Remove Zteqqd Ransomware And Open Infected Files

Simple Course To Uninstall File-locking Infections

Zteqqd Ransomware is among the most dreadful crypto-viruses out there. It is very destructive and is not easy to spot before it has achieved its nasty agenda. Computer users have all types of valuable data stored on their systems’ hard drives – essential documents, video and audio files, pictures, spreadsheets etc. File-locking viruses like Zteqqd virus, Honkai Ransomware, etc. would prevent the victims from accessing or using anything kept on their PCs by encrypting them with the help of sophisticated encryption algorithm. This particular one also adds victims’ unique ID and the “.zteqqd” extension with the names of each contaminated file, thus they can easily be identified.

Threat Details

Name: Zteqqd Ransomware

Category: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Features: Encrypts users’ files in order to make them pay ransom for the release of those files

Extension: .zteqqd (files are also appended with a unique ID)

Danger level: High

Ransom note: RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt

Criminals’ Contact: Via qTOX and Bitmessage messengers

Distribution: Spam emails attachments, fake updaters, misleading online content, etc.

Symptoms: Locked files, weird extension, ransom note

Zteqqd Ransomware: Depth View

Soon after finishing the encryption course, a ransom note titled “RESTORE_FILES_INFO.txt” is displayed by Zteqqd Ransomware informing victims that they must pay the attackers a sum of ransom in order to regain access to the compromised data. The ransom amount is not mentioned in the note, but it has to be paid in Monero (XMR) cryptocurrency. Victims are also offered to test the decryption. Nonetheless, they’re warned against modifying the contaminated files and using third-party tools for file-recovery, as it may result in permanent data loss.

What Should The Victims Do?

Paying ransom to Zteqqd Ransomware authors is not a clever thing to do no matter what the situation is. Remember that you’re dealing with cyber criminals and the only motive of these crooks is to get paid. No one can guarantee that you will actually be provided with the decryption key even if you fulfill all the hackers’ demands. So many similar individuals claimed that they never received anything in return even after paying to the hackers. In such case, you will end up losing both files as well as money, which will be a bigger disaster. Therefore, never do so and instead, remove Zteqqd Ransomware from the machine with a help of professional security app.

Methods To Restore The Infected Files:

Once you get rid of the malware, you can try to recover the compromised data with the help of backup. Now you can understand why backing up and maintaining your essential information is highly significant. If you don’t have a good habit of creating regular backups, then this would be a much more difficult situation for you. In such case, we recommend employing our file-recovery software that will definitely help you get your files back. But again, you must uninstall Zteqqd Ransomware from the system before attempting to retrieve data.

Infiltration Of File-locking Viruses:

Ransomware programs can get into your PC systems via a number of deceptive ways including spam emails containing malicious attachments and links, marvertising, fake updaters and installers, online scams, unreliable download channels, drive-by downloads, and so on. To prevent their intrusions, you need to be very careful while browsing the internet. Instead of using third-party sources, you need to rely on official and verified ones to download, update or activate software. Never rush into opening spam email attachments as they could contain virus payloads. In addition, install a reputable security app and perform frequent system scans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zteqqd Ransomware a deadly virus?

File-locking viruses like this are among the most devastating PC threats out there, and there is a reason why they’re regarded so. They tend to lock up all of the users’ data kept inside their systems in order to extort huge sum of ransom money from them in exchange for the decryption key.

How to avoid such attacks?

It is significant to not do suspicious activities while browsing the internet that may lead to system infections like visiting unsafe sites, interacting with questionable online content, opening irrelevant email attachments, etc. Also, always have an up-to-date security app installed that will protect your system against different cyber pests.

Message In The Ransom Note:

::: Greetings :::

Little FAQ:

.1.

Q: Whats Happen?

A: Your files have been encrypted. The file structure was not damaged, we did everything possible so that this could not happen.

.2.

Q: How to recover files?

A: If you wish to decrypt your files you will need to pay in Monero(XMR) – this is one of the types of cryptocurrency, you can get acquainted  with it in more detail here: hxxps://www.getmonero.org/

.3.

Q: What about guarantees?

A: Its just a business. We absolutely do not care about you and your deals, except getting benefits. If we do not do our work and liabilities – nobody will cooperate with us. Its not in our interests.

To check the ability of returning files, you can send to us any 2 files with SIMPLE extensions(jpg,xls,doc, etc… not databases!) and low sizes(max 1 mb), we will decrypt them and send back to you. That is our guarantee.

.4.

Q: How to contact with you?

A: Please, write us to our qTOX account: A2D64928FE333BF394C79BB1F0B8F3E85A FE84F913135CCB481F0B13ADDDD1055AC5ECD33A05

   You can learn about this way of communication and download it here: hxxps://qtox.github.io/

Or use Bitmessage and write to our address: BM-NC6V9JcMRuLPnSuPFN8upRPRRmHEMSFA

   You can learn about this way of communication and download it here: hxxps://wiki.bitmessage.org/ and here: hxxps://github.com/Bitmessage/PyBitmessage/releases/

.5.

Q: How will the decryption process proceed after payment?

A: After payment we will send to you our scanner-decoder program and detailed instructions for use. With this program you will be able to decrypt all your encrypted files.

.6.

Q: If I don’t want to pay bad people like you?

A: If you will not cooperate with our service – for us, its does not matter. But you will lose your time and data, cause only we have the private key. In practice – time is much more valuable than money.

:::BEWARE:::

DON’T try to change encrypted files by yourself!

If you will try to use any third party software for restoring your data or antivirus solutions – please make a backup for all encrypted files!

Any changes in encrypted files may entail damage of the private key and, as result, the loss all data.

Key Identifier:

–

Number of files that were processed is: –

PC Hardware ID:

–

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Zteqqd Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd 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 Zteqqd 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.