Godes Ransomware - How to remove

The Godes file-locker is a virus derived from STOP/DJVU ransomware. It’s new and currently active, infecting people’s computers and locking their files, marking them with the “.godes” extension. The extortionists responsible for Godes try to trick people to contact them and pay money instead of removing the virus and exploring alternative file-restoring options with an arbitrary timer.

Godes is effective against people whose data is not backed. Backups are a great defense against ransomware attacks because the data that’s locked by Godes’ cryptographic algorithm can be easily restored from a duplicate (after the virus has been removed, of course). However, not everyone is lucky enough to have set up backups.

Godes often infects people by hiding in other software, especially pirated files or programs which are for activating trial software. Other ways are possible, too, such as emails with attachments that are infected. The point is that Godes needs you, the victim, to download and run it. For that, the virus is disguised as some desired program. Though it should still be detected by your antivirus program if you scan the file, it often slips through. The various variants of STOP/DJVU have infected thousands of people, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Lokas, another version of DJVU, was first noticed only around a week before Godes, Drume has been around since March, and there have been dozens of versions inbetween.

Godes features

Godes encrypts files in order to make them unusable. Encryption scrambles the contents but is reversible if you have the decryption keys. However, even a small edit could completely break some of the encrypted files, so make copies of them before you attempt to decrypt them using STOPDecrypter. The person who is most knowledgeable about the virus, @demonslay335, has been developing and maintaining this tool (download STOPDecrypter) and has helped a fraction of the victims of STOP/DJVU decrypt their files (or some of their files).

The problem with ransomware is that the decryption keys that could restore the files (provided the files are restorable — not all ransomware developers are competent enough to do that) cannot be found without the help of the criminals behind Godes. The way that public-key cryptography works means that to decrypt your files, you need the criminals’ private key, which is only known to them. The only exception is the offline key, which is stored on the victim’s computer and used when Godes can’t talk to its developers’ server and download the real key.

Once Godes has run and encrypted the files, it creates a text file called “_readme.txt”. This file lays out what the criminals behind Godes want from their victims. And what they want is to be contacted through [email protected], [email protected], @datarestore, and sent a few hundred dollars through Bitcoin. This text reads like this:

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-Uwo9T1cpFc
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.

You shouldn’t pay the criminals unless you absolutely have to. Be ready for the worst, they dont always keep their word, and there’s no way to get your money back.

How to remove Godes

Godes can be removed with the help of a strong antivirus program, but the virus might make it difficult. It must be removed, though, or else it might reencrypt files. Also, because STOP/DJVU viruses often come together with a banking trojan, there is more than one dangerous virus that needs to be removed. Powerful antivirus programs (download Spyhunter) can take care of viruses, but Godes also makes some changes to your settings which is why you might need to do a system restore, if the virus didn’t delete the necessary files. If it did, just make sure to update your antivirus and your operating system, maybe change your passwords. Godes might have changed your hosts file to stop you from going to certain websites, you can undo that by following this guide. As for restoring your files, if you don’t have a backup, follow the guide below. Even if you don’t entirely succeed, you might have some luck with some of your data.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Godes 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 Godes Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Godes 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 Godes Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Godes 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 Godes 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 Godes 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.