Vapo is a ransomware virus that encrypts files on a victim’s computer and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. It is often distributed through torrents and other illegal software downloads, and can go unnoticed until it’s too late. Fortunately, there are ways to decrypt Vapo files without paying the ransom. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Vapo ransomware and explore the various methods for decrypting encrypted files. Whether you’ve already been affected by Vapo or just want to learn more about how to protect yourself from ransomware attacks, read on to discover everything you need to know.
Screenshot of files encrypted by Vapo virus (‘.Vapo’ file extension):
QUICK LINKS
- What is Vapo virus?
- Remove Vapo virus (ransomware)
- Decrypt .Vapo files
- Restore .Vapo files
- Video Guide
What is Vapo virus/ransomware?
Vapo ransomware, also known as STOP (Djvu) ransomware, is a malicious software that encrypts files on the victim’s computer and demands payment in exchange for a key and a decryptor that can restore access to the files. The virus spreads by disguising itself as legitimate software and can infect a computer through various means, including downloading programs from torrent websites, running hacked games or freeware, and installing key generators for Windows or Office software.
Once the virus infects a computer, it creates a directory in the Windows system directory, copies itself to that directory, and changes some OS settings. It then attempts to connect to a command server to receive an online key for file encryption. If it cannot connect, it uses a fixed offline key instead. The virus renames each encrypted file by adding the “.Vapo” extension to the original file name. The only files that are not encrypted are those with the extensions .dll, .lnk, .bat, ini, .sys, and files named “_readme.txt.”
The authors of Vapo ransomware leave a message in the “_readme.txt” file in each directory that contains at least one encrypted file. The message informs victims that all their files are encrypted with strong encryption and that the only way to recover them is to purchase a decrypt tool and a unique key. The ransom demand starts at $980, and victims are given a 50% discount if they pay within 72 hours. The authors offer to decrypt one file for free to prove that the files can be decrypted.
Fortunately, security researchers have developed tools to decrypt files encrypted with an offline key, such as the Vapo File Decypt Tool from Emsisoft. However, files encrypted with an online key remain inaccessible unless the attackers themselves release the key. Victims of Vapo ransomware are advised not to pay the ransom, as there is no guarantee that the attackers will provide a working decryptor. Instead, they should use reputable anti-malware software to remove the virus from their computer and attempt to recover their files using the available decryption tools.
In conclusion, Vapo ransomware is a dangerous malware that can cause significant damage to a victim’s files and data. It is essential to take measures to protect your computer, such as avoiding downloading suspicious software and installing reputable anti-malware software. If you have been infected with Vapo ransomware, it is crucial to act quickly. To learn more about Vapo ransomware and how to protect yourself from it, please read our detailed guide.
Text presented on the Vapo ransom note:
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-tnzomMj6HU
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.topReserve e-mail address to contact us:
datarestorehelp@airmail.ccYour personal ID:
Threat Summary
| Name | Vapo ransomware, Vapo file virus |
| Type | Ransomware, Crypto malware, File locker, Crypto virus, Filecoder |
| File extension | .Vapo |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
| Contact | support@freshmail.top, datarestorehelp@airmail.cc |
| Ransom amount | $490 or $980 in Bitcoins |
| Detection Names | RansomX-gen [Ransom], Ransom.Stop.P5, Trojan.Win32.Save.a, VHO:Trojan-Spy.Win32.Stealer.gen, Trojan:Win32/Sabsik.FL.B!ml, Ransom.Win32.STOP.dg!n, ML/PE-A |
| Symptoms | Encrypted files marked with .Vapo extension, “_readme.txt” ransom note in each folder, demanding payment to decrypt files |
| Distribution ways | Malicious downloads, email attachments, software vulnerabilities |
| Damage | Data loss, financial loss, system instability, compromised personal information, decreased productivity |
| Removal | Use reputable anti-virus software to remove the malware, restore files, use free decryptors available |
| Decryption | Vapo File Decrypt Tool |
| Prevention and Protection | Regularly back up data, avoid suspicious links and email attachments, keep software up-to-date, use reputable anti-virus software |
How to remove Vapo virus (ransomware)
To successfully decrypt or recover .Vapo files, it is essential to eliminate Vapo ransomware and its autostart entries. Failing to do so may result in the ransomware re-encrypting the restored files. Stopping the ransomware is a straightforward process and can be accomplished through various methods. One way is to perform a complete system scan using malware removal tools that can detect and remove ransomware infections for free. To make the process more convenient, consider reading this entire guide and saving it on your smartphone or printing it out. This way, you will have easy access to all the necessary steps.
Scanning your computer for malware is crucial since security researchers have discovered that Vapo ransomware may install spyware alongside it. Spyware poses a significant security risk as it can steal sensitive information like passwords, login credentials, and contact details from the user. If you encounter any issues removing the Vapo virus, feel free to inform us in the comments section, and we will attempt to assist you.
To remove Vapo ransomware, follow the steps below:
Kill Vapo virus
Press CTRL, ALT, DEL keys together.
Click Task Manager. Select the “Processes” tab, look for something suspicious that is the Vapo ransomware then right-click it and select “End Task” or “End Process” option. If your Task Manager does not open or the Windows reports “Task manager has been disabled by your administrator”, then follow the guide: How to Fix Task manager has been disabled by your administrator.
Detecting a process associated with Vapo ransomware is not a complicated task. To identify a malicious process, you need to scrutinize the process icon and its name. Typically, this ransomware employs a process name with four characters in the format of 4-characters.tmp.exe or 4-characters.exe. For instance, A4b1.exe, 7533.tmp.exe, 19b2.exe, or CD15.tmp.exe. You may also come across the phrase “(32 bit)” in the process name. If you do not locate a process with a similar name on the processes list, it is likely that the Vapo ransomware has stopped functioning. However, it is crucial to note that if you do not eliminate the ransomware autostart entries and fail to delete its file, it may reappear after a while and immediately encrypt any unencrypted files it finds.
Disable Vapo Start-Up
Select the “Start-Up” tab, look for something similar to the one shown in the example below, right click to it and select Disable.
Close Task Manager.
Delete Vapo Task
Type “Task Scheduler” in the search bar. Click Task Scheduler app in the search results. Click “Task Scheduler Library” in the left panel. On the right panel, right-click to “Time Trigger Task” and select Delete.
Close Task Scheduler.
Remove Vapo virus
Run Task Manager and select the “Start-Up” tab. Right click to the Vapo ransomware Start-Up entry and select Open File Location as shown below.
A directory containing one file will open in front of you, this file is the Vapo virus. It needs to be removed. If you try to delete it immediately, then you will not succeed, since this file is protected from deletion.
To delete this file, you need to do the following. Right-click on the file, select Properties. In the window that opens, select Security tab. Next, click the Advanced button below. A window will open as shown in the following example.
Click Disable inheritance. In the Block inheritance dialog box that opens, select the first item (Convert inherited permissions…) as shown below.
In the Permission entries list, select “Deny Everyone”, click Remove button and then OK. Close the file properties window. You should now be able to remove the Vapo virus. Right-click on the file and select Delete.
Scan computer for malware
Malwarebytes is a reputable antivirus and anti-malware software that can be used to remove various types of malware from infected devices. However, the effectiveness of Malwarebytes in removing ransomware depends on the type and severity of the ransomware infection.
Malwarebytes can detect and remove most ransomware threats, including Vapo ransomware, which is a type of ransomware that encrypts victims’ files and demands a ransom for decryption. Malwarebytes uses advanced scanning algorithms and heuristics to detect and remove malicious files, processes, and registry entries associated with ransomware.
However, if the ransomware has already encrypted the victim’s files, Malwarebytes alone cannot decrypt them. In this case, the victim would need to use Stop (Djvu) Decryptor, or restore the encrypted files using the steps below.
Click the following link and download the latest version of Malwarebytes for your operating system.
326391 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the download is complete, double-click on the downloaded file to start the installation process.
Follow the instructions provided by the Malwarebytes installer to complete the installation process.
After the installation is complete, launch Malwarebytes by double-clicking on its desktop icon or through the Start menu.
In the Malwarebytes main screen, click on the “Scan” button to start a system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically scan your system for ransomware, malware, adware, and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).
After the scan is complete, Malwarebytes will display a list of threats found on your system. To remove the threats, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will quarantine the detected threats, which will prevent them from harming your computer. Once the quarantine process is complete, you can choose to either delete the quarantined files or restore them if you believe they are legitimate. After you have selected the appropriate action, restart your computer to complete the removal process.
To ensure complete removal of the Vapo virus from your computer, we suggest utilizing the Kaspersky virus removal tool (KVRT) which is both cost-free and user-friendly. With its ability to detect and delete different types of malware, including ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojans, potentially unwanted apps, and more, KVRT is a powerful tool. Additionally, it can locate and remove malicious files and registry entries that may be concealed on your system.
Download Kaspersky virus removal tool from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.
129060 downloads
Author: Kaspersky® lab
Category: Security tools
Update: March 5, 2018
When downloading is finished, double-click on the Kaspersky virus removal tool icon. Once initialization process is finished, you will see the KVRT screen as shown in the figure below.
Click Change Parameters and set a check near all your drives. Press OK to close the Parameters window. Next click Start scan button . KVRT tool will begin scanning the whole PC to detect the Vapo ransomware. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
When Kaspersky virus removal tool has completed scanning, it will open the Scan Results like below.
Review the results once the utility has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click on Continue to begin a cleaning process.
How to decrypt .Vapo files
To access the contents of files with the ‘.Vapo’ extension, a decryptor is required since they have been encrypted and cannot be unlocked by simply renaming or changing the file name. Fortunately, a Vapo File Decrypt Tool is available for free that can decrypt such files. Instructions on how to download and use this tool are provided below.
Vapo File Decrypt Tool (STOP Djvu decryptor)
To decrypt .Vapo files, use Vapo File Decrypt Tool
- Download Vapo File Decrypt Tool from the following link.
STOP Djvu decryptor - Scroll down to ‘New Djvu ransomware’ section.
- Click the download link and save the ‘decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe’ file to your desktop.
- Run decrypt_STOPDjvu.exe, read the license terms and instructions.
- On the ‘Decryptor’ tab, using the ‘Add a folder’ button, add the directory or disk where the encrypted files are located.
- Click the ‘Decrypt’ button.
The Vapo File Decrypt Tool is a free software that allows individuals to decrypt .Vapo files without any charges. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that the decryptor can solely decrypt files that were encrypted using an offline key. If the files were encrypted with an online key, then the free decryptor will be useless. Despite this limitation, other methods are available to recover encrypted files in such situations, which are elaborated below.
Steps to determine the type of key used for file encryption
To decrypt files encrypted by Vapo File Decrypt Tool, it is important to know which key was used during encryption. You can find out the type of key used through two methods. Both methods are effective, but the second method is considered to be more accurate and therefore recommended.
Personal ID is highlighted here
Identifying the Type of Key Using the ‘_readme.txt’ File
- Open the ‘_readme.txt’ file, which is the ransom demand message created by the Vapo ransomware.
- Scroll down to the end of the file.
- Look for a line of text that says ‘Your personal ID’.
- Below this line, you should see a string of characters. This is your personal ID, which is unique to your computer and is used to generate the decryption key.
Identifying the Type of Key Using the ‘_readme.txt’ File
- Open the C drive on your computer.
- Open the ‘SystemID’ directory.
- Look for the ‘PersonalID.txt’ file and open it./li>
- This file contains a list of ‘Personal IDs’ that match the keys that the ransomware used to encrypt files./li>
The ‘Personal ID’ is not the actual key that was used to encrypt files, but rather an identifier that corresponds to it. If the ID ends with ‘t1’, the files were encrypted with an offline key, whereas if it does not, the Vapo virus used an online key. If you are unable to determine which key was used, you can request assistance by submitting a query here or in the comments section.
Vapo File Decrypt Tool : “No key for New Variant online ID”
If, when you try to decrypt .Vapo files, Vapo File Decrypt Tool reports:
No key for New Variant online ID: *
Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible
It means that your files are encrypted with an ‘online key’ and their decryption is impossible, since only the vari authors have the key necessary for decryption. In this case, you need to use alternative methods listed below to restore the contents of encrypted files.
Vapo File Decrypt Tool : “No key for New Variant offline ID”
If, during decryption of .Vapo files, Vapo File Decrypt Tool reports:
No key for New Variant offline ID: *t1
Notice: this ID appears be an offline ID, decryption MAY be possible in the future.
It means the following: your files are encrypted with an ‘offline key’, but the key itself has not yet been obtained by security researchers, in this case, you need to be patient and wait a while, in addition, you can also use alternative ways for recovering encrypted data.
If for some reason you were unable to decrypt the encrypted files, then We recommend to follow the news on our Facebook or YouTube channels. So you ‘ll know right away that it ‘s possible to decrypt .Vapo files.
This video step-by-step guide will demonstrate How to use STOP Djvu decryptor to decrypt encrypted files.
How to restore .Vapo files
Thankfully, there are other ways to recover encrypted files that don’t require a decryption tool or key. These methods can be used by any ransomware victim, no matter which encryption key was used. It’s also worth noting that using these methods won’t interfere with the decryption process using the free Vapo File Decrypt Tool. However, before attempting to recover your files, it’s important to scan your computer for malware using free malware removal tools. It’s crucial to make sure that the ransomware has been completely removed before proceeding with file recovery.
Recover .Vapo files with ShadowExplorer
A tool called ShadowExplorer is available for free and can be used to restore files that have been encrypted by the Vapo crypto malware using the ‘Previous Versions’ feature of Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, or Vista. This tool can restore photos, documents, and music from Shadow Copies without any cost.
Visit the following page to download the latest version of ShadowExplorer for MS Windows. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
438681 downloads
Author: ShadowExplorer.com
Category: Security tools
Update: September 15, 2019
After the downloading process is done, open a directory in which you saved it. Right click to ShadowExplorer-0.9-portable and select Extract all. Follow the prompts. Next please open the ShadowExplorerPortable folder as shown on the screen below.
Start the ShadowExplorer utility and then choose the disk (1) and the date (2) that you wish to recover the shadow copy of file(s) encrypted by the Vapo virus as displayed on the image below.
Now navigate to the file or folder that you wish to recover. When ready right-click on it and click ‘Export’ button like below.
This video step-by-step guide will demonstrate How to recover encrypted files using Shadow Explorer.
Use PhotoRec to restore .Vapo files
One final option to restore encrypted files is through the use of data recovery tools. We suggest using a free tool called PhotoRec, which is equipped with all the essential functions needed to restore the contents of encrypted files. It has been proven to help many victims successfully recover their data, even when it appeared to be impossible.
Download PhotoRec on your Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.
When downloading is done, open a directory in which you saved it. Right click to testdisk-7.0.win and choose Extract all. Follow the prompts. Next please open the testdisk-7.0 folder as shown in the following example.
Double click on qphotorec_win to run PhotoRec for MS Windows. It’ll open a screen as displayed in the figure below.
Select a drive to recover as shown on the screen below.
You will see a list of available partitions. Select a partition that holds encrypted documents, photos and music as displayed on the screen below.
Click File Formats button and choose file types to recover. You can to enable or disable the restore of certain file types. When this is done, click OK button.
Next, click Browse button to choose where restored photos, documents and music should be written, then click Search. We strongly recommend that you save the recovered files to an external drive.
Count of recovered files is updated in real time. All restored personal files are written in a folder that you have chosen on the previous step. You can to access the files even if the restore process is not finished.
When the recovery is finished, click on Quit button. Next, open the directory where restored personal files are stored. You will see a contents like below.
All recovered files are written in recup_dir.1, recup_dir.2 … sub-directories. If you’re looking for a specific file, then you can to sort your restored files by extension and/or date/time.
This video step-by-step guide will demonstrate How to recover encrypted files using PhotoRec.
How to protect your PC from Vapo ransomware
As mentioned earlier, Vapo ransomware is a dangerous malware that can cause significant damage to your computer and personal files. Therefore, it is essential to take measures to protect your PC from being infected with this ransomware. One such tool that can help you safeguard your system against Vapo ransomware is HitmanPro.Alert. In the following paragraphs, we will provide an overview of HitmanPro.Alert and how it can help protect your computer from Vapo ransomware.
Go to the link below to download the latest version of the software. Install it on your PC.
Once installed, open HitmanPro.Alert and click on the “Exploit Mitigations” tab. Enable all the options available, including “BadUSB Mitigation,” “CryptoGuard,” “Keystroke Encryption,” and “Process Protection.”
Click on the “Ransomware Protection” tab and enable all the options available, including “CryptoGuard,” “Keystroke Encryption,” and “Process Protection.”
It is important to keep HitmanPro.Alert up-to-date to ensure that you have the latest protection against new threats. Make sure to enable automatic updates in the settings.
To sum up
In conclusion, the Vapo ransomware is a serious threat that can encrypt all of your important files and demand a hefty ransom for their release. But don’t worry, there are several ways to protect yourself from this malware and recover your data without paying a ransom.
In this article, we have covered the essential aspects of Vapo ransomware, including what it is, how it spreads, and the symptoms and damage it causes. We have also provided tips on how to remove the virus from an infected computer and how to restore encrypted files. Additionally, we have shared a video guide on how to use the Emsisoft decryptor tool to restore .Vapo files for free.
It is crucial to take preventive measures to avoid ransomware attacks, such as avoiding suspicious links and email attachments, using reputable anti-virus software, and regularly backing up your data to an external source. Being aware of the latest trends in cybersecurity and keeping your operating system and software up-to-date are also essential to minimize the risk of a ransomware attack.
Remember, never pay the ransom to the attackers, as it only encourages their criminal activities. Instead, use the available tools and resources to restore your encrypted files and report the incident to the relevant authorities to help prevent future attacks. Stay safe and vigilant in the online world.
Is there any hopes for those with files encrypted with an online key in the near future where there could be a software to decrypt them such as is available now for offline keys ?
There is hope, but very little. If the security experts somehow get the master key, then this will make it possible to decrypt files encrypted with any online key