Category: Removal Guides

What is Goaq ransomware?

Goaq is a malicious program (a virus) that infects computers through advertisements on shady websites, suspicious e-mail attachments, and other means. After taking control of a computer, Goaq encrypts all user files that it can find: documents, spreadsheets, pictures, videos, and so on. It also gives these files .goaq file extension.
It is not possible for the victim to view or edit these encrypted files; effectively, they’re lost. But encrypting files is not the same as deleting them. It is more like locking the files with a password. The hacker is the only person who knows it, however; the whole point of the virus is to sell the password to the victim. Since this is, quite clearly, extortion, these viruses are called ransomware.
After encrypting the files, the virus creates a text file called “_readme.txt”, which contains the hackers’ demands. You can read it on the image above. From this note, we can learn that the hackers want $980, or $490 if the victim pays within three days.
Quite expensive, isn’t it? And to add insult to the injury, these criminals often disappear after receiving the money, without decrypting the files. This is why paying them is not recommended. Instead, read the article below; it will explain how to remove Goaq ransomware and decrypt .goaq files without involving the hacker.