Vvoo ransomware (virus) - Recovery Instructions Included

Vvoo virus Removal Guide

What is Vvoo ransomware?

Vvoo ransomware: why its presence is detrimental on your Windows PC

Vvoo virus

Vvoo virus is a harmful computer program notorious for its ability to encrypt personal files, including pictures, videos, databases, documents, and others, rendering them inaccessible. The RSA encryption algorithm utilized by the virus makes the files useless until they are decrypted with a key that is stored on the cybercriminals' servers.

As a result, personal files are given the .vvoo extension, and their regular file icons vanish. Users are unable to open the files and receive a Windows error message indicating that the file cannot be recognized. The cybercriminals behind the attack then take advantage of the situation and demand payment in the form of bitcoin, either $490 or $980, in exchange for restoring access to the encrypted data. Communication can be made through the email addresses support@freshmail.top or datarestorehelp@airmail.cc.

Vvoo is part of the widespread Djvu malware family, which has produced over 600 variants since its release, including Mztu, Mzop, and Poqw, among others. In this article, we will explore how to handle the dangerous Vvoo infection and provide steps for attempting to recover the encrypted files without paying the cybercriminals.

Name Vvoo virus
Type Ransomware, file-locking malware
File extension .vvoo extension affixed to all personal files, rendering them useless
Family Djvu
Ransom note _readme.txt dropped at every location where encrypted files are located
Contact support@fishmail.top and datarestorehelp@airmail.cc
File Recovery There is no guaranteed way to recover locked files without backups. Other options include paying cybercriminals (not recommended, might also lose the paid money), using Emisoft's decryptor (works for a limited number of victims), or using third-party recovery software
Malware removal After disconnecting the computer from the network and the internet, do a complete system scan using the SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner security program
System fix As soon as it is installed, malware has the potential to severely harm some system files, causing instability problems, including crashes and errors. Any such damage can be automatically repaired by using FortectIntego PC repair

Ransom note used and what the attackers want

The ransom note can be found on the victims' desktops as soon as malware completes its data encryption process, which results in all files being appended with the .vvoo extension. This note is relatively brief but provides all the information needed for users to allegedly retrieve their data by communicating with the attackers. The note reads:

ATTENTION!

Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like pictures, 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-IiDRZpWuwI
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:
support@freshmail.top

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
datarestorehelp@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:

Providing discounts for the decryption tool or offering a “free” test decrytpion service are tricks used by cybercriminals to make victims trust the attackers. However, it is not a good idea, as there is never a guarantee that they will keep their word and provide a Vvoo ransomware recovery tool.

Vvoo ransomware

Ransomware distribution and avoidance tips

Vvoo ransomware, which belongs to the notorious Djvu malware family, primarily spreads through the use of software cracks. Criminals will infect cracked software with the ransomware, and once it's installed, the malware will encrypt all of the user's personal files. This common tactic used by cybercriminals to make money can result in significant financial losses for victims.

It's important to note that Vvoo ransomware can also spread through other methods, such as spam email campaigns, malicious websites, and vulnerable software vulnerabilities. To avoid infection, it's crucial to keep your software and operating system up-to-date and to be cautious when downloading files from the internet, especially from unknown or untrusted sources. It's also recommended to have a reliable and updated anti-virus program installed on your computer. Ignoring security software warnings about incoming threats is one of the biggest mistakes one can make.

Vvoo file recovery explained

There are many misconceptions when it comes to the ransomware data encryption process and the overall operation of malware. Many people believe that they can recover their files as soon as they perform a full system scan with security software. They might also try to rename files to their original names and add the original extension in an attempt to restore lost files.

In reality, it is not that easy to cheat the ransomware, as there are bits of data within every file that gets locked by a complex, alphanumeric sequence, which is impossible to guess. That's why ransomware can be so devastating to users – it can result in permanent data loss.

Falling into despair is also not a good idea because not all hope is lost. There might be a chance of data recovery – maybe not now, but in the future. Despite this, your first step into recovery is making sure that Vvoo ransomware removal is performed using security software such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. If malware is interfering with this process, you can access the Safe Mode environment and perform elimination from there (you can find instructions at the bottom of the article on how to do this).

Once you are done with malware removal, you can then attempt data recovery. We recommend starting with Emsisoft's decryption tool, which may, in some cases, restore locked files that were locked by Djvu variants. Note that it may take some time before recovery for you is available.

  • Download the app from the official Emsisoft website.Vvoo ransomware
  • After pressing Download button, a small pop-up at the bottom, titled decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe should show up – click it.
    Vvoo ransomware
  • If User Account Control (UAC) message shows up, press Yes.
  • Agree to License Terms by pressing Yes.
    Vvoo ransomware
  • After Disclaimer shows up, press OK.
  • The tool should automatically populate the affected folders, although you can also do it by pressing Add folder at the bottom.
    Vvoo ransomware
  • Press Decrypt.
    Vvoo ransomware

From here, there are three available outcomes:

  1. Decrypted!” will be shown under files that were decrypted successfully – they are now usable again.
  2. Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID:” means that the keys for this version of the virus have not yet been retrieved, so you should try later.
  3. This ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible” – you are unable to decrypt files with this tool.

You could always resort to specialized data recovery software if this method is unsuccessful.

  • Download Data Recovery Pro.
  • Double-click the installer to launch it.
    Vvoo ransomware
  • Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
  • As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
  • Select Everything or pick individual folders which you want the files to be recovered from.Select what to recover
  • Press Next.
  • At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.Select Deep scan
  • Press Scan and wait till it is complete.Scan
  • You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
  • Press Recover to retrieve your files.

Other tips

Vvoo ransomware may manipulate your “hosts” file, making it difficult to access security-related websites. To resolve this issue, you need to delete the file. Windows will recreate the file after deletion, thereby removing the restriction on access to certain websites. Here's how:

  • Ensure that “Hidden files” are visible.
  • Go to the following location: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\
  • Locate the file named “hosts” and delete it using the keyboard shortcut Shift + Del.

Finally, it is time to take care of system damage caused by malware. FortectIntego is a powerful software tool that addresses the damage caused by malware. It accomplishes this by conducting a thorough scan of the computer to detect corrupted or missing files and then replacing them with functional versions. This helps rectify the harm inflicted by malware, such as modifications to the Windows Registry or the loss of vital system files.

In addition, the tool inspects and repairs any problems associated with the operating system, such as damaged or absent DLL files. It can also rectify issues related to the boot process. Upon completion of the repair process, the computer should be restored to a stable and optimal condition.

Offer
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Compatible with Microsoft Windows Compatible with macOS
What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Vvoo virus. Follow these steps

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
  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. 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.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list. Windows 7/XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot. Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options. Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings. Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking. Enable safe mode

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:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

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:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. 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).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. 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.

Create data backups to avoid file loss in the future

One of the many countermeasures for home users against ransomware is data backups. Even if your Windows get corrupted, you can reinstall everything from scratch and retrieve files from backups with minimal losses overall. Most importantly, you would not have to pay cybercriminals and risk your money as well.

Therefore, if you have already dealt with a ransomware attack, we strongly advise you to prepare backups for future use. There are two options available to you:

  • Backup on a physical external drive, such as a USB flash drive or external HDD.
  • Use cloud storage services.

The first method is not that convenient, however, as backups need to constantly be updated manually – although it is very reliable. Therefore, we highly advise choosing cloud storage instead – it is easy to set up and efficient to sustain. The problem with it is that storage space is limited unless you want to pay for the subscription.

Using Microsoft OneDrive

OneDrive is a built-in tool that comes with every modern Windows version. By default, you get 5 GB of storage that you can use for free. You can increase that storage space, but for a price. Here's how to setup backups for OneDrive:

  1. Click on the OneDrive icon within your system tray.
  2. Select Help & Settings > Settings.
    Go to OneDrive settings
  3. If you don't see your email under the Account tab, you should click Add an account and proceed with the on-screen instructions to set yourself up.
    Add OneDrive account
  4. Once done, move to the Backup tab and click Manage backup.
    Manage backup
  5. Select Desktop, Documents, and Pictures, or a combination of whichever folders you want to backup.
  6. Press Start backup.
    Pick which folders to sync

After this, all the files that are imported into the above-mentioned folders will be automatically backed for you. If you want to add other folders or files, you have to do that manually. For that, open File Explorer by pressing Win + E on your keyboard, and then click on the OneDrive icon. You should drag and drop folders you want to backup (or you can use Copy/Paste as well).

Using Google Drive

Google Drive is another great solution for free backups. The good news is that you get as much as 15GB for free by choosing this storage. There are also paid versions available, with significantly more storage to choose from.

You can access Google Drive via the web browser or use a desktop app you can download on the official website. If you want your files to be synced automatically, you will have to download the app, however.

  1. Download the Google Drive app installer and click on it.
    Install Google Drive app
  2. Wait a few seconds for it to be installed. Complete installation
  3. Now click the arrow within your system tray – you should see Google Drive icon there, click it once.
    Google Drive Sign in
  4. Click Get Started. Backup and sync
  5. Enter all the required information – your email/phone, and password. Enter email/phone
  6. Now pick what you want to sync and backup. You can click on Choose Folder to add additional folders to the list.
  7. Once done, pick Next. Choose what to sync
  8. Now you can select to sync items to be visible on your computer.
  9. Finally, press Start and wait till the sync is complete. Your files are now being backed up.

Report the incident to your local authorities

Ransomware is a huge business that is highly illegal, and authorities are very involved in catching malware operators. To have increased chances of identifying the culprits, the agencies need information. Therefore, by reporting the crime, you could help with stopping the cybercriminal activities and catching the threat actors. Make sure you include all the possible details, including how did you notice the attack, when it happened, etc. Additionally, providing documents such as ransom notes, examples of encrypted files, or malware executables would also be beneficial.

Law enforcement agencies typically deal with online fraud and cybercrime, although it depends on where you live. Here is the list of local authority groups that handle incidents like ransomware attacks, sorted by country:

Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3

If your country is not listed above, you should contact the local police department or communications center.

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Vvoo and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes

How to prevent from getting ransomware

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 Private Internet Access 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 Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.

About the author
Julie Splinters
Julie Splinters - Anti-malware specialist

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