How to remove Neflim Ransomware and decrypt .neflim or .f1 files

What is Neflim Ransomware

Neflim is a ransomware infection that encrypts data stored on the compromised devices. By doing so, cybercriminals have a good occasion to blackmail users into paying the so-called ransom. There are two forms of the Neflim virus known at the moment. First appends the .neflim extension, whilst another uses .f1 to rename the encrypted data. Some experts tend to classify these versions as separate ransomware infections, yet they are both parts of the common family. To illustrate how encrypted files are changed, let’s take a look at the original 1.pdf data piece. At the end of encryption, it will change either to 1.pdf.neflim or 1.pdf.f1 depending on which versions captured your data. The same encryption pattern will be applied to the rest of the files stored on your device. As soon as all of the data appears under the lock of swindlers, victims have to read instructions on recovering data inside of the NEFLIM-DECRYPT.txt or f1-HELP.txt notes.

The content of these notes is slightly different in terms of interpretation, yet not in their eventual sense. Extortionists inform victims that vast amounts of data have been encrypted with military-grade algorithms. It is also said that all the encrypted data has been uploaded to their servers. Unless you contact cyber criminals within several days, your data will be gradually leaked to the public. To avert it and decrypt your data, extortionists push their victims into purchasing unique decryption software able to unlock the appended ciphers. Before doing so, however, users are asked to send max. 2 files via e-mail communication to test free decryption. After this, the team of swindlers will provide further instructions on how to acquire the decryption tools. Unfortunately, although cybercriminals are the only figures who can unlock your data, it is yet quite risky to pay the required ransom. All because swindlers are inclined to fool their victims by not sending the promised decryption tools at the end of payment. This is why the best way out in this situation is to use backup copies to recover your data. If you do not have any, then it is shame to admit that your files will remain encrypted until you obtain the decryption from malware developers. Whatever the case, it is extremely important to delete Neflim or F1 Ransomware without traces as it might start running further encryption of other networks as well. To do this, follow our removal tutorial below.

How Neflim Ransomware infected your computer

Infections like ransomware are known to abuse various distribution channels, such as e-mail spam, trojans, backdoors, keyloggers, unprotected RDP configuration, fake software updaters, pirated installers, and other dubious vectors that could carry infections. E-mail spam is a popular environment used by extortionists to deliver malware via malvertising attachments. Normally, users can see MS Office documents, PDFs, executable, or even Javascript files linked to the message. To make users open them up, cyber criminals pretend to be part of legitimate delivery companies (e.g. DHL, Dpd, FedEx, etc.). By doing so, they uplift the trust and curiosity of potential victims to click on such content. Unfortunately, as a result of personal inexperience or lack of control in some corporate systems, networks end up infected with various malware including Neflim and F1 Ransomware. To make sure it is no longer a threat in the future, we recommend you to follow our guidelines below.

1. Download Neflim Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .neflim or .f1 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 Neflim Ransomware

Neflim Ransomware files:


NEFLIM-DECRYPT.txt
f1-HELP.txt
{randomname}.exe


Neflim Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .neflim or .f1 files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .neflim and .f1 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 .neflim or .f1 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 Neflim 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 .neflim or .f1 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 Neflim 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 storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Neflim 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