Remove YZAQ Ransomware Virus (+DECRYPT .yzaq Files)

Yzaq virus is a sort of computer virus that infiltrates your computer, encrypts your files, and then asks to pay the money for file decryption. Besides these unwanted actions, that virus also changes some important settings and can even suspend your security tool.

Yzaq malware – what is it?

Yzaq ransomware can correctly be described as a STOP/Djvu ransomware family. That type of computer virus is targeted at single users. This specification supposes that Yzaq does not bring any type of additional viruses, which sometimes helps ransomware of other families to take control of your system. Since most people do not have anything valuable on their PCs, there is no reason to inject additional malware that increases the risk of failure of the whole ransomware operation.

The common signs of that virus activity is the emersion of .yzaq files in your folders, instead of the files you used to have. The photo.jpg turns into photo.jpg.yzaq, report.xlsx – into report.xlsx.yzaq and so on. You are not able to prevent this operation, and can’t open these files – they are ciphered with quite strong cipher.

You can also see different other signs of malware activity. Abruptly stopped Microsoft Defender and inability to check the popular anti-malware forums or web pages, where the malware removal and decryption guides are posted. You will see how it is conducted in the paragraph below. The removal and decryption guide are also available – check below how to remove Yzaq virus and get the .yzaq files back.

How did Yzaq ransomware encrypt my files?

After the injection, the Yzaq ransomware establishes a connection with its command and control server. This server is controlled by virus maintainers – fraudsters who manage the spreading of this malware. Another activity which is conducted by these crooks is answering the emails of sufferers, who intend to decrypt their files.

The documents are encrypted with one of the strongest encryption algorithm – AES-256. The digit in the name of this algo means the power of two – 2^256 for this case. 78-digit number of possible password variations – it is unreal to brute force it. As cipher analysts say, it will take more time than the Earth can approximately exist, even when you use the most powerful computers. In each folder that contains the encrypted documents, Yzaq virus leaves the _readme.txt file with the following contents:

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:

support@fishmail.top

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

datarestorehelp@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

However, you can still open some of your documents. The Yzaq virus encrypts only the initial 150 KB of each file, but the other part of this document can be opened. Primarily, it works best with audio/video files, which are likely larger than 150 kilobytes. Not each media player is able to open these files – WinAmp is the best option, since it is free and well-tested. First seconds of every file will be silent – this part is encrypted – but the rest of the file will be accessible like nothing happened.

Is Yzaq ransomware dangerous for my PC?

As it was mentioned several paragraphs before, ransomware is not only about ciphering the files. Yzaq ransomware makes the changes in your OS in order to prevent searching the malware removal and file decryption guides. Yzaq virus does not establish the software barrier – it just alters the settings, primarily – networking and security configurations.

Among the networking settings, the most changed item is the HOSTS configuration file. This text file has the DNS-address configurations, which are used by the browsers while sending a request to the website server. If you add a specific DNS-address for the certain web page, your browser will connect that site through this DNS next time. Ransomware edits that file, adding the unknown DNS, so any of the web browsers will show you the “Unable to resolve the DNS-address” error.

Other alterations done by the virus are targeted on prevention of operative detection of itself, and also disabling the installation of the majority of anti-malware programs. Yzaq ransomware implements some changes in Group Policies – the system configuration app which allows to change the abilities of each application. In such a way, malware disables the Microsoft Defender and different other security apps, and also blocks the launch of antivirus installation files.

How did I get infected?

Throughout the whole term while STOP/Djvu family existed, it was using dubious programs as the main way of ransomware injection. Under the term of dubious applications I mean apps that are already not updated by the developer and distributed through the third-party websites. These apps may be cracked, to make them possible to use without purchasing any license. Another example of such a program class is various hacking tools – cheat engines, keygens, Windows activation tools and so on.

These software may be distributed in different ways – through the website that offers a downloading link, as well as through the p2p networks – ThePirateBay, eMule and so on. All these sources are well-known as the biggest computer piracy websites. Folks use these sources to get various programs or games for free, even if these programs must be purchased. Nobody can prevent the users who crack these programs from adding malware of some type to the files of the hacked app. Hacktools, however, are created for outlaw targets, so their developers can easily add the virus under the guise of some program part.

These hacked programs, regardless of their source, are one of the most often sources for various malware, and 100% the most used one for Yzaq ransomware. It is better to stop using of it, and not only because of virus spreading risks. Avoiding the license purchase is an illegal action, and both hackers and folks who use cracked apps fall under the charge of piracy.

How do I remove Yzaq ransomware?

The Yzaq malware is really hard to remove manually. In fact, because of the amount of alterations it makes in your PC, it is almost impossible to spot them all and fix. The best solution is to use anti-malware programs. But which one to choose?

You may spectate the advices to use Microsoft Defender, that is already inside of your system. However, as it was mentioned earlier, the majority of STOP/Djvu ransomware examples disable it even before the encryption procedure. Using the third-party program is the only option – and I can offer you the GridinSoft Anti-Malware as an option for that case. It has perfect detection abilities, so the malware will not be missed. It is also capable of system repairing, that is heavily demanded after the Yzaq virus attack.

To remove Yzaq malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software.

After the ransomware removal, you can go to file decryption. Ransomware removal is needed to prevent the repeating ciphering of your files: while Yzaq ransomware is active, it will not pass any unencrypted file.

How to decrypt the .yzaq files?

There are two ways to recover your files after a Yzaq ransomware attack. First one and the most popular is file decryption. It is conducted with a special program, designed by Emsisoft, and named Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/Djvu. This program is free. Analysts update its decryption keys databases as often as possible, so you will definitely get your files back, sooner or later.

Another option to get your documents and photos back is to try to recover them from your disks. Since ransomware deletes them and substitutes with an encrypted copy, the residue of the files are still kept on the disk drive. After the deletion, the information about them is wiped from the file system, but not from a disk drive. Special programs, like PhotoRec, are able to recover these files. It is free, too, and may also be used for file recovery in case when you have deleted a thing unintentionally.

Decrypting the .yzaq files with Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu

Download and install Emsisoft Decrypter tool. Agree with its EULA and continue to the interface.

The interface of this program is extremely easy. All you have to do is to select the folder where the encrypted files are stored, and wait. If the program has the decryption key which corresponds to your ransomware case – it will decrypt it.

During the use of Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu, you may observe various error messages. Don’t worry, that does not mean that you did something wrong or a program does not work properly. Each of these errors refer to a specific case. Here is the explanation:

Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [your ID]

The program does not have a corresponding key for your case. You need to wait for some time until the key database will be updated.

No key for new variant online ID: [your ID]

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

This error means that your files are encrypted with an online key. In such a case, the decryption key is unique and stored on the remote server, controlled by crooks. Unfortunately, the decryption is impossible.

Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]

This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.

Ransomware uses the offline key to encrypt your files. This key is not unique, so you likely have it in common with another victim. Since offline keys must be collected, too, it is important to keep calm and wait until the analysts team finds one which will fit your case.

Remote name could not be resolved

This error indicates that the program has problems with DNS on your computer. That’s a clear sign of malicious alterations in your HOSTS file. Reset it using the official Microsoft guide.

Recovering the .yzaq files with PhotoRec tool

PhotoRec is an open-source tool, which is created to recover the deleted or lost files from the disk drive. It checks each disk sector for the remains of deleted files, and then attempts to recover them. That app is able to recover the files of more than 400 different extensions. Because of the described feature of ransomware encryption mechanism, it is possible to use this tool to get the original, unencrypted files back.

Download PhotoRec from the official website. It is absolutely free, however, its developer warns that he does not guarantee that this program will be 100% effective for file recovery purposes. Moreover, even paid apps can barely give you such a guarantee, because of the chain of random factors that can make the file recovery harder.

Unzip the downloaded archive to the folder you like. Don’t worry because of its name – TestDisk – this is the name of the utility developed by the same company. They decided to spread it together since PhotoRec and TestDisk are often used together. Among the unzipped files, search for qphotorec_win.exe file. Run this executable file.

Before you can start the recovery process, you need to specify several settings. In the drop-down list, choose the logic disk where the files were stored before the encryption.

Then, you need to specify the file formats you need to recover. It may be difficult to scroll all 400+ formats, luckily, they are sorted by alphabetical order.

Finally, name the folder you want to use as a container for recovered files. The program will likely dig out a lot of useless files, which were deleted intentionally, so desktop is a bad solution. The best option is to use the USB-drive.

After these easy manipulations, you may just press the “Search” button (it turns active if you specified all required parameters). The recovery process may take several hours, so keep patient. It is recommended not to use the computer during this term, since you may overwrite some files you are intending to recover.

Frequently Asked Questions