Remove CDPO Ransomware Virus (+DECRYPT .cdpo Files)

Cdpo virus is a type of computer virus that infiltrates your PC, encrypts your documents, and then asks to pay the ransom for file decryption. Besides these bad activities, that virus also alters some important settings and can even suspend your anti-malware program.

Cdpo virus – what is it?

Cdpo malware can correctly be classified as a STOP/Djvu ransomware family. That type of computer virus is targeted at single users. This feature supposes that Cdpo does not carry any type of additional malware, which sometimes helps ransomware of other families to control your PC. Because of the fact that most people do not have anything valuable , there is no need to infiltrate additional malware that increases the risk of failure of the whole ransomware operation.

The typical signs of Cdpo virus activity is the emersion of .cdpo files in your folders, instead of the document you used to have. The photo.jpg turns into photo.jpg.cdpo, report.xlsx – into report.xlsx.cdpo and so on. You are not able to stop this process, as well as can’t open that files – they are ciphered with pretty strong cipher.

You can also spectate various other signs of virus activity. Spontaneously blocked Microsoft Defender and inability to check the popular anti-malware forums or web pages, where the virus removal and file decryption guides are published. You will see how it is conducted in the paragraph below. The removal and decryption guide are also available – check below how to wipe out Cdpo malware and get the .cdpo files back.

How did Cdpo ransomware encrypt my files?

After the injection, the Cdpo virus creates a connection with its command and control server. This server is controlled by virus maintainers – crooks who manage the spreading of this malware. Another activity which is performed by those crooks is answering the emails of victims, who wish to get their files back.

The documents are ciphered with one of the strongest encryption algorithm – AES-256. The digit in the name of this algo means the power of two – 2^256 for this case. 78-digit number of possible password variations – it is impossible to brute force it. As analysts say, it will take more time than our planet can approximately exist, even if you make use of the most powerful computers. In each folder that keeps the encrypted documents, Cdpo virus leaves the _readme.txt file with the following contents:

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-WJa63R98Ku

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.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:

support@fishmail.top

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

datarestorehelp@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nonetheless, you can still use some of your files. The Cdpo ransomware encrypts only the initial 150 KB of each file, but the rest of this document can be accessed. Primarily, it works best with audio/video files, which are likely larger than 150 kilobytes. Not each media player can open these files – WinAmp is the best solution, since it is free and well-tested. First seconds of each recording will be silent – this part is encrypted – but the rest of the document will be accessible like nothing happened.

Is Cdpo ransomware dangerous for my PC?

As it was described several paragraphs above, ransomware is not only about encrypting the files. Cdpo malware makes the changes in your OS in order to prevent looking for the malware removal and file decryption guides. Malware does not create the software obstacle – it just modifies the settings, primarily – networking and security configurations.

Through the networking configurations, the most damaged item is the HOSTS file. This text file keeps the DNS-address instructions, which are used by the web browsers while requesting to the website server. If you add a specific DNS-address for the certain site, your web browser will connect that site through that DNS next time. Ransomware modifies that file, adding the unknown DNS, so any of the web browsers will show you the “Unable to resolve the DNS-address” error.

Other modifications done by the virus are aimed at prevention of fast detection of itself, and also preventing the installation of the majority of security tools. Cdpo virus makes several changes in Group Policies – the system setting application which allows to modify the rights of each application. In such a way, ransomware stops the Microsoft Defender and various other antivirus apps, and also disables the launch of anti-malware installation files.

How did I get infected?

Throughout the whole term while STOP/Djvu family existed, it was using dubious programs as a primary method of ransomware injection. Under the term of questionable applications I mean programs that are already not updated by the developer and spread through the third-party websites. These apps may be hacked, to make them usable without buying any license. One more example of such a program type is various hacking tools – cheat engines, keygens, Windows activation tools and so on.

This sort of programs may be distributed in many ways – through the site that offers a downloading link, and also through the seeding networks – ThePirateBay, eMule and so on. All these sources are known as the biggest computer piracy websites. Folks use these pages to get various programs or games for free, even if they must be purchased. Nobody can prevent the users who crack these apps from adding malware of some sort to the files of the hacked app. Hacktools, meanwhile, are created for outlaw purposes, so their creators can easily insert the virus under the guise of some program part.

These cracked programs, regardless of their source, are one of the most often sources for various malware, and surely the most widespread one for Cdpo virus. It is better to stop making use of it, and not only because of virus installation risks. Avoiding the license purchase is an outlaw action, and both hackers and users who make use of cracked apps fall under the charge of piracy.

How do I remove Cdpo malware?

The Cdpo virus is pretty hard to remove manually. In fact, because of the amount of changes it makes into your PC, it is almost unreal to find them all and fix. The best option is to use anti-malware software. But which one to choose?

You can see the offers to use Microsoft Defender, that is already inside of your computer. But as it was mentioned before, the majority of STOP/Djvu ransomware examples block it even before the ciphering procedure. Making use of the third-party program is the only solution – and I can recommend you the GridinSoft Anti-Malware as a solution for that case. It has perfect detection abilities, so the virus will not be missed. It is also capable of system recovery, that is heavily needed after the Cdpo virus attack.

To remove Cdpo malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software.

After the ransomware removal, you can go to file decryption. Malware removal is needed to prevent the repeating encryption of your files: while Cdpo ransomware is active, it will not pass any unencrypted file.

How to decrypt the .cdpo files?

There are two ways to recover your files after a Cdpo virus attack. First one and the most obvious is file decryption. It is conducted with a special tool, designed by Emsisoft, and called Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/Djvu. This program is absolutely free. Analysts update its decryption keys databases as often as possible, so you will surely get your files back, sooner or later.

Another option to get your files back is to try to recover them from your physical disks. Since Cdpo virus deletes them and substitutes with a ciphered copy, the residue of the documents are still kept on the disk. After the removal, the information about them is removed from the file system, but not from a disk. Special tools, like PhotoRec, are able to recover these files. It is free, too, and may also be used for file recovery in case when you have deleted a thing unintentionally.

Decrypting the .cdpo files with Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu

Download and install Emsisoft Decrypter tool. Agree with its EULA and continue to the interface.

The interface of this program is extremely easy. All you have to do is to select the folder where the encrypted files are stored, and wait. If the program has the decryption key which corresponds to your ransomware case – it will decrypt it.

During the use of Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu, you may observe various error messages. Don’t worry, that does not mean that you did something wrong or a program does not work properly. Each of these errors refer to a specific case. Here is the explanation:

Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [your ID]

The program does not have a corresponding key for your case. You need to wait for some time until the key database will be updated.

No key for new variant online ID: [your ID]

Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible.

This error means that your files are encrypted with an online key. In such a case, the decryption key is unique and stored on the remote server, controlled by crooks. Unfortunately, the decryption is impossible.

Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]

This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.

Ransomware uses the offline key to encrypt your files. This key is not unique, so you likely have it in common with another victim. Since offline keys must be collected, too, it is important to keep calm and wait until the analysts team finds one which will fit your case.

Remote name could not be resolved

This error indicates that the program has problems with DNS on your computer. That’s a clear sign of malicious alterations in your HOSTS file. Reset it using the official Microsoft guide.

Recovering the .cdpo files with PhotoRec tool

PhotoRec is an open-source tool, which is created to recover the deleted or lost files from the disk drive. It checks each disk sector for the residues of deleted files, and then attempts to recover them. That app is able to recover the files of more than 400 different extensions. Because of the described feature of ransomware encryption mechanism, it is possible to use this tool to get the original, unencrypted files back.

Download PhotoRec from the official website. It is absolutely free, however, its developer warns that he does not guarantee that this program will be 100% effective for file recovery purposes. Moreover, even paid apps can barely give you such a guarantee, because of the chain of random factors that can make the file recovery harder.

Unzip the downloaded archive to the folder you like. Don’t worry because of its name – TestDisk – this is the name of the utility developed by the same company. They decided to spread it together since PhotoRec and TestDisk are often used together. Among the unzipped files, search for qphotorec_win.exe file. Run this executable file.

Before you can start the recovery process, you need to specify several settings. In the drop-down list, choose the logic disk where the files were stored before the encryption.

Then, you need to specify the file formats you need to recover. It may be difficult to scroll all 400+ formats, luckily, they are sorted by alphabetical order.

Finally, name the folder you want to use as a container for recovered files. The program will likely dig out a lot of useless files, which were deleted intentionally, so desktop is a bad solution. The best option is to use the USB-drive.

After these easy manipulations, you may just press the “Search” button (it turns active if you specified all required parameters). The recovery process may take several hours, so keep patient. It is recommended not to use the computer during this term, since you may overwrite some files you are intending to recover.

Frequently Asked Questions