Lqepjhgjczo Ransomware Threatens to Publish Stolen Information

The malicious Lqepjhgjczo software is a member of the Snatch ransomware family and has been crafted to encrypt files, demanding payment in exchange for their decryption.

Lqepjhgjczo, when loaded on a PC, may successfully encrypt files and appended the ".lqepjhgjczo" extension to their filenames. For instance, an original file named "1.jpg" would be transformed into "1.jpg.lqepjhgjczo," and "2.png" would become "2.png.lqepjhgjczo."

Once encryption finishes, a ransom note titled "HOW TO RESTORE YOUR LQEPJHGJCZO FILES.TXT" was generated. The content of this message indicates that this ransomware primarily targets businesses rather than individual home users.

The ransom message informs the victim that their network has been compromised, resulting in the encryption of their files and the exfiltration of over 100 GB of data. The stolen data includes sensitive information such as accounting data, confidential documents, personal details, databases, and client files.

The victim is strongly cautioned against attempting manual decryption or using third-party recovery tools, as such actions may lead to further damage to the affected data. Furthermore, unless the victim contacts the attackers within a three-day timeframe, there is a risk that the exfiltrated data may be exposed or leaked.

Lqepjhgjczo Ransom Note Claims 100 GB of Stolen Data

The full text of the Lqepjhgjczo ransom note reads as follows:

We inform you that your network has undergone a penetration test, during which we encrypted
your files and downloaded more than 100 GB of your data, including:

Accounting
Confidential documents
Personal data
Databases
Clients files

Important! Do not try to decrypt files yourself or using third-party utilities.
The program that can decrypt them is our decryptor, which you can request from the contacts below.
Any other program can only damage files.

Please be aware that if we don't receive a response from you within 3 days, we reserve the right to publish your files.

Contact us:

franklin1328@gmx.com or protec5@onionmail.org

Why Does Most Ransomware Target Companies and Buisiness Entities?

Most ransomware tends to target companies and business entities for several reasons:

• Potential for Larger Ransom Payments: Businesses often have more financial resources than individual users, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. Attackers believe that organizations are more likely to pay larger ransom amounts to recover critical data and avoid downtime.
• Sensitivity of Business Data: Businesses typically store valuable and sensitive data, including financial records, customer information, intellectual property, and proprietary software. Encrypting or disrupting this data can cause significant damage and financial losses, motivating victims to pay ransoms.
• Distributed Networks: Companies have extensive and interconnected networks of computers, servers, and devices. Ransomware can spread rapidly across these networks, affecting numerous systems simultaneously and increasing the potential impact.
• Downtime Costs: Business operations often depend on continuous access to data and systems. Ransomware attacks can disrupt operations, leading to downtime and lost revenue. Companies may be more inclined to pay ransoms to minimize these losses.
• Lack of Preparedness: Many businesses are not adequately prepared for cybersecurity threats, including ransomware. They may lack robust backup systems, incident response plans, and employee training, making them vulnerable targets.
• Supply Chain Attacks: Some ransomware attacks target businesses with the intention of infecting their systems and then spreading further to compromise their partners, suppliers, or customers. This can have a cascading effect, impacting a broader ecosystem.
• Social Engineering Opportunities: Attackers often use social engineering techniques to target employees within companies, tricking them into opening malicious email attachments or clicking on malicious links. Employees may be less cautious when dealing with work-related emails, providing an entry point for ransomware.
• Large Attack Surface: Businesses have a larger attack surface than individual users due to the variety of devices, applications, and services they use. This complexity can create vulnerabilities that attackers exploit.
• Profit Motive: Ransomware attacks are often financially motivated, and targeting businesses can yield higher profits compared to individual users. Cybercriminals view businesses as lucrative targets due to the potential for significant ransom payments.