How to remove Vgkf ransomware

Vgkf ransomware is yet another generic file-encrypting malware from the notorious Djvu/STOP ransomware family. Because it encrypts files, it’s considered to be one of the most dangerous malware infections users can encounter. Once files are encrypted, you will not be able to open them unless you first use a decryptor on them. And you can recognize encrypted files by the .vgkf extension added to them. You will have the option of buying a decryptor from the cybercriminals operating this ransomware, though that is quite risky because a decryptor is not guaranteed.

 

 

Vgkf ransomware is more or less identical to Sbpg, Miia, Loov, Nnqp, and hundreds of others. They all come from the notorious Djvu/STOP ransomware family. The versions are identifiable by the extensions they add to encrypted files. This ransomware adds .vgkf, which is why it’s called Vgkf ransomware. All your personal files will have this extension, including photos, videos, images, documents, etc. You will not be able to open files with this extension unless you first use a decryptor on them. However, the decryptor is not so easily obtainable.

As soon as you open the malicious file, the ransomware will be triggered and begin encrypting files. During the process, you will see a fake Windows update window. Once it’s done encrypting your files, it will drop a _readme.txt ransom note in all folders that have encrypted files. The note is pretty generic and mostly identical to the others dropped by this ransomware family. It explains that to get the decryptor, you would need to pay the ransom. The regular price is $980 but according to the note, users who contact the malicious actors within the first 72 hours will get a 50% discount. Whether that is actually true or not, we do not recommend paying the ransom. The main reason is that a decryptor is not guaranteed. There is nothing to force the cybercriminals to send the decryptor after the payment is made, and they are unlikely to feel obligated to do it. So before you decide, familiarize yourself with the risks.

For users without backup, the chances of recovering files are slim. There currently is no free backup available, though one may be released sometime in the future. For that to happen, the ransomware’s encryption keys would need to be released. The ransomware from this malware family uses online keys to encrypt files, which means the keys are unique to each user. Without those keys, it’s not possible to develop a decryptor. But they could be released by the malware operators themselves when they decide to close shop, or by law enforcement if they ever catch those responsible. So back up encrypted files and check NoMoreRansom from time to time for a decryptor.

If you have backed up your files, there should be no issue with file recovery. However, you need to make sure to first remove Vgkf ransomware from your computer. If the ransomware is still present when you connect to your backup, those files would be encrypted as well. So use anti-virus software and do not attempt manual removal.

Ransomware distribution

Malicious emails, also known as malspam, are one of the more common ways malware is distributed. It’s a method that requires very little effort so it’s quite convenient for malicious actors. They purchase victims’ email addresses from various hacker forums, type of a semi-convincing email that encourages users to open an attachment, and add a malicious file. When users open these files, they initiate the malware. Fortunately for users, the emails are fairly obvious if they know what to look for. Generally, senders of malicious emails often pretend to be from companies whose services users use. But the emails are full of grammar/spelling mistakes and address users with generic terms like “User”, “Member”, “Customer”, etc. When you are sent a legitimate email from a company whose services you use, the email would have no mistakes and would address you by your name. Otherwise, it would look unprofessional. So when you receive an email that asks you to open an attachment but the email itself looks unprofessional, keep in mind that it’s more than likely to be malspam. We should also mention that some malspam campaigns may be more sophisticated. Thus, you should scan all email attachments with anti-virus software or VirusTotal before opening them.

If you are a torrent user, you likely are already aware of this, but malware is often spread via torrents as well. Torrent websites are often quite poorly regulated, which allows malicious actors to put malware in torrents disguised as content like movies, TV series, video games, software, etc. If users do not know how to recognize safe torrents, they could easily end up with serious infections. It’s especially common to find malware in torrents for highly-anticipated content. For example, when a new Marvel movie comes out, the torrents for it are often full of malware. So downloading pirated content is not frowned upon just because it’s stealing content, it’s also because it’s dangerous for the computer.

There are plenty of other ways you can pick up malware, including downloading software from unreliable sources, clicking on ads, visiting high-risk sites, etc. Developing good browsing habits is a good way to avoid all kinds of infections. It’s also a good idea to have anti-virus software running on the computer to protect you from incoming threats.

Vgkf ransomware removal

Ransomware is a pretty complex infection so it’s highly recommended to use anti-virus software to delete Vgkf ransomware from your computer. Manual Vgkf ransomware removal would be quite complex, and not fully removing it could allow the malware to recover. If you connect to your backup while ransomware is still present, your backed-up files could become encrypted as well. So make sure to use reliable anti-virus software.

If a backup is not something you have, it may not be possible to recover files. The only option may be to wait for a free decryptor to be released. However, that may be a while. Nonetheless, we suggest backing up encrypted files and waiting for a free decryptor. However, you should be very careful when searching for one because there are plenty of fake decryptors that would lead to more malware.