Virus and Spyware Removal Guides, uninstall instructions

What is Muuq?

Muuq is part of the Djvu family. It blocks access to files by encrypting them and generates a ransom note ("_readme.txt") with instructions on how to pay for data recovery (decryption) tools. It also appends the ".muuq" extension to filenames of all encrypted files, for example, it renames "1.jpg" to "1.muuq", "2.jpg" to "2.jpg.muuq", etc.

What is lookmovie[.]io?

Lookmovie[.]io is the address of an illegal movie streaming website. It is important to know that watching movies for free online from questionable sources like lookmovie[.]io can be dangerous and expose users to cybersecurity risks.

It is known that this particular website uses rogue advertising networks, which means it promotes questionable websites and has shady advertisements on it. Trusting websites like lookmovie[.]io and ads on them may lead to problems related to online privacy, browsing safety and other issues.

Therefore, it is strongly recommended to avoid visiting pages like lookmovie[.]io.

What is maxy-tax[.]com?

Maxy-tax[.]com is a rogue website designed to load questionable content and/or redirect visitors to other pages (likely untrustworthy or malicious). The Internet is rife with such webpages; welftheraz.space, jashautchord.com, and catests.space are just some examples.

Users seldom access such sites intentionally. Most get redirected to them by rogue websites, intrusive ads, or installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). Following successful infiltration, these apps can cause redirects, run intrusive advertisement campaigns, and collect browsing-related data.

What is the "PayPal Email Phishing Scam"?

"PayPal Email Phishing Scam" refers to a spam campaign - a large-scale operation during which thousands of deceptive emails are sent. The letters distributed through this campaign are disguised as purchase notifications from PayPal - an online money transferring company. The aim of these scam emails is to obtain personal and sensitive information from the recipients. Potentially, to also trick them into making fraudulent payments.

What is Togosearching?

Togosearching is a browser hijacker. It operates by making changes to browser settings in order to promote (by causing redirects to) the togosearching.com fake search engine. Additionally, Togosearching likely has data tracking abilities used to spy on users' browsing habits. Since most users download/install browser hijackers unintentionally, they are also categorized as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

What kind of malware is Hela ransomware?

Hela is a new variant of the Ragnarok ransomware. It operates by encrypting data and demanding payment for the decryption. In other words, Hela ransomware renders files inaccessible and asks victims to pay - to recover access to their data.

During the encryption process, affected files are appended with a ".[random_number].hela" extension. For example, a file originally named "1.jpg" would appear as something similar to "1.jpg.08469.hela" - following encryption.

Once the encryption process is complete, a ransom note titled - "!!Read_Me.[random_number].html" (e.g., "!!Read_Me.08469.html") - is dropped onto the desktop.

What is MyIncognitoSearch?

MyIncognitoSearch is a browser hijacker promoting the myincognitosearch.com fraudulent search engine. It operates by making modifications to browser settings - to cause redirects to its fake web searcher. Additionally, MyIncognitoSearch spies on users' browsing activity. Due to the dubious methods used to distribute browser hijackers, they are also categorized as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

What is TOR ransomware?

TOR is a malicious program belonging to the Dharma ransomware family. This malware encrypts data for the purpose of making ransom demands for the decryption. In other words, victims cannot access or use the files affected by this ransomware, and they are asked to pay - to recover access/use of their data.

During the encryption process, files are retitled following this pattern: original filename, unique ID assigned to the victim, cyber criminals' email address, and ".TOR" extension (not to be confused with the ".tor" domain host suffix used within the Tor network). For example, a file initially named "1.jpg" would appear as something similar to "1.jpg.id-C279F237.[todecrypt@disroot.org].TOR" - after encryption.

Once the encryption process is complete, a ransom note is displayed in a pop-up window. Additionally, a short ransom-demanding message in a text file titled "FILES ENCRYPTED.txt" is dropped onto the desktop.

What is the welftheraz[.]space site?

Welftheraz[.]space is a rogue website sharing many similarities with jashautchord.com, alpha-news.org, vigilated.space, time4news.net, and thousands of others. It operates by loading questionable content and/or redirecting visitors to various sites (likely untrustworthy or malicious).

These webpages are seldom intentionally accessed; most users get redirected to them by rogue websites, intrusive ads, or installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). These apps can infiltrate systems and subsequently force-open sites, run intrusive advertisement campaigns, and collect browsing-related data.

What is SportsSearchDirect?

SportsSearchDirect is a browser hijacker promoting (by causing redirects to) the sportssearchdirect.com fake search engine. It operates by making modifications to browser settings. Additionally, SportsSearchDirect has data tracking abilities, which are used to spy on users' browsing habits. Due to the questionable techniques used to distribute browser hijackers, they are also categorized as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).