Yzaq Virus

7-day Free Trial w/Credit card, no charge upfront or if you cancel up to 2 days before expiration; Subscription price varies per region w/ auto renewal unless you timely cancel; notification before you are billed; 30-day money-back guarantee; Read full terms and more information about free remover.

*Yzaq is a variant of Stop/DJVU. Source of claim SH can remove it.

Yzaq File

Recently, there has been a substantial uptick in user complaints related to problems with the Yzaq file. Users have been disturbed by an unexpected shift in their regular file format to Yzaq file, hindering their access to essential documents and files. Unfortunately, this is far from an insignificant concern; it indicates a severe cyber threat – a ransomware attack. Ransomware is a harmful software, created to encrypt a myriad of files, thereby making them unreadable to the victim’s system. These encrypted files remain inaccessible until a specific decryption key is applied. Those who encounter Yzaq files on their system should urgently search for fitting countermeasures or trusted recovery services to deal with the infection and regain their data.

Files encrypted by Yzaq virus ransomware (.yzaq extension)
The Yzaq ransomware will encrypt your files


How to decrypt Yzaq ransomware files?


To decrypt files encrypted by Yzaq ransomware, you should first isolate the compromised system by disconnecting it from the internet. Recognition of the exact ransomware variant is the next step in the decryption process, given that the decryption methods may differ across different ransomware strains. Your next step is to search for recognized cybersecurity resources and platforms to locate potential decryption solutions, seeking specific tools or keys corresponding to the ransomware strain infecting your files. If you find a fitting solution, exercise caution while downloading and employing the tools as the strict adherence to the guidelines may increase your file decryption success.


How to remove Yzaq ransomware virus and restore the files?


To remove the Yzaq ransomware virus and retrieve your files, stop the internet connection of the contaminated device. Then, conduct a comprehensive system scan using reliable antivirus software to locate and remove the malicious software. Once the system is confirmed ransomware-free, consider restoring the encrypted data using backup files housed on external storage or cloud services. If backups are nonexistent, it may be worthwhile to seek the expertise of professional data recovery services or cybersecurity specialists.

Yzaq Virus

The Yzaq virus is a new malware that holds your most important files hostage until you give in to a ransom demand. The stealthy virus typically displays a ransom-payment notice immediately after locking your data with a complex encryption. What is more, the Yzaq virus is a particularly sly malware that can propagate through all forms of online content. Consequently, even a single negligent click on a tempting ad, pop-up, email, or link can swiftly expose you to ransomware threats of this kind (Ppvs, Ppvw). The infection typically occurs instantaneously and without visible symptoms. Once in the system, it stealthily encodes data stored on the computer, applying a complex algorithm to each file. This algorithm can only be decrypted with a unique decryption key held by the hackers.

Yzaq virus
The Yzaq virus will leave a _readme.txt file with instructions

Yzaq

The encryption used by Yzaq to seal the targeted files is highly complex and persists even after the virus has been purged. This insidious threat belongs to the ransomware category and, as per the information that we have, it has claimed a number of victims already. If you’re reading this, there’s a high chance that your files have been encrypted by Yzaq. However, we have outlined a step-by-step removal guide below that may help you remove the ransomware and possibly recover some of your inaccessible data. Before proceeding, though, make sure you familiarize yourself with the specifics of the ransomware infections to better combat the one that has taken your data hostage.

.Yzaq

Upon encryption, your files get marked by the Yzaq virus with an .Yzaq file extension. This extension serves as a restriction to your data access, making the files unrecognizable to your system and any of the software programs that you have installed there. Unfortunately, the appearance of the .Yzaq extension to your files is typically the only visible signal of a ransomware attack. This extension represents a fundamental alteration within your files’ structure, rendering them unreadable. Once you see such files, this means that the ransomware that has compromised your computer has already profoundly altered the files, and only the right decryption key can reverse this encryption, restoring your files to their original state.

Yzaq Extension

The Yzaq extension is a unique data extension appended to each file encrypted by the Yzaq ransomware, It obstructs any software from accessing the file and cannot be removed or manually changed until a corresponding decryption key successfully decrypts it. Paying the ransom for the decryption key, however, is not advisable as it doesn’t guarantee that the victim will receive the key from the cybercriminals. There’s also a significant risk that the provided key might malfunction, leaving your data sealed. Therefore, it is a wiser course of action to save your money and focus on removing the source of the Yzaq extension (in your case, the Yzaq ransomware )from the system. This might be an overwhelming task, but it is vital for the safe and normal functioning of your machine.

Yzaq Ransomware

If you want to remove the Yzaq ransomware, a comprehensive manual guide or a reliable anti-malware program can successfully eliminate the threat. However, eradication of the malware does not immediately lead to file restoration. You might need additional resources, like personal backups, system file extraction, or professional help, to recover your files to their pre-encryption state. Unfortunately, there are no guaranteed outcomes, but it’s crucial not to give in to the ransom demands. By not paying the ransom, you basically are discouraging the operators of the Yzaq ransomware from extorting money with their malicious file-locking and ransom-demanding scheme.

What is Yzaq File?

An Yzaq file is essentially any standard file on your computer that has been encoded by the Yzaq ransomware. These files could be of various formats, including images, multimedia files, or work-related documents. Regardless of their types, the files are locked by the ransomware and become inaccessible to any software on your system. Despite its encrypted state, the Yzaq file is not harmful in itself; it cannot propagate the ransomware infection or inflict additional damage to your system. It is merely a file that is locked via a complex encryption algorithm, awaiting the correct decryption approach to get restored to its original state.

SUMMARY:

NameYzaq
TypeRansomware
Detection Tool

*Yzaq is a variant of Stop/DJVU. Source of claim SH can remove it.

Yzaq Ransomware Removal


Step1

In the first paragraph, there is a link to instructions for rebooting your system in Safe Mode. We highly recommend that you do this since it will facilitate the removal of the malware from your computer.

Make sure you bookmark this page in your browser before restarting your system, though. In this way, when your computer or browser restarts, you won’t have to search for the Yzaq removal instructions again. Instead, you’ll be able to access the removal guidance at your fingertips.

To remove Yzaq from your computer, first boot into Safe Mode and then follow the steps described in this guide below.

Step2

WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!

*Yzaq is a variant of Stop/DJVU. Source of claim SH can remove it.

Yzaq is a type of ransomware that is difficult to detect due to its stealth. Since it might go undiscovered for lengthy periods of time, a threat like this can inflict significant damage to the system.

That’s why, if your computer is attacked with this ransomware, identifying and deleting its potentially malicious processes is one of the most difficult tasks you’ll face.

We recommend that you carefully follow the steps provided below in order to identify and end any processes on your computer that may be hazardous.

The first step is to hit CTRL+SHIFT+ESC at the same time on the keyboard of your PC. Go to Windows Task Manager and click on the Processes tab.

Any process that consumes too much CPU and memory, has an unusual name, or appears suspicious should be investigated by right-clicking the process and selecting “Open File Location” from the quick menu.

malware-start-taskbar

Using the free online scanning tool below, you may check the files linked with the process to confirm that they are clear of any potentially harmful code.

Each file will be scanned with up to 64 antivirus programs to ensure maximum accuracy
This scanner is free and will always remain free for our website's users.
This file is not matched with any known malware in the database. You can either do a full real-time scan of the file or skip it to upload a new file. Doing a full scan with 64 antivirus programs can take up to 3-4 minutes per file.
Drag and Drop File Here To Scan
Drag and Drop File Here To Scan
Loading
Analyzing 0 s
Each file will be scanned with up to 64 antivirus programs to ensure maximum accuracy
    This scanner is based on VirusTotal's API. By submitting data to it, you agree to their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and to the sharing of your sample submission with the security community. Please do not submit files with personal information if you do not want them to be shared.

    In case that the scanner detects a danger in some of the scanned files, then you can use the right-click menu to end the process that contains potentially dangerous files. Don’t forget to return to the files and remove them from their original locations, including the directories within which they are stored.

    Step3

    In the next step, we will show you how to deactivate any startup items that may have been installed by the malware on your computer.

    To do so, type msconfig in the Windows search field and then choose System Configuration from the results. Open the Startup tab to check if anything strange has been added there: 

    msconfig_opt

    Any startup item that appears to be related to the ransomware should be unchecked as a general rule. Your computer may have additional startup components that you are unaware of that may not be associated with any of the applications you normally use. In case you detect any, please research them online and uncheck their checkmarks if you find enough information that proves they need to be disabled. It’s not a good idea to disable software that’s part of the operating system or is trusted, so make sure you do your research before making any changes.

    Step4

    *Yzaq is a variant of Stop/DJVU. Source of claim SH can remove it.

    If you want to completely remove the ransomware and prevent it from reappearing or leaving harmful components behind on your computer, you must erase any dangerous registry entries that you find.

    The Registry Editor can be accessed by typing regedit in the Windows search field and pressing Enter. Once you go to the Registry Editor, use the CTRL and F keyboard key combination to search for ransomware-related items. Simply enter the threat’s name in the Find box and click Find Next to begin searching. Remove any items that have a relation to the infection by right-clicking on them.

    Attention! Delete just the registry entries associated with the malware. Otherwise, your system and any installed apps may be damaged if you make any further registry changes. A professional cleanup application like the one linked on this page may be used to ensure that Yzaq and other viruses are removed from your computer’s registry.

    Exit the Registry Editor when you are done and look for other potentially harmful items in the following locations listed below. Type each one in the Windows search field and hit Enter to open it.

    1. %AppData%
    2. %LocalAppData%
    3. %ProgramData%
    4. %WinDir%
    5. %Temp%

    Identify and remove any potentially dangerous files or sub-folders that you find. Delete everything in the Temp folder to rid your system of potentially harmful temporary files.

    Next, you should look in your system’s Hosts file for potentially harmful alterations. Press the Windows and R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box. In the Run box, write the following command and press Enter:

    notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts

    If the Hosts file has many questionable IP addresses listed under “Localhost”, as shown in the sample image below, please let us know. We’d also want to learn about any additional changes you notice in your Hosts file, so please leave us a comment if you spot something unusual in the comments below. We’ll get back to you with our findings as soon as we can.

    hosts_opt (1)
    Step5

    How to Decrypt Yzaq files

    Depending on the variant of ransomware that has infected the system, different methods exist for decrypting the encrypted data. To figure out which variant of Ransomware you’re dealing with, look at the file extensions that have been appended to the end of the encrypted files.

    New Djvu Ransomware

    Among the most recent variants of the Djvu Ransomware is the STOP Djvu. You may have been infected with this Djvu ransomware variant if the extensions of your encrypted files finish in .Yzaq.

    Fortunately, if your files were encrypted by this malware using an offline key, you may be able to decrypt them. It’s possible to access a decryption tool by visiting the link below.

    https://www.emsisoft.com/ransomware-decryption-tools/stop-djvu

    Decryption

    To use the decryption program, click on the downloaded file, select “Run as Administrator,” and then click the “Yes” option. Before moving on, please review the brief instructions and the licensing agreement that show on your screen.  Next, simply click the Decrypt button to begin the decryption process.

    This program may not be able to decrypt data that has been encrypted using unknown offline keys or online encryption, so that’s something to keep in mind. Please let us know if you need anything in the comments box below if you have any queries or concerns.

    Important! Before attempting to decrypt the encrypted data, ensure that your machine has been scanned for ransomware-related files and harmful registry entries. Yzaq and other hazardous viruses may be removed from your computer using the online virus scanner and the anti-virus software listed on this page.


    About the author

    Brandon Skies

    Brandon is a researcher and content creator in the fields of cyber-security and virtual privacy. Years of experience enable him to provide readers with important information and adequate solutions for the latest software and malware problems.

    2 Comments

    • I am tired of searching for decryption for file extension .YZAQ but the world wide webs are silent in this matter !!!

    Leave a Comment