Vaca ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Vaca ransomware is a cyber threat that encodes files and then displays a ransom note asking to pay for their decryption. In the text file delivered to victim's screen virus developers are stating that they can easily decrypt files having .vaca file extension.
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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Vaca ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Spam email attachments |
|---|---|
| Name | Vaca ransomware |
| Type | Cryptovirus |
| Related | Xorist ransomware |
| File extension | .vaca |
| Ransom note | HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt; 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 14 more facts
| Distinct features | Option to send SMS with victims' ID number to a specific contact listed in the ransom note |
|---|---|
| Main executable file | ara.exe |
| Main danger | Can lead to permanent data or money loss |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .vaca |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .vaca |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 29 January 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.vaca - Note file:
HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt
From our report of Jan 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Vaca ransomware
- At the moment, it has more than 15 new versions released since 2016 where the latest one is known as Mcafee ransomware.
- Use for Vaca ransomware removal
The Vaca ransomware note
Attention! All your files are encrypted!
To restore your files and access them,
please send an SMS with the text [victims' ID] to .
You have N attempts to enter the code.
When that number has been exceeded,
all the data irreversibly is destroyed.
Be careful when you enter the code!
How to remove Vaca 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 Vaca 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
Vaca ransomware encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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
Copy
HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txtand one or two files ending in.vacato a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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
For Vaca ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while Vaca ransomware still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or 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
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
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
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
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 Jan 2019 · not reviewed since
Vaca ransomware is a cryptovirus that demands to send SMS to hackers to get encrypted files restored
Vaca ransomware is a cyber threat that encodes files and then displays a ransom note asking to pay for their decryption.
In the text file delivered to victim's screen virus developers are stating that they can easily decrypt files having .vaca file extension. For that, the ransom message HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt is demanding to send the text message and contact cybercriminals. It is not recommended because it may lead to permanent money or data loss.
Vaca ransomware virus is believed to belong to a notorious family of file-encrypting viruses called Xorist ransomware. Encryption process starts right when the main executable is loaded on the device. To prevent infiltration of ara.exe or similar executable, stay away from suspicious email attachments. Spam is the main technique used to distribute crypto malware.
Researchers like Petrovic and Marcelo Rivero discovered Vaca ransomware in January 2019 and reported that this is the newest variant of well-known Xorist ransomware that first was released back in 2016.
This cryptovirus family focuses on file encryption using XOR or TEA encryption algorithms and demanding for up to 2 Bitcoins from its victims. Nevertheless, the particular version might demand a different amount or use more common RSA and AES encryption. These facts don't make the ransomware less dangerous.
Although there is a decryptor for the virus, it might not work for the newest version. You should remove Vaca ransomware using reputable anti-malware tools and then focus on data recovery using your file backups. However, not everyone has their data backed up, so check our tips below the article and suggestions for data recovery methods.
When Vaca ransomware infiltrates the system it starts encryption immediately, and when that is done, ransom message is generated in a file HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt that displays the following text:
The brief message that Vaca ransomware creators deliver to their victims, state about the possibility of file recovery but there is no guarantee that criminals behind this cryptovirus would do so after you pay. In many cases, malware creators ignore their victims when the payment is transferred, so we as many other experts recommend avoiding any contact with these people.
You should perform Vaca ransomware removal using anti-malware tools like and try restoring your files using appropriate software or file backups. This is the safest option since there is no official decryption tool developed by malware-fighting experts.
Remember that Vaca ransomware is more dangerous because of the additional changes it can make on the machine. Ransomware-type threats tend to be persistent on the system because of the altered Windows Registry entries or added files.
For this reason, you need a full system scan in the device to make sure every file or program is terminated, and the virus is completely deleted from the PC. Check your program suggestions below if you need a trustworthy anti-malware tool.
From our report of Jan 2019 · not reviewed since
The malicious executable loads on the system from spam email attachments
Security experts often report about different spam email tactics like phishing campaigns.
However, people still tend to pay less attention to emails they get and open on their device. Opening the email itself or even downloading the attached file may lead to more severe damage than you think.
The most common technique used by ransomware developers — infected spam email attachments. A direct link to a malicious page can be set to download the infection on the device automatically or redirect you to a download website. In-text links or banners on emails may lead to the direct installation of ransomware payload.
Also, file attached to the safe-looking email can be designed to load a RAR or ZIP file on the PC. When you open a macro-embedded document on your computer and enable the malicious content malware script launches ransomware on your PC. You can avoid these instances if you clean your email box and delete suspicious or unexpected emails. Pay more attention to emails you get, especially when they have attachments.
From our report of Jan 2019 · not reviewed since
Eliminate Vaca ransomware and clean the system further to make sure that threat is deleted entirely
You should note that a full system scan is required for Vaca ransomware removal because of the added files and programs.
You cannot find the main executable or different files in system folders manually, and it takes a lot of time. But when you choose the automatic virus elimination using , or , you have an advantage and can clean the system in less than 15 minutes.
However, it is important to double-check if you want to remove Vaca ransomware and all possible threats completely. You can do so by scanning the system again or using a few different tools. This way you can be sure that the machine is malware-free.
It is especially important because you need a malware-free system when you recover your files. Vaca ransomware virus can encrypt your data again if not terminated. For data recovery, we suggest using your backups stored on the external device, but you can rely on data recovery software. We have a few options below.
[GI=method-1]When performing a Vaca ransomware removal, you could benefit from the system reboot. Follow these steps and enter the Safe Mode with Networking before scanning the system with antivirus tool:
[GI=method-2]System restore should help when dealing with Vaca ransomware because it gives the opportunity of full system recovery in a previous state:
Try Windows Previous Versions feature for locked files
When System Restore is enabled, you can recover previous versions of them with Windows Previous Versions feature
ShadowExplorer could be helpful
When ransomware is not affecting Shadow Volume Copies, you can employ ShadowExplorer and restore them
There is no official decryption tool for Vaca ransomware
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.
Make the next attack harmless
Vaca ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .vaca and no longer open) showed exactly which ones those were.
The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for 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 Vaca ransomware
How do I open .vaca files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .vaca ending shows that Vaca 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 Vaca ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Vaca ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Vaca ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .vaca 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.
How did Vaca ransomware get on my computer?
The way Vaca 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 .vaca 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 Vaca ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Vaca 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 "Vaca 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.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear 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.
Is Vaca 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 .vaca from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .vaca 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.
Can I delete HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Will Fortect remove Vaca 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 Vaca 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
- Krebsonsecurity: Sextortion Scam Uses Recipient's Hacked Passwords (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)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)