How to remove Bpqd ransomware

Bpqd ransomware is malware that encrypts files. This malware comes from a notorious ransomware family known as Djvu/STOP. The cybercriminals operating this malware family release new versions on a regular basis, with hundreds already released. Bpqd ransomware is one of the most recent versions to be released and it can be identified by the .bpqd extension added to encrypted files. If your files suddenly have this extension, you will not be able to open any of them. The only way to open these files is to decrypt them using a special decryptor. However, the only people who have the decryptor are the cybercriminals operating this ransomware. And they will not feel generous enough to just give you the decryptor. Instead, they will try to sell it to you.

 

 

Bpqd ransomware is mostly identical to all other file-encrypting malware from the Djvu/STOP family. They all target personal files, including photos, videos, images, documents, etc. Once the files have been encrypted, they will have an extension added to them. In this case, the ransomware adds .bpqd, hence why it’s known as Bpqd ransomware. You will not be able to open any of the files with this extension unless you first use a decryptor on them.

While it’s encrypting your files, the ransomware will show you a fake Windows update window. When file encryption is fully complete, you will see _readme.txt ransom notes in all folders that have encrypted files. The ransom note explains how users can acquire the decryptor. As is explained in the note, in order to get the decryptor, users need to pay $980 in ransom. It’s also mentioned that those who contact the cyber criminals within the first 72 hours will receive a 50% discount. Whether that is actually true is debatable but paying the ransom, in general, is not a particularly good idea. The main reason is that there are no guarantees you will get the decryptor even after paying. Remember that you are dealing with cybercriminals and you have no guarantees that you’ll get the decryptor after paying. Countless ransomware victims have not received their decryptors so while the decision to pay or not is yours to make, you need to be aware of the risks that come with paying.

If you were backing up your files prior to the infection and were not connected to your backup when the infection occurred, you should have no trouble with recovering files. However, before you can access your backup, you need to fully delete Bpqd ransomware from your computer. Make sure to use anti-malware software for Bpqd ransomware removal because the infection is quite complex.

However, for users with no backup, the file recovery process will be much more difficult. The only way you may be able to get your files back is if malware researchers release a free Bpqd ransomware decryptor. However, ransomware versions from the Djvu/STOP malware family use online encryption keys, which means the keys are unique to each victim. Unless cybercriminals release the keys, creating a working decryptor will be difficult. However, it’s not impossible. So back up your encrypted files and wait for a free Bpqd ransomware decryptor. NoMoreRansom is a good source for free decryptors. We should also mention that Emsisoft has released a free Djvu/STOP decryptor but it only works on ransomware whose encryption keys Emsisoft has. It’s not very likely to work in your case but it’s worth a try.

Ransomware distribution methods

Users who have bad online habits are generally much more likely to pick up malware infections because they open unsolicited email attachments, pirate using torrents, click on ads when browsing high-risk websites, etc. Developing better browsing habits can allow you to protect yourself from a wide range of malware infections.

Malicious actors also often spread malware using malicious spam, or malspam in short. It’s a pretty low-effort method for cybercriminals. They purchase email addresses from various forums and send low-quality emails with malicious attachments to them. If users open the attached files, they end up initiating the malware. Fortunately for users, these emails are usually pretty obvious. When you receive an unsolicited email that contains an attachment and asks you to open it, look for certain signs that could indicate it may be malicious. One of the most easily recognizable signs is grammar and spelling mistakes. Malicious senders often pretend to be from legitimate companies whose services users use but their emails are full of errors. Another sign is the sender addressing you as User, Member, Customer, etc. when they should know your name. For example, if you’re an Amazon user, emails from the company will always address you by the name you have given it. If you’re greeted with a generic Customer and are asked to open an attachment, you should be suspicious. Even if an email looks completely legitimate, you should still be very careful. Always scan unsolicited email attachments with anti-virus software or VirusTotal before opening them. Doing this will allow you to avoid malicious infections that may be hiding in email attachments.

Using torrents to pirate copyrighted content or pirating, in general, is an easy way to pick up malware infections as well. Torrent sites are often poorly regulated, which allows cybercriminals to easily upload malicious torrents, which would stay up for a long time. If you intend to pirate, know that you’re not only essentially stealing content but also putting your computer and your data in danger.

Bpqd ransomware removal

It is recommended to use anti-malware software to remove Bpqd ransomware instead of trying to do it yourself. Unless you know exactly what to do, you could end up causing additional damage to your computer. Furthermore, if you accidentally leave some part of the ransomware behind, the ransomware may be able to recover. If that were to happen and you tried to access your backup, your backed-up files would become encrypted as well. To prevent that from happening, use a reliable anti-malware program. Once the malware is fully gone, you can connect to your backup and start recovering files.