The Deadfiles virus falls within the MedusaLocker ransomware family. Ransomware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, documents, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, leaving the how_to_back_files.html text files in each directory with the encrypted files.
What is Deadfiles virus?
☝️ A strictly accurate designation for the Deadfiles would be “a MedusaLocker family ransomware malicious agent”.
Deadfiles will add its own .deadfiles extension to the name of every encoded file. For example, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.deadfiles”. Likewise, the Excel sheet named “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.deadfiles”, and so forth.
In each directory with the encoded files, a how_to_back_files.html file will be created. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the Deadfiles developers. That is how they do it.
Deadfiles outline:
| Name | Deadfiles Virus |
| Ransomware family1 | MedusaLocker ransomware |
| Extension | .deadfiles |
| Ransomware note | how_to_back_files.html |
| Detection | Backdoor:Win32/Koceg!B, Win32/GenKryptik.DCUC, Trojan:Win32/Raccoon.RI!MTB |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .deadfiles extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Deadfiles virus |
In the picture below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Deadfiles looks like. Each filename has the “.deadfiles” extension appended to it.
That is how encrypted “.deadfiles” files look.
How did Deadfiles ransomware end up on my PC?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.
There are currently three most exploited ways for evil-doers to have the Deadfiles virus settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer file transfer.
If you access your mailbox and see emails that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is strange to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a viral file enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse model2. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your machine disguised as something else. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. But what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful program that corrupts your data. As the update package can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to trust 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 Internet. You can never guess what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.
How do I get rid of the Deadfiles virus?
It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your data, the Deadfiles virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your PC to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That program can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Often racketeers would decrypt some of your files to prove that they really have the decryption tool. Since Deadfiles virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a way to undo its work. However, the decryption tools are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.
Sure thing, if the malefactors succeed in encrypting victim’s critical data, the hopeless person will most likely fulfill their demands. However, paying a ransom does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports of malefactors simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The best safety measure against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud disk or at least on an external drive. Of course, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that file you were working upon when it all happened. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the system is rolled back.
There are other ransomware products, besides Deadfiles, that work similarly. For instance, Mmvb, Eewt, Oflg, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Deadfiles are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become blocked, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in each directory containing encrypted files.
Some lucky victims were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free software provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decryption key to the victims in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the user to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How сan I avoid ransomware infiltration?
Deadfiles ransomware doesn’t have a endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can defend your PC from ransomware attack taking three easy steps:
- Ignore any letters from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (how can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the suspicious email with caution. A hoax letter will surely have mistakes.
- Never use cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked products, most likely as a “patch” to prevent the license check. But untrusted programs are very hard to tell from reliable ones, as trojans may also have the functionality you need. Try to find information about this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect armor for your personal computer.
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 Deadfiles 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 How can I open “.deadfiles” files?Are the “.deadfiles” files accessible?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.deadfiles” files you will not be able to access them.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. All other solutions require time.
🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Deadfiles virus?
Absolutely not! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with actual threats. The malware that has infected your system is most likely still functional and it scans your system periodically to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has already been said, the Deadfiles virus comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide malefactors with easy access to your PC in the future.
🤔 What should I do if the Deadfiles ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.
In such an unfortunate situation, you need to have a memory stick with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your computer. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Many of the blocked files might still be at your disposal
- If you sent or received your critical files by email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Just ask them to post those images back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try downloading them again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, cellphone, memory stick, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery programs5 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, 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 DEADFILES Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: DEADFILES Virus
Description: DEADFILES Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .deadfiles extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated 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 are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
