BKQFMSAHPT Ransomware 🔐 (.BKQFMSAHPT File) — Removal Guide

The Bkqfmsahpt virus falls under the Snatch ransomware family. Harmful software of this type encrypts all the data on your PC (photos, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, creating the HOW TO RESTORE YOUR FILES.TXT text files in every folder with the encrypted files.

What is known about the Bkqfmsahptvirus?

☝ A scientifically accurate denomination for the Bkqfmsahpt would be “a Snatch family ransomware-type malicious agent”.

Bkqfmsahpt will append its extra .bkqfmsahpt extension to every file’s name. For instance, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.bkqfmsahpt”. Just like the Excel table with the name “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.bkqfmsahpt”, and so forth.

In every folder containing the encrypted files, a HOW TO RESTORE YOUR FILES.TXT text document will be found. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the Bkqfmsahpt developers. That is pretty much the scheme of the malefaction.

Bkqfmsahpt overview:
Name Bkqfmsahpt Virus
Ransomware family1 Snatch ransomware
Extension .bkqfmsahpt
Ransomware note HOW TO RESTORE YOUR FILES.TXT
Detection Win32/GenKryptik.GCRJ, VHO:Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Deyma.cyv, Generic.Trojan.HackTool.DDS
Symptoms Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .bkqfmsahpt extension and you can’t open them.
Fix Tool See If Your System Has Been Affected by Bkqfmsahpt virus

In the picture below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Bkqfmsahpt looks like. Each filename has the “.bkqfmsahpt” extension added to it.

Bkqfmsahpt Virus - encrypted .bkqfmsahpt files

That is how encrypted “.bkqfmsahpt” files look.

How did my computer get infected with Bkqfmsahpt ransomware?

There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most popular methods for tamperers to have ransomware acting in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer networks.

If you access your inbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is strange to you, beware of opening those letters. They are most likely to have a viral file enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.

As for the peer file transfer protocols like BitTorrent or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.

How to remove the Bkqfmsahpt virus?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your data, the Bkqfmsahpt virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your machine to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Often tamperers would decode several of your files so you know that they do have the decryption program. Since Bkqfmsahpt virus is a relatively recent ransomware, safety measures designers have not yet found a method to undo its work. Nevertheless, the decoding tools are constantly updated, so the solution may soon be available.

Sure thing, if the hackers do the job of encoding someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will most likely fulfill their demands. Despite that, paying to criminals does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After getting the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports about malefactors just disappearing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.

The optimal countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud disk or at least on an external disk. Of course, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all went down. But at least it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS is rolled back.

Bkqfmsahpt is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. For instance, Fatp, Powd, Bowd, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Bkqfmsahpt are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encoded, their extensions changed, ransom notes are found in each directory containing encoded files.

Some lucky people were able to decrypt the blocked files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decryption key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a bandits’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.

How сan I avoid ransomware injection?

Bkqfmsahpt ransomware has no superpower, so as any similar malware.

You can protect your computer from its attack within three easy steps:

  • Ignore any letters from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, check all elements of the dubious email with caution. A hoax email will surely contain mistakes.
  • Avoid using cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, possibly as a “patch” which prevents the license check. But untrusted programs are difficult to tell from trustworthy software, because trojans may also have the functionality you need. Try to find information about this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the best solution is not to use such programs at all.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft3

Download Removal Tool.

Run the setup file.

Run Setup.exe
GridinSoft Anti-Malware Setup

Press “Install” button.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Install

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Splash-Screen

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scanning

Click on “Clean Now”.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan Result

Frequently Asked Questions

đŸ€” How can I open “.bkqfmsahpt” files?Can I somehow access “.bkqfmsahpt” files?

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.bkqfmsahpt” files first. Then you will be able to open them.

đŸ€” The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. The rest of the methods require patience.

đŸ€” What should I do if the Bkqfmsahpt ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.

đŸ€” What can I do right now?

Some of the encrypted files can be located elsewhere.

  • If you exchanged your important files by email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
  • You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to give those pictures back to you.
  • If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try doing it again.
  • Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
  • It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, cellphone, flash memory, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery programs5 to get your lost data back since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you eradicate the virus with an antivirus program.

Also, you can contact the following official fraud and scam sites to report this attack:

To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.

I need your help to share this article.

It is your turn to help other people. I have written this guide to help users like you. You can use the buttons below to share this on your favorite social media Facebook, Twitter, or Reddit.
Brendan Smith

References

  1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
  2. Here’s the list of Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.

About the author

Brendan Smith

Cybersecurity analyst covering malware families, suspicious files, and detection alerts. Brendan focuses on clear explanations of what a warning means, when it may be a false positive, and which cleanup steps are appropriate.

Leave a Comment