How to remove Grn21 ransomware and recover files

Easy tips to delete Grn21 ransomware and decrypt data

Grn21 ransomware is a rogue piece of malware categorized as ransomware. It operates by encrypting stored files and then demanding ransom payment for the decryption. The affected files are renamed with some special character and the .grn21 extension.

For example, a file 1.jpg would be renamed as “1.jpg.6ZXI5HPZ2zgkqYJ4Wr48KkEhF-iSuxqV5TOkV3W5OxT__JWf2PkWNYU0.grn21”. Afterwards, a ransom-demanding message -“59FJ_HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt” – is created.

The ransom note informs the victims that their files have been encrypted and the sensitive data have been ex-filtrated. Unless they pay the ransom, their files will remain inaccessible. Should they refuse to pay, the ex-filtrated data will be made public.

The message urges people to establish contact to the crooks behind the infection via the provided email address to get the payment information. The message concludes with various warnings. The full text within the .txt file can be read as:

Your network has been breached and all data were encrypted.

Personal data, financial reports and important documents are ready to disclose.

To decrypt all the data and to prevent exfiltrated files to be disclosed at

hxxp://hiveleakdbtnp76ulyhi52eag6c6tyc3xw7ez7iqy6wc34gd2nekazyd.onion/

you will need to purchase our decryption software.

Please contact our sales department at:

hxxp://hivecust6vhekztbqgdnkks64ucehqacge3dij3gyrrpdp57zoq3ooqd.onion/

      Login:    –

      Password: –

To get an access to .onion websites download and install Tor Browser at:

   hxxps://www.torproject.org/ (Tor Browser is not related to us)

Follow the guidelines below to avoid losing your data:

 – Do not modify, rename or delete *.key.grn21 files. Your data will be

   undecryptable.

 – Do not modify or rename encrypted files. You will lose them.

 – Do not report to the Police, FBI, etc. They don’t care about your business.

   They simply won’t allow you to pay. As a result you will lose everything.

 – Do not hire a recovery company. They can’t decrypt without the key.

   They also don’t care about your business. They believe that they are

   good negotiators, but it is not. They usually fail. So speak for yourself.

 – Do not reject to purchase. Exfiltrated files will be publicly disclosed.

Unfortunately, in most ransomware infections- the decryption is impossible without the crooks’ interference. What’s more, despite paying – the victims often do not receive the promised decryption tool.

To prevent the ransomware from further files encryption – it must be removed from the system. However, the ransomware removal would not decrypt the files already affected. Existing backups are therefore in such a case to recover those affected files.

However, even when you do not have any such backups, you can recover or at least attempt to restore those files using other data recovery alternatives. Shadow Copies are one of them. These are automatically created backups from Windows OS.

Sometimes, in ransomware infection cases, these Shadow Copies are left untouched during the entire process of the system attack and the files encryption and thus they ultimately become the files recovery option for the users.

However, Grn21 ransomware might delete this option in order to harden the files recovery process. You can and should check if it exists –the complete guide is provided below the post in the data recovery section. Third party data recovery tools are other data recovery alternatives you have.

How did Grn21 ransomware enter my system?

Ransomware and other malicious malware are often spread through spam email campaigns. The scam emails have infectious files as attachments or download links. These files can be archives, executables, PDF and Microsoft Office documents, JavaScript and etc, if opened- the infection process is triggered.

Malware can also be distributed through untrustworthy downloading sources such as unofficial and freeware sites, p2p networks and etc. Illegal activation tools and fake software updaters are used in the distribution purpose as well.

Cracking tools can cause system infections instead of activating licensed products. Fraudulent updaters infect systems by exploiting bugs/ flaws of outdated software or by direct downloading malware instead of the promised updates.

How to prevent ransomware infection?

It is advised against opening any dubious and irrelevant emails. The attachments and links found in these emails –must never be opened as they can cause system infections. Additionally, all downloads should have to be performed using official and verified channels.

It is just important to activate and update programs using tools/ functions from official software developers. It is paramount to have a reputable antivirus tool installed and kept updated. Also, this software should have to be used for regular system scan and to remove any detected threats/ issues.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove Grn21 ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete Grn21 ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Grn21 ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete Grn21 ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Grn21 ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to Grn21 ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove Grn21 ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of Grn21 ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by Grn21 ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like Grn21 ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by Grn21 ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with Grn21 ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove Grn21 ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.