Delete Nqhd ransomware

Nqhd ransomware is a generic file-encrypting malware that adds .nqhd to files. If you find this extension added to your files, you will not be able to open them unless you decrypt them first. This ransomware is part of the notorious Djvu/STOP ransomware family and is one of the hundreds of similar infections that have been released already. It’s a dangerous infection that can be difficult to deal with because file decryption is not always possible. The cybercriminals operating this ransomware will try to sell you the decryptor, though even if you wanted to pay the requested $980, it’s still risky.

 

 

Nqhd ransomware is mostly identical to Dehd, Vgkf, Sbpg, Miia, and many other ransomware versions because they all come from the same malware family. Like all ransomware, they target personal files, including photos, videos, images, and documents. All encrypted files will have the .nqhd extension added to them, which is how you can recognize which ransomware you’re dealing with and which files have been encrypted. As an example, an encrypted image.jpg file would become image.jpg.nqhd. You will not be able to open the files with this extension. Though you will be offered to buy the decryptor.

The ransomware will drop a _readme.txt ransom note in all folders that have encrypted files. The note is essentially instructions on how to acquire the decryptor. It’s more or less identical to the notes dropped by other ransomware from this family. It reassures that files can be decrypted but you would need to buy the decryptor. The regular price is $980 but according to the note, victims who contact the ransomware operators within the first 72 hours will receive a 50% discount. Whether that is actually true is questionable but either way, paying the ransom is not recommended. While the decision is yours to make, you should be aware of the risks. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that you will get the decryptor, mainly because you are dealing with cybercriminals and there is nothing to force them to help even if you pay. Many users were scammed out of their money this way in the past. Furthermore, as long as victims continue paying the ransom, ransomware will be an issue.

File recovery should not cause any issues if you have a backup. However, you do need to make sure to remove Nqhd ransomware beforehand. If the ransomware is still present on your computer when you access your backup, those files would become encrypted as well. To avoid that, use anti-virus software to delete Nqhd ransomware and only then start recovering files.

If you do not have copies of your files in a backup, you will need to wait for a free decryptor to be released. It’s not currently available and it may be a while until it is. But considering that it’s your only option, you need to back up your encrypted files and wait. You should be very careful when looking for a decryptor because there are a lot of fake ones that could actually lead to another infection. It should be mentioned that there is a free Djvu/STOP decryptor released by Emsisoft but it will likely not work on Nqhd ransomware or any of the more recent Djvu versions. However, it’s worth a try.

How does ransomware infect computers

Ransomware, like a lot of malware, is distributed in a variety of ways. They may include methods like malicious spam emails, torrents, malicious ads, etc. Users’ bad online habits are usually why malware is able to enter computers. Developing better ones can help avoid a significant amount of threats.

One of the most common reasons why ransomware is able to enter computers is because users carelessly open email attachments. Malicious emails are a very popular malware distribution method, primarily due to how low-effort and effective they are. Malicious actors buy email addresses from hacker forums and proceed to spam them with emails that contain malware attachments. The emails are generally quite obvious so for users who know what to look for, it should be quite easy to recognize. One of the most obvious signs is grammar and spelling mistakes in an email that’s supposed to be sent by a legitimate company. When contacting customers, companies do their best to appear professional so mistakes are very rarely present in official correspondence. Furthermore, if the email is supposedly sent from a company whose services users use, users will always be addressed by their name. Because scammers often do not know users’ names, they simply address users as “Customer”, “User”, “Member”, etc. This is often a clear sign of a malicious email. And as a precaution, we recommend always scanning unsolicited email attachments with VirusTotal or anti-virus software.

Torrents are also how threat actors distribute malware. It’s no secret that there are a lot of poorly managed torrent sites, and that allows malicious actors to upload malware disguised as some kind of torrent for a movie, TV series, video game, software, etc. If you cannot differentiate between safe and malicious torrents, by pirating via torrents, you’re endangering your computer. Furthermore, downloading copyrighted content for free is essentially stealing.

Nqhd ransomware removal

Do not attempt to remove Nqhd ransomware manually because you could accidentally cause additional damage. Furthermore, if you do not fully get rid of the ransomware, some part of it may remain and later allow the ransomware to recover. If you try to access your backup while ransomware is still present, those files could become encrypted as well. Thus, use reliable anti-virus software to delete Nqhd ransomware from your computer fully, and only then start file recovery.

If you do not have a backup, file recovery is not necessarily possible. At this point, a free decryptor that may become available in the future could be your only option. Back up your encrypted files and store them until you get the decryptor. Keep in mind that a free Nqhd ransomware decryptor will not necessarily be released because it can be quite difficult to develop it. But if the keys used for encryption ever get released, security specialists would release a free decryptor. NoMoreRansom is a good source to check for free decryptors.