GREEDYFATHER Virus 🔐 (.GREEDYFATHER Files) — How to Remove?

The Greedyfather virus belongs under the ransomware type of malicious agent. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, creating the GREEDYFATHER.txt files in every directory with the encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is known about the Greedyfather virus?

Greedyfather appends its own .GREEDYFATHER extension to every file’s name. For example, an image named “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.GREEDYFATHER”. In the same manner, the Excel sheet with the name “table.xlsx” will be renamed to “table.xlsx.GREEDYFATHER”, and so forth.

In each folder that contains the encrypted files, a GREEDYFATHER.txt text document will be created. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the ransomware developers. You can get this decoding tool after contacting greedyfather@onionmail.org by email. That is pretty much the scheme of the felony.

Greedyfather Overview:

The GREEDYFATHER.txt file coming in package with the Greedyfather ransomware provides the following frustrating information:

GREEDYFATHER Ransomware
ATTENTION!
YOUR PERSONAL DECRYPTION ID - -
At the moment, your system is not protected.
We can fix it and restore your files.
To get started, send 1-2 small files to decrypt them as proof
You can trust us after opening them
2.Do not use free programs to unlock.
OUR CONTACTS:
1) TOX messenger (fast and anonymous)
hxxps://tox.chat/download.html
Install qtox
Press sign up
Create your own name
Press plus
Put there our tox ID:
E9164A982410EFAEBC451C1D5629A2CBB75DBB6BCDBD6D2BA94F4D0A7B0B616F911496E469FB
And add me/write message
2)ICQ - @GREEDYFATHER
3)SKYPE - GREEDYFATHER Decryption
Also we have a temporary mail,pls use it only if neccesary
greedyfather@onionmail.org

In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Greedyfather looks like. Each filename has the “.GREEDYFATHER” extension appended to it.

That is how encrypted “.GREEDYFATHER” files look.

How did my machine catch Greedyfather ransomware?

There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most exploited methods for malefactors to have ransomware acting in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer file transfer.

• If you open your mailbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a ransomware item enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
• Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse model. A Trojan is a program that gets into your PC disguised as something else. For instance, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some program. However, what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful program that compromises your data. Since the installation package can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource 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 BitTorrent or eMule, the threat 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. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy resources. 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 ransomware?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your data, the Greedyfather virus will most likely deploy Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Remove Greedyfather with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Greedyfather as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Greedyfather” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Greedyfather and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Often tamperers would unblock several of your files so you know that they do have the decryption program. As Greedyfather virus is a relatively recent ransomware, anti-malware engineers have not yet found a method to undo its work. Nevertheless, the decoding instruments are frequently updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon arrive.

Of course, if the criminals succeed in encrypting someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still risky. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about criminals simply vanishing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The optimal safety measure against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud drive or at least on an external storage. Obviously, that might be insufficient. The most important thing could be that file you were working upon when it all went down. But at least it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the OS is rolled back.

Greedyfather 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, Ljaz, Ljuy, Hhuy, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Greedyfather are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become encoded, their extensions altered, ransom notes appear in every directory containing encrypted files.

Some lucky users were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free software provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the racketeers accidentally send the decryption key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part 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 do I avoid ransomware injection?

Greedyfather ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, neither does any similar malware.

You can protect yourself from its attack in several easy steps:

• Never open any letters from unknown mailers with strange addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are expecting, check all elements of the dubious email with caution. A hoax letter will surely have a mistake.
• Avoid using cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked software, most likely as a “patch” which prevents the license check. But untrusted programs are very hard to tell from reliable ones, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try to find information on this program on the anti-malware forums, but the best way is not to use such programs at all.
• And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a powerful defense for your system.

FAQ

🤔 How can I open “.GREEDYFATHER” files?Are the “.GREEDYFATHER” files accessible?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.GREEDYFATHER” files you will not be able to access them.

🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.GREEDYFATHER” files ASAP. How can I do that?

If the “.GREEDYFATHER” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 Will GridinSoft Anti-Malware remove all the encrypted files alongside the Greedyfather virus?

Absolutely not! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.

With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your system off the actual threats. The malware that has attacked your device is most likely still active and running scans from time to time to encode any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has already been said, the Greedyfather ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide malefactors with easy access to your system after some time.

🤔 What to do if the Greedyfather malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encodes any new files created or brought into your PC. To suppress this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Many of the encrypted files might still be within your reach

• If you exchanged your critical files through email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You might have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to give those images back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a portable device, mobile, external storage, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery programs¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you can do it only after you kill the ransomware itself with an anti-malware program.

1. Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.