Vawe ransomware

Vawe encryption malware is the version of the malicious ransomware family that spreads since 2016

Vawe ransomware is the cryptovirus that creates issues with the machine since it is focusing on file encoding and ransom demands. There is nothing about the threat that couldn’t cause frustration and issues with the machine. This malware runs on the machine, affects data using encryption algorithm like AES or RSA, and then marks files using .vawe extension that indicates which data is encrypted on the system. It mainly affects files that are commonly used, on an everyday basis, but it can also alter settings and functions of the OS itself to ensure the persistency. There are many features that this Djvu virus /STOP version has that are not changed for a year now. 

Vawe ransomware virus belongs to the family that was previously decrypted but is no longer due to changes in the general coding functions encryption key usage. There are no official tools that could get these affected files back to normal because this is the newest version that comes 235th on the list. This number means nothing, but all the versions released after August 2019 are more powerful and less vulnerable to researchers’ methods, so even those malware experts^[1] who are focused on this family of cryptovirus cannot decrypt your affected data.

.vawe files virus falls into the category of ransomware – one the most dangerous and stealthy types of malware. It spread using pirated files or software cracks, game cheats mainly, so you cannot find any files or programs related to this virus that could indicate infection. However, once the _readme.txt file appears on your screen, you can be sure that the virus is done with encryption because ransom is already demanded for those encoded files. In this particular text file, malware creators state about contact information ([email protected], [email protected]) and ransom amounts ($980 or $490 with a discount) and encourage you to pay up. DO NOT even consider the payment. Cybercriminals are not trustworthy, especially when they create ransomware threats.^[2]

Vawe ransomware virus is nothing that people would like to get installed on their machines because this threat affects the work by encoding files, damaging functions, and even gathering information or accessing sensitive files. It is a new technique when cryptovirus developers code the additional function of gathering data, so once the victim is refusing to pay the direct blackmail email comes to their email box.

Even though this sounds awful paying the ransom for these threat actors is not a solution. You need to ignore any messages from criminals and remove Vawe ransomware instead. Once the system is virus-free, you can run all the data recovery programs or use the proper backups to recover data affected by the shady cryptovirus. These people are not concerned about your belongings, so there is no way to get their mercy on your side. 

The typical Djvu ransomware developers’ message that is sent for all the victims of this Vawe ransomware virus version states the following:

ATTENTION!

Don’t worry, you can return all your files!

All your files like photos, 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-WJa63R98Ku

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.

If you react to this message and the whole encryption process that Vawe ransomware runs once it gets on the system and send you the text file, you can avoid additional damage. It is a matter of time, so experts^[4] recommend getting a proper anti-malware tool and running that on the PC when anything similar to such extortion-based threat occurs.

The proper Vawe ransomware removal can ensure that your system is clear, and you can safely restore those files that malware affected. Using a professional anti-malware program saves you some time, and you have more options for the file recovery. However, some functions that this threat can damage like Shadow Volume Copies, and so on, can affect the results. Make sure to run Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego additionally to AV engine, so these functions and system files get repaired in time.

Vawe ransomware – the 235th version in the family of DJVU.

Vawe ransomware – the 235th version in the family of DJVU.

The explanation of .Vawe file recovery

When the Vawe ransomware virus appears on the machine it starts with the encryption process, so your data is affected first, and criminals can demand payment. However, this is the biggest issue too. You can sometimes restore functions and system files that threat alters, but data that is affected by the encryption remains damage after the virus removal process. Anti-malware tools will not recover your encoded files because there is a need of additional software, decryption tool, or the ID key that is needed for the decryption pool to work.

Offline IDs that were previously used by other versions in this family provided the opportunity of decoding files without particular IDs. It was fortunate for many people when developers used the same keys for many versions of the threat. Every victim of the same release got their data restored. However, .Vawe ransomware virus uses online IDs when data gets encoded, so decryption is no longer an option.

Vawe ransomware affected data can get restored when the creator provides a tool and the unique victims’ ID that was employed during the encoding. Since each computer has its own key, you can’t use a key from another computer to decrypt your files, unless developers release them all publicly. That happens rarely.

Your options for the .Vawe files are limited since this is the newer, more complex, and persistent version of the DJVU ransomware. You can either rely on your file backups that are stored on the cloud service or on the external backup device. Onc the threat is cleared off of the machine, you run these files and add them instead of the encoded data.

When backups are not available, you can go for the proper Vawe ransomware virus termination using the proper AV tool, then a system file recovery with Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego, or another PC repair application. Once the machine is repaired and virus-free, you can rely on third-party programs designed for file restoring purposes. We have a few below for you.

Remember that when you release files on the affected system, you can experience secondary encryption and loose files or even money, when you decide to pay up. Vawe ransomware is dangerous, so do not consider contacting those people and make the machine secure again, then repair damage and recover files.

Vawe ransomware is the program that encodes files and marks them using .Vawe file appendix.

Vawe ransomware is the program that encodes files and marks them using .Vawe file appendix.

A full guide on Vawe ransomware virus removal

In most of the cases, ransomware victims believe that Vawe ransomware removal is equal to the recovery of .vawe files. However, these two procedures are different and have to be performed using software tools for either virus elimination or data recovery. 

Unfortunately, none of the Djvu versions that emerged since September 2019 and later can be decrypted for free. The only reliable way to decrypt the files is to use backups. However, before doing that, it’s a must to remove Vawe ransomware from the system completely. Otherwise, all files extracted from backups will be re-encrypted. 

Even if you don’t have backups, paying the ransom is not the best solution. No one can guarantee that hackers store a fully functional decryptor for .vawe files. Therefore, eliminate the package of malicious ransomware files using a professional anti-virus program and then take advantage of third-party data recovery tools, such as Data Recovery Pro or Shadow Explorer. Or even a PC repair program like Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego.

Before Vawe removal, restart Windows into Safe Mode with Networking and render a robust security tool. This particular Djvu version is a new threat, which is currently detected by 35 AV engines out of 73. Thus, if you want to ensure a successful detection, quarantine, and removal of file-encrypting virus, update the security software that is installed on your machine or download the latest variants of SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes tools. 

Remove Vawe using Safe Mode with Networking

If Vawe file virus runs malicious files via an elevated PowerShell, bypass the restriction by booting Windows into Safe Mode with Networking:

• Windows 7 / Vista / XP
  1. Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
  2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list

  Windows 10 / Windows 8

  1. Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
  2. Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
  3. Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Networking in Startup Settings window.

• Log in to your infected account and start the browser. Download Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego or other legitimate anti-spyware program. Update it before a full system scan and remove malicious files that belong to your ransomware and complete Vawe removal.

If your ransomware is blocking Safe Mode with Networking, try further method.

Remove Vawe using System Restore

If Safe Mode did not work or AV engines fail to detect this threat, try using System Restore:

Bonus: Recover your data

Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove Vawe from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.

If your files are encrypted by Vawe, you can use several methods to restore them:

Try Data Recovery Pro software

The success of Vawe file recovery depends on the encryption model that the virus relies on and on the capabilities of the data recovery software. Although Data Recovery Pro was not aimed at unlocking ransomware affected files, it may turn out to be useful in retrieving separate files. 

• Download Data Recovery Pro;
• Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
• Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by Vawe ransomware;
• Restore them.

Windows Previous Versions feature might help to unlock most valuable personal files

If you had System Restore function enabled before the ransomware attack, you may succeed in unlocking some of the Vawe files. 

• Find an encrypted file you need to restore and right-click on it;
• Select “Properties” and go to “Previous versions” tab;
• Here, check each of available copies of the file in “Folder versions”. You should select the version you want to recover and click “Restore”.

ShadowExplorer software

This software works based on Shadow Volume Copies located on Windows. If these backups were not deleted by the Vawe virus, you might be able to recover all your data.

• Download Shadow Explorer (http://shadowexplorer.com/);
• Follow a Shadow Explorer Setup Wizard and install this application on your computer;
• Launch the program and go through the drop down menu on the top left corner to select the disk of your encrypted data. Check what folders are there;
• Right-click on the folder you want to restore and select “Export”. You can also select where you want it to be stored.

No free Vawe decryptor available

The versions launched before August 2019 can be decrypted with the help of Emsisoft’s STOPdecrypter. However, this version cannot be decrypted for free, so you can choose either to pay the ransom or try alternative methods listed below. 

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