Antivirus firm Bitdefender released a decryptor for the MegaCortex ransomware, which can allow victims of the group to restore their data for free.
The MegaCortex ransomware first appeared on the threat landscape in May 2019 when it was spotted by security experts at Sophos.
The experts noticed that in MegaCortex attacks other malware like Emotet and Qbot (aka Qakbot) were present in the same network.
Since November 2019, MegaCortex operators started adopting double extortion tactics. The group typically asked ransoms between $20,000 to $5.8 million to receive a decryptor.
In December 2019, the FBI issued a warning to the private industry of cyber attacks involving the LockerGoga and MegaCortex Ransomware.
Bitdefender researchers have developed the decryptor with the support of Europol, the Zürich Public Prosecutor’s Office and Cantonal Police, and researchers from the NoMoreRansom Project.
The tool is an executable that can be downloaded from Bitdefender servers.
