Vvoa Ransomware

The Vvoa Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan from the family of the STOP Ransomware, a global Ransomware-as-a-Service. The Vvoa Ransomware may block most files on infected PCs with encryption that is typically unbreakable by third parties. Proper backups on other devices and anti-malware services for removing the Vvoa Ransomware are both recommended for all Windows users.

More Random Names on Not-Too-Random File Predators

Although the STOP Ransomware is a family that can surprise some victims with its breadth of infection methods in play, its constituent members tend towards surprising consistency in other ways. For example, most installers for threats of this Ransomware-as-a-Service use random names. As the Vvoa Ransomware shows, that randomness can occur in more than one way.

The Vvoa Ransomware is a Windows threat circulating with installer names such as '3E6D' or '31BC' – typical for Trojans that don't require a direct download from the victim. The STOP Ransomware family's campaigns include such deceptive strategies as bundling the Trojans with illicit torrents, attaching Trojan downloaders to corrupted e-mailed documents, and brute-forcing credentials for breaking into networks.

The Vvoa Ransomware's name is arbitrary equally, with four random characters that it expresses as an extension ('.vvoa'), which it adds to any files that it locks with its AES and RSA encryption feature. There usually is no greater meaning behind the name, as seen in other STOP Ransomware variants, like the Djvu Ransomware, the Agho Ransomware, the Vpsh Ransomware or the Repl Ransomware. However, the Vvoa Ransomware's data encryption will hold documents, images, and other media on the victim's computer as possibly-permanent hostages.

A Stopping Point for STOP Ransomware's Progeny

No Windows user should place all their hopes of restoring personal or workplace-related data on locally-available backups. The Restore Points, especially, are targets for deletion by the Vvoa Ransomware's family and most other RaaSes. Furthermore, threat actors 'hiring' STOP Ransomware variants may use tools like AZORult or Mimikatz for compromising other, network-accessible systems and storage devices. Safe storage for backups should include additional security measures such as password requirements or even so-called air gaps.

Malware analysts also recommend implementing generally-effective security standards for reducing the Vvoa Ransomware's distribution as much as possible. Due to lacking more specific samples for its campaign, users will have to watch for all likely infection vectors. These possibilities include e-mail attachments (usually, as disguised documents that initiate drive-by-downloads through vulnerabilities like macros), illegal downloads like some torrents, and fake software updates. Password security also is critical.

Although the Vvoa Ransomware delivers ransom messages that offer a premium recovery service, criminals don't necessarily honor these obligations. Malware experts discourage paying for users with other recovery solutions left for testing.

Anti-malware services can't decrypt or unlock the files that this threat sabotages. They may still quickly delete the Vvoa Ransomware on sight.

As the Vvoa Ransomware continues the tradition of randomized naming conventions, other STOP Ransomware variants may appear at any moment. Since each file encrypted means more profit to threat actors, Windows users should guard their files without slacking in the hopes of finally putting an end to this illegal business model.