How worried should you be if you have a Ransomware like Dodoc on your computer? This article and the guide attached to it describe everything you need to know about the Ransomware category and this particular representative, including how to remove it if you get infected.

Cybersecurity is a major problem in today’s digital world, both for businesses and for regular web users. Our computers, portable devices, smart home devices, and any other type of devices that are connected to the Internet are vulnerable to various attacks. One of the greatest threats to security that everyone may encounter online is the so-called Ransomware.

What is .Dodoc file?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software (also called “malware”) which is designed to hijack computer files and, sometimes, even to block the access to the entire computer. This type of malware encrypts your files so they cannot be opened without the application of a special decryption key. If you get attacked, you basically cannot use any of your precious videos, photos, personal files, work documents, archives, etc. The attackers behind the malware contact the victim by displaying a ransom-demanding note on the screen of the infected computer and request a ransom to be paid in exchange for the special decryption key. They promise to decrypt the files after the payment (often required in bitcoins) is made and usually threaten that, if no money is sent to them, they will destroy the key and leave the data encrypted forever.

Infections such as Dodoc, Lapoi, Gusau, for example, can be very nasty as they use a very complex file-encryption method, which is almost unbreakable without the application of the corresponding decryption key. Those threats also use some very stealthy methods to sneak into the system and, sadly, they usually manage to remain under the radar of most security programs until they complete their file-encrypting process. When all the files have been blocked, a ransom note appears on the screen, stating the amount of money you must pay to decrypt the files, as well as telling you about where or how to transfer the money, and how much time you have to do it. If the deadline is not met, the amount typically increases or the decryption key gets destroyed. If you attempt to open any of the encrypted files, an error message appears stating that the file is protected by an encryption algorithm and cannot be opened without a corresponding key.

The most worrying thing about Dodoc and other infections of this type is that, unlike viruses, once you remove them, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be able to restore the access to the files they have encrypted. Sometimes, the targeted data may remain inaccessible for an indefinite period of time, and in those cases, you may need to use some alternative methods in order to get it back.

Paying the ransom that the hackers want, however, is also not a guarantee that you will get everything back to normal, because the crooks may never send you the decryption key needed for the recovery of your encrypted files. Not to mention that even if you manage to get the key, it may not work properly and may still turn out to be useless. Therefore, instead of risking your hard-earned money, we suggest you focus on the proper steps to remove Dodoc and, after the infection is gone, explore some alternative file-recovery steps. You can see such steps in the removal guide below and give them a try once you remove the Ransomware from the computer.

Dodoc SUMMARY:

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Dodoc Ransomware Removal

1: Preparations

Note: Before you go any further, we advise you to bookmark this page or have it open on a separate device such as your smartphone or another PC. Some of the steps might require you to exit your browser on this PC.

2: Task Manager

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to enter the Task Manager. Go to the Tab labeled Processes (Details for Win 8/10). Carefully look through the list of processes that are currently active on you PC.

If any of them seems shady, consumes too much RAM/CPU or has some strange description or no description at all, right-click on it, select Open File Location and delete everything there.

Also, even if you do not delete the files, be sure to stop the process by right-clicking on it and selecting End Process.

3: IP related to Dodoc

Go to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. Open the hosts file with notepad.

Find where it says Localhost and take a look below that. 

If you see any IP addresses there (below Localhost) send them to us here, in the comments since they might be coming from the Dodoc.

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4: Disable Startup programs

Re-open the Start Menu and type msconfig.

Click on the first search result. In the next window, go to the Startup tab. If you are on Win 10,  it will send you to the Startup part of the task manager instead, as in the picture:

If you see any sketchy/shady looking entries in the list with an unknown manufacturer or a manufacturer name that looks suspicious as there could be a link between them and Dodoc , disable those programs and select OK.

5: Registry Editor

Press Windows key + R and in the resulting window type regedit.

Now, press Ctrl + F and type the name of the virus.

Delete everything that gets found. If you are not sure about whether to delete something, do not hesitate to ask us in the comments. Keep in mind that if you delete the wrong thing, you might cause all sorts of issues to your PC.

6: Deleting potentially malicious data – Dodoc

Type each of the following locations in the Windows search box and hit enter to open the locations:

%AppData%

%LocalAppData%

%ProgramData%

%WinDir%

%Temp%

Delete everything you see in Temp linked to Dodoc Ransomware. About the other folders, sort their contents by date and delete only the most recent entries. As always, if you are not sure about something, write to us in the comment section.

7: Dodoc Decryption

The previous steps were all aimed at removing the Dodoc Ransomware from your PC. However, in order to regain access to your files, you will also need to decrypt them or restore them. For that, we have a separate article with detailed instructions on what you have to do in order to unlock your data. Here is a link to that guide.

The post Remove Dodoc Virus Ransomware (+.Dodoc File Recovery) appeared first on Malware Complaints.

The Ransomware cryptoviruses just keep coming and they don’t stop coming, with one of their newest representatives being a nasty malware piece named Todar. Similarly to most other viruses from the Ransomware cryptovirus category, Todar is an advanced malware program that uses a highly sophisticated encryption algorithm as means of locking up the files of its victims. If you have ever heard about Ransomware before, then you should know what the goal of those viruses( Todar,Lapoi, Gusau ) are, namely, to make you pay money to the hackers behind them by blackmailing you for the decryption key that can unlock your files. Most Ransomware infections like Todar work in a similar way – once they secretly and silently place their encryption on your files, they make their presence known by displaying a pop-up banner right on your screen. The text in the banner says that you will have to pay a ransom in order to retrieve your files. Alternatively, the cryptovirus may generate a notepad next to the files that have gotten encrypted. The text in the notepad file serves the same purpose as the banner. In the end, the result is the same – the victim of the virus gets blackmailed and unless they pay the money demanded of them, their files are likely to remain locked for good… or are they? Although due to the advanced encryption used by most newer cryptoviruses (including Todar), there are rarely any guarantees about the future of the files that get locked up, there may be some potential methods of data restoration, which do not involve sending money to anonymous cyber criminals. However, in order to use these methods, you first need to remove the malware cryptovirus from your computer. We have prepared an Todar removal guide and included it in this article for those of you who have this nasty Ransomware in their computers at the moment. Follow the presented steps and, if you need it, use the suggested removal program that you will find in the guide. However, remember that removing the virus is only the first step towards releasing your files. We have a separate section focused solely on decrypting data that has gotten locked by Ransomware where you can find some alternative methods of file restoration.

Is paying the Ransom for decrypting .Todar File really such a bad idea?

Many users may be considering the ransom payment as a quick and easy way of retrieving their files. Indeed, in many cases, paying the money may get you your precious data recovered but this doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, the decryption key that the hackers promise never actually gets sent to the victim, even after the latter has paid the demanded money. In general, paying the hackers is risky business and you may end up wasting a serious amount of money without really getting any of the encrypted files restored. This is why the advisable thing to do is remove Todar and instead of risking your money, try the free data-restoration options that we have on our site. They may not always be as effective as we’d like but are still definitely worth the try.

Todar SUMMARY:

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Todar Ransomware Removal

1: Preparations

Note: Before you go any further, we advise you to bookmark this page or have it open on a separate device such as your smartphone or another PC. Some of the steps might require you to exit your browser on this PC.

2: Task Manager

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to enter the Task Manager. Go to the Tab labeled Processes (Details for Win 8/10). Carefully look through the list of processes that are currently active on you PC.

If any of them seems shady, consumes too much RAM/CPU or has some strange description or no description at all, right-click on it, select Open File Location and delete everything there.

Also, even if you do not delete the files, be sure to stop the process by right-clicking on it and selecting End Process.

3: IP related to Todar

Go to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. Open the hosts file with notepad.

Find where it says Localhost and take a look below that. 

If you see any IP addresses there (below Localhost) send them to us here, in the comments since they might be coming from the Todar.

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4: Disable Startup programs

Re-open the Start Menu and type msconfig.

Click on the first search result. In the next window, go to the Startup tab. If you are on Win 10,  it will send you to the Startup part of the task manager instead, as in the picture:

If you see any sketchy/shady looking entries in the list with an unknown manufacturer or a manufacturer name that looks suspicious as there could be a link between them and Todar , disable those programs and select OK.

5: Registry Editor

Press Windows key + R and in the resulting window type regedit.

Now, press Ctrl + F and type the name of the virus.

Delete everything that gets found. If you are not sure about whether to delete something, do not hesitate to ask us in the comments. Keep in mind that if you delete the wrong thing, you might cause all sorts of issues to your PC.

6: Deleting potentially malicious data – Todar

Type each of the following locations in the Windows search box and hit enter to open the locations:

%AppData%

%LocalAppData%

%ProgramData%

%WinDir%

%Temp%

Delete everything you see in Temp linked to Todar Ransomware. About the other folders, sort their contents by date and delete only the most recent entries. As always, if you are not sure about something, write to us in the comment section.

7: Todar Decryption

The previous steps were all aimed at removing the Todar Ransomware from your PC. However, in order to regain access to your files, you will also need to decrypt them or restore them. For that, we have a separate article with detailed instructions on what you have to do in order to unlock your data. Here is a link to that guide.

The post Remove Todar Virus Ransomware (+.Todar File Recovery) appeared first on Malware Complaints.