How to Recover Data from Vatican Ransomware (.POPE Extension)?
A New Breed of Ransomware with a Sacred Spin
VaticanRansomware is a unique and recent threat that fuses religious satire with real cryptographic attacks. Though the messaging may seem theatrical, the encryption is serious and renders critical files inaccessible. Targeting users worldwide, it encrypts data with the .POPE extension and locks systems behind a mock-holy ransom demand. Our experts have developed a working decryptor to assist victims in regaining access—without paying tribute.
Related article: How to Decrypt .lumiypt Files After Lumiypt Ransomware Attack Safely and Fast?
What Sets This Malware Apart?
Unlike financially driven strains like LockBit or Akira, VaticanRansomware leans into symbolic storytelling. It uses spiritual language and biblical references, yet it deploys standard encryption tools under the hood. Written in Python and observed since June 2025, it has targeted multiple user groups across borders.
The payload is real, even if the ransom demand is absurd. Victims receive a screen-locked message claiming their data can only be restored by delivering 30 silver coins to the Vatican. While the messaging is bizarre, the encrypted data cannot be recovered without technical intervention.
Also read: How to Decrypt .HALE Files from Mimic (N3ww4v3) Ransomware – Updated 2025
Essential Preparations Before Attempting Recovery
If you’ve been hit by VaticanRansomware, time is critical. Disconnect the infected machine from all networks to stop the spread. Do not delete the lock screen message or the .POPE files. Power off the compromised system to avoid further encryption processes being triggered.
Keep all ransom notes, encrypted files, and system logs preserved—these may be critical for decryption. Never attempt self-help decryptors from unverified sources. A professional recovery strategy is your best defense against permanent data loss.
Decrypting .POPE Files Without Paying the Ransom
The .POPE file extension is the defining artifact of this ransomware, which appears on all locked files. Our recovery toolkit targets the encryption flaws found in this strain and attempts to reconstruct the file keys without interacting with the attacker. The lock screen typically displays a user-specific identifier, which our decryptor uses to match the encryption pattern to a recovery key set.
Using secure, cloud-based infrastructure, our tool restores encrypted files without compromising data integrity. Each recovery session is verified using cryptographic hash comparison, ensuring the recovered files match their pre-encryption state.
Current Strategies That Work Against VaticanRansomware
Organizations have found success through a combination of tried-and-true backup strategies and emerging decryptor tools. If you have a clean backup stored off-network, that remains the safest option. Virtual machine snapshots also provide fast rollback opportunities—assuming the hypervisor was not compromised during the attack.
Our internal decryption utility is based on known behaviors of Python-based ransomware, and it’s continuously updated. Though VaticanRansomware is a low-volume threat, our early analysis has helped multiple victims avoid ransom payments and resume operations.
Why Traditional Ransom Payment Is Not Viable?
VaticanRansomware does not follow the typical playbook of cybercrime groups. The ransom instructions are not executable—there’s no wallet address, no email, no TOR site. It mimics the aesthetic of other strains but lacks actual payment infrastructure. This makes direct negotiation impossible and implies the threat actors may not even be interested in a financial transaction.
Therefore, paying the “tribute” is symbolic and likely ineffective. All recovery attempts must be technical, using decryptors or clean restoration sources.
The Engine Behind Our Recovery Solution
We built our Vatican decryptor by reverse-engineering the ransomware’s logic. Through monitoring sandboxed infections, we were able to detect flaws in the encryption key generation mechanism. These flaws, when combined with the data in the ransom note, allow us to run controlled decryption against .POPE files in a secure environment.
The tool supports both internet-connected and air-gapped workflows. It uses read-only analysis to validate file damage before attempting decryption, minimizing any risk of data corruption.
A Practical Path to Getting Your Files Back
- Capture Evidence: Take a clear photo or screenshot of the ransom screen displaying the message and .POPE file extension.
- Collect Samples: Select 2–3 encrypted .POPE files for analysis.
- Submit for Evaluation: Contact our recovery team or upload the files to our secure analysis portal.
- Await Validation: Our system will assess the infection and provide a tailored recovery timeline.
- Enter Victim ID: If the ransom note includes a user ID or reference code, input it during decryptor setup.
- Launch the Decryptor: With administrator privileges and an internet connection, run the Vatican decryptor to begin safe file restoration.
Also read: How to Decrypt .ANOCRYPT Files After an AnoCrypt Ransomware Attack?
Online or Offline? Recovery Options for Different Environments
We understand that not every recovery happens in the cloud. Some systems—especially in sensitive organizations—require offline, air-gapped methods. That’s why our decryptor supports both secure file upload for cloud processing and external hard drive workflows for isolated networks. Both offer integrity-verified recovery with audit logs.
Online modes are faster and suitable for dynamic or cloud-hosted networks. Offline modes are safer in forensics-heavy or compliance-regulated situations.
Digging Deeper Into the Infection Chain
The initial infection usually begins with vulnerable RDP ports or malicious email links. Once inside, VaticanRansomware executes Python-based scripts that encrypt hundreds of file types—documents, databases, images, and more. The .POPE extension is then applied and the user’s desktop is hijacked with a lock screen note invoking “divine punishment.”
While no financial details are included, the payload deletes backup shadows and disables recovery points. The encryption method is believed to use a hybrid model, with elements of ChaCha20-like key rotation.
What Makes This Ransom Note So Distinctive?
The ransom note delivered by VaticanRansomware is unorthodox, with the following message:
Your files have been encrypted by VaticanRansomwere!
The only way to redeem your data is by acquiring the Holy Decryption Key from the Vatican.
To obtain this sacred key, you must offer exactly 30 silver coins (denarii) as tribute.
Send your offering to:
Piazza San Pietro
00120 Vatican CityAfter the penance is received, click ‘Check Payment’ to receive your Holy Decryption Key.
Importnd your files lost in the deepest pits of Hell.
Do not delay in purchasing the key, for on a certain day, you won’t be able to check your payment and receive the Holy Decryption Key—even if you pay.ant Notice:
This payment is optional. You are not forced to do this. But if you refuse, you will be excluded from Christianity a
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
— Matthew 24:36
Where It’s Hitting and Who’s Being Targeted?
Countries Most Affected by VaticanRansomware
Organizations Most Frequently Targeted
Timeline of Known Attacks (June–July 2025)
Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)
VaticanRansomware leaves behind a trail of identifiable digital fingerprints. These artifacts can help incident responders detect infections early and trace the source of compromise.
One of the key file-based IOCs is the .POPE file extension applied to encrypted data. This extension appears uniformly across user directories, including Desktop, Downloads, Documents, and TEMP locations. The ransom note itself does not appear as a text file but is embedded as a lock screen interface.
The ransomware is compiled in Python and is often deployed as a compiled .exe payload with a randomized filename, typically residing in %TEMP% or %APPDATA%. This executable is dropped alongside in-memory scripts that enforce persistence.
Cryptographic hash values of known samples include:
- MD5: 7b59c3a7182d97715ba2be9c8d54905d
- SHA-1: 1e7f5494d024587a1d7b87f6e3b9f6319cebcc3f
- SHA-256: 0e34d74e5bd4694f9deaa223d3f9a448f0618eebcf6d81114d3047d65836c967
Secondary variant hashes have also been identified and share a similar imphash:
- MD5: 600355d8aae48db9c49229c0d2ba3eba
- SHA-1: 8e647a52c37f8fcc8cb0a205d5540b520d7231de
- SHA-256: e8e4989a17e768dd7c33f999ab2394be438da7bb0106cd850b2e5ffcb3cfff51
In most samples, mutexes were identified to prevent re-encryption, but the exact mutex names vary. The malware also attempts to remove system volume shadow copies using built-in commands to ensure file recovery through normal means is impossible.
Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs)
The threat actors behind VaticanRansomware employ a range of tactics aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Their approach mimics known ransomware behavior, but with some variations that indicate experimental or demonstration-level deployment.
Initial Access:
Vulnerable Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) services are often exploited to gain initial foothold. Brute-force login attempts against systems without MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) are common. Email-based phishing is another probable vector, though less documented in this case due to the low sample count.
Execution:
Once inside the system, the Python-based executable initiates encryption using custom scripts. The script spawns additional subprocesses that iterate through local drives, attached USBs, and mapped network shares to encrypt eligible files.
Persistence:
To maintain control over infected hosts, the ransomware creates autorun entries in the Windows Registry and sometimes uses scheduled tasks. These ensure the payload executes upon reboot unless removed by forensic tools.
Defense Evasion:
VaticanRansomware disables shadow copies and system restore points by executing native Windows commands like vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet. It also obfuscates file names and registry changes to evade basic endpoint detection.
Credential Access:
While there’s limited evidence of widespread credential harvesting, it is suspected that basic tools like whoami, netstat, and tasklist are used to understand the environment and target admin-level privileges.
Impact:
The ultimate tactic is encryption and denial of access. VaticanRansomware uses a blend of symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms, suspected to include ChaCha-style key rotation. It locks a wide range of file formats including documents, images, databases, videos, and backups.
Tools and Utilities Observed During Attacks
Several utilities have been associated with VaticanRansomware deployments:
- Custom Python Executable
The core ransomware is a compiled Python script, obfuscated and often renamed, running as a .exe in Windows environments. This file is usually dropped in temporary folders and executed with local user privileges. - vssadmin
Used to delete shadow copies, a standard tactic for ransomware. This prevents volume-based recovery and ensures victims must either restore from external backups or pay. - CMD & PowerShell Scripts
Batch scripts are used to automate encryption and system tampering tasks. PowerShell may also be used to download additional payloads or create persistence entries. - Scheduled Task Service
Windows Task Scheduler is sometimes used to relaunch the ransomware on system restart, particularly in longer dwell-time deployments. - Remote Scanners (Speculated)
While not confirmed, early indicators suggest the possible use of IP scanners to enumerate network targets. Tools like Advanced IP Scanner or SoftPerfect may be used to locate other reachable devices once access is obtained.
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Final Thought: Don’t Let a Joke Virus Be Your Worst Nightmare
While VaticanRansomware might read like satire, its damage is no laughing matter. Losing access to your mission-critical data can paralyze operations in a moment. Recovery is possible—but it requires quick, informed action and the right tools. Whether you represent a business, school, or NGO, don’t face the threat alone. Our team is here to help you recover with confidence.
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