How to remove HPJ Ransomware: Recover locked files

HPJ Ransomware designed to encrypt files and demands ransom payment for the decryption

HPJ Ransomware is also known as ‘.HPJ File Virus’ or ‘.HPJ File Extension Ransomware’ belongs to ‘Dharma Ransomware’ family. This new variant of Dharma Ransomware is made using powerful encryption algorithm techniques by cybercriminals. It is designed to encrypt all types of files stored in your computer hard drive including images, audios, videos, games, pdf, ppt, xlx, css, html, text, documents, databases and other formats of files. In other words, you can’t open or access your personal files anymore.

During encryption process, it modifies each file by adding unique ID, cybercriminals’ email ID and ‘.HPJ’ file extension as appendix to the original files. For example, it renames ‘1.png’ filename to ‘1.png.id-C279F237.[[email protected]].HPJ’. After encryption process is finished, ‘MANUAL.txt’ text files as ransom notes are dropped into each folder your computer that contains locked files. The ransom note contains the information about this ransomware, how you can recover your locked files, cybercriminals’ email ID, and ransom money details as well.

The text presented in ‘MANUAL.txt’ ransom note states that all files stored in computer have been locked and you need to establish the contact with cybercriminals via provided [email protected] email address within 12 hours after encryption. It claims that the only way to decrypt/recover your locked files is to purchase its decryption software/keys. It also claims that in order to rename locked files manually, or use third-party decryption software/keys, they will erase your all personal files & folders permanently.

Keep in mind that they are not going to recover/decrypt your files even when ransom payment is made. So, you should never trust on cybercriminals and avoid paying any amount of ransom money to decrypt your files. Paying ransom money may result in severe privacy issues, financial loses and even identity theft. If you really want to recover your locked files, then you should at first try to find and remove HPJ Ransomware related malicious files in computer. After ransomware or malware removal, you can try to restore your locked files.

How did you get HPJ Ransomware in computer?

Spam email campaign or malspam campaign is mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals to spread Trojans, ransomware or other malware. They use ‘Urgent’, ‘Official’, ‘Important’, ‘Priority’ or other similar keywords in subject/title of emails, which contain some messages along with malicious hyperlinks or attachments. Once opened, it executes certain scripts/codes to install malware or viruses in computer. This way, ransomware can also be distributed. Ransomware-type can also be downloaded/installed through unofficial/unknown sources, fake software updaters, installers and downloaders, and other third-party sources. When you update any applications installed in computer using fake software updaters or illegal activation tools, you install malicious programs or malware in computer instead of update.

How to protect your system against ransomware attack?

It is strongly recommended to double-research the software before download/installation or purchase. You should always try to download any applications from official & verified websites or via direct links. Any attachments or hyperlinks presented in spam emails must not be opened. Also, you should check if ‘Anti-Spam filter’ feature is enabled in your email service you use. Some antivirus software also offers this feature and it is enabled by default. Note that ‘Anti-Spam Filter’ feature when enabled, all spammy emails will automatically be delivered to ‘Spam folder’ of your email service. Additionally, to protect your system against malware or ransomware attack, you should have strong antivirus software with latest update that could help you to find and remove all types of threats including latest malware in computer.

Let’s take a look at ransom note:

YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED

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

If you want to restore them, write to the mail: [email protected] YOUR ID –

If you have not answered by mail within 12 hours, write to us by another mail:[email protected]

!ATTENTION!

We recommend you contact us directly to avoid overpaying agents

Do not rename encrypted files.

Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.

Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

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

Step 2: Delete HPJ Ransomware using “System Restore”

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

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