Geek's Advice

PQGS ransomware aims to lock your personal files using encryption

PQGS ransomware is the newest addition to the STOP/DJVU ransomware virus family. Once executed on the target system, this virus encrypts all files stored on it by leveraging Salsa20 and RSA-2048 encryption algorithms. During the system scan, the virus appends affected files with .pqgs extension, which is also used to identify this malware. For example, an image originally called 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.pqgs and so on. To inform the victim about data recovery options, the virus also drops _readme.txt ransom notes in every folder. This note specifies that the only way to access PQGS decryption tool is to pay a ransom ($490-$980) after contacting the virus’ developers via provided emails: manager@mailtemp.ch and helprestoremanager@airmail.cc.

The ransom note dropped by PQGS ransomware suggests that all of victim’s personal or work files stored on the system were encrypted with the strongest encryption and in order to recover them, the victim has to pay a ransom. The note notifies that the price of data decryption tool depends on whether the victim manages to contact the offenders within 3 full days or later. If one does, the price of the decryption will be set to $490 (with 50% discount). Otherwise, the price will remain $980. For more information about the decryption and payment methods, the victim is instructed to write to provided emails.

The note also suggests that the ransomware operators are willing to provide test PQGS file decryption service on one file. To get a proof that the attackers can restore files, the victim can send one small file that doesn’t contain any valuable information as an attachment to the email for the criminals. They promise to reply with a decrypted version of the file. Additionally, they will instruct the victim to purchase cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin worth the amount demanded as a ransom, and how to transfer it to the attacker’s wallet address.

No matter the circumstances or the frustration in the situation now that you’ve become a victim of a ransomware attack, we do not recommend paying the ransom. As advised by FBI and our team, here are some arguments to support this recommendation:

• No one guarantees you the complete file recovery, even if you decide to pay up. Cybercriminal’s promises cannot be trusted.
• Paying a ransom is basically supporting the ransomware business and it helps to fuel their operations.
• Insane amounts of money collected by ransomware criminals each year is a major factor that influences other people to join these operations.
• Beware that STOP/DJVU versions like PQGS virus can compromise your computer with additional threats such as AZORULT. It is designed to steal important personal information like banking details, login credentials (usernames and passwords), cryptocurrency wallets, software account login credentials, Skype chat history, etc. So despite paying a ransom to criminals, you may be blackmailed for a very long time.

Victims affected by this ransomware are advised to eliminate all viruses and malware from their computers immediately. The easiest way to remove PQGS ransomware virus and related threats is to run a reputable and robust antivirus solution on the system while in Safe Mode with Networking. Make sure you have an antivirus first (we recommend using INTEGO Antivirus, then follow instructions given below this article. Additionally, we advise downloading and scanning with RESTORO to try to repair virus damage on Windows OS files.

Ransomware Summary

REMOVE MALWARE & REPAIR VIRUS DAMAGE

Ransomware distribution tricks you must be aware of

Ransomware-type threats like PQGS virus often await for victims in illegal online downloads, deceptive email attachments, compromised online ads or, in more complicated cases, exploits. When it comes to STOP/DJVU variants, the majority of victims expose themselves to a ransomware attack after opening a malicious crack supposed to activate premium versions of these popular programs:

• Adobe Photoshop;
• Adobe Illustrator;
• Opera browser;
• Fifa 20;
• Tenorshare 4ukey;
• AutoCad;
• Corel Draw;
• VMware Workstation;
• Cubase;
• League of Legends;
• Internet Download Manager;
• KMSPico (illegal Windows activation tool).

It is important to point out that attempts to install pirated software versions are nothing else but an act of copyright infringement that can get you in trouble with law enforcement agencies. Besides that, you expose your computer to various computer threats that often travel along such downloads. Some examples of malware that hides in such torrents are Trojans, ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, keyloggers, adware and other unwanted programs. What is worse is that computer users who try to activate such software versions without paying the license fee often ignore their security software warnings about the danger behind such downloads and proceed to open it. 

Our experts advise you to only get legitimate software copies from official software developer’s websites solely. Another option is to look for deals on affiliate websites or partner websites. Believe us when we say that legitimate software licenses rarely cost more than decryption service fees demanded by ransomware operators. 

Another well-known way of distributing unwanted software including ransomware, viruses and Trojans is leveraging a code supposed to download the threat from a remote source. The offenders inject such script into a legitimate looking document, either Word file, PDF or XLS spreadsheet and attach it to an email that also involves a deceptive message. Often times, the criminals pretend to be sending an invoice, order tracking details, waybills, missing payment notices and other document names used in regular daily communications. Unfortunately, upon launching such file, the victim’s computer will be contaminated irreversibly.

We strongly recommend you to look into ways to identify spoofed email addresses and try to stay away from email messages that spark your curiosity, although your common sense says that you were not supposed to get such email at all. If you weren’t waiting for it or it comes by a complete surprise, combined with other red flags such as unfamiliar greeting line and grammar errors, delete such message and do not even think about clicking on links included or files attached. Doing so can lead you to a complete data corruption immediately.

Another technique often used to spread malware is called malvertising. Although it is not as popular as the techniques mentioned before, cybercriminals still use it regularly. In order to use this technique, the offenders need to compromise a legitimate ad network and inject a malicious advertisement into it; as a result, pages supposed to serve advertisements from that ad network will display the malicious ad for regular visitors without knowing. If the victim clicks on such compromised ad that’s not supposed to be there, the victim’s computer may be compromised instantly or after clicking on a downloaded file.

Last but not least, STOP/DJVU victims should understand that desperate attempts to find PQGS ransomware decryption tool can lead to even more damage. To put this simply, chances to decrypt files locked by this ransomware are very limited and are explained in detail here. All other online resources claiming otherwise or promising miracle tools simply try to get you scammed or infected with additional malware. For example, ZORAB ransomware operators used to disguise their malware as fake STOP/DJVU decryption tools presented in various deceptive websites online.

Technical insights regarding PQGS ransomware operation

Naturally, some victims might be interested in how this ransomware operates and what actually was done to your computer during PQGS virus attack. To begin with, the ransomware comes as a set of processes launched one after another and named as build.exe, build2.exe or build3.exe. During the attack, the virus takes a screenshot of victim’s desktop and also collects a set of details including computer’s name, hardware details, operating system used, software installed and the list of active processes. Such information will be saved into information.txt file and sent to the criminals’ Command & Control server. You can see a screenshot of information.txt file below.

This ransomware is also programmed to bypass encryption phase on computers which are located in specific countries. To figure out the infected host’s geolocation, the virus sends a GET request to https[:]//api.2ip.ua/geo.json and saves the response into geo[1].json file. This file stores victim’s country, city, zip code, and other details as shown in the image below. The reason why the ransomware needs to find out victim’s geolocation is because it suspends its operations in case it detects that the victim is a resident of one of the following countries: Russian Federation, Syria, Armenia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Kazachstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan or Belarus. Although reasons why these countries are exempted from encryption are unknown, it is believed it might have something to do with the ransomware operators origins.

If PQGS ransomware finds no reason to terminate, it then connects to its Command&Control server to obtain unique online encryption key and personal ID. If this process fails, the virus decides to use hardcoded offline encryption key instead. In this case, the victim’s personal ID assigned will most likely end in t1. You can check the ending of your Personal ID in C:\SystemID\PersonalID.txt file. The good thing about offline encryption is that you can hope to recover your files in the future as explained here.

The virus tends to save the encryption key and victim’s personal ID to two locations: bowsakkdestx.txt file and PersonalID.txt file, both shown in the image below.

Once the virus prepares the encryption key, it then starts the main – data corruption phase, which begins with a launch of a fake Windows update prompt for the victim. This is believed to be a way to justify the sudden system slowdown for the victim, while the ransomware starts scanning and encrypting all files on the system using Salsa20+RSA-2048 algorithms. As mentioned earlier, the ransomware also appends .pqgs extensions to encrypted files as shown in the screenshot below.

The virus also drops _readme.txt note in every file folder to inform the computer user about the cyber attack and provide guidance on what to do next.

Just like any other ransomware of this kind, the threat removes Volume Shadow Copies from the system to prevent the victim from accessing System Restore Points, if any were created prior to the attack. To do this, the virus runs the following command in Command Prompt:

^{vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet}

Some versions of STOP/DJVU also have the tendency to block specific domains on the compromised host so that the victim could not reach those websites. For this matter, the malware uploads a list of domain names to Windows HOSTS file only to map them to victim’s localhost IP, which arises DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN error whenever one of these domains are launched in victim’s browser. The sole reason behind this move is to block out the computer user from cybersecurity related information and help online.

Last but not least, this ransomware creates even more damage for the computer user by installing additional threats. Currently there are two Trojan names that are being distributed by various STOP/DJVU versions – AZORULT and VIDAR. These threats are capable of stealing various sensitive information that could be valuable for cybercriminals, for example, your banking details, login credentials, browsing history and browser saved passwords, etc.

Remove PQGS Ransomware Virus and Decrypt Your Files

Victims of the described ransomware should take action to secure their computers immediately. The best way to remove such virus is to get a reputable antivirus and run it in Safe Mode with Networking. You can find a complete guide on how to do it and remove PQGS ransomware virus safely down below. If you are unsure which antivirus to use, you can read reviews on our site or just trust our recommendation and use INTEGO Antivirus, an excellent security software that provides real-time protection and has top malware detection rates compared to competition. Additionally, we recommend downloading this tool – RESTORO, which can repair virus damage inflicted on Windows OS files.

If you have completed PQGS ransomware virus removal already, we strongly advise you to report this cybercrime incident to your local law enforcement agency and change all of your passwords associated with your computer (those stored in web browsers, auto-saved software account passwords, etc.). Speaking of data decryption solutions, please refer to the corresponding section below. Remember that without a data backup, chances to recover your files are very limited.

OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND

Our team recommends a two-step rescue plan to remove ransomware and other remaining malware from your computer, plus repair caused virus damage to the system:

STEP 1. REMOVE AUTOMATICALLY WITH ROBUST ANTIVIRUS

REMOVE & PROTECT WITH INTEGO

Get INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Windows to remove ransomware, Trojans, adware and other spyware and malware variants and protect your PC and network drives 24/7.. This VB100-certified security software uses state-of-art technology to provide protection against ransomware, Zero-Day attacks and advanced threats, Intego Web Shield blocks dangerous websites, phishing attacks, malicious downloads and installation of potentially unwanted programs.

Use INTEGO Antivirus to remove detected threats from your computer.

Read full review here.

STEP 2. REPAIR VIRUS DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER

DOWNLOAD RESTORO

RESTORO provides a free scan that helps to identify hardware, security and stability issues and presents a comprehensive report which can help you to locate and fix detected issues manually. It is a great PC repair software to use after you remove malware with professional antivirus. The full version of software will fix detected issues and repair virus damage caused to your Windows OS files automatically.

RESTORO uses AVIRA scanning engine to detect existing spyware and malware. If any are found, the software will eliminate them.

Read full review here.

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Norbert Webb

Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.