Do you know what Aieou Ransomware is?
Aieou Ransomware was named after the extension that this malware attaches to all corrupted files. This extension, of course, is “.aieou,” and it does not seem that it has any meaning. It is just a list of vowels. Should you delete this extension from the names of your personal documents, photos, and other files? You can, but that will not make a difference. The data of your files was scrambled, and so it does not matter what you do with their names. To make the files readable normally again, you need to decrypt them, but at the time of research, that was not possible. Legitimate third-party decryptors could not be found either. Unfortunately, that does not leave you with many options, and you might find that all you can do is replace the corrupted files with their copies after removing Aieou Ransomware. Of course, if copies do not exist outside the infected computer, this is not a valid option.
It is important to discuss the attack methods of Aieou Ransomware. At the time of our analysis, we could not distinguish a single method that is used in most cases. However, it is a fact that most ransomware threats spread via spam, and so while it is possible that the infection could be dropped by other threats, or that you could download it via malicious bundles, you are most likely to face it when interacting with spam. The attackers are likely to use postage delivery alerts, flight confirmations, order forms, purchase receipts, and similar kinds of messages to attract your attention, and these messages are usually meant to convince you to open a harmless looking attachment file. Of course, this is where malware is hiding. If cybercriminals are able to hijack email accounts, they could address the victim’s family members, friends, and colleagues personally, and these kinds of attacks are, of course, more successful.
Aieou Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Once Aieou Ransomware slithers in, it finds your personal files and encrypts them. A unique encryption key is used, and that ensures that you cannot decrypt the files manually. On the Desktop, the infection also drops a file named “README.txt.” The message inside reads: “Your files were infected with ransomware and encrypted. If you wish to recover, please contact the email address below and pay 1 BTC or more.” The attackers want you to email cce_2020_final@cce2020.kr, and if you do that, they can send you instructions on how to send 1 Bitcoin to their wallet for an alleged decryptor. If you are not familiar with Bitcoin, you might not know what 1 BTC is worth. Well, at the time of research, that was around 19,000 USD. Needless to say, not everyone has this kind of money to put on the line. Perhaps Aieou Ransomware is targeted at large companies, but even if that is the case, the victims should not pay the ransom as there are no guarantees of fair exchange. Instead, focus on the removal of the threat.
Can you delete Aieou Ransomware manually? We do not know that. If you are able to locate the file that executed this malware, perhaps you can delete it and then inspect the system for any leftovers or additional threats all by yourself. However, if you are not experienced in malware detection and removal, it is a good idea to install anti-malware software. This is the software you need to have the system secured and Aieou Ransomware removed automatically. We are sure that you still might have questions. If you do, you can post them in the comments section below.
Remove Aieou Ransomware
- Delete all recently downloaded suspicious files. The launcher of this malware could have been dropped to the Desktop, the Downloads, the %TEMP% directory, or another location.
- Move to the Desktop and Delete the ransom note file named README.txt.
- Once you Empty Recycle Bin, install a malware scanner to help you perform a complete system scan.
In non-techie terms:
Aieou Ransomware is unlikely to attack individual Windows users because once it invades a system and encrypts the files found on it, it demands a ransom of 1 Bitcoin, which is a huge ransom. In any case, paying the ransom is a bad idea because there is no proof that a decryptor for the corrupted files would be provided in exchange. Of course, you need to delete Aieou Ransomware as soon as possible regardless of what you do about the ransom, and since removing this malware manually is a complicated task, and your system also requires better protection, we suggest that you install anti-malware software. After you have the threat erased, we hope that you can replace the corrupted files with backup copies.