How to remove Egregor ransomware [Data Recovery process]

Proper guide to delete Egregor ransomware

Egregor ransomware is dangerous computer threat belongs to the family of ransomware called Sekhmet. The main aim of this malware is to encrypt victim’s files available on desktop and makes them totally useless until ransom amount is paid. During encryption process, it adds a string of random characters as the new extension of each encrypted files. In addition to this, this virus creates ransom note in text file format named “RECOVER-FILES.txt” and dropped in all folders that contain encrypted files.

Quick Glance

Name: Egregor ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto Virus, Files locker

Encrypted Files Extension: Random extension (“.JhWeA”)

Ransom Demanding Message: RECOVER-FILES.txt

Ransom amount: $1, 2000,000 (it may vary)

Cyber criminal contact: Live chat on the provided websites.

Short Description: The ransomware encrypts files on your computer machine and demands a ransom to be paid to allegedly restore them.

Symptoms: The ransomware will blackmail the victims to pay them a decryption fee. Sensitive user data may be encrypted by the ransomware code.

Distribution methods: Infected email attachments (macros), torrent websites, malicious ads, torrent file downloads, unsafe file sharing networks.

Damage: All files are locked and cannot be accessed without paying a ransom. Other additional password-stealing Trojans infections can be installed together along with ransomware.

Removal: Manual as well as automatic guidelines has been provided below under this article.

Egregor ransomware: Depth Analysis

The created note informs user that Egregor ransomware have locks down computers and servers and downloads data. Users are instructed to contact ransomware developers within three days otherwise their data will be published. In order to contact them, victims are advised to use provided websites with live chat (the site that can only be opened with Tor browser).  Once contacted, they ask you to pay $1, 2000,000 for data recovery. However, the amount will not be same for all affected victims it fluctuates.

In most of the cases, cyber criminals behind ransomware are the only ones that could decrypt files encrypted by Egregor. So, in such situation if you are thinking to pay ransom money to attackers then it is very worst idea. Paying money to them does not provide any positive results and you will merely get scammed. Thus, to avoid all such problems, it is important to remove Egregor ransomware to prevent from encrypting unencrypted files. Remember that removal will not accessible already encrypted files, they remain encrypted.

How to recover files from Egregor ransomware?

To recover the encrypted files, victims are highly suggested to delete Egregor ransomware completely and safely without any delay if detected at the first time. To remove this malware, users are advised to use some reliable antivirus removal tool. Once malware gets removed, users can easily get back their files by using backup if available. If backup files are not found, users are instructed to use third party data recovery tool/key.

Distribution methods:

In most cases, cyber criminals behind this tries to deceive users into installing ransomware and other malware infections by using the most common and effective method malspam campaigns. They use this method to trick user into infecting their system through malicious attachments that are designed to download malicious files. Basically, they send emails that contain malicious attachments in form of Microsoft Office or PDF documents, exe files, JavaScript files and so on. Opening such files or attachments cause the installation of malicious software. Apart from this, this malware also invade inside through suspicious websites, shareware, bundled free programs, cracked software, malicious links, porn or torrent websites and peer to peer file sharing.

How to protect system from ransomware infections?

Files and programs should only be downloaded from official websites. Other channels that are mentioned in above paragraph should not be used as they are used to distributed unwanted programs. It is advised not to open dubious or irrelevant emails especially if any attachments are present in them. Once opened, it downloads and installs malware. Further, all installed products are updated and activated by using tools provided by genuine developers. Moreover, if your PC is already infected with Egregor ransomware, then we recommend you to follow given below removal instructions or you can use some reliable removal process.

Text presented in this file:

——————
| What happened? |
——————

Your network was ATTACKED, your computers and servers were LOCKED,
Your private data was DOWNLOADED.

———————-
| What does it mean? |
———————-

It means that soon mass media, your partners and clients WILL KNOW about your PROBLEM.

————————–
| How it can be avoided? |
————————–

In order to avoid this issue,
you are to COME IN TOUCH WITH US no later than within 3 DAYS and conclude the data recovery and breach fixing AGREEMENT.

——————————————-
| What if I do not contact you in 3 days? |
——————————————-

If you do not contact us in the next 3 DAYS we will begin DATA publication.

—————————–
| I can handle it by myself |
—————————–

It is your RIGHT, but in this case all your data will be published for public USAGE.

——————————-
| I do not fear your threats! |
——————————-

That is not the threat, but the algorithm of our actions.
If you have hundreds of millions of UNWANTED dollars, there is nothing to FEAR for you.
That is the EXACT AMOUNT of money you will spend for recovery and payouts because of PUBLICATION.

————————–
| You have convinced me! |
————————–

Then you need to CONTACT US, there is few ways to DO that.

1. Recommended (the most secure method)
2. a) Download a special TOR browser: hxxps://www.torproject.org/
   b) Install the TOR browser
      c) Open our website with LIVE CHAT in the TOR browser: hxxp://egregor4u5ipdzhv.onion/A804640A8E2CA2F2
      d) Follow the instructions on this page.
3. If the first method is not suitable for you

   a) Open our website with LIVE CHAT: hxxps://egregor.top/A804640A8E2CA2F2
      b) Follow the instructions on this page.

Our LIVE SUPPORT is ready to ASSIST YOU on this website.

—————————————-
| What will I get in case of agreement |
—————————————-

You WILL GET full DECRYPTION of your machines in the network, FULL FILE LISTING of downloaded data,
confirmation of downloaded data DELETION from our servers, RECOMMENDATIONS for securing your network perimeter.

And the FULL CONFIDENTIALITY ABOUT INCIDENT.

———————————————————————————-
Do not redact this special technical block, we need this to authorize you.
—EGREGOR—
–
—EGREGOR—

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete Egregor ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Egregor 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 Egregor ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Egregor 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 Egregor 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 Egregor 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 Egregor 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 Egregor 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 Egregor 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 Egregor 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 Egregor 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 Egregor 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.