The Dodo virus belongs to the ransomware type of infection. Malware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, documents, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its own extension to every file, creating the dodov2_readit.txt text files in each folder which contains the encrypted files.
What is known about the Dodovirus?
☝️ A scientifically accurate description for the Dodo is “a ransomware malicious agent”.
Dodo will add its specific .dodov2 extension to the name of each encrypted file. For example, an image named “photo.jpg” will be renamed to “photo.jpg.dodov2”. In the same manner, the Excel sheet named “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.dodov2”, and so on.
In every directory with the encrypted files, a dodov2_readit.txt text document will be found. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the Dodo developers. That is how they do it.
Dodo overview:
| Name | Dodo Virus |
| Extension | .dodov2 |
| Ransomware note | dodov2_readit.txt |
| Detection | Crytex.Virus.FileInfector.DDS, Win32/Filecoder.OLC, Malware-Cryptor.InstallCore.5 |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .dodov2 extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Dodo virus |
In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Dodo looks like. Each filename has the “.dodov2” extension appended to it.
That is how encrypted “.dodov2” files look.
How did Dodo ransomware end up on my PC?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
There are currently three most exploited ways for tamperers to have the Dodo virus settled in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer file transfer.
If you open your inbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a ransomware file enclosed in them. Thus it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus model1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC pretending to be something else. For example, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that compromises your data. As the update file can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the files you’re downloading. The optimal thing is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never guess what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is complete.
How to remove the Dodo virus?
It is important to note that besides encrypting your data, the Dodo virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Sometimes tamperers would unblock some of your files so you know that they really have the decryption program. As Dodo virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures engineers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. However, the decryption instruments are frequently updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Sure thing, if the tamperers succeed in encoding victim’s critical files, the hopeless person will most likely fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying to criminals does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After obtaining the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports of ransomware developers simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The optimal solution against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud drive or at least on an external drive. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most crucial thing could be that file you were working on when it all started. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.
There are other ransomware products, besides Dodo, that work similarly. For instance, Mzop, Poqw, Pouu, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Dodo are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: documents become inaccessible, their extensions changed, ransom notes are found in every directory containing encoded files.
Some fortunate victims were able to decode the blocked files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware specialists. Sometimes the criminals mistakenly send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a tamperers’ tool to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How сan I avert ransomware attack?
Dodo ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.
You can defend your system from its infiltration within three easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are expecting (can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are expecting, check all elements of the questionable email with caution. A hoax letter will surely contain a mistake.
- Never use cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked products, most likely as a “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are very hard to tell from reliable ones, because trojans may also have the functionality you need. Try to find information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.
- And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a powerful defense for your system.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft2
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft3.
Download Removal Tool.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Run the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your PC.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your PC for Dodo infections and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 How can I open “.dodov2” files?Are the “.dodov2” files accessible?
There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.dodov2” files are decrypted.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
If the “.dodov2” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Dodo virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?
Absolutely not! Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will remove active threats from your PC. The malware that has attacked your computer is probably still functional and it scans your system from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been said above, the Dodo virus comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide malefactors with easy access to your computer after some time.
🤔 What should I do if the Dodo ransomware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
In such an unfortunate situation, you need to have a flash memory drive with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encrypts any new files created or brought into your PC. To stop this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run upon system start. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Some of the encrypted data can be found elsewhere.
- If you exchanged your critical files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to post those images back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try doing it again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, mobile, external storage, etc.
HINT: You can use file recovery programs4 to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you can do it only after you remove the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.
Also, you can contact the following official fraud and scam sites to report this attack:
- In the United States: On Guard Online;
- In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
- In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
- In Australia: SCAMwatch;
- In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
- In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;
To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove DODO Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: DODO Virus
Description: DODO Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .dodov2 extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
