What is Mao ransomware?
Mao is a new strain of Dharma ransomware. Once on the victim’s computer, this malicious program will encrypt all files it can find with the intent to demand money for their decryption, essentially holding them ransom. It also renames the files, giving them .mao file extension, and creates a ransom note called “info.txt”.
Three-letter extensions are common for Dharma-type ransomware. Many other viruses, such as SBU, RPC, and CY3, also follow this naming convention. Nonetheless, it is not universal; Cyberpunk ransomware also belongs to the Dharma family.
Regardless, let’s get back to Mao virus specifically. Its ransom note is rather brief, as you can see on the image above. That is because the virus also shows a pop-up window that explains the situation in a slightly more detailed manner, though it doesn’t actually provide more information.
Not knowing how much money the hackers want is a double-edged sword. Perhaps they are willing to negotiate, or maybe they want a lot of money and don’t want to say it outright. Regardless, even a simple inquiry about the price can make you a target of future attacks, so perhaps you shouldn’t contact the criminals at all.
Our guide can aid you, should you choose to pursue this approach. It outlines several ways to remove Mao ransomware and decrypt .mao files without paying the hackers.
