How to remove QNBQW ransomware

QNBQW  — a ransomware virus that blocks access to your data

QNBQW is a crypto-virus that came to researchers’ attention at the beginning of June 2018. It uses AES-256 cryptography to make files on the affected computer useless. This ransomware activity is for money extortion because virus developers demand the ransom once all files are locked with .qnbqw extension. Immediately after this, the virus places a ransom message in Notice.txt file. 

Ransom message often contains information about preferred payment method and ransom amount, instructions for creating accounts on cryptocurrency^[1] sites and other file decryption offers. This time QNBQW virus developers have nothing much to say to the victims. Information in the ransom note only contains a contact email “qnbqwqe@protonmail.com” and victims ID, which includes almost 700 characters:

Your files is encrypted using the WAS the AES-256 algorithm. Write me to e-mail: qnbqwqe@protonmail.com to get your decryption key.
USERKEY Your: op1g5NxV…

As you can see, there is no information about ransom amount. Therefore, victims of QNBQW might be asked to transfer a different sum of money based on how fast they contact criminals or the size of the encrypted files. However, we do not recommend contacting them in order to avoid further possible problems.

QNBQW removal should be done quickly because any contact between victims and cybercriminals cannot give positive results. These virus developers often ignore their victims after the payment is done and they might have no alleged decryption tool. All of this is done to only extort money from you. So you need to focus on the virus elimination and just after your system is clean think about file recovery.

Virus researchers form Virusi.hr^[2] highly recommend using professional tools for ransomware elimination. Our team suggests victims to remove QNBQW ransomware using FortectIntego, but feel free to chose any other proffesional software. Using security program is the best way to ensure that any ransomware related programs and tools are deleted properly. If you insert an external drive with backup files to a computer that is not cleaned yet you can lose your data permanently. 

Emails can have harmful attachments: be careful before opening them

You probably already spotted those emails from suspicious addresses or containing questionable information. Spam email box often has legitimately looking letters that came from companies you might know but do not use. These letters may seem genuine and contain safe-looking files like Word documents. But these might be filled with malicious macro commands ^[3] and install malware on the system unknowingly.

Being careful with received emails is essential. Especially from the spam/commercial box. Delete them and never open those attachments. Opening and purchasing something from those ads can lead to infections and more significant problems with your PC.

To make sure that your files are safe from malware, you need to create backups. If you have your most important files on another drive you can restore them after an attack.

QNBQW ransomware elimination need to be done as soon as possible

To remove QNBQW ransomware, you should rely on professional programs and tools that can clean the whole system. This could help to remove any ransomware relating content and keep your system safe again. Viruses come with other malicious tools and programs, so you need to do a full system scan to get rid off all of them. If you leave any of those threats on your computer, you cannot be sure that ransomware would repeat the attack.

Your files might be encrypted again if there is something malicious left on your computer. So, perform QNBQW ransomware removal first and only then focus on file recovery. There is no decryption tool, so the only way to recover your files is replacing them form a backup. This is the safest way, but we also have a few suggestions down below for decryption tools. Also, we can recommend FortectIntego, SpyHunterCombo Cleaner and MalwarebytesMalwarebytes for initial virus removal.