Venom Ransomware

Is there something wrong with your files? Did the filenames suddenly change and you can no longer open them? Perhaps you were infected with Venom Ransomware? It is a malicious program that is classified as ransomware, although you can probably tell it already from its name. Ransomware infections have been all the rage for the few years now, and it doesn’t look like they’re about to disappear any time soon. Right now you have to remove Venom Ransomware from your system immediately. Scroll down for the manual removal instructions at the bottom of this description.

The good news is that it is not complicated to remove Venom Ransomware for good, but it might be a lot harder to restore your files. There is no public decryption tool available out there. Therefore, if you do not have copies of your files saved on an external hard drive or a cloud drive, you might have to start anew. You can also address a professional who might be able to create an individual decryption tool for you, but the question is whether you really need to go to such lengths for several files.

Of course, ransomware programs usually target small businesses rather than individual users because smaller companies are more likely to pay for the ransom fee as they cannot afford to lose their data. Nevertheless, computer security experts maintain that transferring the ransom fee is never a good option because there is no guarantee that the criminals would issue the decryption tool (it might get lost along the way due to shaky server connection). And if the criminal scheme is successful, it might encourage these individuals to carry on their malicious schemes. We certainly do not want that.

How does Venom Ransomware work? This program employs the same tactics as any other ransomware application out there. First, it is very likely that it the program spreads through spam emails. It also means that users download and launch the malicious installers themselves. They obviously are not aware of it (otherwise, they would never do it). Thus, we can assume that the spam messages trick users into opening these installer files. It is possible to achieve by masquerading as reliable notifications from financial institutions and online stores. What can a regular or a corporate user can do to avoid such distribution tactics? One has to be careful about the attachments they receive in their mail every single day. If the attachment looks suspicious, it is always possible to scan it with a security tool before opening it.

If, unfortunately, Venom Ransomware manages to enter the target system, the program automatically launches the encryption that encrypts most of the picture and document files. At the end of the day, the infected user may be left without the access to their most important files, and this is exactly what Venom Ransomware is aiming for. It needs to send the affected user into panic so that they were willing to follow the instructions given in the following ransom note:

Your files have been encrypted
<…>
All your documents, videos, music, photos, databases. and other files are encrypted
<…>
Can I Recover My Files?
<…>
You have to pay online with the electronic currency Bitcoin and send your information. For example. Email and Bitcoin Wallet ID
Below you can see information about Bitcoin as you buy and send

The instructions to acquire Bitcoin are not clear. What’s more, the ransom note does not exactly say how much you have to pay to retrieve your files. Thus, it is very likely that it is impossible to get your files back in any “official” way.

So let us go back to what we had to say in the beginning: You have to remove Venom Ransomware right now. Check your Downloads folder (or any other directory where you save downloaded files) for the most recently downloaded files, and delete the file you have launched right before this infection took over your system.

After that, remove the encrypted files and transfer healthy copies back into your hard drive (provided you have your files backed up). You might also want to check your mobile device, your inbox, and other places where you might have saved most of your files. Finally, invest in a security tool that will help you clean your system through and through.

How to Delete Venom Ransomware

1. Open your Downloads folder.
2. Delete the most recently downloaded files.
3. Run a full system scan with SpyHunter.