What is Voom ransomware

Voom ransomware is a file-encrypting malware that will target your personal files. Encrypted files have .voom added to them. The malware comes from the Djvu/STOP ransomware family that’s operated by cybercriminals who release new ransomware versions on a regular basis. Ransomware from this family is very dangerous because once files are encrypted, it’s not always possible to recover them. If the ransomware encrypts files, it will demand that you pay $980 to get a decryptor, but paying the ransom comes with many risks. For users who have a backup, recovering files should not be an issue but it’s necessary to first remove Voom ransomware from the computer.

 

 

What is Voom ransomware?

Voom ransomware comes from the same cybercriminals responsible for Wdlo, Mpag, Udla, and many other ransomware infections. They all come from the same Djvu/STOP ransomware family. The people operating this ransomware family release new versions on a regular basis. They are all practically identical to one another as well. You can differentiate them by the extensions they add to encrypted files. This ransomware version adds .voom. For example, image.jpg would become image.jpg. All personal files will have this extension, including photos, videos, images, documents, etc. These are the files ransomware versions usually target because they are the files users are most likely to pay for.

When the ransomware is done encrypting files, it drops a _readme.txt ransom note in all folders that contain encrypted files. The note, while very generic, does explain how victims can recover files. Unfortunately, it would be necessary to buy a decryptor from the cybercriminals operating this ransomware. The decryptor is offered for $980 but the note does mention a 50% discount for victims who make contact within the first 72 hours of infection. Whether the discount part is true or not, you need to consider all the risks before agreeing to pay the ransom. It’s generally not recommended to even engage with these cybercriminals. There are no guarantees that you will actually get the decryptor since there’s nothing to force malicious actors to help you. Countless ransomware victims have paid thousands of dollars only to not get anything in return. While the choice is yours, you do need to be aware of the risks that come with paying the ransom.

If you have copies of your files in a backup, you can start file recovery as soon as you remove Voom ransomware from your computer. You need to make sure that the ransomware is fully gone from your device when you connect to your backup because otherwise, your backed-up files would become encrypted as well. And files may be lost permanently if that were to happen. So make sure to use a reliable anti-malware program to delete Voom ransomware.

If you don’t have a backup, you may need to wait for a free Voom ransomware decryptor to be released. There currently is no free decryptor available but that may change in the future. So back up your encrypted files and wait. If a Voom ransomware free decryptor does become available, it would appear on NoMoreRansom. It is a safe source to download decryptors from.

How do malicious actors distribute malware?

Malicious actors use many different ways to distribute malware. In most cases, users who have bad browsing habits end up with malware because they are more likely to open unsolicited email attachments that could be carrying malware, click on ads while browsing high-risk websites, torrent copyrighted content, etc. Developing better habits can help avoid quite a lot of malware.

If you have a habit of opening unsolicited email attachments without double-checking them first, you’re at a much higher risk of infecting your computer. Malicious actors buy email addresses from various hacker forums and send them emails with malicious attachments. Malicious senders often claim that they’re from legitimate/known companies, usually from ones whose services users supposedly use. Such emails try to pressure users into opening malicious attachments by claiming that they’re important documents that urgently need to be reviewed. If users do open them, the malware can initiate. Fortunately for users, the emails are usually quite obvious. Despite senders pretending to be legitimate companies, the emails are usually full of grammar/spelling mistakes and just generally seem quite obvious. Malicious emails also address users using generic terms like User, Customer, Member, etc., when legitimate emails would use users’ names. So as long as users know the signs, they should be able to identify emails carrying malware. But it’s worth mentioning that in some cases, malicious emails can be more sophisticated. Thus, it’s a good idea to scan all unsolicited email attachments with anti-virus software or VirusTotal before opening them.

Malicious actors also often distribute malware using torrents. It’s widely known that torrent sites are full of malware because of how poorly they are regulated. Once uploaded, a malicious torrent can stay up for quite a while. It’s especially common to find malware in torrents for popular movies, TV shows, video games, software, etc. If you use torrents to pirate copyrighted content, you’re not only essentially stealing content but also endangering your computer and data.

Voom ransomware removal

Voom ransomware is a very serious malware infection, and it’s not recommended to try to remove Voom ransomware manually. If you don’t know exactly what to do, you could accidentally cause additional damage. Or the ransomware may not be fully removed, which could allow it to recover later on. And if you were to connect to your backup while the ransomware is still present, your backed-up files would become encrypted as well. And that could mean permanent file loss.

If you don’t have a backup, your only option is to wait for a free Voom ransomware decryptor to become available. It’s not guaranteed that one will be released but you should still back up your encrypted files and occasionally check NoMoreRansom for a free decryptor. It’s also worth mentioning that there are a lot of fake decryptors advertised on questionable forums/websites. Downloading a fake decryptor could result in additional malware on your computer.