Remove LKFR Ransomware Virus (+DECRYPT .lkfr Files)

Lkfr malware is a type of computer virus that injects your computer, encrypts your documents, and then asks to pay the ransom for file decryption. Besides these unpleasant actions, that virus also modifies some important settings and can even stop your security tool.

Lkfr malware – what is it?

Lkfr malware can correctly be described as a STOP/Djvu virus family. That sort of virus is aimed at single users. This feature supposes that Lkfr does not carry any type of additional viruses, which sometimes helps ransomware of other families to control your PC. Since most people do not have anything valuable, there is no reason to carry other viruses that increase the risk of failure of the whole ransomware injection.

The typical signs of this ransomware activity is the appearance of .lkfr files in your folders, instead of the files you used to have. The photo.jpg turns into photo.jpg.lkfr, report.xlsx – into report.xlsx.lkfr and so on. You cannot stop this process, as well as can’t open those documents – they are ciphered with quite a strong cipher.

You can also see various other signs of malware activity. Suddenly blocked Microsoft Defender and inability to check the popular anti-malware forums or sites, where the removal and file decryption guides are posted. You will see how it is conducted in the paragraph below. The removal and decryption guide are also available – check below how to delete Lkfr malware and get the .lkfr files back.

How did Lkfr ransomware encrypt my files?

After the injection, the Lkfr ransomware establishes a connection with its command and control server. This server is commanded by virus maintainers – crooks who manage the spreading of this virus. Another activity which is done by those crooks is answering the emails of victims, who intend to get their files back.

The files are ciphered with one of the strongest encryption algorithm – AES-256. The digit in the name of this algo means the power of two – 2^256 for this case. 78-digit number of possible password variations – it is unreal to brute force it. As cipher analysts say, it will need more time than the Earth can approximately exist, even when you use the most powerful computer system. In each folder that contains the encrypted documents, Lkfr virus creates the _readme.txt file with the following contents:

ATTENTION!

Don't worry, you can return all your files!

All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.

What guarantees you have?

You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.

You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:

https://we.tl/t-WJa63R98Ku

Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.

Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.

Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:

support@fishmail.top

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

datarestorehelp@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nonetheless, you can still open some of your files. The Lkfr malware encrypts only the first 150 KB of each file, but the other piece of this document can be opened. Primarily, it works best with audio/video files, which are likely bigger than 150 kilobytes. Not every media player is able to open these files – WinAmp is the best option, since it is free and well-tested. First seconds of each recording will be missing – this part is encrypted – but the rest of the video or music will be accessible like nothing happened.

Is Lkfr ransomware dangerous for my PC?

As it was described several paragraphs before, ransomware is not only about ciphering the files. Lkfr ransomware makes the changes in your system in order to prevent searching the malware removal and file decryption guides. Malware does not create the software obstacle – it just modifies the settings, primarily – networking and security configurations.

Through the networking configurations, the most damaged item is the HOSTS configuration file. This text file contains the DNS-address instructions, which are used by the web browsers while requesting to the server. If you add a specific DNS-address for the certain website, your web browser will connect that website through that DNS next time. Ransomware alters that file, adding the non-existent DNS, so any of the web browsers will show you the “Unable to resolve the DNS-address” error.

Other modifications done by the ransomware are aimed at prevention of fast detection of itself, and also blocking the installation of the majority of antivirus programs. Lkfr virus makes some changes in Group Policies – the system setting interface which gives you the right to modify the abilities of each app. In such a way, ransomware stops the Microsoft Defender and different other anti-malware tools, as well as prevents the launch of anti-malware installation files.

How did I get infected?

Throughout the whole term while STOP/Djvu family is active, it was using dubious applications as the main method of ransomware injection. Under the term of questionable programs I mean software that are already not controlled by the maintainer and distributed through the third-party websites. These applications may be cracked, to make them usable without purchasing any license. One more example of such a program type is various hacking tools – cheat engines, keygens, Windows activation tools and so on.

This sort of programs may be spread in different methods – through the website that offers a downloading link, as well as through the peer-to-peer networks – ThePirateBay, eMule and so on. All these sources are well-known as the biggest computer piracy sites. People use these pages to get various programs or games for free, even if they must be purchased. No one can stop the users who crack these apps from adding malware of some sort to the files of the hacked tool. Hacktools, however, are created for outlaw targets, so their creators can easily embed the virus under the guise of some program element.

These hacked programs, regardless of their source, are one of the most often sources for various malware, and surely the most used one for Lkfr malware. The best solution is to avoid using of it, and not only because of ransomware spreading risks. Avoiding the license buying is an outlaw action, and both hackers and users who make use of cracked programs fall under the charge of piracy.

How do I remove Lkfr malware?

The Lkfr virus is extremely hard to wipe out manually. Really, because of the amount of modifications it makes into your Windows, it is almost unreal to spot them all and fix. The best option is to make use of antivirus software. But which one to choose?

You can see the offers to make use of Microsoft Defender, that is already inside of your Windows. However, as it was mentioned before, the majority of STOP/Djvu ransomware examples block it even before the ciphering process. Making use of the third-party program is the only option – and I can offer you the GridinSoft Anti-Malware as an option for that case. It has impressive detection abilities, so the ransomware will not be missed. It is also capable of system repairing, that is heavily demanded after the Lkfr virus attack.

To remove Lkfr malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software.

After the ransomware removal, you can go to file decryption. Virus removal is needed to prevent the repeating ciphering of your files: while Lkfr ransomware is active, it will not miss any unencrypted file.

How to decrypt the .lkfr files?

There are two ways to recover your files after a Lkfr ransomware attack. First one and the most popular is file decryption. It is performed with a special program, designed by Emsisoft, and called Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/Djvu. This program is absolutely free. Analysts update its decryption keys databases as often as possible, so you will definitely get your files back, sooner or later.

Another way to get your documents and photos back is to try to recover them from your disk drives. Since Lkfr virus deletes them and substitutes with a ciphered copy, the residue of the files are still stored on the disk drive. After the removal, the information about them is wiped from the file system, but not from a disk drive. Special programs, like PhotoRec, are able to recover these files. It is free, too, and may also be used for file recovery in case when you have deleted some files unintentionally.

Decrypting the .lkfr files with Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu

Download and install Emsisoft Decrypter tool. Agree with its EULA and continue to the interface.

The interface of this program is extremely easy. All you have to do is to select the folder where the encrypted files are stored, and wait. If the program has the decryption key which corresponds to your ransomware case – it will decrypt it.

During the use of Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu, you may observe various error messages. Don’t worry, that does not mean that you did something wrong or a program does not work properly. Each of these errors refer to a specific case. Here is the explanation:

Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [your ID]

The program does not have a corresponding key for your case. You need to wait for some time until the key database will be updated.

No key for new variant online ID: [your ID]

Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible.

This error means that your files are encrypted with an online key. In such a case, the decryption key is unique and stored on the remote server, controlled by crooks. Unfortunately, the decryption is impossible.

Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]

This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.

Ransomware uses the offline key to encrypt your files. This key is not unique, so you likely have it in common with another victim. Since offline keys must be collected, too, it is important to keep calm and wait until the analysts team finds one which will fit your case.

Remote name could not be resolved

This error indicates that the program has problems with DNS on your computer. That’s a clear sign of malicious alterations in your HOSTS file. Reset it using the official Microsoft guide.

Recovering the .lkfr files with PhotoRec tool

PhotoRec is an open-source tool, which is created to recover the deleted or lost files from the disk. It checks each disk sector for the residues of deleted files, and then tries to recover them. That app is able to recover the files of more than 400 different formats. Because of the described feature of ransomware encryption mechanism, it is possible to use this tool to get the original, unencrypted files back.

Download PhotoRec from the official website. It is absolutely free, however, its developer warns that he does not guarantee that this program will be 100% effective for file recovery purposes. Moreover, even paid apps can barely give you such a guarantee, because of the chain of random factors that can make the file recovery harder.

Unzip the downloaded archive to the folder you like. Don’t worry because of its name – TestDisk – this is the name of the utility developed by the same company. They decided to spread it together since PhotoRec and TestDisk are often used together. Among the unzipped files, search for qphotorec_win.exe file. Run this executable file.

Before you can start the recovery process, you need to specify several settings. In the drop-down list, choose the logic disk where the files were stored before the encryption.

Then, you need to specify the file formats you need to recover. It may be difficult to scroll all 400+ formats, luckily, they are sorted by alphabetical order.

Finally, name the folder you want to use as a container for recovered files. The program will likely dig out a lot of useless files, which were deleted intentionally, so desktop is a bad solution. The best option is to use the USB-drive.

After these easy manipulations, you may just press the “Search” button (it turns active if you specified all required parameters). The recovery process may take several hours, so keep patient. It is recommended not to use the computer during this term, since you may overwrite some files you are intending to recover.

Frequently Asked Questions