The dangers of Qlkm ransomware: here's what you should know
Qlkm ransomware is a new cryptovirus from the villainous Djvu ransomware family. As soon as this computer virus gets into a device, it encrypts all personal victim files (archives, documents, pictures, backups, etc.), thus preventing their owner from accessing them until a necessary decryption tool is used.
This virus also renames all files by appointing a .qlkm extension to all non-executable files. Until 2018, members of this family used AES-256 coding algorithm for encryption, but all the latest file-locking viruses from this lineage, use a military-grade RSA-2048 algorithm, making it very difficult to decipher the files without the help of the assailants.
Immediately after the encryption is completed, ransom note text files, titled _readme.txt, are created and scattered around the device's folders so the victims would find them wherever they look. Within those files, hackers state their demands and instructions for their victims.
One more resemblance of this virus to its previous versions is that the ransom notes are almost identical and that the creators of this cyber threat would provide two email addresses to establish contact with them – helpmanager@mail.ch and restoremanager@airmail.cc.
| name | Qlkm ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware |
| Family | Djvu ransomware |
| Appended file extension | Personal files are appended with .qlkm extension |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt text files are created and placed in all folders with encrypted files |
| Ransom amount | The original price for the decryption tool/key is $980, but if the victims are hasty and contact their attackers within 72 hours, then a 50% discount will be applied to lower the ransom sum to $490 |
| Criminal contact details | helpmanager@mail.ch and restoremanager@airmail.cc |
| Virus removal | Malware, including ransomware, should be removed only with the help of professional anti-malware tools to ensure their elimination is done correctly |
| System tune-up | We recommend using powerful system repair tools like the FortectIntego or similar to scan the affected computer system and fix all irregularities that the virus infection might have caused to the system registry or other key system settings or files |
Reports shows [1] that of all reported ransomware strains in the Q3 of 2020, Djvu family ransomware was in the first place with 69.9%. Our research shows that new versions are introduced nearly every week (sometimes even two in a week). Here's a list of the latest variations from this lineage:
Ransom note differs very slightly from its former versions (the whole message is displayed at the bottom of this chapter). In summary, cybercriminals are trying their hardest to convince their victims to meet their demands.
They provide a free decryption guarantee where the victims can send them a few files for test decryption. Moreover, a link to a video is provided, which shows how the decryption tool works. In other terms, cyber thieves are trying to prove that such a tool exists.
The ransom amount, or the original price for the decryption toolkit, is $980. But for victims that will contact within 72 hours of the cyberattack, the threat actors are offering a 50% discount, thus lowering the ransom sum to $490. Although meeting the assailants' demands might seem like the easiest way out of this sticky situation, we're recommending to remove Qlkm ransomware instead.
Computer virus infection elimination isn't a walk in the park and should be left to professionals. We recommend performing a full system scan with trustworthy anti-malware software such as SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to find, isolate, and remove the cryptovirus with all its components.
Although, before removing ransomware, users should export all encrypted files from the infected devices to an offline storage device, like a USB drive or similar. Of course, this applies only to users that didn't keep backups of their essential data.
Ransomware usually makes changes to the system registry and other core system settings and files. So following a successful cyber threat elimination, we highly recommend taking care of your devices' overall health. Do that with a powerful system repair tool such as the FortectIntego.
Developers of the virus enclose this message to their victims in the ransom notes (_readme.txt):
Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like pictures, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
hxxps://we.tl/t-Dz5odBd07y
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail “Spam” or “Junk” folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
helpmanager@mail.chReserve e-mail address to contact us:
restoremanager@airmail.ccYour personal ID:
Avoid becoming a victim of Djvu family ransomware
Leading technology companies like Google, Microsoft, and others are constantly creating improved security measures to make everyday computer users safe while their browsing or in any other way enjoying the usefulness of the world wide web.
But cybercriminals aren't sleeping either. They're always researching new ways to attack unaware users and developing new, more sophisticated, more persistent malware. A reliable anti-malware tool is a must these days to increase home or company cybersecurity level.
Another good way to improve it is by learning how the malware is distributed. Our research shows that most of the Djvu family ransomware is spread using file-sharing platforms. To be even more specific – game cracks[2] and installers of pirated software.
So to avoid file-locking parasites from this lineage, users have to avoid file-sharing platforms, like most popular torrent sites, because cybercriminals love to exploit those types of portals by uploading their creations, camouflaged as the latest game cracks, or any other pirated expensive software.
.qlkm file recovery and infection elimination from affected devices
Getting your devices infected with ransomware is a nightmare. The only right thing to do for the owners of infected machines is to eliminate ransomware. But before doing that, they should consider using Emisoft or other third-party decryption software to try and recover encrypted files, of course, if the users didn't keep backups.
If you were lucky enough and the cyber infection didn't remove Shadow Volume Copies when encrypting your files, then Shadow Explorer might be able to recover your data from said copies. Otherwise, before Qlkm ransomware removal, export all locked files to an offline storage device and check on us later as we update our readers with the latest news.
Professional, reliable anti-malware software should be installed in every device that's connected to the internet. Applications such as SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes should be able not only to protect your computers from cryptoviruses but also to remove the infection of ransomware at once.
Djvu family ransomware is known for making modifications in the Windows Registry to establish persistence, inserting URLs' into Windows core files preventing victims from accessing popular cybersecurity-related websites (including 2-spyware.com), and other mischiefs.
To fix all these system irregularities and get your computer back to the pre-contamination phase, experts[3] recommend using the FortectIntego tool to perform a system tune-up. If left unattended, these system changes could lead to crashing, severe lag, and other abnormal behavior.
Was this guide helpful?
Be the first to comment