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If your files became unavailable, unreadable, and got .kiwm extensions it means your computer is infected with Kiwm Ransomware (variation of STOP Ransomware or as it is, sometimes, called DjVu Ransomware). It is a malicious program that belongs to the group of ransomware viruses. This particular version was released in the beginning of April 2023. This virus can infect almost all modern versions of the operating systems of the Windows family, including Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 and the latest Windows 11. The malware uses a hybrid encryption mode and a long RSA key, which virtually eliminates the possibility of selecting a key for self-decrypting files. Like other similar viruses, the goal of Kiwm Ransomware is to force users to buy the program and key needed to decrypt files that have been encrypted. The version, that is under research today, is almost identical to the previous ones, except for new e-mails used for contacting malefactors and new extensions added.

When trying to launch certain games or programs, users may encounter a message stating that the system is unable to find the vulkan-1.dll file, or that it is missing from the computer. Vulkan-1.dll is part of the Vulkan Runtime Libraries, which can be used in various games for Windows 11, 10, or 7. Usually, games containing this file are based on engines from Valve. Thus, it is more common to see this error while launching games from Steam. Below, we will show you a couple of ways to potentially restore the missing vulkan-1.dll file and remove the error respectively. As a rule, the Vulkan Runtime Libraries package is supplied and installed with video card drivers by default. However, if the drivers were automatically installed by the system, it is recommended that users manually download-install the latest drivers from the official websites of Nvidia GeForce, AMD Radeon, and Intel. After doing so, the missing file should be restored to the correct locations to start the problematic game/program.

Failed to locate Framework.dll is a kind of message that users may face while trying to launch or even install some program. The issue indicates that the Framework.dll (Microsoft.Build.Framework.dll) file could not be located by the program to run correctly. DLL files are tied to certain programs/games and play an important role in making sure the software launches and runs correctly. When one of the files becomes corrupted or missing, the associated program can run into a fault at the early start or later down the road. The most common reasons for the "Failed to locate Framework.dll" error have been reported to be damaged/missing system files, a program corruption, disabled .NET Framework, and other possible causes. Below, we have compiled a couple of solutions that will most likely alleviate the issue and help you launch and use the necessary program without previously experienced issues. The first thing we advise to begin with is to check whether there are any missing files within the system. To do this, you can use SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) utilities, which will detect and restore absent components if any will be eventually found. Make sure to use both utilities as they may have a different impact on solving the problem.

Kitz Ransomware (belongs to the family of STOP Ransomware or Djvu Ransomware) is high-risk file-encrypting virus, that affects Windows systems. In the beginning of April 2023, the new generation of this malware started encoding files using .kitz extensions. Virus targets important and valuable file types such as photos, documents, videos, archives, encrypted files become unusable. Ransomware puts _readme.txt file, that is called "ransom note" or "ransom-demanding note" on the desktop and in the folders with encrypted files. Developers use the following e-mails for contact: support@freshmail.top and datarestorehelp@airmail.cc. Hackers demand $980 for the decryption of your files (the message states, that victims will get a 50% discount if they'll contact cybercriminals within 72 hours after the encryption). According to many reports, malefactors often don't reply to victims, when they receive ransom payment. We strongly do not recommend paying any money. Files encrypted by some versions of Kitz Ransomware can be decrypted with help of STOP Djvu Decryptor.

BlackByteNT is a recently-discovered ransomware infection. After the system gets infiltrated with it, all potentially important file types will become inaccessible due to full-fledged encryption. In addition to encrypting access to data, the file encryptor also replaces original filenames with a random string of characters and the .blackbytent extension at the end. For instance, a file like 1.pdf will change to something like dnoJJlc=.blackbytent and lose its original icon as well. The last significant part of the ransomware is BB_Readme_[random_string].txt⁣ – a ransom note that contains decryption guidelines. Cybercriminals say the data has been encrypted and exfiltrated to their servers. In order to return access and prevent data from ending up leaked, victims are demanded to cooperate with the extortionists and follow the information presented through the TOR link provided within the note. Should victims delay communication, the price for decryption will rise higher, and within 4 days of inaction, victims will no longer be able to use the decryption services of cyber criminals. Lastly, cyber-crooks warn victims against using third-party decryption tools assuming there is a risk of damaging them and therefore losing the possibility of ever decrypting them.

STOP Ransomware (Djvu Ransomware) is officially the most common encryption virus in the world. The encryptor operates according to the classical scheme: it encrypts files, adds a new extension to them, and places a ransom note on the infected machine. More than 50% of ransomware-infected computers are infected with STOP Ransomware. It has got second name – ⁣Djvu Ransomware, after the extension .djvu, that was appended to the files on first infected computers. With several minor and major modifications, virus continues its devastating activity in the present days. A recent variation of malware (Kifr Ransomware appeared in April 2023) adds .kifr extension to files. Kifr Ransomware encrypts victims' files using the AES encryption algorithm. AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a widely-used symmetric encryption algorithm that is considered to be secure and is used to protect sensitive data in many applications. AES encryption uses a secret key to encrypt and decrypt data, and the strength of the encryption depends on the length of the key used. Of course, affected files become inaccessible without a special "decryptor", which has to be bought from hackers.

It is quite common to find yourself in need of recovering certain kinds of data like contacts after accidentally deleting or losing them for whatever reason. If you are one of such people and seek help with restoring deleted/lost contacts on your iPhone or some other iOS device, follow this guide with various ways to return the missing contacts to your device. Losing important contacts from your iPhone can be a frustrating experience, especially if you rely on your phone for communication with friends, family, or business associates. Whether it was an accidental deletion or a software malfunction, the thought of losing valuable phone numbers, email addresses, and other contact information can leave you feeling helpless. However, the good news is that recovering deleted contacts from your iPhone is possible, and there are several methods you can use to retrieve them. In this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of recovering deleted contacts from your iPhone, using both iTunes and iCloud backups, as well as third-party data recovery software. With these techniques, you can quickly and easily restore your lost contacts and get back to communicating with the important people in your life.

Forgetting your passcode to unlock your own device is never good news for many users. Sometimes it may be your friend or another person who decided to mock you and set up a passcode without letting you know. Unfortunately, if you see no chance of recalling your passcode and unlocking the iPhone as usual, the only way to bypass the lock screen is to reset your iPhone to factory settings. The outcome of this action will be a complete erase of data stored on the device. After this, you will have to restore the deleted data using backup storage like iCloud. Apple takes security very seriously and it is a good measure to keep your data protected from potentially unauthorized hands. Try to exhaust all log-in attempts before getting to the rest of your iPhone. You will have around 10 attempts until your iPhone becomes permanently locked and will require a rest. If no right passcode is matched, you will have to use one of our solutions below to reset your device, which will unlock it eventually. Use whichever fits you the most.