Do you know what Zorgo Ransomware is?
Have you been tricked into letting Zorgo Ransomware in? This malicious threat could have been introduced to you as a PDF file via misleading spam emails or social networking messages, and you could have opened it without fully understanding the risk. Even after you executed the threat, you might have not understood it, and this made you lose your small chance of deleting Zorgo Ransomware. The thing is that if you do not catch and remove this threat immediately, it quickly encrypts your personal files, and once that is done, you might be unable to recover them. Do not fall into despair just yet. Perhaps there are things that you could still do to restore or replace your files after eliminating this dangerous malware.
It is easiest to figure out which infection has corrupted your files by looking at their names. If your photos, documents, and other personal files have the word “.zorgo” attached to their names, there is no doubt that you have been attacked by Zorgo Ransomware. Unique extensions are also added by JesusCrypt Ransomware, TrumpHead Ransomware, BSS Ransomware, and all other threats from the Hidden-Tear family. Once upon a time, someone built a threat, whose malware code was then made public. Now, anyone can employ the same code and build upon it to release their own versions of ransomware. The reuse of the same codes is the reason why we see new ransomware threats emerge daily. The attackers behind them simply do not need to put in the work when building them. That being said, Hidden Tear threats are not fully identical. The ransomware notes, for example, always have modifications.
“READ_IT.txt” is the file that Zorgo Ransomware drops when it encrypts files. This file represents a message from the attackers behind the infection. According to it, the computer was “hacked” and files were “ecrypted.” Now, victims need to send money to zorgoprojecthackergroup@gmail.com (via PayPal) and then communicate with the attacker using Discord. Afterward, the files should be restored. How much are you supposed to pay? Is decryption guaranteed? Should you communicate with the attackers? These are the most important questions you should ask yourself. The ransom sum is not disclosed, but we do not recommend paying it regardless of the size because there are no guarantees that your files would be restored. When it comes to communicating with attackers, we suggest protecting yourself. If you expose yourself, you could be scammed further. But what else can you do if your files were encrypted? First, think if you have backups/copies outside the computer? If you do, you can replace the corrupted files after removing Zorgo Ransomware. Otherwise, there is a free tool called Hidden Tear Decrypter that might help.
Zorgo Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Whatever happens to your files, you must remove Zorgo Ransomware from your operating system. This is nonnegotiable. So, how are you going to achieve that? Will you install a trusted, automated anti-malware tool to detect and delete all malware components? Or will you try to delete the threat yourself, manually? If you are interested in the latter option, follow the guide below. We recommend using anti-malware software because besides ensuring the full removal of Zorgo Ransomware it also can ensure the full protection of your operating system. Note that if you do not secure your system, you could face malware again and again. If you do not want to take such a risk, protect your system now.
Delete Zorgo Ransomware
- Delete recently downloaded suspicious files.
- Open the File Explorer by tapping Win and E keys on the keyboard.
- Enter %USERPROFILE% into the quick access field.
- Delete the folder named Rand123 if it exists.
- Exit File Explorer and then move to the Desktop.
- Delete the ransom note file named READ_IT.txt.
- Empty Recycle Bin and then immediately perform a full system scan using a legitimate malware scanner.
In non-techie terms:
Zorgo Ransomware is a file-encrypting, ransom-demanding infection that can slither into unguarded Windows operating systems silently. While silent, this malware can encrypt all personal files, and once that is done, a text file is dropped to deliver the attackers’ message. This is when the threat reveals itself. The message tries to convince the victim that they need to pay a ransom and contact the attackers. This is risky, and we do not recommend exposing yourself or wasting your money. Instead, we recommend installing anti-malware software that could automatically delete Zorgo Ransomware and also reinforce Windows protection. If you want to, you can also try removing this malware manually using the guide above, but if this is your chosen path, please be cautious. Afterward, we hope that you can replace the corrupted files with backup copies or restore them using the free Hidden Tear Decrypter.