Remove Erif ransomware And Recover Encrypted Files

Proper Guide To Delete Erif ransomware

Erif ransomware is a highly dangerous file-encrypting malware that has been specially designed to encrypt Windows users’ crucial files kept inside their systems and makes them completely inaccessible. This precarious Ransomware was first discovered by security researcher Michael Gillespie on July 23rd and belongs to the family of well-known STOP/DJVU Ransomware. Similar to its predecessors, it also usually infiltrates the targeted computers by stealth through various deceptive techniques and then makes changes to Windows editors in order to get automatically activated every time user starts the device. It also scans the entire machine to find the data that have to be encoded and once detected, locks them at the end.

Depth Analysis Of Erif ransomware:

Erif ransomware is a kind of file-encoding virus that can compromise almost all types of files including audios, videos, images, PDFs, documents, spreadsheets and make them totally useless. It uses a sophisticated algorithm to lock users’ essential files and renames them by appending “.erif” extension with the name of each of them. After successful encryption, it leaves a ransom note named “_readme.txt” on each affected folder and suggests victims to contact the attackers via “[email protected]” or “[email protected]” email address.

The text file states that all your important files have been locked and the only way to recover them is by using a decryption tool that victims will have to purchase from the criminals. At the end, you will have to pay the Erif ransomware authors a ransom amount of $980 to get the functional decryptor. However, if you contact the hackers within 72 hours, it will be halved and you will only have to make $490 as ransom payment.

Text Presented In The 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:

https://we.tl/t-gSEEREZ5tS

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

How Does This Crypto-virus Work?

As soon as this hazardous threat runs on the Windows PCs, it starts a series of malicious activities, each designated for specific reasons. The main process of this virus that encrypts files is called BED5.tmp.exe, f01e.tmp.exe, d7df.tmp.exe or similar. However, it can also begin additional activities such as winupdate.exe, designed to launch a bogus Windows update screen to the affected people in order to pretend that the system is installing important updates. During the process, the main ransomware executable scans the device, locks files, marks them with.”erif” file extensions and drops ransom notes in every folder. Furthermore, the parasite creates and saves PersonalID.txt file to C:/SystemID folder.

Should You Deal With The Attackers?

Erif ransomware doesn’t leave any option to the victimized users other than paying the extortion fee. However, security experts strongly deny from doing so as hackers are not going to deliver the decryption software to the victims. Keep in mind that the only objective of such criminals is to extort illicit revenues from the affected people, they will never fulfil their promises even after taking the ransom.

What Should The Victims Do

If you are a victim of this dangerous crypto-virus, the first thing you need to do here is to perform a quick removal of Erif ransomware from the machine immediately. As far as restoring the compromised data is concerned, you can recover them using a backup made on any external drive or cloud storage. However, if you don’t have a proper backup, you should try to recover them using a powerful data-recovery application.

Threat Summary

Name: Erif ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Crypto-virus

Short Description– Destructive virus which encrypts users’ important files and then forces them into paying the hackers an amount of ransom to get the functional decryptor.

Extension–  “.erif”

Ransom demanding message– “_readme.txt”

Attackers’ contact– “[email protected]” or “[email protected]”

Symptoms: Victims cannot open files stored on their PC system, earlier functional files now have different extension, A ransom demanding message is displayed on the desktop screen. Users are asked to pay an amount of ransom to unlock their encoded data and files.

Distribution methods: Spam emails, Torrent websites, peer to peer network sharing, unofficial activation and updating tools.

Damage: All files are encrypted and cannot be accessed without paying ransom, Additional password stealing Trojans and malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections and other malware.

Removal: To remove this virus from the system, we advise you to use a reliable anti-malware tool. Once malware gets removed, you can recover your files by using existing backup or data-recovery software.

How Does This Threat Enter Your Computer?

People often download this file-encrypting malware along with illegal online files, especially software cracks. It is known to be the major propagation source for all STOP/DJVU Ransomware versions. A number of victimized users reported that they have downloaded it alongside spiteful video-editing software, Photoshop, or game crack. Despite security experts’ warnings, Windows users still visit web domains that promote illicit torrent downloads to get premium software licenses for free. However, you are highly advised to not do so, as this is the easiest way to being malware to your work-station. Apart from this, it is a very easy way for malware creators to quickly upload the virus and switch its versions via such delivery vector. In case you are already infected with this threat, you must remove Erif ransomware from the computer without wasting any time.

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.