DVPN ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
DVPN ransomware is considered to be a data-locking virus that uses the XOR cipher to block files. Since the ransomware attaches an extension in the Chinese language - (已锁定), we have discovered that it can be translated to - (a locked).
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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DVPN ransomware: summary
| Name | DVPN ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type/category | Ransomware virus/malware |
| Target | According to the language of the provided extension and the ransom note, this malicious string targets Chinese-speaking people |
| Encryption | The encryption process is performed by employing the XOR cipher. This key can lock all types of files, folders, and documents that are found on the infected Windows machine |
| Extension | When the encryption cipher completes its job, an appendix is added to each filename. Translation to English – (a locked) |
| Ransom note | The name of the translated ransom note is 1 (Description of a locked file) ; the text is quoted in full below |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 15 more facts
| Related files | The ransomware virus brings these types of files to the computer system: dvpn.exe, dstatus.ini, dvpn.dll, dvpn6e.dll, and pac.txt |
|---|---|
| Spreading | The malicious payload can be carried through email spam messages and the infectious attachments that get clipped to the letters. Also, ransomware is distributed through software cracks, vulnerable RDP configuration, and malicious advertisements |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | jiesuofuwu@gmail.com |
| Encrypted file extension | .dvpn64 |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .dvpn64 |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 19 February 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.dvpn64 - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on DVPN ransomware
- Here crooks provide the jiesuofuwu@gmail.com email address for making contact and discussing all the conditions for recovering blocked files
- Finding some damage related to the malware attack is also possible.
- If you do not know what to use for the repair process of the corrupted areas, try employing
How DVPN ransomware behaves
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
DVPN ransomware - a file-targeting parasite that provides a ransom message written in the Chinese language
DVPN ransomware is considered to be a data-locking virus that uses the XOR cipher to block files.
Since the ransomware attaches an extension in the Chinese language - (已锁定), we have discovered that it can be translated to - (a locked). All files, folders, and documents that are placed on the attacked Windows device fall for the encryption.
Then, DVPN ransomware developers provide the ransom message also named in Chinese - 1 (文件锁定说明) .txt, that can be translated to 1 (Description of a locked file) .txt. Criminals urge users to contact them via jiesuofuwu@gmail.com email address and discuss all the matters related to file security and recovery.
When DVPN ransomware travels on a Windows operating system, it does not just stay in one place. The malware can modify various directories such as The Task Manager, Windows Registry, and Control Panel. It is known that the virus brings such files to the computer:
- dvpn.exe
- dstatus.ini
- dvpn.dll
- .dvpn64.dll
- pac.txt some of which can be responsible for the encryption process
- disabling antivirus software
- executing DVPN ransomware every time the computer is booted
- running other malicious processes in the background
DVPN ransomware infiltration can happen all of a sudden when you least expect it. However, malicious actors have learned different tactics that allow manipulating users and inserting malicious payload when they lack attention or simple knowledge of cybersecurity.
Most of the time ransomware targets regular users and companies through email spam messages that come from a non-existing organization or person. Furthermore, the malware can also be received when RDP configuration gets hacked, the user downloads cracked software such as a key generator, or steps on a malicious ad.
As you can see the main target of DVPN virus are Chinese-speaking people, so those who do not speak this language and get infected with the cyber threat will not be able to understand a thing the ransom note says unless they translate it to English. However, we decided to make things easier for all of you and have provided the already translated version:
Cybercrooks who spread DVPN ransomware urge people not to touch (rename or edit) the locked files as the decrypter will not be able to properly recover the data if any alterings are made to it. Furthermore, hackers state that they will not take any responsibility if the victim employs a secondary program to unlock the files and they get corrupted during the process.
Keep in mind that cybercriminals are trying to scare you and make you run out of solutions for file recovery so you will decide to purchase the decryption tool from them at the end. DVPN ransomware aims to lock up all the files and documents that appear on the Windows device during the activation process of the malicious payload.
Afterward, crooks store both encryption and decryption keys on remote servers that are reachable for the creators only. This way you have decreased chances of recovering your files. However, this still does not mean that you have to listen to everything that DVPN ransomware provided message says and rush to pay the demanded ransom price.
Even though DVPN ransomware does not outline any particular requirements for the payment, they will likely be provided to you when you contact the crooks via email. These people can urge for an inadequate price anywhere from $100 to $2000 or more. Of course, they will ask for a cryptocurrency transfer such as Bitcoin, Monero, Litecoin, Ethereum, etc.
DVPN ransomware is likely to demand cryptocurrency payments as this is a way to remain anonymous from tracking. However, you should avoid paying the stated price and these are the reasons why:
DVPN ransomware might try to harden the data recovery process for you by deleting the Shadow Volume Copies of your encrypted data through PowerShell commands. This way you will be prevented from using third-party software that relies on safe and undamaged Shadow Copies. However, this is not your only option for file restoring.
Of course, you should remove DVPN ransomware before you start trying to recover your files and documents, otherwise, the process might be unsuccessful. Employ reliable security software that will take care of the entire process and do not try to get rid of the parasite on your own. If there is some damage you need to fix, try repairing things with .
After DVPN ransomware removal, you can try using some data recovery techniques that have been provided at the end of this article. You should pick the method that suits you the most in order to reach the best results possible. Remember that it is not worth to pay the demanded ransom price to the crooks as there is a high chance of getting scammed.
However, data recovery is not the only reason why you should hurry up to uninstall DVPN ransomware from your Windows machine. The cyber threat might also open backdoors for other dangerous infections and you can easily get infected with a trojan or another type of malware that can harvest personal data, damage software, and force the entire PC to crash.
If you find out that your antivirus software cannot detect DVPN ransomware, this might be because the malware is blocking your antimalware product. To diminish such malicious settings and be able to remove the virus properly, you should reboot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking as shown in the instructions at the end of this article.
- Crooks can not provide you with a key and run off with your money.
- Hackers can give you a fake tool and you will notice it when it is too late.
- You might get increased ransom payments after the first money transfer and will have to pay a very big price to receive the decryption tool.
- There are other alternative tools that you can try rather than paying a ransom.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Email spam and software cracks are closely related to ransomware attacks
Technology specialists from Virusai.lt claim that a lot of tricky email messages are sent by hackers who are looking forward to distributing ransomware-related payload to a big variety of users.
Crooks pretend to call themselves by the name of a trustworthy company to create a look of reliability. The user receives the email spam message together with an attachment that holds the malicious payload. Do not open the clipped files without scanning them with antimalware!
Furthermore, hackers are likely to spread ransomware infectious through cracked products such as key generators that end up on peer-to-peer networks such as The Pirate Bay, BitTorrent, and eMule.
To continue, the malicious payload can also enter computer systems when hackers connect to the machine remotely by abusing vulnerable RDP configuration. Regarding this fact, always remember to secure the RDP with a reliable and complex code.
Also, malicious advertisements (malvertising) can be the distribution source of ransomware. What you have to do is avoid clicking on every ad that you see on the Internet, install an adblocking tool on your browser, and purchase reliable security software that will alert if something dangerous is waiting for you on a particular website.
The DVPN ransomware note
ID of the User: Q61 + XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX / xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------ --------------------
Dear user, all your important data is successfully blocked.
If you have any questions about the security of your file, please contact a specialist unlock service by email.
Contact email-address: jiesuofuwu@gmail.com
TIP: If your mailbox uses automatic replies, the reply message can easily be wrongly marked as spam email-server of the recipient. If the user does not receive a response in the "Incoming" mail client after 2 hours, when you answer, look at the shopping cart / Spam.
What we need to emphasize is this:
1) Do not change the file extension " - (a locked) ": when you want to unlock the file, the program will unlock the files using typical file name " - (a locked) " to identify the locked file, and then unlocks the file. If the file name contains the string "- (locked)", it means that the file is locked. If you change the file name without permission and remove this line, the file does not pass the unlock process. The end result will be that after the unlocking process, the file will remain locked.
2) Do not edit the / do not change a locked file: there is a to-one correspondence between the characteristics of recognition and source files to lock. Re-editing / changing a locked file will change the file recognition characteristics. The end result: the file after unlocking process is restored to the wrong file.
3) Do not change the user ID in the "(Description of a locked file)": user ID is a unique key to restore a locked file. File release program reads the original on the basis of the data locked file, and the unique key. File data. Change the "User ID" will change the unique key. The end result: the file after unlocking process is restored to the wrong file.
4) Do not use any third-party tools and do not use their own smart devices to unlock the files. We accept no liability for damage / irreplaceable files, caused by the fact that users do not use our tools!
How to remove DVPN ransomware
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove DVPN ransomware and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so DVPN ransomware cannot reach more files. Pause OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync, because synced folders upload the encrypted copies over the good ones.
Leave the PC on but offline while you read the next steps, since a restart can let the ransomware run again. This applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Your files now end in
.dvpn64and the instructions are inthe ransom note. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
Our last check found that for DVPN ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Look again yourself in the No More Ransom list and the free decryptor pages of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, which add new families every year.
A decryptor needs the ransomware gone first, or it encrypts the files again. Keep at least one copy of the encrypted files on an external drive, even if no tool works yet.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Removing DVPN ransomware does not bring the files back, but it has to come first. Start with Defender's Full scan, then the offline scan from the same Scan options page, which checks the disk before Windows loads.
If the scan cannot start, use Safe Mode with Networking. Delete the ransom notes only after you have saved a copy, because removal tools sometimes leave them behind on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Windows keeps shadow copies for restore points and backups, and some ransomware fails to delete them.
vssadmin list shadowsin an administrator Command Prompt tells you at once whether any exist.If they do, right-click the folder that held your files, open Properties > Previous Versions, select a version from before the attack, and click Open to check it before you Restore or copy the files out. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have the tab.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
A backup made before the attack is the surest way back. Connect it only once the PC is clean, then restore from File History, Windows Backup, OneDrive's Restore your OneDrive or your own external copies.
Without a backup, try file recovery: the originals that DVPN ransomware deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Get rid of malicious payload brought by DVPN ransomware
Using reliable antimalware software is the best option you have for DVPN ransomware removal.
First, check if your antivirus program is capable of detecting the malware. If not, the ransomware might be blocking your tool by initiating a malicious task. To diminish all hazardous processes and deactivate the virus from renewing them, you should boot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking.
Afterward, you can successfully continue to remove DVPN ransomware from your Windows device. Do not try to use the manual technique as this type of complex process should be left for professional tools to handle. If these products find any compromised areas, you can try repairing them by employing .
[GI=method-1]If you want to deactivate the malicious processes that are operating in the background of your computer system, you should try booting the machine in Safe Mode with Networking.
[GI=method-2]Try to diminish all suspicious changes and disable the ransomware virus itself by using the below-provided guidelines for activating the System Restore feature.
If you have been searching for a tool that would help you with reversing your files back to normal, you can give this piece of software a try.
Use Windows Previous Versions feature to restore at least some data.
If you have enabled the System Restore mode in the past and the ransomware virus did not kill any restore points, you can absolutely try this method.
The impact of Shadow Explorer on files might be a big positive one.
Following all the steps that are required in order should let you reach good results with this tool. However, you should be sure that the ransomware virus did not eliminate the Shadow Volume Copies of your encrypted files before using the software.
Currently, cybersecurity specialists are still working on the official decrypter.
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .dvpn64 and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about DVPN ransomware
Should I pay the ransom in the ransom note?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
How do I open .dvpn64 files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .dvpn64 ending shows that DVPN ransomware encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for DVPN ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did DVPN ransomware get on my computer?
The way DVPN ransomware spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .dvpn64 and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Is there a free DVPN ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for DVPN ransomware no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "DVPN ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
Did DVPN ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by DVPN ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .dvpn64 and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before. Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Is DVPN ransomware the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Can I just remove .dvpn64 from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .dvpn64 extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
What does the ransom note tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name the ransom note, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
Will Fortect remove DVPN ransomware?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For DVPN ransomware, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: XOR cipher (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: SAUGUMO IR VIRUSŲ NAUJIENOS (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)