The Jzqe virus, known as a ransomware infection, belongs to the STOP family. This malware is famous for malicious file ciphering. Once the Jzqe virus infects a system, it targets various types of files, like photos, videos, documents, and more. It modifies the file structure and adds the “.jzqe” extension to each file, making them inaccessible and unusable without the decryptor.
Jzqe Virus Overview
Jzqe
🤔 Jzqe malware can be classified as ransomware that originates from the DJVU/STOP family. Its main target is to lock files that are important to you. After that this ransomware asks to pay the ransom – ($490 – $980) in Bitcoin.
The Jzqe virus is a type of malware that ciphers your files and forces you to pay for their decryption. This ransomware ciphers various file types. Encrypted files can be identified by a distinct “.jzqe” extension. As a result, the affected files become impossible to access and use.
Then, the ransomware demands a ransom payment in Bitcoin from the victims, that ranges from $490 to $980, depending on the time passed after the attack. Typically, a ransom text file is named as “_readme.txt“.
Jzqe Ransomware uses Salsa20 encryption algorithms to scramble the contents of the targeted files. Since Jzqe virus applies such a robust ciphering method, it becomes particularly hard, if not impossible, to pick the decryption key without cooperating with the attackers.
Once Jzqe malware finishes the encryption, it shows a ransom note to the user, asking for a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. The ransom note contains instructions on the ways of making the payment and also often contains threats of permanent data loss or increased ransom amounts if the ransom is not paid within a specified timeframe.
I have created a comprehensive list of the solutions, tips, and practices to stop the Jzqe virus and recover your files. In some cases, it may be feasible to restore your files, but sometimes, it may be impossible.
📌 Important Reminder!
It is important to say that paying off the ransom is not a guarantee of the successful files recovery. The cybercriminals who stand behind the Jzqe virus are not trustworthy. There were the cases where victims have paid the ransom, only to be denied by the cybercriminals with the decryption key provision.
Jzqe employs a unique key for each victim, with one exception:
The Jzqe virus is similar to other DJVU ransomware variants like Jzie, Jzeq, Yzqe, and Yzoo. This virus encrypts a wide range of common file types and appends its distinct “.jzqe” extension to all files. For instance, a file named “1.jpg” would be altered to “1.jpg.jzqe” and “2.png” to “2.png.jzqe“.
Upon successful encryption, the virus creates a special text file named “_readme.txt” and places it in every folder containing the encrypted files. It also adds this file to the desktop, so the user will not miss the attack even without opening folders.
The image below provides a visual representation of files with the “jzqe” extension:
Encrypted Files by STOP/DJVU Ransomware
| Name | Jzqe Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | DJVU/STOP2 ransomware |
| Extension | .jzqe |
| Ransomware note | _readme.txt |
| Ransom | From $490 to $980 (in Bitcoins) |
| Contact | [email protected], [email protected] |
| Detection | Troj/Agent-BEEC, Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.KS!MTB, Trojan:Win32/Fotomoto.A |
| Symptoms |
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| Fix Tool |
To remove possible malware infections, scan your PC:
6-day free trial available. |
This message asking payment is for restore files via decryption key:
_readme.txt (STOP/DJVU Ransomware) – The frightening notification insisting users to pay the ransom to unlock the encoded data contains these exasperating cautions.
Jzqe ransomware arrives as a set of procedures that are needed to carry out different functions on a victim’s computer. One of the primary ones being launched is winupdate.exe, a tricky process that displays a false Windows update notification during the attack. Such a trick helps to convince the victim that a sudden computer slowdown is caused by a Windows update.
At the same time, the ransomware runs another process (which name commonly consists of 4 random characters) which commences scanning the system for target files and encrypting them. Then the ransomware removes Volume Shadow Copies from the system disk using the following CMD command:
vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet
Once removed, it becomes nearly impossible to retrieve the previous computer state using System Restore Points. The concern is, ransomware operators are eliminating any built-in Windows approaches that could help the victim to restore files for free. In addition, the hackers modify the Windows HOSTS file by adding a list of domains to it and directing them to the localhost IP. As a result, the victim will see a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error when trying to access one of the listed websites.
We’ve observed that ransomware endeavors to restrict websites that developed various how-to guides for computer users. It is clear that by limiting specific domains, the malefactors are trying to stop the victim from reaching relevant and helpful ransomware-attack-related information online. The virus also saves two .txt files on the victim’s computer that provide details related to the attack – the victim’s public key and personal ID. These two files are named bowsakkdestx.txt and PersonalID.txt.
After all these changes, the malware doesn’t stop. Variants of STOP/DJVU tend to release Vidar password-stealing Trojan on compromised systems. This threat has an large list of capabilities, including:
- Stealing Steam, Telegram, Skype login / password;
- Stealing cryptocurrency wallets;
- Downloading other malware to the computer and running it;
- Stealing browser cookies, saved passwords, browsing history, and more;
- Viewing and manipulating files on victim’s computer;
- Allowing the hackers to perform other tasks on the victim’s computer remotely.
The cryptography algorithm in STOP/Djvu ransomware is AES-256. So, once your data is encrypted with an online decryption key, the possibility to get your files back are quite low. Thing is, this key is unique for each victim, and finding a suitable one will take exceptionally big amount of time.
Obtaining the online key in any other way is also merely impossible. It is stored on a server owned by the crooks who spread the Jzqe malware. For receiving decryption key the payment should be $980. To obtain the payment details, the victims should contact the fraudsters by email ([email protected]).
The message by the ransomware states the following information:
ATTENTION! Don't worry, you can return all your files! All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key. The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you. This software will decrypt all your encrypted files. What guarantees you have? You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free. But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information. You can get and look video overview decrypt tool: https://we.tl/t-WJa63R98Ku Price of private key and decrypt software is $980. Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490. Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment. Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours. To get this software you need write on our e-mail: [email protected] Reserve e-mail address to contact us: [email protected] Your personal ID: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
How To Remove STOP/Djvu Ransomware?
Video Guide
How To Decrypt .jzqe Files?
How to restore big files?
Try removing .jzqe extension on a few big files and opening them. This malware has issues with large files encryption. Either the virus read and did not encode the file, or it bugged and did not add the filemarker. If you have files that are very large (2GB+), the latter is most likely. Please, let me know in comments if that will work for you.
The newest extensions released around the end of August 2019 after the criminals made changes. This includes Jzie, Jzeq, Yzqe etc.
As a outcome of the alterations made by the criminals, STOPDecrypter is no longer supported. It has been replaced with the Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Djvu Ransomware developed by Emsisoft.
You can download free decryption tool here: Decryptor for STOP Djvu.
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Select folders for decryption.
Based on the default configurations, the decryptor will by default choose the accessible directories in order to unlock the currently available drives (the connected ones), including the network drives. Extra (optional) locations can be selected with the help of the “Add” button.
Decryptors usually propose several options depending on the specific malware family. The present possible options are shown in the Options tab and can be turned on or turned off there. You may find a detailed list of the currently active Options below.
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Click on the “Decrypt” button.
As soon as you add all the desired locations for decryption into the list, click on the “Decrypt” button in order to initiate the decryption procedure.
Note that the main screen may turn you to a status view, letting you know of the active process and the decryption statistics of your data:
The decryptor will notify you as soon as the decryption procedure is completed. If you need the report for your personal papers, you can save it by choosing the “Save log” button. Note that it is also possible to copy it directly to your clipboard and to paste it into emails or messages here if you need to do so.
The Emsisoft Decryptor might display different messages after a failed attempt to restore your files:
✓ Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [your ID]
Emsisoft does not have a corresponding key in the database.
✓ No key for New Variant online ID: [your ID]
Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible
Malware used an online key to cipher your files. Your key is unique and is kept on the command server, controlled by criminals. File recovery without paying the ransom is impossible. 🙁
✓ Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]
This ID appears be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.
An offline key was used, but files could not be restored (the offline decryption key isn’t available yet). But, receiving this message is good news for you, since it is possible to restore your files in the future. 🙂
It can take a few weeks or months until the decryption key gets found and uploaded to the decryptor. Please follow updates regarding the decryptable DJVU versions here.
✓ Remote name could not be resolved
This stands for a DNS issues. Try resetting your HOSTS file to default.
How to Restore .jzqe Files?
In some case ransomware is not doom for your files…
The Jzqe ransomware encryption algorithm is next: it encodes every file byte-by-byte, then saves a file copy, deleting (not overriding!) the initial file. Thus, the information of the file location on the physical disk is lost, but the original file is not erased from the physical disk. The cell, or the sector where this file was kept, can still contain this file, but it is not listed by the file system and can be replaced by data that has been loaded to this disk after the removal. Hence, it is possible to restore your files using special software.
Anyway, after realizing it was an online algorithm, it is impossible to retrieve my encrypted files. I also had my backup drive plugged in at the time of the virus, and this was also infected, or so I thought. Every folder within my backup drive had been infected and was encrypted. However, despite losing some important files, I retrieved almost 80% of my 2TB storage.
When I started going through the folders, I noticed the readme.txt ransom note in every folder. I opened some of the folders and found that all files that were not in a subfolder within that folder had been encrypted. However, I found a flaw and glimmer of hope when I went into the subfolders in other folders and found that these files had not been encrypted. Every folder within my c and d drives, including subfolders, had been encrypted, but this was not the case with the backup drive. Having subfolders created within a folder has saved 80% of my data.
As I said, I believe this to be only a small loophole on a backup drive. I’ve since found a further 10 % of my data on another hard drive on a different pc. So my advice is if you use a backup drive, create subfolders. I was lucky, I guess. But I was also unlucky that the virus hit as I was transferring some files from my backup.
Hopefully, this can help some other people in my situation.
Jamie NewlandRecovering your files with PhotoRec
PhotoRec is an free open-source program, which is originally created for data recovery from damaged disks, or for files recovery in case if they are unintentionally deleted. However, as time has gone by, this program adopted the ability to recover the files of 400 different formats. Hence, it can be used for file recovery after the Jzqe attack.
First, you need to download this app. It is 100% free, but the developer notifies that there is no assurance that your files will be retrieved. PhotoRec is spread in a pack with other tool of the same developer – TestDisk. The resulting archive will bear TestDisk name, but don’t worry. PhotoRec files are right inside.
To run PhotoRec, find and open “qphotorec_win.exe” file. No installation is required – the program has all the files it need within the archive, hence, you can mount it on your USB drive, and try to help your friends/parents/anyone who has been attacked by Jzqe ransomware.
After the launch, you will see the screen showing you the entire list of your drives. However, this information is presumably useless, because the required menu is placed a bit higher. Click this bar, then choose the disk which was attacked by ransomware.
After selecting the disk, you need to opt for the destination folder for the reclaimed files. This menu is located at the lower part of the PhotoRec window. The best selection is to export them on USB drive or any other type of removable disk.
Then, you need to indicate the file formats. This option is located at the bottom, too. As it was mentioned, PhotoRec can restore the files of about 400 different formats.
Finally, you can begin files recovery by pressing the “Search” button. You will observe the screen where the outcomes of the scan and recovery are shown.
Jzqe files recovery Video Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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