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

The Kafan virus belongs with the ransomware type of infection. Malware of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, creating the help_you.txt files in every folder containing 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 Kafanvirus?

☝️ A strictly accurate denomination for the Kafan is “a ransomware-type infection”.

Kafan adds its specific .kafan extension to the name of every encrypted file. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be renamed to “photo.jpg.kafan”. Just like the Excel file named “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.kafan”, and so forth.

In every folder with the encrypted files, a help_you.txt text file will be found. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. That is it.

Kafan summary:

In the image below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Kafan looks like. Each filename has the “.kafan” extension added to it.

An example of encrypted .kafan files.

How did Kafan ransomware end up on my PC?

There are many possible ways of ransomware injection.

There are currently three most popular ways for criminals to have the Kafan virus planted in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and 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 mailer is unknown to you, be wary of opening those letters. They are most likely to have a ransomware item attached to them. So it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with letters like these.

Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus model. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your machine pretending to be something else. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some program. However, what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that compromises your data. Since the installation file can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The best way is to trust the software developers’ official websites.

As for the peer-to-peer networks like torrent trackers 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 directory containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of the Kafan virus?

It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Kafan virus will most likely install Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Sometimes criminals would decode some of your files to prove that they do have the decryption tool. Since Kafan virus is a relatively new ransomware, safety measures designers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the anti-ransomware instruments are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon arrive.

Understandably, if the tamperers succeed in encrypting someone’s essential data, the hopeless person will probably fulfill their demands. However, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your files back. It is still risky. After getting the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports of malefactors simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The best solution 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. Of course, that might be not enough. The most important thing could be that file you were working on when it all started. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your drives with the antivirus program after the OS restoration.

Kafan 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, Nifr, Niwm, Tyos, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Kafan are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: documents become encrypted, their extensions altered, ransom notes are found in every folder containing encrypted files.

Some lucky people were able to decode the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware experts. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decoding code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.

How сan I avert ransomware infiltration?

Kafan ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.

You can protect your computer from its injection in several easy steps:

• Never open any letters from unknown senders with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (how can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are expecting, check all elements of the questionable letter with caution. A hoax email will surely contain mistakes.
• Do not use cracked or unknown software. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as an element of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. Understandably, untrusted programs are very hard to distinguish from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best way is not to use such software.
• 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 shield for your system.

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft¹

There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft².

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 system.

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 Kafan 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

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

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

🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. The rest of the methods require patience.

🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Kafan virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?

Absolutely not! The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with real viruses. The malware that has attacked your system is probably still active and it scans your system every so often to encode any new files you might create on your computer after the infection. As it has already been said, the Kafan virus 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 after some time.

🤔 What to do if the Kafan ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or brought into your computer. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What could help the situation right now?

Many of the encoded files might still be within your reach

• If you sent or received your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to post those pictures back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try to do it again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a notebook, cellphone, flash memory, etc.

HINT: You can employ file recovery programs³ to get your lost data back since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the virus with an anti-malware program.

Also, you can contact the following official 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.

1. GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
2. More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
3. Here are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.