Pouu Ransomware: Removal & Decryption Solution

A New Strain Of DJVU (Pouu Ransomware) Identified

In the list of ransomware identities, the term Pouu Ransomware is a newly added entity which is discovered recently while checking through new malware submissions. Probably, this kind of malware is known as one of the most destructive threat kind as it affects all essential files on targeted device and urges the victims to remit a certain ransom fee to seek their files restored. To learn more about Pouu Ransomware and its details further, read through this article.

Summary About Pouu Ransomware

Name: Pouu Ransomware
Type: File locking virus, cryptovirus, ransomware
Symptoms: Inaccessible files, appended file extensions to .pouu, eruption of a ransom note on screen.
Distribution: Bundled software installers, malicious links, intrusive advert campaigns, email campaigns, and so on.
Removal: In order to delete Pouu Ransomware, use a powerful antimalware solution, after which the file recovery can be performed using either backups or a data recovery tool.

Descriptive Information About Pouu Ransomware

Pouu Ransomware is discovered to be a new vicious cryptovirus variant that belongs to DJVU ransomware family. This kind of malicious applications are created by cyber crime master minds with sole intention to encrypt all files stored on computer and demands the victims to pay off a specific fee for providing decryption tools. In simple words, your files will easily turned into an inaccessible component and this probably happens with almost all your important files. Therefore, you are expected to face off high potential data loss, and this is why it’s essential to treat computers infected by such threats.

Once the ransomware named Pouu Ransomware intrudes on compromised computers, it runs its built-in encryption mechanism over all files to make them inaccessible to users. During the encryption is being processed, all affected files get a new extension as suffix which appears as .pouu. And lastly a text file based ransom note is implanted inside machine which is named as _readme.txt which is placed either on desktop or within infected directories or in both of the places. This note basically instructs users regarding how to restore their files.

Being a bit more precise to impacts of Pouu Ransomware, the ransomware informs users that all of their stored files like databases, documents, pictures and other important files have been encrypted and inaccessible. In order to restore the lost files, the note recommends to buy a valid decryption key and tool and the price is mentioned as $980. However, if the victims contact the contact the criminals within next 72 hours following encryption, they can avail a 50 percent discount and the decryption price will be reduced to $490. in addition, the note may include some warning messages for users that suggest them to try not tampering with files or third party decryptor.

How ransomware is spread? How to restore files?

As per the researchers, the criminals employ mostly the deceptive techniques to distribute their malicious code over web through software bundling or email spamming. Under these measures, the victims are tricked to interact with some malicious resources following which the whole PC usage sessions are badly affected. In order to treat a computer infected by Pouu Ransomware, it’s suggested to seek not help of criminals as they will just deceive your financial values and leave your files or data intact. it’s better to get through guidelines here to remove Pouu Ransomware first, and restore your files using either backups or other alternative solutions.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove Pouu Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete Pouu Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Pouu Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete Pouu Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Pouu Ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to Pouu Ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove Pouu Ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of Pouu Ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by Pouu Ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like Pouu Ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by Pouu Ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with Pouu Ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove Pouu Ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.