Dodoc Ransomware - How to remove

Dodoc is a file-locking virus that can corrupt all the files on a computer and demands money for restoring them. Unfortunately, this extortion scheme doesn’t always end well, even for those who paid the ransom for their data. Dodoc is a serious computer virus with significant real-life consequences.

The consequences of losing one’s data stored on their computer varies, but is potentially very great — even business-ending. Meanwhile, too many businesses and people don’t have secure file backups that would protect their data from being lost to ransomware, disk failures, and natural disasters. Dodoc is a virus that takes advantage of this and collects money from victims desperate to get back their data and resume normal activity.

How does Dodoc encryption work?

You’ll recognize Dodoc by the newly renamed files:

picture.jpg.dodoc

Dodoc does more than just rename files; it uses cryptography — the same technology that is used to secure passwords and private internet traffic. Cryptography can be used to scramble data to make it unreadable but recoverable if you have a decryption key — usually, a string of letters and numbers. This means that the Dodoc files can be restored, but the only people who can do that are the extortionists responsible for the virus. Each victim of the virus gets a unique decryption key that can’t be guessed, and Dodoc’s developers won’t give them up without getting money.

That’s why, in the ransom note (Dodoc creates a text file _readme with a message from the extortionists), you’re urged by the criminals to contact them (they even give their online addresses — [email protected], [email protected], @datarestore (Telegram)) to find out the payment details. They broke your files and are now trying to get money from you to restore them. To the criminals, it doesn’t matter whether they actually do fix the files. Their reputation in that department is already poor. But they do try to at least receive the money from each desperate victim.

The note contains this text:

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:
—
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.

Due to the way the encryption is implemented, Dodoc files can be decrypted in some specific cases — run STOPDecrypter after you’ve read the FAQ by its creator. This doesn’t work for most people, however.

When looking for a way to decrypt Dodoc files, free tools are more likely to be safe than paid ones. There are scammers out there trying to profit from the victims, as well as people who just pay the developers of Dodoc for your key and then charge you. Be careful.

How to remove Dodoc ransomware

Before you start using your computer normally, it’s important to remove the viruses that caused all this trouble. Not just Dodoc, but the trojan that might have been installed together, as well as whatever other malware has infected your device. Viruses travel the same ways and it wouldn’t be strange if more malicious programs had made it onto your device. They need to be removed to reduce the risk of future infections and leaks. You can use Spyhunter, or another reputable antivirus program.

Next, check out the ways that data can be restored when the Dodoc files can’t be decrypted. It won’t necessarily work, but it might. For example, shadow copies might help you restore your files’ old versions, or data recovery software could restore deleted data, which might include something valuable.

In the future, avoid programs that promise to activate expensive commercial software for free. Not only is it illegal, but viruses do sometimes hide in these, such as Dodoc, Gusau, or Refols. It seems to be the main way that STOP ransomware spreads currently. It’s not the only way that ransomware spreads — there are also malicious spam emails, targeted attacks on Remote Desktop connections, and malicious ads that deliver viruses automatically to outdated and vulnerable computers.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Dodoc Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Dodoc Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Dodoc Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Dodoc Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Dodoc Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Dodoc Ransomware tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Dodoc Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.