How to remove Neqp Ransomware and decrypt .neqp files

What is Neqp Ransomware

Neqp is a ransomware infection belonging to the Djvu/STOP Ransomware family, that appeared in June 2023. This family has released a number of file encryptors that target various users worldwide. Once the system is penetrated by ransomware, the virus begins scouting for potentially valuable file formats and running data encryption. After the cryptographic encryption occurs, users will no longer be able to access and use their data as before. You may immediately spot the change by looking at the altered names of the files. This specific ransomware assigns the .neqp extension, making a file like 1.pdf change to 1.pdf.neqp and reset its original icon. Usually, Neqp Ransomware and other modern Djvu/STOP versions generate “online” keys, which means full decryption of data is likely impossible without the help of cybercriminals. There are, however, sometimes exceptions to this – which can be found about further below.

Following successful encryption, the virus drops a text note called _readme.txt with decryption guidelines inside. They instruct victims to contact extortionists via e-mail and pay a ransom of 490$ or 980$ (in case no contact is made within 72 hours). In addition, victims can also send 1 encrypted file (without valuable information) and get it fully decrypted for free. This “promotion scheme” is widely-used by many cybercriminals to prove their decryption abilities and incline victims towards paying the ransom. After the payment is made, threat actors promise to send a unique decryption key and compatible software for its application. Unfortunately and as was mentioned earlier, cybercriminals are usually the only figures capable of full file decryption. You can give a try to third-party tools in our guide, however, it should be mentioned that such a decryption may not be successful if data exchange with the ransomware’s command server was established correctly and generated an online key. Opposite to offline keys, online keys are unique for each victim, which is the main reason, making decryption practically impossible without original developers. While some older STOP/Djvu versions can be officially decrypted, Neqp Ransomware is less likely to fall under this category. As of now, the only two ways victims can recover their data are either to pay cybercriminals or recover files from an available backup. Backups are copies of files stored on external storage (e.g., cloud, USB pen drives, etc.) that were not affected at the time of infection. Recovering data from backups is always a safer and preferred option, as many cybercriminals tend to fool their victims and not send any decryption keys/tools eventually. Before trying to restore data without the involvement of cybercriminals, it is essential to remove the infection from your computer – thus, prevent its malicious activity. Read carefully our guide below to do so and explore various recovery alternatives to return your files.

How Neqp Ransomware infected your computer

The most common distribution vectors used by various ransomware are e-mail spam letters, trojans, deceptive third-party downloads, pirated/cracked downloads, fake software cracking tools, fake software updates/installers, backdoors, keyloggers, botnets, system exploits, and other dubious channels as well. The most typical infection scenario is when inexperienced users get tricked into opening some malicious content (e.g., attachments or links). Quite often ransomware is disguised as some legitimate file (.DOCX, .XLSX, .PDF, .EXE, .ZIP, .RAR, or .JS extensions) and distributed through e-mail letters. Such letters usually imitate names of legal companies/entities (e.g., delivery companies, tax authorities, banks, and so forth). Cybercriminals largely benefit from click-bait titles, whick make inexpreicned or excessively curious users open the malicious attachment or link. As a result, the contained infection start its malicious code to get installed onto the targeted system. To prevent such and similar drive-by (stealth) installations of malware, you should avoid downloading software from unofficial resources (Peer-to-Peer websites, torrent pages, landing pages, etc.) and beware of opening content that looks suspicious. Read our guide below and learn how one can protect his PC against threats like ransomware (and other possible malware) in the future.

1. Download Neqp Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .neqp files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. Restore media files with Media Repair
7. How to protect from threats like Neqp Ransomware

Virus modifies “hosts” file to block Windows updates, downloading antivirus programs, and visiting sites related to security news or offering security solutions. Neqp Ransomware comes along with AZORult trojan, which was initially created to steal logins and passwords. The process of infection also looks like installing Windows updates, the malware shows a fake window, that mimics the update process.

It uses rdpclip.exe to replace a legal Windows file and to launch an attack on a computer network. After encrypting the files, the encrypter is deleted using the delself.bat command file. Neqp Ransomware virus is propagated via spam attack with malicious e-mail attachments and using manual PC hacking. Can be distributed by hacking through an unprotected RDP configuration, fraudulent downloads, exploits, web injections, fake updates, repackaged, and infected installers. The virus assigns a certain ID to the victims, which is used to name those files and supposedly to send a decryption key. Great tools to protect against Neqp Ransomware are: Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

How to remove Neqp Ransomware manually

It is not recommended to remove Neqp Ransomware manually, for safer solution use Removal Tools instead.

Neqp Ransomware files:

_readme.txt
rdpclip.exe
delself.bat
{randomname}.exe

Neqp Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .neqp files

Use automated decryptors

Download STOP Djvu Decryptor from EmsiSoft (.neqp variations)

IMPORTANT: Read this detailed guide on using STOP Djvu Decryptor to avoid file corruption and time wasting.

STOP Djvu Decryptor is able to decrypt .neqp files, encrypted by Neqp Ransomware. This tool was developed by EmsiSoft. It works in automatic mode, but in most cases works only for files encrypted with offline keys. Download it here:

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .neqp files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analysis of files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with Neqp Ransomware and removed it from your computer, you can try decrypting your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .neqp files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

Use Media Repair to decrypt media files encrypted with .neqp

1. Download Media Repair tool.
2. Right-click on the downloaded archive, and select Extract to Media_Repair\.
3. Then double-click on the extracted .exe file to launch the utility.
4. At first, you have to choose which file type you want to decrypt. You can do it from the drop-down menu in the utility.
5. Next, browser the folder with encrypted or reference files. Choose any of them and click on the Test icon located in the top right corner.
6. Media Repair will display a pop-up message with information on whether it can repair the selected file or not.
7. After checking if it is possible or not, select your reference file and click on the icon right under the Test button we used in step #5.
8. If the file pair is properly matched, you can move on and hit the Play button to start repairing. You can also stop the process anytime by clicking on the Stop button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Neqp Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Dashboard

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Alert

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Blocked

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Neqp Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.