How to remove Erif Ransomware

Easy methods to delete Erif Ransomware from PCs (Remove DJVU/STOP Ransomware’s variants)

In this article, we are discussing about Erif Ransomware in details and providing some recommended methods/procedures to remove this nasty file virus from System. Let’s starts the discussion.

What is Erif Ransomware?

Erif Ransomware or .erif File Virus is new variants of DJVU Ransomware that is come under cyber threats. Like other DJVU Ransowmare’s variants, this dubious file virus is made using very powerful encryption algorithm techniques by cybercriminals. It encrypts/locks all files of your computer hard drives by appending .erif File Extension and drops the copies of ransom note as “_readme.txt” in your computer. In simple word, we can say that you can’ open or use your personal files anymore due to its dubious behaviours. If your System has detected this malware, then you should try to remove Erif Ransomware from machine immediately.

Erif Ransomware is capable to locking all files including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other types of files of your computer. When we talk about ransom note “_readme.txt”, it contains the information about this ransomware, technical support’s email ID, how you can recover or decrypt files encrypted by ransomware and ransom money details as well. The ransom note states that all files of your computer have been locked due to its security reasons and requires paying $490 – $980 amount of ransom money for decryption.

Cybercriminals behind Erif Ransomware attack claims that the only way to decrypt your locked files is to purchase and use its decryption tools/keys/software. It also claims that in order to renames locked files or use third parties’ decryption software, you will lose all files & folders of your computer permanently. However, it provides free decryption service for 2-4 encrypted files of your computer. It asks you to send some locked files within the size of 1MB on email ID provided on ransom note. After successful decryption test, it forces you to pay demanded ransom money to decrypt rest of the files.

Let’s take have a look at message displayed on ransom note:

    ATTENTION!

    Don’t worry, you can return all your files!

    All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.

    The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.

    This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.

    What guarantees you have?

    You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.

    But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.

    You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:

    hxxps://we.tl/t-mrns3LJpCF

    Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.

    Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that’s price for you is $490.

    Please note that you’ll never restore your data without payment.

    Check your e-mail “Spam” or “Junk” folder if you don’t get answer more than 6 hours.

    To get this software you need write on our e-mail:

    [email protected]

    Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

    [email protected]

    Your personal ID: XXXXXXXXXXX

Threat Summary

Threat Name: Erif Ransomware

Threat Type: File Virus, Crypto-Malware, Ransomware, File Locker

Description: Due to malicious behaviours of this nasty ransomware, you can’t open or use stored files on your computer. Previously functional files now have a different extension and you see ransom note in order to open encrypted files. The ransom message states that payment of extortion money is required to unlock your files.

Distribution methods: Spam email messages, infected attachments, torrent websites, malicious ads or popup messages, fake software updates or security alert messages, bundles of freeware or shareware and many other tricks.

Motives of crooks: Aims to collect your sensitive information and shares it to other hackers or third parties to generate some revenue. They also want to steal your money from your wallet or e-wallet.

Removal & recovery solution: In case if your System has infected from Erif Ransomware or related infection, then you need to scan your System with powerful antivirus software. After complete scan and malware removal, you can use powerful data recovery software to restore files encrypted by ransomware.

Should I pay ransom money?

According to cyber security researchers, Erif Ransomware belong DJVU Ransomware family is very dangerous malware creation of cybercriminals who wants to earn some illegal online profit and cheat with innocent users. They never do any mercy with you. You should never believe on them and avoid paying any amount of extortion money to them for decryption at any cases. In order to pay ransom money, they can keep record of your some information such as IP address, URLs search, user name & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details as well. They can share these collected details to other hackers or third parties to generate some revenue from them. So, it is important to delete Erif Ransomware from machine as soon as possible.

How your System gets infected from Erif Ransomware (DJVU/STOP Ransomware’s variant)?

This nasty file virus is generally get enters into your machine accidently from malicious email messages, infected email attachments and bundles of free software packages which you are downloaded from internet. Malware programmers or scammers send spam emails in your mailbox which contain some messages along with malicious attachments and hyperlinks. These attachments can be Microsoft Office documents, ppt, xlx, PDF, ZIP, RAR, JavaScript and other formats of files. In order to open such infected attachments, it executes encryption module in your computer and starts locking all files stored in your machine. So, you should be alert while surfing online and avoid opening attachments coming from unknown emails.

Precautionary measures:

• You should have strong backup of your all files stored in your machine on some safe external storage device
• You should keep up-to-date your operating System like Windows, Linux, Mac and other OS
• You should scan your computer with strong antivirus software in regular time intervals
• Remove all the faculty software running in your computer and update rest of the software
• Be alert while surfing online and avoid installing freeware from unknown sources, avoid opening attachments coming from unknown emails and click on ads or popup after double reading.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove Erif Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete Erif Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Erif 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 Erif Ransomware using “System Restore”

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