is no guarantee that you will receive the decryption key even if you do pay the ransom, and you may end up losing your data completely.Also, we do not recommend to remove it manually. This is a very difficult task and it is likely that you will damage your system further if you attempt to do so.It is very difficult to remove MarsJoke ransomware from an infected computer without the decryption key. Attempting to do so may result in the deletion of the decryption key, which would make it impossible to decrypt the encrypted files.At the moment, there is no public decryption tool available for MarsJoke ransomware.Therefore, it is recommended that victims contact a professional malware removal service for assistance.SalvageData is one of the few companies that offer MarsJoke ransomware removal services. Our team of experts has successfully decrypted files encrypted by MarsJoke ransomware and can help you get your data back.For more information, please visit our website.