How to remove HQ_52_42 Ransomware: Restore locked files

Easy methods to delete HQ_52_42 Ransomware in Windows 10/8/7 computer

HQ_52_42 Ransomware is very dangerous file virus considered as Ransomware. This ransomware-type malware is designed to encrypt your all locked files stored in computer hard drives including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other formats of files. In sort, you can’t access or open your personal files anymore due to its dubious behaviors. This ransomware-type malware modifies each file by adding .HQ_52_42 File Extension to the original filename. For example, it renames ‘1.png’ filename to ‘1.png.HQ_52_42’.

After encryption process is finished, ‘How to decrypt files.html’ html file as ransom notes are dropped in your computer. According to text presented in ransom note, this ransomware has successfully encrypted your all types of files stored in computer hard drive by using some powerful encryption algorithm techniques. It claims these locked files can’t decrypted without a private key stored on remote server controlled by attackers. It demands 25 Bitcoins as ransom money for the decryption keys/software and asks you to send demanded ransom money to the provided wallet addresses.

The ransom note also states you need to establish the contact with cybercriminals via [email protected] on Jabber. It also claims that in order to uninstall this ransomware, renames locked files or use third-party decryption software, they will erase your locked files or personal files permanently. According to attackers behind HQ_52_42 Ransomware, the only way to decrypt or recover your locked files is to pay certain amount of extortion money to them for the decryption keys/software. It also claims the you need to pay ransom money with 1 week because after that, the price of decryption keys/software will be increased to 35 Bitcoins.

However, they are not going to provide any decryption keys/software even when ransom money is paid. So, we recommended you not to pay any amount of ransom money to cybercriminals for decryption at any cases. Paying ransom money may lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses or even identity theft. If you really want to recover your locked files, then at first you should try to find and remove HQ_52_42 Ransomware related files in computer. After malware or ransomware removal, you can go for data recovery solution to restore your data.

How did you get HQ_52_42 Ransomware in Windows 10/8/7 computer?

Ransomware-type malware is mostly distributed through email spam campaign or malspam campaign. Cybercriminals send spam emails in your mailbox which contain some messages along with suspicious hyperlinks or attachments. They use the name & LOGO of some trustworthy companies in its spam email as proof that they are genuine senders. The attachments file can be Microsoft Office Documents, PDF, RAR, ZIP, JavaScript or other formats of files. Once opened, it executes certain codes/scripts to download/install malware in your computer. For example, Microsoft Office documents as malicious attachments infect computer by enabling malicious macro commands.

How to protect your system against Ransomware-type malware?

It is strongly recommended not to open any attachments or hyperlinks presented in spam emails or irrelevant emails. You should check if ‘Anti-Spam Filter’ feature is enabled in your mail service. This feature when enabled, all spammy emails will automatically be delivered to spam folder of your mail service. You should never reply to spam or irrelevant emails at any cases. Also, you should keep up-to-date your operating system and all other software installed in computer, and run regular system scan for malware or viruses with some powerful antivirus that could help you to find and remove all threats or malware in computer.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

ALL YOUR PERSONAL FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

All your data (photos, documents, database, …) have been encrypted with a private and unique key generated for this Network. It means that you will not be able to access your files anymore until they’re decrypted. The private key is stored in our servers and the only way to receive your key to decrypt your files is making a payment.

The payment has to be done in Bitcoin to a unique address that we generated for you, Bitcoins are a virtual currency to make online payments. If you don’t know how to get Bitcoins, you can google “How to Buy Bitcoins” and follow the instructions.

To recover your files and unlock your computers, you must send 25 Bitcoins (This amount for all Network), to the next Bitcoin address:

bc1qa4gaetvff7fk0hz2uz63vkjnd2lxd8kdkt04hx

YOU ONLY HAVE 1 WEEK TO SUBMIT THE PAYMENT! When the provided time ends, the payment will increase to 35 Bitcoins. Also, if you don’t pay in 2 Week, your unique key will be destroyed and you won’t be able to recover your files anymore.

WARNING!

DO NOT TRY TO GET RID OF THIS PROGRAM YOURSELF. ANY ACTION TAKEN WILL RESULT IN DECRYPTION KEY BEING DESTROYED. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR FILES FOREVER. ONLY WAY TO KEEP YOUR FILES IS TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

After Payment , Send message to XMPP ID ( [email protected] ) for receive Private Key

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove HQ_52_42 Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete HQ_52_42 Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove HQ_52_42 Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete HQ_52_42 Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with HQ_52_42 Ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to HQ_52_42 Ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove HQ_52_42 Ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of HQ_52_42 Ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by HQ_52_42 Ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like HQ_52_42 Ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by HQ_52_42 Ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with HQ_52_42 Ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove HQ_52_42 Ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.