Virus and Spyware Removal Guides, uninstall instructions

What kind of malware is Qlocker?

Qlocker is a ransomware-type malicious program. Malware within this classification operates by rendering data inaccessible (primarily by encrypting it) and demands ransoms for access recovery.

In case of Qlocker, it affects victims' files by storing them in password-protected 7zip archives. The original extensions of compromised files are changed to the ".7z" extension.

At the time of research, Qlocker targeted QNAP brand Network-attached storage (NAS) devices exclusively. Once the data is locked, the ransomware drops ransom notes - "!!!READ_ME.txt" into affected folders.

What is I am a professional programmer who specializes in hacking email scam?

As a rule, scammers behind sextortion email scams claim to have hacked a computer and recorded recipients while they were visiting adult websites. Scammers threaten to publish the video/send it to other people, unless recipients pay a certain amount of Bitcoin to the provided wallet address.

Such emails have to be ignored - they are scams and videos (or other compromising material) that cybercriminals behind them claim to have do not exist.

What is the smartklick[.]biz website?

Sharing many similarities with wholecoolstories.com, ddyuei.com, topnewsfresh.xyz, and countless others, smartklick[.]biz is a rogue site. Visitors to this webpage get redirected to untrustworthy/malicious sites and/or are presented with dubious content.

Websites of this type are seldom accessed intentionally. Most users enter them through redirects caused by intrusive ads or installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

This software can infiltrate systems without user consent or knowledge. PUAs operate by causing redirects, delivering intrusive advertisement campaigns, and collecting browsing-related information.

What is wholecoolstories[.]com?

Wholecoolstories[.]com is a rogue site designed to present visitors with dubious content and/or redirect them to other untrustworthy/dangerous webpages. Users typically access such pages unintentionally; they get redirected to them by intrusive adverts or installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

This software does not require express permission to infiltrate devices; hence, users may be unaware of its presence. PUAs operate by force-opening webpages, running intrusive advertisements, and gather browsing-related information.

The Internet is rife with websites like wholecoolstories[.]com; ddyuei.com, captcharesolver.com, captchareverse.com, and bruklo.com - are but a few examples.

What is OriginalGrowthSystem?

The main purpose of the OriginalGrowthSystem is to generate advertisements and promote a fake search engine. Therefore, this app can be classified both as adware and a browser hijacker.

Most users download and install them unknowingly, for this reason they are called potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Typically, users download and install PUAs unintentionally because apps of this kind are distributed using deceptive methods.

It is known that OriginalGrowthSystem is distributed by disguising its installer as the installer for the Adobe Flash Player.

What is JDRE ransomware?

JDRE is a piece of malicious software belonging to the Matrix ransomware family. Systems infected with this malware have their data encrypted (files rendered inaccessible) and receive ransom demands for the decryption (access recovery).

As JDRE ransomware encrypts, affected files are renamed according to this pattern - "[Jack76Duran@aol.com].[random_string].JDRE", which consists of the cyber criminals' email address, a random character string, and the ".JDRE" extension.

For example, a file initially titled "1.jpg" would appear as something similar to "[Jack76Duran@aol.com].NoFOH1Mm-2g6OVwab.JDRE" - following encryption. Once this process is complete, ransom notes - "JDRE_README.rtf" - are dropped into compromised folders.

What is topnewsfresh[.]xyz?

Topnewsfresh[.]xyz is a questionable website displaying deceptive content and promoting other pages of this kind. It is uncommon for pages like topnewsfresh[.]xyz to be visited by users intentionally.

Usually, they get opened by installed potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), through deceptive advertisements, or untrustworthy websites. Apps designed to promote sites like topnewsfresh[.]xy tend to be designed to gather various data and display advertisements as well.

More examples of pages similar to topnewsfresh[.]xy are ddyuei[.]com, captcharesolver[.]com, and captchareverse[.]com.

What is ddyuei[.]com?

Ddyuei[.]com is a rogue website sharing many similarities with captcharesolver.com, captchareverse.com, bruklo.com, ngthatwe.fun, and countless others. This page is designed to present visitors with questionable content and/or redirect them to unreliable and possibly malicious sites.

Users usually access such webpages unintentionally; most get redirected to them by intrusive ads or installed PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). This software does not require explicit permission to infiltrate systems; hence, users may be unaware of its presence.

PUAs operate by causing redirects, delivering intrusive advertisement campaigns, and collecting browsing-related data.

What are fake "LinkedIn" emails?

"LinkedIn email scam" refers to spam campaigns - large-scale operations during which thousands of emails presented as messages from LinkedIn are sent. LinkedIn is a business and employment-oriented online service, designed to aid in professional networking.

The aim of the fake "LinkedIn" emails is to steal users' LinkedIn and/or email accounts. This is achieved via promotion of phishing websites that are disguised as sign-in pages.

Log-in credentials (e.g., email addresses, usernames, and passwords) entered into such sites are exposed to scammers, who can then use them to gain access/control over the corresponding accounts.

What is EssentialDesktop?

EssentialDesktop is an adware-type application with browser hijacker qualities. This software operates by running intrusive advertisement campaigns (i.e., delivering various ads) and promoting fake search engines through modification of browser settings.

Furthermore, apps of this kind usually have data tracking abilities, which are employed to spy on users' browsing activity. Due to the questionable techniques used to distribute EssentialDesktop, it is also categorized as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application).

This piece of software has been noted being promoted through fake Adobe Flash Player updates. It is worth mentioning that illegitimate updaters/installers may proliferate trojans, ransomware, and other malware.