How to remove Egregor Ransomware and decrypt your files

What is Egregor Ransomware

Egregor is ransomware that belongs to Sekhmet family and promotes various versions of malware. This time around, users reported dealing with the virus called Egregor that encrypts private data and demands paid decryption. Depending on which version attacked your system, the encryption process may vary a little bit. For example, Egregor adds randomly generated extension to each of the infected files so they look like this 1.mp4.WaBuD, extension, usually, consists of 5 letters in lower and upper case. After the encryption gets finished, the virus goes further creating a note called RECOVER-FILES.txt that contains step-by-step instructions to recover the compromised data.

It is said that victims have to get in touch with cybercriminals no later than 3 days via the attached browser link. If the announced deadline comes to an end, extortionists will publish sensitive data all over the web. Cybercriminals can ask different fees for the recovery. Sometimes the amount can exceed thousands of dollars, especially if data has a significant value to owners. Unfortunately, you will not be able to find any free tools to decrypt the files affected by Egregor. At this moment, the only feasible way to recover data is by using an external backup if one was created prior to the encryption. Follow our guide below to learn more about ransomware and ways to avert it.

How Egregor Ransomware infected your computer

There are multiple ways Egregor could penetrate your system. The first and most renowned one is via e-mail spam with malicious attachments. Cybercriminals tend to exploit this method since it is the easiest and cheapest way to promote malware. They charge special bots that send multitudes of scripted messages with malicious attachments. The focus is usually on inexperienced users who open suspicious content left and right. Such messages are trying to look fancy and legitimate to throw any doubts away and make gullible users open them. The range of attached files can vary from MS Office documents, PDFs to executable and JavaScript files. Be wary of fishy and unfamiliar content delivered on the web. Additionally, it is necessary to mention other distribution channels like Trojans, fake software cracking tools, keyloggers, backdoors, and unprotected RDP configuration.

1. Download Egregor Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for your files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like Egregor Ransomware

Egregor Ransomware files:


RECOVER-FILES.txt
b.dll
testbuild.pdb
{randomfilename}.exe


Egregor Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore your files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt your files. Download it here:

Download RakhniDecryptor

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of your files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing of files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with Egregor Ransomware and removed it from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore your files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Egregor Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

Download ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storages, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storages can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Egregor Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.

Download MailWasher Pro