Internet Security Tips

This article is aimed to help you remove the QSCX ransomware virus and save your important data. Read on to know more.

QSCX ransomware is a recently discovered malware infection, belonging to the Djvu family.  This notorious ransomware infection is created by hackers to encrypt users’ personal files of various formats (such as office documents, pictures, audios, videos, archives, multimedia, and more) upon getting into their systems and then force them to pay ransom money for the decryption.

Like most ransomware viruses, QSCX uses some advanced cipher algorithms (symmetric or asymmetric) to execute file encryption. This allows the QSCX ransomware authors to design a unique decryption tool/ key, making self-recovery impossible.

What is QSCX Ransomware?

This is a harmful file encryption virus designed to stealthily infiltrate systems and encrypt (lock) most of the stored files in order to prevent victims from accessing/opening them until they purchase a decryption key/ tool from the attackers.

Like Gamma, RedDot, MMTA, and several other ransomware variants, it changes the original name of the affected files by appending a special extension (“.qscx”) to file names during the encryption process. For example, it renames a file named “1.mp4” to “1.mp4.qscx”- following encryption.

Afterward, it drops a ransom demanding message within a special text file named “_readme.txt” and places it in every folder containing encrypted files.

It is common that ransom note (“_readme.txt”) generated by ransomware-type programs contains information like the email address of cyber crooks, price of a decryption software, cryptocurrency wallet address, and so on.

Victims are strongly advised against paying/ contacting cybercriminals. In most cases, victims, despite meeting ransom demands, receive no decryption key/ software from the ransomware developers.

How Does QSCX Ransomware Infect Your Computer?

Creators of this hazardous ransomware and other malicious programs use multiple tricks to spread the infections to the targeted computers. Below we have mentioned a few of the most commonly used techniques to distribute malware infections.

• Malspam or malicious spam email campaigns
• Drive-by downloading
• Intrusive pop-up adverts or sponsored links
• USB stick and other removable media storage devices
• Free file hosting websites
• Fake software updaters
• Third-party downloaders

How to Remove QSCX Ransomware from PC?

The manual removal is a bit complicated and tedious process. Therefore, you are advised to use some reputable antivirus or anti-malware tool for the automatic removal of this pesky ransomware and other malware infections.