The 4g3j7 virus falls under the ransomware type of malicious agent. This ransomware belongs to Hive ransomware family. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all the data on your computer (images, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, creating the xG7b_HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt text files in each directory containing encrypted files.
What is known about the 4g3j7virus?
☝️ A strictly accurate description for the 4g3j7 would be “a ransomware infection”.
The renaming will be done by the following scheme: [random string].4g3j7. In the course of encryption, a file named, for instance, “report.docx” will be renamed to “report.docx.3BCWOB3397F9UCB9BASKLLF319RF910B.4g3j7”.
In every directory that contains the encoded files, a xG7b_HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt text document will be found. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the ransomware developers. That is it.
4g3j7 summary:
| Name | 4g3j7 Virus |
| Extension | .[random string].4g3j7 |
| Ransomware note | xG7b_HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt |
| Detection | MSIL/Spy.Agent.DSV, TrojanSpy:Win32/Delgent, Trojan.Ransom.Magniber |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .[random string].4g3j7 extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by 4g3j7 virus |
In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the 4g3j7 looks like. Each filename has the “.[random string].4g3j7” extension added to it.
![4g3j7 Virus - encrypted .[random string].4g3j7 files](https://howtofix.guide/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/4g3j7-files-virus.jpg)
An example of encrypted .[random string].4g3j7 files.
How did my machine catch 4g3j7 ransomware?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
Nowadays, there are three most exploited methods for malefactors to have the 4g3j7 virus settled in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer-to-peer networks.
If you open your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a malware file enclosed in them. So it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus scheme1. A Trojan is an object that gets into your PC pretending to be something different. For example, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some program. But what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful program that encodes your data. Since the installation file can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the things you’re downloading. The best way is to use the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer file transfer protocols like torrents or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.
How do I get rid of the 4g3j7 virus?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the 4g3j7 virus will most likely install the Azorult Spyware on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware2 can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Sometimes racketeers would unblock some of your files so you know that they really have the decryption program. Since 4g3j7 virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a way to undo its work. Nevertheless, the anti-ransomware tools are frequently updated, so the solution may soon be available.
Understandably, if the tamperers do the job of encrypting someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After getting the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports of malefactors just vanishing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The optimal countermeasure to ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external disk. Obviously, that might be insufficient. The most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all started. But at least it is something. It is also wise to scan your drives with the antivirus program after the OS restoration.
4g3j7 is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. For instance, Ooii, Fgui, Rtgf, and some others. The two major differences between them and the 4g3j7 are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: documents become inaccessible, their extensions altered, ransom notes appear in every folder containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate people were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decoding code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a bandits’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How to avert ransomware infection?
4g3j7 ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can protect your system from ransomware injection within several easy steps:
- Ignore any emails from unknown senders with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are expecting, check all elements of the suspicious letter with caution. A fake email will surely contain a mistake.
- Never use cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, most likely as a “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are very hard to tell from reliable software, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. You can try to find information about this program on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.
- And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect armor for your PC.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft3
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft4.
Download Removal Tool.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Run the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your PC.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your computer for 4g3j7 infections and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
FAQ
🤔 Is it possible to open “.[random string].4g3j7” files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.[random string].4g3j7” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. The rest of the methods require patience.
🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the 4g3j7 malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?
No way! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with real viruses. The virus that has attacked your PC is probably still functional and launching checks periodically to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has been said above, the 4g3j7 malware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide hackers with easy access to your system in the future.
🤔 What to do if the 4g3j7 ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.
In such a case, you need to have a memory stick with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to do the cleaning. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encrypts any new files created or imported into your system. To suppress this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Some of the encrypted data can be located elsewhere.
- If you sent or received your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
- You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Just ask them to post those pictures back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try downloading them again.
- Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, phone, memory stick, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can use data recovery programs5 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you eradicate the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.
Also, you can contact the following governmental fraud and scam sites to report this attack:
- In the United States: On Guard Online;
- In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
- In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
- In Australia: SCAMwatch;
- In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
- In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;
To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove 4G3J7 Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: 4G3J7 Virus
Description: 4G3J7 Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .[random string].4g3j7 extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- You can read more on spyware variants and nature in the respective section of GridinSoft official website.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
