Recovering Microsoft Outlook data from .PST files infected with a “VVEW” virus is one of the most common reasons for data loss practically everywhere today. The Recovery Toolbox for Outlook tool will help you recover your email database in just a few minutes – even if the data seems to be completely lost and inaccessible
The VVEW virus is a type of ransomware that targets computers by encrypting files and requesting a fee to unlock them. Data loss and financial losses are potential outcomes of ransomware attacks. Files are encrypted by VVEW, which also renames them by adding the .
VVEW extension produces files with the name “readme.txt” that contain the ransom note. The extremely harmful ransomware “VVEW” virus mainly spreads in the form of mail, program Trojans, and web pages.
It uses various encryption algorithms to infect, delete, and encrypt Outlook .PST files, adding its .VVEW extension that makes it impossible to access your Outlook files.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
The virus encrypts the beginning and end of files, modifies them, or employs a combination of encryption with the substitution of places because the .PST/.OST files used to store emails is typically large.
Using the Recovery Toolbox for Outlook’s cutting-edge analytical algorithms, the program can retrieve up to 99% of the damaged or encrypted emails and contacts.
You may safely retrieve and restore practically all emails, contacts, attachments, and other data thanks to its offline and online file recovery methods, which read and analyze the complete file without relying on service headers, service tables, or service links.
You can fix any issue with Recovery Toolbox for Outlook. Your .PST files of various versions can be repaired, including ANSI (Outlook 97–2003), Unicode (Outlook 2007 and higher), and password-protected files.
With the help of the Online Outlook Recovery Tool, it is simple to restore corrupted MS Outlook data online on any device, .PST files, or restore any version of .PST files.
Before repairing the damaged .PST file, you might need to locate your Outlook Data files in MS Outlook.
- First, select File, Choose Account Settings, and click on Account Settings.
- Next, select the Data Files tab.
You will see all Outlook Data Files (.PST) and Offline Data Files (.OST) listed, along with the account name the files are associated with.
Method 1: How to Recover Your Infected .PST Offline with Recovery Toolbox for Outlook
Step 1. Identify the infected Outlook data file location.
To recover an infected Outlook data file first Exit Microsoft Outlook and go to one of these locations:
- For Outlook 365: C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\
- For Outlook 2019: C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
- For Outlook 2016: C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
- For Outlook 2013: C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
- For Outlook 2010: C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
- For Outlook 2007: C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
- For Outlook 2003: C:\Users\username\Documents\Outlook Files\
- For Outlook XP: C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
- For Outlook 2000: C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook
Step 2: Download, install, and Run the program from https://outlook.recoverytoolbox.com/repair-outlook/.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
Step 3: Select the corrupt file and click Next.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
Step 4: Choose Recovery Mode and Click Next.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
Step 5: Confirm Yes to start the recovery process.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
Step 6: Inspect the data preview and click Next to save the recovered file to a new location. 
Source: Microsoft Outlook
Step 7: Enter the location to save the .PST file and click Next.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
Step 8: Save recovered data as the new .PST file.
Step 9: After checking the successful recovery results, click Finish to exit the Recovery Toolbox for Outlook tool.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
The damaged file should then be replaced with a recovered one, or the recovered .PST file should be added to Outlook’s list of data files. The following steps apply to Outlook versions 2021, 2019, 2016, and 2013:
- Choose the menu item File | Info.
- Next, click the button Account Settings.
- Finally, choose Account Settings in the pop-up menu.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
- Choose the Data Files tab and click Remove.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
- Click Open File Location and select the recovered file. Click Set as Default.
Done! The problem of an infected .PST file has been solved.
Method #2. How to Recover Your PST File Online with the Recovery Toolbox for Outlook
With the online Outlook Recovery Tool, it’s easy to recover your virus-inflicted database online on any device with an Internet browser, and you’ll have no difficulty fixing encrypted .PST files and recovering .OST files of any version.
Source: Microsoft Outlook
To change the file extension from VVEW to .PST – the service must determine which recovery algorithm to use.
- Click the Select file and select an MS Outlook data file with the extension .PST or .OST
- Enter a valid e-mail address
- Click on Continue
- Wait for the corrupted .PST/.OST file to be recovered
- Download the recovered MS Outlook .PST file
The data recovered from the corrupt MS Outlook file will be stored as a brand-new file with the .PST extension for Microsoft Outlook 2016, enabling recovery of .PST files for MS Outlook Personal Folders on any device with a browser.
Advantages of the Recovery Toolbox for Outlook include:
- You can fix any .PST files from different versions of MS Outlook: ANSI (Outlook 97-2003), Unicode (2007 and above)
- You can fix .PST files of any size (successfully tested on files with size 180Gb+)
- You can fix password-protected files
- You can fix encrypted .PST files
- You can fix the error online on any device at https://outlook.recoverytoolbox.com/online
- You can restore .OST files of any versions
With the use of the online MS Outlook Recovery Tool, you can easily resolve corrupt .PST files and restore .PST files of any version while also recovering your important MS Outlook data online on any computer. Give the Recovery Toolbox for Outlook a try right now to prevent a virus from slowing down your work!
Highly acclaimed by users, Recovery Toolbox for Outlook utilizes the most advanced .PST file-analysis methods aimed at opening MS Outlook data files with different degrees of damage inflicted by all types of accidents – like virus attacks, network errors, hardware problems, software bugs, RAID or HDD failure, and others
Source: Microsoft Outlook
Recovery Toolbox for Outlook can recover all types of objects from damaged Exchange Server (.OST) and MS Outlook (.PST) storage files: email messages with attachments, contacts, notes, tasks, and more. You can gain immediate access to all the necessary work files you saved and sent to your colleagues in a few simple steps using the MS Outlook e-mail client.
Recovery Toolbox is a software developer, ISV vendor, and distributor company based in Varna, Bulgaria. The company’s multinational team of software engineers specializes in developing and introducing easy-to-use practical tools like Recovery Toolbox for Outlook for .OST/.PST recovery and repair.
Over the past 20 years, more than 100,000 customers have endorsed our data care solutions tailored to the needs of end-users and enterprises. We offer industry-leading online data recovery/repair technology and offline data recovery software to repair a wide range of corrupted and damaged files.
Being an ISDEF member – of the International Society of Data Engineers – the company has made every effort to provide users with innovative, value-adding data recovery software products, making Recovery Toolbox one of the most trusted data care companies in the world.
Conclusion
Recovering Microsoft Outlook data encrypted by the VVEW virus can be a daunting task, but tools like the Recovery Toolbox for Outlook provide a practical and effective solution. By leveraging advanced algorithms and offering both offline and online recovery options, this tool can restore nearly all data from corrupted .PST files, regardless of the extent of damage or encryption. With its user-friendly interface and compatibility with various MS Outlook versions, Recovery Toolbox ensures that users can quickly regain access to their important emails, contacts, and attachments, mitigating the disruptive impact of ransomware attacks.
FAQs
Are there any preventive measures to protect MS Outlook data from future ransomware attacks?
Yes, there are several preventive measures you can take to protect your Outlook data from future ransomware attacks. These include regularly updating your antivirus software, avoiding opening suspicious email attachments or links, backing up your data frequently, enabling firewall protection, and using strong, unique passwords for your accounts.
Can the Recovery Toolbox for Outlook handle other types of MS Outlook file corruption not caused by the VVEW virus?
Yes, the Recovery Toolbox for Outlook is designed to handle various types of Outlook file corruption beyond those caused by the VVEW virus. It can recover data from files corrupted due to hardware failures, software bugs, network errors, and other forms of damage. The tool supports recovery for .PST files from different Outlook versions and can manage large, password-protected, and encrypted files.
