Remove Efji file virus and Recover Locked Files

Know How to Access Files Encrypted by Efji file virus

Efji file virus is a file-encrypting PC malware. It belongs to the popular “DJvu” ransomware family. Like its other version, it also makes the infected files totally inaccessible. Even encrypted files get appended with .efji extension in addition. For example, an image file named as 1.jpg gets renamed as 1.jpg.efji and so on. After encrypting the targeted files, it adds ”readme.txt” text file ransom note on every folder that contains the infected files.

Efji file virus uses a very powerful encryption algorithm and use a unique key. Once the file gets locked, it cannot be accessed unless you use the decryption tool. The price of tool is between $490 to $980 and it largely depends on how quickly you respond to the ransom note and contact the cyber-criminal. You can contact through either of the two emails namely [email protected] or [email protected].

In order to win your trust, they ask you to provide one of the encrypted files of your choice and they decrypt them for free. With this, they try to send the message that the decryption tool really works. However, contrary to what cyber-criminals claims, the normal users never get any such tool even after paying the money. Additionally, it is very unfortunate that the cyber-experts have not been able to develop any free decryption tool at least until now. So, paying money to cyber-criminals is just like wasting money.

How to recover the encrypted files?

As mentioned earlier, paying money to the cyber-criminals doesn’t works at all. You can only recover the files for free if you have the backup of your important encrypted files in some external storage location or devices.

So, your first step should be to eliminate all the files and related items of Efji file virus from the work-station so that additional and further files encryption could be avoided. So, the first thing is to remove Efji file virus from the work-station. It is recommended to use a powerful anti-malware tool and make a depth scanning of the PC hard-disk.

On the other hand, as far as the recovery of encrypted files is concerned, using backup files is the best solution. However, it is also obvious that everybody don’t maintain a backup of their important data. In such situation, you can try using a data recovery software which recover the lost or corrupted files for you.

 Some Precautionary Measures to Avoid Ransomware Attack in Future

In most cases, it is almost impossible to retrieve the files or folders encrypted by ransomware. Hence it is best that you take few precautions while using the work-station so that this kind of malware attacks could be avoided.

The most common mode of ransomware attack is software bundling. The freeware and shareware that you download from untrusted sources usually contains additional hidden attachments with them. They hide under custom or advance installation option which is often ignored by the novice users. Email attachment scams are also used for unsafe file circulation. Additionally, any kind of unwanted activities over internet can lead to a ransomware attack.

So, the first precaution that you must take is regarding the software you download in the work-station. You have to very careful and research about the software you are downloading. Carefully read its terms and agreement and privacy policy. Use a trusted download source and avoid using any kind of peer-to-peer file sharing networks. Similarly, the email attachments sent by unknown sender should be avoided. The most important thing is to update the security firewall settings and use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get real time protection from malware attack.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

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Step 1: Remove Efji file virus through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete Efji file virus using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Efji file virus 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 Efji file virus using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Efji file virus. 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 Efji file virus 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 Efji file virus 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 Efji file virus 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 Efji file virus, 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 Efji file virus.

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 Efji file virus?

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 Efji file virus 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 Efji file virus 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.