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STOP Ransomware is a critical virus, endangering user's personal files. It belongs to the family of file-encrypting malware, that uses the AES (Salsa20) algorithm and unbreakable key. This virus is, sometimes, called DJVU Ransomware, after the word used as an extension in the first versions (.djvu). The variant of the threat, that we describe today modifies files with .merl, .nbes .righ or .gesd extensions. Files are encrypted with a secure key and there are quite small chances to decrypt them completely. However, certain manual methods and automatic tools, described in this article can assist you to successfully decrypt some data. In the textbox below you can find the "ransom note" - a small text file with brief virus introduction and instructions to pay the ransom.

STOP Ransomware is complex encryption-type virus, that uses AES (Salsa20) algorithm to cipher user files. Data affected by this malware become unavailable without a special decryption key. The virus gets slightly modified every week and recent versions append following extension: .hets, .msop, .rote or .zobm. STOP Ransomware does not touch system files but may block navigation to certain security websites using the Windows "hosts" file. When users try to download anti-malware or decryption tools, the pest won't allow them to do it. You can easily download recommended programs from our site and read instructions on how to use them. Ransomware copies file _readme.txt, the so-called "ransom note", on the desktop and to the folders with encrypted files. From this file you can learn, that developer of STOP Ransomware extort $490 (or $980, if not paid within 72 hours). Malware tends to encode personal data: videos, photos, documents, local e-mails, archives, those are the types of data, users will likely pay for. There are very small chances to recover files with .hets, .msop, .rote or .zobm extensions. Nevertheless, Emsisoft (famous antivirus vendor) released special utilities called Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Djvu and Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Puma, that can be downloaded below. These little programs can decrypt more than 150 variations but still can restore files in 2-3% of cases.

STOP Ransomware is an elaborate encryptor virus, that encrypts user's files and makes them inaccessible. Malware uses unbreakable AES (Salsa20) encryption algorithm and decryption is only possible in 2-3% of cases. Recent versions of STOP (DJVU) Ransomware add suffixes or extensions: .kodg, .mbed, .grod or .peet. Сorresponding virus variations received names: Kodg Ransomware, Mbed Ransomware, Grod Ransomware and Peet Ransomware. STOP Ransomware utilizes similar techniques through all versions: it encrypts files, adds a new extension to them and places a ransom note on the infected machine (it demands $490, and if not paid within 72 hours amount doubles to $980). As a rule, the virus does not affect essential system files and encrypts only data that can be potentially valuable for users: videos, photos, documents, local e-mails, archives. The good news is, that Emsisoft (antivirus vendor) released special utilities called Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Djvu and Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Puma, that can decrypt near 150 variations of the threat. In some cases, you will need a pair of the original and encrypted files, in most cases, data can be restored only if an offline key was used by malware (this happens due to malfunction or internet connection loss during the encryption process).