YZQE Virus (.YZQE File) 🔐 Decrypt & Removal Guide

The Yzqe virus, also known as a ransomware infection, is part of the STOP/DJVU family. This malware is notorious for its malicious file encryption capabilities. Once the Yzqe virus gets into a computer system, it scans the system for files like photos, videos, documents, and more. It alters the file structure and appends the “.yzqe” extension to each encrypted file, making them inaccessible and unusable without the decryptor.

Yzqe Virus Overview

Yzqe

🤔 Yzqe virus is ransomware that originates from the DJVU/STOP ransomware family. Its main target is to lock all of your files it can reach. Then, ransomware virus asks its victims to pay the ransom – ($490 – $980) in Bitcoin.

The Yzqe virus is a type of malware that encrypts your files and forces you to pay for their recovery. This ransomware ciphers a wide selection of file types. Encrypted files can be identified by a distinct “.yzqe” extension. As a result, the files touched by ransomware become impossible to access and use.

Subsequently, the ransomware demands a file decryption payment in Bitcoin from the victims, ranging from $490 to $980. Usually, a ransom text file is named as “_readme.txt“.

Yzqe Ransomware works with Salsa20 encryption algorithms to cipher the targeted files. Since Yzqe virus employs such a robust encryption method, it becomes really difficult, if not impossible, to pick the decryption key without the assistance of the attackers.

Once Yzqe malware finishes the encryption, it shows a ransom note to the victim, demanding a ransom payment for the decryption key. The ransom note provides instructions on how to pay off the bill and often includes threats of system wipeout or ransom amounts surge if the demands are not met within a specified timeframe.

I have made a comprehensive list of potential solutions, tips, and practices to disable the Yzqe virus and recover your files. There are cases when you can decrypt the files, but sometimes, it may be impossible.

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📌 Important Note!

It is critical to voice that paying the ransom does not guarantee the successful files recovery. The cybercriminals behind the Yzqe virus are not trustworthy. There have been instances where people have paid the ransom, only to be denied by the cybercriminals with the decryption key provision.

Yzqe uses a unique key for each victim, with one exception:

The Yzqe virus is highly similar to other DJVU ransomware samples such as Yzoo, Yzaq, Ppvw, and Ppvt. This virus encrypts a wide range of common file types and appends its distinct “.yzqe” extension to all files. For instance, a file named “1.jpg” would be altered to “1.jpg.yzqe” and “2.png” to “2.png.yzqe“.

After successful encryption, the virus creates a special text file named “_readme.txt” and places it in every folder containing the encrypted files. It as well 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 “yzqe” extension:

Encrypted Files by STOP/DJVU Ransomware

Name	Yzqe Virus
Ransomware family¹	DJVU/STOP² ransomware
Extension	.yzqe
Ransomware note	_readme.txt
Ransom	From $490 to $980 (in Bitcoins)
Contact	[email protected], [email protected]
Detection	Trojan:Win32/Gozi.RD!MTB, Backdoor.Agent.RD, Trojan:Win32/Aenjaris.AL!bit
Symptoms	Disables Volume Shadow copies, making victim’s attempts to restore data futile; Installs password-stealing Trojan on the system, like Vidar Stealer or RedLine Stealer; Successfully installs a SmokeLoader backdoor for remote access; Updates the HOSTS file with a list of domains to block access to certain security-related sites; Implements encryption to lock most of your files (photos, videos, documents) and adds a particular “.yzqe” extension;
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 alarming notification requesting users to pay the ransom to unlock the encoded data contains these annoying cautions.

Yzqe ransomware arrives as a set of procedures that are used to perform different activities on a victim’s computer. One of the initial ones being launched is winupdate.exe, a sneaky process that shows a fraudulent Windows update alert during the attack. That is needed to convince the victim that a sudden computer slowdown is caused by a Windows update.

Simultaneously, the ransomware runs another process (which name commonly consists of 4 random characters) which initiates scanning the disk for target files and ciphering them. Next, 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 methods that could help the victim to restore files for free. In addition, the rascals modify the Windows HOSTS file by appending a list of domains to it and linking them to the localhost IP. As a result, the victim will witness a DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error when trying to access one of the blocked websites.

It has come to our attention that ransomware tries to block websites that publish various how-to guides for computer users. It is clear that by restricting specific domains, the perpetrators are attempting to hinder the victim from accessing relevant and helpful ransomware-attack-related information online. The virus also stores two .txt files on the victim’s computer that provide attack-related particulars – 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 cease. Variants of STOP/DJVU are inclined to release Vidar password-stealing Trojan on compromised systems. This threat has an large list of capabilities, including:

Gathering sensitive data by running malicious software on the victim’s computer.
Acquiring unauthorized login credentials of Steam, Telegram, and Skype accounts.
Manipulating and viewing files on the victim’s computer without their knowledge.
Stealing cryptocurrency wallets from the victim’s system.
Granting the hackers remote control over the victim’s computer for various malicious activities.
Extracting sensitive information such as browser cookies, saved passwords, and browsing history.

The cryptography algorithm used by DJVU/STOP virus is AES-256. So, once your data is encrypted with an online decryption key, the chances to get your files back without paying the ransom are quite low. Thing is, online key is unique for each victim, and brute forcing it will take exceptionally big amount of time.

Retrieving the online key in any other way is also close to impossible. It is kept on a remote server owned by the hackers who spread the Yzqe infection. For receiving decryption key the payment should be $980. To see the payment details, the victims should contact the hackers 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 .yzqe Files?

How to restore big files?

Try removing .yzqe extension on a few big files and opening them. This malware has issues with large files encryption. Either the virus scanned and did not lock the file, or it failed and did not add the filemarker. If your files are very large (2GB+), such a situation is highly probable. 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 Yzoo, Yzaq, Ppvw etc.

As a consequence of the alterations made by the criminals, STOPDecrypter is no longer backed. 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.

Select folders for decryption.

Based on the default configurations, the decryptor will automatically choose the available directories in order to decode the currently reachable drives (the connected ones), including the network drives. You can choose other locations with the “Add” button.

Decryptors generally offer several options considering 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 discover a detailed list of the currently active Options below.

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]

There is no corresponding decryption key in the Emsisoft decryptor’s database.

✓ No key for New Variant online ID: [your ID]

Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible

Your original files were encrypted with an online key. There is no one to share the decryption key with you. Recovery of files without paying the criminals 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.

Malware used an offline key, though the file recovery operation failed (the offline decryption key isn’t available yet). But, receiving this message is good news for you, because 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 .yzqe Files?

In some case ransomware is not doom for your files…

The Yzqe ransomware encryption algorithm is next: it ciphers every file byte-by-byte, then saves a file copy, removing (not overriding!) the initial file. Thus, the information of the file location on the physical disk is lost, but the original file is not deleted from the disk. The cell, or the sector where this file was stored, can still contain this file, but it is not present in the file system and can be overwritten by data that has been loaded to this disk after the deletion. Hence, it is possible to retrieve your files using special software.

I recently had my pc infected by the this virus. It managed to bypass 2 Antivirus software and 2 malware fighters.

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 Newland

Some pointers for recovery repair of Yzqe files (true for all STOP/DJVU variants):

I have seen Stop/Djvu variants fail to encrypt deeper nested folders, so that you can check that. You may find those are not encrypted.

This ransomware saves encrypted data to a new file, deletes the original. So there’s a slight chance part of that deleted file can be recovered using file recovery software. It’s unlikely the folder structure can be restored, so a free tool like PhotoRec may be as good as any.

This ransomware only partially encrypts (about the first 150 KB), so depending on file size and type of data, the not encrypted part may be recoverable.

Joep

Recovering your files with PhotoRec

PhotoRec is an free program, which is originally created for file retrieval from damaged disks, or for files recovery in case if they are unintentionally deleted. However, with time flow, this program received the ability to recover the files of 400 different extensions. Hence, it can be used for file recovery after the Yzqe attack.

First, you need to download this app. It is 100% free, but the developer states that there is no assurance that your files will be retrieved. PhotoRec is spread together with other tool of the same developer – TestDisk. The resulting archive will have TestDisk name, but don’t worry. PhotoRec files are right inside.

To open PhotoRec, you need to find and open “qphotorec_win.exe” file. No installation is needed – this program has all the files it need inside of the archive, hence, you can fit it on your USB drive, and help your friends/parents/anyone who has been attacked by Yzqe ransomware.

Upon the start, you will see the screen showing you the complete list of your disk drives. However, this details are likely futile, 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 select the destination folder for the recovered files. This menu is located at the lower part of the PhotoRec window. The best choice is to export them on USB drive or any other type of removable disk.

Then, you need to define 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 initiate files retrieval by pressing the “Search” button. You will observe the screen where the results of the scan and recovery are shown.

Yzqe files recovery Video Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.yzqe” files?

No way. These files are encrypted by ransomware. The contents of encrypted files are not available until they are decrypted.

🤔 This virus has blocked infected PC: I can’t get the activation code.

In this situation, you need to prepare the memory stick with a pre-installed

🤔 Decryptor did not decrypt all my files, or not all of them were decrypted. What should I do?

Have patience. You are infected with the new version of STOP/DJVU ransomware, and decryption keys have not yet been released. Follow the news on our website. We will keep you posted on when new keys or new decryption programs appear.

🤔 What can I do right now?

The Yzqe ransomware encrypts only the first 150KB of files. So MP3 files are rather large, some media players (Winamp for example) may be able to play the files, but – the first 3-5 seconds (the encrypted portion) will be missing. You can try to find a copy of an original file that was encrypted: Files you downloaded from the Internet that were encrypted and you can download again to get the original.

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Brendan Smith