How to remove Qpss ransomware

Qpss ransomware is a generic file-encrypting malware from the Dvju/STOP ransomware family. The people operating this malware family are notorious for releasing new ransomware versions on a regular basis. The versions are more or less identical to one another but can be differentiated by the extensions they add to encrypted files. Qpss ransomware is known as such because it adds .qpss to files it encrypts. Files with this extension will not be openable unless you first put the files through a decryptor. However, getting it will be difficult because the only people who have it are the cybercriminals operating this ransomware. And they won’t just give it to you. Instead, they will try to sell it to you. But buying the decryptor comes with many risks.

 

 

Qpss ransomware will start encrypting personal files as soon as it’s initiated. It targets personal files, mostly photos, videos, images, and documents. You will be able to recognize which files have been encrypted by the .qpss extension added to them. For example, an encrypted text.txt would become text.txt.qpss. You will not be able to open any files with this extension unless you first use a decryptor on them. How you can get the decryptor is explained in the _readme.txt ransom note that’s dropped in all folders that contain malware. The note explains that in order to get a decryptor, paying a ransom is necessary. The regular price is $980 but the note does mention that those who make contact within the first 72 hours will get a 50% discount. Whether that is true or not, paying the ransom is quite risky. The main risk is that you are not guaranteed a decryptor even if you pay. Keep in mind that you are dealing with cybercriminals, and there’s nothing to force them to help you even if you pay. Countless users in the past have paid the ransom but did not receive their decryptors. So while the decision of whether to pay is yours to make, you should be aware of the risks. Furthermore, by paying, you would be supporting future criminal activities. And as long as victims pay the ransom, ransomware will continue to be a successful business for cybercriminals.

If you have a backup, you can start recovering your files as soon as you remove Qpss ransomware. We strongly recommend that you use anti-malware software to delete Qpss ransomware from your computer. That is the safest option because if you try to do it manually, you could end up causing additional damage. So use anti-malware software. Once the ransomware is fully gone, you can safely access your backup.

Successful file recovery is much less likely if you do not have a backup. Your only option is to wait for a free Qpss ransomware decryptor to become available. However, it’s not certain whether one will even be released. Because this ransomware uses online keys to encrypt files, the keys are unique to each victim. Unless those keys are released by the cybercriminals (or by law enforcement), developing a decryptor for malware researchers will be quite difficult. However, it’s not impossible. Thus, back up your encrypted files and wait for a free decryptor.

Ransomware distribution methods

Users with good online habits have a much smaller chance of picking up a malware infection. If you tend to open unsolicited email attachments without double-checking them first, pirate copyrighted content using torrents, click on ads while browsing high-risk websites, etc., you’re bound to pick up a malware infection sooner or later. Developing better habits and learning to recognize malware distribution methods should help avoid quite a lot of malware.

Email attachments are one of the easiest ways to spread malware for cybercriminals. It doesn’t require a lot of effort, which is why it’s a favored method among cybercriminals. If a malicious email lands in your inbox, your email address has been leaked in the past. And if you’ve received one, you’ll likely receive more in the future. It’s very important that you learn to recognize malicious emails because opening a malware attachment is all it takes for malware to initiate. It’s not uncommon for malware distributors to pretend to be from legitimate companies but these emails are usually pretty obvious. The most obvious sign is grammar/spelling mistakes. When the sender claims to be from a legitimate company but the email is full of grammar/spelling mistakes, it could potentially be malicious. Legitimate emails very rarely contain mistakes because they look unprofessional. Another thing to take note of is how an email addresses you. If the sender claims that you use their services but addresses you using generic phrases like User, Member, Customer, etc., you may be dealing with a malicious email. Legitimate emails will address you by name if they know it, not generic phrases. But some malicious emails may be more difficult to recognize, which is why it’s highly recommended to always scan unsolicited email attachments with anti-virus software or VirusTotal before opening them.

It’s also pretty common to find malware in torrents, especially for copyrighted content. Torrent sites are often quite badly regulated, which allows malicious actors to easily upload torrents with malware in them. It’s especially common to find malware in torrents for movies, TV shows, video games, software, etc. So if you pirate copyrighted content using torrents, you’re not only stealing content but also endangering your computer/data.

Qpss ransomware removal

Considering that ransomware is a serious malware infection, it’s not a good idea to try to remove Qpss ransomware manually. Unless you know exactly what you’re doing, you could end up causing additional damage. And if you have a backup, which you try to access while ransomware is still on your computer, those backed-up files would become encrypted as well. Thus, we strongly recommend using anti-malware software to remove Qpss ransomware from your computer. Once it’s fully removed, you can safely connect to your backup and start recovering files.

If you do not have a backup, your only option is to wait for a free decryptor to become available. Back up your encrypted files and occasionally check NoMoreRansom for a free decryptor.