To let the victim know what has occurred and also to establish control, those behind the ransomware virus attack will equally forward ransom notes called _readme.txt to every folder. These notifications are more or less short messages explaining the situation to the victim while informing them certain amount of money must be paid as ransom to enable them to receive decryption tools. To give room for further discussions, two email addresses are also forwarded i.e., support@fishmail.top and datarestorehelp@airmail.cc.

Reasons not to pay the ransom

Regardless of the pressure, victims are advised never to comply with cybercriminals’ demands. Better still, they should not have any discussion with them because it won’t benefit them in the long run. Cybercriminals are only desperate to extort money from their victims; once they achieve that, they would disappear like they never existed. There are several other reasons why it is necessary for victims to completely shun those behind the attack. We will elaborate more on that later. In their haste to make the victim pay, they will first state that the ransom fee is $980 but will add a caveat that if the victim is capable of paying within short notice (typically 3 days or 72 hours after being notified) they can accept only half of that i.e. $490. However, once that time elapses, they insist that only the maximum fee can be accepted. There are other issues the victim could face even if they have the money and are willing to pay. Typically, cybercriminals do not accept direct money transfers or bank payments, considering they could be traced. So, they often insist that payment must be made with cryptocurrency and would make their wallet address available to the victim so they could transfer the equivalent as quoted in hard currency.The general advice as supported by the FBI, is that ransom should never be paid to cybercriminals. The reasons that were given include:

It is unlawful to pay a ransom.It profits criminals.It puts the victim at further risk of extortion going forward.It helps cybercriminals to expand their activities and victimize others.

If you have been attacked by this virus, our team recommends you to remove POWD ransomware according to instructions provided below this article. Make sure you use a trustworthy antivirus – for example, our team trusts INTEGO Antivirus, which has great reviews and also comes with a massive discount at the moment.

Ransomware Summary

This ransomware virus currently being distributed by cybercriminals is similar to earlier versions of the malware but is believed to be more contagious and has a faster encryption rate, thereby making it dangerous and potentially more destructive in nature. In actual sense, they seem to be getting more sophisticated with each new ransomware virus created by them. Award-winning antivirus solution for your PC. Robust security software that provides robust 24/7 real-time protection, Web Shield that stops online threats/malicious downloads, and Prevention engine that wards off Zero-Day threats. Keep your PC safe and protected against ransomware, Trojans, viruses, spyware and other forms of dangerous programs. The cybercriminals aim to distribute the ransomware virus to as many computers as possible so they could demand for ransom from victims that seek their help. The first line of action is for computer users to safeguard their PCs at all times by taking proactive measures that will be explained in the succeeding paragraphs. However, if a computer, unfortunately, becomes infected, it is crucial for the computer owner to remove it without delay. The earlier it is removed, the better in order to contain damages and also commence recovery efforts where possible.

Ransomware distribution methods used by cybercriminals

There are different deceptive methods used by cybercriminals when distributing ransomware viruses. They disguise their real intentions in order to take their target victims unawares. Here are some of the methods:

The use of emails and attachments

Popular files such as XLS, PDF, and DOCX are great for storing data. These files were created for noble objectives, but unfortunately, cybercriminals are now exploiting them due to the macro/script properties available in them. Those properties make the process of embedding, transporting, and releasing ransomware viruses easy and convenient for cybercriminals. Due to this risk, when any of such files are received, there should be checks to ascertain if they’re genuine or not before trying to open them.

Peer2Peer sharing of software

The use of the peer-to-peer sharing method in sourcing software may appear as a cheap alternative to obtaining them officially, but it’s quite risky and not worth it. Some software users have unleashed ransomware viruses on their computers in trying to use this not-so legal method of getting software. Also, using P2P sharing software can be considered stealing since copyright-protected software brands are illegally obtained without paying or authorization of its owners.

Online illegal downloads (Direct downloads)

This method is similar to P2P sharing in that software contents are illegally cloned and distributed to end users without the authorization of its owners. However, unknown to the users, the cybercriminals have already embedded ransomware in such online downloads. They usually exploit names of software in high demand and use them as bait to spread the ransomware virus. Most of the time, they publish direct download links on rogue websites claiming to provide 100% cracked software versions. Therefore, to avoid becoming a victim, computer users should only download needed software via the official channels. By conducting research over the years on how computers became infected with ransomware viruses, we were able to decipher that some popular software contents are often targeted. This is apparently due to their high demand by users. They include the following:

Corel Draw;Adobe Premiere Pro;Adobe Photoshop;Microsoft Office;PES 20;VMware Workstation;Cubase;League of Legends;HP Printer Drivers;Internet Download Manager;Adobe Illustrator;Tenorshare 4ukey.

NOTE. Distribution of ransomware viruses may be the top priority, but cybercriminals equally use the opportunity to spread Remote Access Trojans. STOP/DJVU variants are often spread with VIDAR and AZORULT. These RATs are then used to steal sensitive personal information like software login information, banking details, browsing history, cryptocurrency wallets etc.

Why you should remove POWD ransomware virus immediately

It is important to remove POWD ransomware virus once it are found in any computer. This should be done with the use of strong antivirus in order to prevent its spread and protect other files that are yet to be encrypted. Also, any site that advertises decryption tools should be shunned because they’re mostly fraudulent. Other important activities you should do are:

Changing all passwords previously used in the compromised computer.Using any available backup device to restore lost data.Informing relevant government agencies about the situation.

Most of all ensure there is reliable antivirus software installed in your computer at all times. OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system: GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more. Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs. Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer. Read full review here. RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically. RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them. Read full review here.

Method 1. Enter Safe Mode with Networking

Before you try to remove POWD Ransomware Virus virus, you must start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking. Below, we provide the easiest ways to boot PC in the said mode, but you can find additional ones in this in-depth tutorial on our website – How to Start Windows in Safe Mode. Also, if you prefer a video version of the tutorial, check our guide How to Start Windows in Safe Mode on Youtube. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users Now, you can search for and remove POWD Ransomware Virus files. It is very hard to identify files and registry keys that belong to the ransomware virus, Besides, malware creators tend to rename and change them repeatedly. Therefore, the easiest way to uninstall such type of a computer virus is to use a reliable security program such as INTEGO Antivirus. For virus damage repair, consider using RESTORO.

Method 2. Use System Restore

In order to use System Restore, you must have a system restore point, created either manually or automatically. Instructions for Windows XP/Vista/7 users Instructions for Windows 8/8.1/10/11 users After restoring the system, we recommend scanning the system with antivirus or anti-malware software. In most cases, there won’t be any malware remains, but it never hurts to double-check. In addition, we highly recommend checking ransomware prevention guidelines provided by our experts in order to protect your PC against similar viruses in the future.

Alternative software recommendations

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Removing spyware and malware is one step towards cybersecurity. To protect yourself against ever-evolving threats, we strongly recommend purchasing a Premium version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which provides security based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Includes ransomware protection. See pricing options and protect yourself now.

System Mechanic Ultimate Defense If you’re looking for an all-in-one system maintenance suite that has 7 core components providing powerful real-time protection, on-demand malware removal, system optimization, data recovery, password manager, online privacy protection and secure driver wiping technology. Therefore, due to its wide-range of capabilities, System Mechanic Ultimate Defense deserves Geek’s Advice approval. Get it now for 50% off. You may also be interested in its full review.

Disclaimer. This site includes affiliate links. We may earn a small commission by recommending certain products, at no additional cost for you. We only choose quality software and services to recommend.

Decrypt POWD files

Fix and open large POWD files easily:

It is reported that STOP/DJVU ransomware versions encrypt only the beginning 150 KB of each file to ensure that the virus manages to affect all files on the system. In some cases, the malicious program might skip some files at all. That said, we recommend testing this method on several big (>1GB) files first.

STOP/DJVU decryption tool usage guide

STOP/DJVU ransomware versions are grouped into old and new variants. POWD Ransomware Virus is considered the new STOP/DJVU variant, just like BPTO, ISWR, ISZA, BPSM, ZOUU, MBTF, ZNSM (find full list here). This means full data decryption is now possible only if you have been affected by offline encryption key. To decrypt your files, you will have to download Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP DJVU, a tool created and maintained by a genius security researcher Michael Gillespie. Note! Please do not spam the security researcher with questions whether he can recover your files encrypted with online key - it is not possible. In order to test the tool and see if it can decrypt POWD files, follow the given tutorial.

Meanings of decryptor’s messages

The POWD decryption tool might display several different messages after failed attempt to restore your files. You might receive one of the following messages: Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [example ID] This message typically means that there is no corresponding decryption key in the decryptor’s database. No key for New Variant online ID: [example ID]Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible This message informs that your files were encrypted with online key, meaning no one else has the same encryption/decryption key pair, therefore data recovery without paying the criminals 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. If you were informed that an offline key was used, but files could not be restored, it means that the offline decryption key isn’t available yet. However, receiving this message is extremely good news, meaning that it might be possible to restore your POWD extension files in the future. It can take a few months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. We recommend you to follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here. We strongly recommend backing up your encrypted data and waiting.

Victims of POWD Ransomware Virus should report the Internet crime incident to the official government fraud and scam website according to their country:

In the United States, go to the On Guard Online website.In Australia, go to the SCAMwatch website.In Germany, go to the Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik website.In Ireland, go to the An Garda Síochána website.In New Zealand, go to the Consumer Affairs Scams website.In the United Kingdom, go to the Action Fraud website.In Canada, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.In India, go to Indian National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.In France, go to the Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information.

If you can’t find an authority corresponding to your location on this list, we recommend using any search engine to look up “[your country name] report cyber crime”. This should lead you to the right authority website. We also recommend staying away from third-party crime report services that are often paid. It costs nothing to report Internet crime to official authorities. Another recommendation is to contact your country’s or region’s federal police or communications authority.