Vortex Ransomware Removal Guide

If you are currently located in Poland, there is one specific threat that you need to be cautious about: Vortex Ransomware. This dangerous infection is yet another malicious ransomware that can encrypt your files and push you to pay a ransom fee. Unfortunately, the infiltration of this threat is stealthy, and it is unlikely that many users will recognize the infection before executing it. It seems that the launcher is most likely to be attached to a misleading spam email, and it might be concealed as a different kind of file. Obviously, if the sender is unfamiliar, or if the message does not make sense (e.g., if it asks to check the details of a flight you have never booked), you should recognize the scam right away. Sadly, many users are gullible, and that is what leads to the infiltration of malware. If you realize that the file you opened is malicious right away, you might be able to remove it before anything bad happens. Of course, it is more likely that you will realize that you need to delete Vortex Ransomware after it is fully executed and after your files are encrypted.

When Vortex Ransomware encrypts your files – and it uses the AES-256 encryption method – it attaches the “.aes” extension to your files, which makes the damage more obvious. At the moment, the infection only encrypts files that represent images, but our researchers have no doubts that the threat could be updated. In fact, you might be dealing with the newer, more improved version of Vortex Ransomware already. Do you have backups of the files that were corrupted by this dangerous infection? If you do, you can restore them yourself by replacing them. In this case, you should remove the ransomware without further hesitation. Of course, you have to thoroughly inspect your operating system beforehand to make sure that you do not lose your only opportunity to recover your files. Unfortunately, this opportunity is represented by the same cyber criminals who have corrupted your personal files. The biggest problem is that no one can guarantee that they would keep their promises to decrypt your files even if you follow their instructions.

Just like Jigsaw 4.6 Ransomware, Nhtnwcuf Ransomware, Sardoninir Ransomware, and other ransomware infections, Vortex Ransomware wants your money. This threat was created for the sole purpose of making you pay the ransom, and it might achieve that by corrupting your personal files. Right after that, a file called “ODZSZYFRUJ-DANE.TXT” is created to provide you with more information. According to it, you need to email rsapl@openmailbox.org or polskiransom@airmail.cc to ask for the decryptor. Of course, you are also asked to pay the ransom of $199. Vortex Ransomware offers to decrypt a few files for free just to demonstrate its abilities. Regardless, the possibility that you will be scammed is very big, and so you have to be cautious about your next step. If you choose to pay the ransom, prepare for the possibility that you will gain nothing in return. Unfortunately, legitimate file decryptors are unable to solve the situation in this case, and so the decryptor supposedly offered by Vortex Ransomware is your only option.

Are your files safe because you have backups? We hope that that is the case; otherwise, you might decide to pay the ransom, and that is extremely risky. In the end, you have to remove Vortex Ransomware, and you have to choose the right method. Are you sure you can delete the infection manually? If you can identify and erase the launcher file, you know how to get rid of this threat, but can you remove other threats? They could be active on your PC right now, or they could invade it in the future. If you decide to install reliable security software to protect your operating system – which you should do ASAP – why don’t you install it right now to take care of active threats as well? Legitimate anti-malware software can reliably clean your PC and keep it clean in the future. If you want to discuss the security of your operating system or the removal of already active infections, you can start a conversation in the comments section below.

How to delete Vortex Ransomware

1. Locate the malicious {unknown name}.exefile. It might be found in these directories:
   • %USERPROFILE%\Downloads\
   • %TEMP%
2. Right-click and Delete the malicious {unknown name}.exe file.
3. Right-click and Delete the ODZSZYFRUJ-DANE.TXT file representing the ransom.
4. Quickly scan your operating system to make sure that it is completely clean.

N.B. To access the directories mentioned in step 1, launch Explorer by tapping Win+E keys and enter the path into the Explorer’s bar at the top.