Vvoa ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Vvoa ransomware is a computer virus that locks victim files until a ransom is paid. The cryptovirus derives from the wicked Djvu ransom family.
Facts checked October 6, 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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Vvoa ransomware: summary
| Name | Vvoa ransomware |
|---|---|
| type | Ransomware |
| Family | Djvu ransomware |
| appended file extension | All non-system files are appended with .vvoa extension |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt is created in all contaminated folders |
| Ransom amount | Cybercriminals ask for 980 USD, or 480 USD if paid within 72 hours of infection |
| 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
| Criminal contact info | Perpetrators can be contacted via two given emails: helpmanager@mail.ch, restoremanager@firemail.cc |
|---|---|
| MAlware removal | To remove Vvoa ransomware use a trustworthy anti-malware software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .vvoa |
| 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 | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .vvoa |
| Attacker contacts | helpmanager@mail.ch |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 16 November 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.vvoa - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
helpmanager@mail.ch
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Vvoa ransomware
- Once Vvoa virus removal is completed, it is highly recommended using the tool to get your device back in shape
How Vvoa ransomware behaves
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
Vvoa ransomware - a new variant of the ever-expanding Djvu family
Vvoa ransomware is a computer virus that locks victim files until a ransom is paid.
The cryptovirus derives from the wicked Djvu ransom family. First detected in 2016, this family keeps on growing. To this day there are more than 250 versions and there's no telling when will it stop.
Viruses from this family typically use an army-based RSA algorithm for encryption. Previous versions were decryptable, but recent years show activities of non-decryptable malware that uses on powerful encoding methods and online IDs while locking files. Those include Iiss, Agho, Jdyi.
As soon as Vvoa ransomware virus lands on a targeted device it starts the encryption process immediately, after that's done all files are inaccessible and renamed - a .vvoa extension is appended. Subsequently, a ransom note named _readme.txt is created in all affected folders. Developers of the virus in the said note tell their victims what happened to their devices and what needs to be done to get their files back.
The creators of Vvoa ransomwareare kind enough and offer to send them one file from the infected computer. They would send a decrypted file back, thus proving that the decryption tool really exists and that they have it.
Furthermore, they are enclosing a link to a video to see the decryption in action. The ransom amount is 480 USD but only if the victims contact the criminals within 72 hours, if not the price is doubled to 960 USD.
However tempting it might be to pay the criminals and retrieve your files, the FBI warns that such action doesn't guarantee that you will receive the promised tool, and additionally increases criminal's motivation to expand their attacks and create more sophisticated malware than Vvoa file virus.
These are trustworthy programs that will safeguard your future browsing experiences if you update their virus databases regularly.
After Vvoa ransomware removal, don't rush to restore your data from the backups, experts advise using the tool to perform a full system scan and find what the file locking parasite has done to system files and its settings. If left unattended, this might lead to crashes, severe lag, and other symptoms exhibited by your device.
Ransom note with all demands and instructions state:
The Vvoa ransomware note
ATTENTION!
Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
https://we.tl/t-sBwlEg46JX
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.
To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
helpmanager@mail.ch
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
restoremanager@firemail.cc
Your personal ID
How to remove Vvoa 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 Vvoa 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 Vvoa 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
.vvoaand the instructions are in_readme.txt. 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 Vvoa ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 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 Vvoa 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 Vvoa 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 Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
Difference between offline and online IDs that affects .vvoa file decryption
It is known that since August 2019, Djvu family is not using offline IDs, in most cases.
These victim IDs or decryption keys are used when a particular set of numbers get generated during the file-locking procedure. Previously helpful decryption tools relied on offline keys and made victims happy when most of their data got recovered easily. Vvoa ransomware got released in November 2020 - it is not decryptable.
Online IDs are unique for each victim, so even when researchers obtain one decryption key - there is no way to recover other data. Decryption keys received from virus developers' can work for only one machine and those files affected on the computer. You need to either risk and pay Vvoa virus creators for the key or go for other methods.
Decryption tool development takes time. Other ways to obtain such decryption keys without paying criminals is to wait for the official file recovery program or law enforcement actions. It takes even longer.
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
File recovery after Vvoa ransomware infection
Having your files locked is a nightmare.
That being said, contacting the criminals, or even worse - paying the ransom isn't the only solution. Unfortunately, deleting the malware won't unlock your Vvoa virus files, but we're here to help.
The first solution after your device is virus-free and you've done the whole system checkup routine, mentioned in the paragraph below, is to restore your files from backups. If you didn't keep backups, transfer all virus affected .vvoa files to offline storage and either use one of our suggested recovery methods below this article or wait for a public decryption key to be available.
Another method to remove .vvoa extension from your files is using Emisoft created decryption tools. They specialize in such software and constantly updates their product. So if there's no decryptor available now, you should either check back with them or with us to see any updates on this matter.
Other techniques are described at the bottom of this article and require your attention to details. Remember to terminate Vvoa ransomware before any data recovery options.
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
System restore and Vvoa ransomware removal
99% of Djvu family ransomware is distributed by illegal activations toolkits for licensed software (aka cracks) and other files on torrent websites.
Please refrain from using those sites. Support the developers of your desired programs by buying them directly from official websites.
Users should always have their backs watched by trustworthy anti-malware software. These apps will locate, isolate, and delete the computer virus and all its allocated files spread out through the device.
As good as anti-virus software is at detecting and removing infections, it can't fix registry and other system files and settings. To restore your computer to a pre-contaminated phase use the tool. It will automatically find and restore whatever the Vvoa ransomware virus has done to system-related settings/files.
[GI=method-1]If anti-malware tool can't remove the infection normally, try doing it after accessing Safe Mode with Networking
[GI=method-2]System Restore can be helpful with Vvoa ransomware removal
Try Windows Previous Version feature - solution for data restoring
Windows Previous Version feature might also be useful, although you would have to restore one file at a time
File recovery using ShadowExplorer
If all other methods, described above, didn't work, try using ShadowExplorer to find lost versions of your data
Decryption tool can posisbly help
Djvu decrypter can be used in some cases
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 .vvoa 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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about Vvoa ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .vvoa files?
That depends on the family behind the .vvoa extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
How do I open .vvoa files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .vvoa ending shows that Vvoa 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 Vvoa ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Vvoa ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Vvoa ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .vvoa 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.
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.
How did Vvoa ransomware get on my computer?
The way Vvoa 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 .vvoa 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 Vvoa 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.
Should I open _readme.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text _readme.txt cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
My files got .vvoa overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .vvoa extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
Will Fortect remove Vvoa 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 Vvoa 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: RSA (cryptosystem) (read October 6, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)