Kodg ransomware

Kodg ransomware is the infection that can lead to serious system issues and damage files if not removed as soon as possible

Kodg ransomware is the crypto-virus that affects Windows systems and is based on the code of the notorious STOP/Djvu virus. This infection is based on file-locking that is achieved by employing an encryption algorithm and encoding files like photos, images, video, audio files, various types of documents, or even databases. Once files get locked and “taken hostage”, ransom gets demanded in the _readme.txt file which is placed in various folders and on the desktop to inform victims about further actions they can take. Unfortunately, neither the offered test decryption nor the ransom paying options are recommended by malware researchers. There is a bigger opportunity to lose your files and money permanently when you pay and hope for the recovery because virus developers only focus on profiting from their victims.

Since Kodg ransomware virus is a version of the well-known ransomware, there are many typical features. The malware family is known for showing the fake Windows Update message, so the victim thinks that the slowness of the machine is caused by the process of updating. During this time, all chosen data gets locked and encoded, various other processes loaded on the machine, and, in some cases, info-stealing malware placed on the computer too. This happens immediately after the infiltration, and the victim cannot stop the infection from this point.^[1]

Kodg ransomware is one of many versions in the Djvu family that continues to thrive because there are many users who don’t pay enough attention and behave carelessly on the internet. Accessing dubious pages, opening email attachments, pirating software, and other applications, cracking serial numbers of licensed apps can lead you not even to legal issues but cyber infections too. 

Unfortunately, the encryption process starts immediately after the infiltration of Kodg ransomware or any other cryptovirus. This a quick process because the only thing malware do before that is checking the machine for potential red flags that should keep it from encrypting. That may be the fact that the computer was encrypted already or a particular location. There are some speculations that developers except people from the same country.

Once the encryption is done, Kodg ransomware marks files using .kodg file extension and generates IDs for each victim that gets placed in a ransom note. Then _readme.txt file appears in various folders, on the desktop, and other places where encrypted files may be found. The message reads the following:

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.
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.

The ransom message may seem convincing and serious enough to make you more eager to pay up. However, you should remove Kodg ransomware instead of paying the criminals. This is the better solution because even though you cannot recover your files back using the anti-malware program, you can make sure that this threat is not going to damage your machine any further. If you leave the ransomware and other related programs running, the machine may get permanently damaged. 
Kodg ransomware is the cryptovirus that focuses on making money, so users’ files, in most cases, remain locked and possibly damaged. Kodg ransomware is focusing on files, but many parts of the system get affected too. When the virus gets installed on a computer it creates a random executable in the %AppData% or %LocalAppData% folders. The executable gets launched and begins to scan all the drive letters on your computer for data files to encrypt. Random files get placed in other files, directories, and so on. Even parts like Windows Registry gets affected by the threat, so the malware keeps more persistent on the machine.

Unfortunately, those changes also significantly affect Kodg ransomware removal process and file recovery options. Shadows Volume Copies needed for data recovery may get deleted, so there are fewer opportunities for victims to get their files back to normal. Some security functions also get disabled, and programs get installed to block AV tools.

Hopefully, there are some features on the Windows operating system that allows fighting malware still. You can reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking, so your anti-malware program can find, detect, and remove Kodg ransomware without interruption.

You need to make sure that Kodg ransomware gets eliminated with all the virus traces because your machine is a place where the virus can cause huge damage and permanently affect the machine. To check for the additional damage, run Reimage Reimage Cleaner that might indicate system files and settings that can be improved and repaired by the program itself. Then you are free to perform any file recovery method of your choice.  
Kodg ransomware is the virus that gets delivered via corrupted installers and malicious code-infected files attached to either spam email or particular pirated files.

File-locking malware gets distributed with the help of malicious files

The main vectors used by ransomware developers involve malicious files in the form of documents, executables, PDFs, or cracks and cheatcodes, pirated content. The malicious script can be easily added on the common file and delivered directly to the system when the spam email attachment is opened and downloaded, or the pirated software gets installed.

The particular family we talk here is known for using pirated services, torrent networks, and similar sites or corrupted pages to deliver malware. NBA video games, serial numbers of such games, software, cracks, cheatcodes, Adobe packages are known for having malicious files. 

You should, in general, avoid insecure online content and keep the machine safe by avoiding suspicious emails, shady sites, commercial pages, and illegal activities. If you don’t pay enough attention, machine can get damaged quickly. 

Kodg ransomware elimination tips and possible file recovery methods

Highly-complex code, encryption technique, and other features typical for the Kodg ransomware virus are the same feature of Djvu virus family. This means that essential system settings, valuable files, and other parts of the system can get altered easily without your permission or knowledge.

Since you cannot find those programs and files affecting the performance, when you try to remove Kodg ransomware manually the process is mainly resultless due to this fact. Automatic techniques involving specially crafted software get recommended by many experts^[3]:

• Kodg ransomware removal should be performed using anti-malware tools.
• System file recovery and virus damage termination require system repair tools.
• General system cleaning should benefit from Reimage Reimage Cleaner , SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes.
• The recovery processes can be achieved with third-party data recovery tools or features if the OS. You can find some below.

Remove Kodg using Safe Mode with Networking

Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking to achieve better results of Kodg ransomware removal

• Windows 7 / Vista / XP
  1. Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
  2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list

  Windows 10 / Windows 8

  1. Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
  2. Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
  3. Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Networking in Startup Settings window.

• Log in to your infected account and start the browser. Download Reimage Reimage Cleaner or other legitimate anti-spyware program. Update it before a full system scan and remove malicious files that belong to your ransomware and complete Kodg removal.

If your ransomware is blocking Safe Mode with Networking, try further method.

Remove Kodg using System Restore

System Restore feature can help while fighting Kodg ransomware because it allows restoring machine in a previous state when the malware was not present

Bonus: Recover your data

Guide which is presented above is supposed to help you remove Kodg from your computer. To recover your encrypted files, we recommend using a detailed guide prepared by 2-spyware.com security experts.

If your files are encrypted by Kodg, you can use several methods to restore them:

Data Recovery Pro is the software that can be an alternate method for your file backups

When you don’t have backed up files, data restoring is not that easy, so you can rely on Data Recovery Pro

• Download Data Recovery Pro;
• Follow the steps of Data Recovery Setup and install the program on your computer;
• Launch it and scan your computer for files encrypted by Kodg ransomware;
• Restore them.

Windows Previous Versions is the feature of recovering individual files

When System Restore gets enabled for Kodg ransomware elimination, you can try Windows Previous Versions for the data recovery

• Find an encrypted file you need to restore and right-click on it;
• Select “Properties” and go to “Previous versions” tab;
• Here, check each of available copies of the file in “Folder versions”. You should select the version you want to recover and click “Restore”.

ShadowExplorer might get useful when your files get encrypted

Shadow Volume Copies can be used by ShadowExplorer for your data recovery when Kodg ransomware is not affecting them

• Download Shadow Explorer (http://shadowexplorer.com/);
• Follow a Shadow Explorer Setup Wizard and install this application on your computer;
• Launch the program and go through the drop down menu on the top left corner to select the disk of your encrypted data. Check what folders are there;
• Right-click on the folder you want to restore and select “Export”. You can also select where you want it to be stored.

Decryption options for Kodg ransomware

The particular Kodg ransomware is not decryptable, but the forum post here should provide you all the needed updates on the changes and tools developed for the STOP virus family

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Kodg and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as Reimage Reimage Cleaner , SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes