eFax email virus: what it is and how to remove it

eFax email virus is the phishing campaign that has been reported a few times for delivering cocktails of malware and particular threats. This deceptive notification contains the message with statements about fax pages and includes links to malicious documents or sites that trigger the drop pf trojan script or additional download of the malware.

Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

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eFax email virus: efax email scam
eFax email virus as our 2020 report showed it.

EFax email virus: summary

NameeFax email virus
TypeMalware spreading campaign
PurposeThe misleading email notifications try to trick people into enabling additional content and loading malware on the machine, so the virus can run designed processes not he infected computer
SpreadsTrojans, password-stealing malware, banking malware,[2] spyware, and remote access trojans
TacticsThe notification supposedly informal people about pending pages from an unknown sender and encourages users to click on the link that should reveal the documents and fax pages with alleged messages and important files
DangerThere are tons of dangerous types of malware that email campaigns like this can spread around and features of stealthily intruders can differ from malware droppers to credential-stealers
Removal

Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 7 more facts
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
DamageNot recorded in the old report
SymptomsAn unknown program in Installed apps
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
First seen21 April 2020
Facts checked7 October 2026

What eFax email virus does on an infected PC

From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since

Do not click on any links or files when you are not sure about the email

There are tons of variants of such email campaigns and different scams that use decent logos, text, contact information, and other features that resemble legitimate companies and services.

Scammers want you to click on zip files, Dropbox account links, open other websites, and download attachments. Some AV engines can detect suspicious files or links and indicate that the email is not safe, but you should run such applications on the machine more often and check particular notifications.

If you are familiar with the company or the service, you may not even consider the notification as a scam and open the message immediately.

You need to pay attention to details all the time and consider any email a possible threat since these scams are more and more popular. Delete the email if it is suspicious in the first place, and you are not expecting to get any financial documents from the service.

Warning: Do not click on links or reply to any messages that are not expected.

Try to look out for red flags and suspicious features like typos, grammar mistakes, and incorrect company emails. When receiving documents, look for a message that is specific - don't just open files shared with the generic message from the document sharing application or service.

From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since

Clean the machine from my traces of the eFax scam campaign

eFax email trojan can be one of the malware types that this scam distributes, so you need to find the intruder to get rid of it.

There is no other way to delete a virus if you cannot see it as a program running on the computer. Trojans, spyware, and other malware are not PUPs or tools that can show up on the screen and indicate that there is something wrong.

To remove eFax email virus, you need a proper security tool like or , an anti-malware application that can check various places of the machine and find malicious or even possibly dangerous programs, files, and scripts. You are left with a few options after the full system scan because AV engines show you the results and offer to delete or quarantine malware yourself.

When the process of eFax email virus removal becomes difficult, you can be sure that trojan is affecting particular processes and features of the system, so it is persistent. For that reason, you can reboot PC in Safe Mode and then run the anti-malware program. Also, for the damage that the virus leaves behind, try . Repair anything corrupted to a smooth working machine.

[GI=method-1]Try Safe Mode reboot for eFax email virus removal

From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on eFax email virus

  • eFax email virus removal cannot be easy because you need to terminate all the programs that may end up on the computer and all the files that can possibly affect the performance.
  • ANti-malware tools need to be used, so all the parts of the machine get checked for anything suspicious or malicious
  • System repair tools like or PC optimizing applications are needed for virus damage and any affected or possibly corrupted files that can significantly diminish your time on the computer in the future
  • Subject: eFax You have an unread 4 page(s) fax.
  • Your fax can be viewed online, on our website, by visiting: hxxps://www.efax.com/ For additional assistance, please visit our help center at hxxps://www.efax.com/efax-help-center Thank you for choosing eFax
  • Subject: efax Fax Message[Caller-ID: 1-543-276-0865] You have received a 1 page fax *The reference number for this fax is at did-1400166434-31309133229-154.
  • Subject: You have a new fax from eFax!
  • Faxing Simplified You have a new fax from eFax!
  • Thank you for choosing eFax!
  • Sincerely, The eFax Team P.S.
  • Too busy to answer all your business calls?
  • Let eVoice answer, manage and route your phone calls 24/7.
  • Try a Free 30-Day Trial Today!

How eFax email virus got on your PC

From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since

eFax email virus is the phishing campaign that has been reported a few times for delivering cocktails of malware and particular threats.

This deceptive notification contains the message with statements about fax pages and includes links to malicious documents or sites that trigger the drop pf trojan script or additional download of the malware. This scam campaign relies on the legitimate eFax company name that us faxing service widely used all over the world.

Impersonating other companies and services is a common technique used by malicious actors, so this variant of spam is pretty traditional. Users who use fax machines and such services, receive fax pages across email and mobile devices on a daily basis. So customers can fall for such trick easily due to the fact that such messages are commonly received.

eFax scams, in particular, include file attachments that contain Microsoft Excel spreadsheets or ZIP files, Word documents. Victims need to enable malicious macros on such documents, and that is easily done with misleading text and buttons encouraging to allow the content and prompt the information that is supposedly important.

Executable files and other triggers automatically download the Dridex trojan or Remote Manipulator System Remote Access Tool, as some news reports state. There are tons of possible outcomes when the user loads the malicious file on the computer because malware creators can design the virus to steal information, spread additional malware, or gather other types of data.

This eFax spam campaign tricks users into opening the email and link or the directly attached file by stating that there is a number of unopened fax messages. To access them, people need to visit the site via the provided link and download the MS Office document that supposedly contains important files.

Any random file name can be used on these documents or spreadsheets, so the user may not even expect anything suspicious, especially when these are many legitimate companies listed on the email, and the sender resembles the eFax platform.

eFax email virus is the brandjacking scam that includes email fraud with the exploitation of a well-known brand name. The legitimate name and common type of notification help to convince people into opening files or links provided on the email.

The recipient is informed that there are pages he or she forgot to check. Then the link leading to the phishing page is shown that encourages you to click on the button that should open the document directly.

Once the victim of the eFax email virus follows the suggested process, the page carries forged eFax branding as the email and other messages. The user is required to enter the login credentials that can be gathered this way, and people behind the scam can easily misuse data for identity theft or different campaigns.

eFax scams were noticed on different occasions, and none of them have the same email addresses, so those are formed randomly to resemble the company. In most cases, the eFax comes in from, and random characters or numbers follow. Even when the email includes a legitimate contact information window the only working part is the hyperlink leading to a phishing page and the initial email address.

eFax spam campaigns adopt several features to trick people:

eFax email virus is only one of many brand-impersonation scams since these types of campaigns became more popular. Criminals try to use the hard work of others, so the popularity of a company allows them to target customers of known brands.

Recipient of the spam email more likely has a relationship with the service and falls for the trick without any suspicions. It works instantly in favor of a malicious actor.

These malicious emails are always different, but experts note that they may look like these examples:

eFax spam focuses on companies that use the software and can get this scammy email. There are tons of possible innocent recipients who can get the email and fall for the malicious campaign without even noticing the red flags. This is the worst thing because there are many scenarios that can happen after the execution of a malicious file from the phishing site or a document.

You need to remove eFax email virus as soon as possible because criminals behind the scam can spread password-stealing malware, trojans or even ransomware, spyware, and banking credentials-targeting threats. Criminals continue to register email addresses and domains with napes of government departments and companies, so people receive backdoor trojans and other dangerous threats unsuspected.

eFax email virus can include chain infections that trigger one malicious script after the other and once you allow the malicious macros and execute data-stealing malware or a spying tool, you may at the same time receive the cryptocurrency mining virus or ransomware.

Any intruder compromises the security of the machine and can lead to serious privacy issues and result in financial loss. eFax scams resemble Brexit email virus, Sendinc email virus, FedEx tracking email scam, Deloitte email virus, JPMorgan Chase email virus, Bank of America email virus.

In most cases of such scams, the customer is not the only one that faces the risk because wide-spreading emails affect the number of people that are linked with huge companies. When the network of service gets infected the damage is exponentially bigger.

eFax spam can lead to huge businesses that enable employees to check their personal emails on work computers, suffer from cyber attacks. There is an important issue to have a multi-layered strategy to ensure the security of the company and personal data. Significantly reduced risks of malware infections can help protect the network.

Otherwise, you will face the difficulty of eFax email virus removal process. Even though this is an email campaign, the malware that is distributed can run in the background and affect various processes of the computer, so the full system scan is mandatory.

You cannot get rid of all the malicious programs and files without employing a proper anti-malware tool. So rely on anti-malware application and run the software on your device, so all the parts of the virus can get terminated.

Unfortunately, you may not be sure when this eFax email virus ended up on your machine and for how long the malware may already be running. This fact also means that your device can get affected and significantly damaged behind your back and without you noticing.

When the virus damage is left behind, infection may repeat itself, or your device may still work poorly even after the virus termination. Check the computer using or similar PC repair tools for affected files or system corruption and make sure to double-check to be sure.

  • branding;
  • logo;
  • official contact spreadsheet;
  • trademarked content;
  • reference number;
  • eFax website.
eFax email virus: screenshot
The message as our 2020 report captured it.
eFax email virus: efax emails spam
The message as our 2020 report captured it.

How to remove eFax email virus

A loader's job is to install other malware, so treat the PC as infected with more than one program until the scans are clean.

  1. Step 1: Delete scheduled tasks that bring it back

    Programs like eFax email virus add a scheduled task so they return after an uninstall or reopen a page at every sign-in. Start Task Scheduler, open Task Scheduler Library and sort by Last Run Time to see what ran recently.

    On the Actions tab, a program in a user folder, a script or a web address is a warning sign; right-click such a task and choose Delete.

    Tasks with names copying Google, Edge or Windows updaters but pointing to an odd folder are typical. The tool looks the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Task Scheduler Library with a task selected and its Actions tab showing the program it starts
    Windows 11: Task Scheduler Library, the task selected, the Actions tab shows the file it runs.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows

  2. Step 2: Remove it from startup

    Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps (Windows 11) or the Startup tab (Windows 10). Disable entries you do not recognise, especially ones with no publisher or with a name that copies a Windows component.

    Right-click an entry and choose Open file location to see where it runs from: programs in %AppData% or %Temp% deserve a closer look. Some entries are not listed there but in the registry Run keys, which the procedure below shows how to check.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix

  3. Step 3: Delete the folders left behind

    Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.

    Press Windows + R, type %LocalAppData% and press Enter, then do the same for %AppData% and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after eFax email virus, its publisher or created on the day the problem started.

    Delete those folders, and check C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) too.

    If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows

  4. Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan

    A scan finds the parts of eFax email virus that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.

    Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.

    It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

  5. Step 5: Change passwords from another device and sign out other sessions

    EFax email virus can copy saved passwords, cookies and session tokens and send them out in seconds, so cleaning the PC does not undo the theft.

    Change your passwords on a device that was never infected, starting with the e-mail account, since every other reset goes through it. On each account, end all other sessions and check the recovery e-mail, phone number and forwarding rules.

    Then turn on two-step verification. Sign in on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC again only after the offline scan is clean.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Manual removal using Safe Mode

Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.

Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking

Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.

Windows 7 / Vista / XP

  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.Windows 7/XP

Windows 10 / Windows 8

  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot.Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options.Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings.Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.Enable safe mode

Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes

Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

Step 4. Delete virus files

Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following: Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files
  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter): %AppData%
    %LocalAppData%
    %ProgramData%
    %WinDir%

After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.

After removal: passwords, accounts and prevention

Your passwords after eFax email virus

Removing eFax email virus does not undo what it may already have sent out while the PC showed EFax email virus in the list of installed apps.

Treat saved browser passwords and logged-in sessions on this PC as known to the attacker.

From another device, change the e-mail password first and end all its sessions. Then do the same for the bank, PayPal, Microsoft, Google and Apple accounts. Stolen session cookies keep working after a password change until you sign out everywhere.

Move crypto to a new wallet created on a clean device. A step-by-step order for every kind of account is in our guide to account security after an infection.

Protect your privacy - employ a VPN

There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.

However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.

Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.

No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool

If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.

In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.

If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.

Questions about eFax email virus

What is eFax email virus and why is it on my PC?

EFax email virus is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.

Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need eFax email virus, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.

EFax email virus will not uninstall. What can I do?

First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove eFax email virus from Installed apps there.

If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.

Should I check my other computers too?

Yes, it takes little time and removes doubt. EFax email virus itself usually stays on one PC, but the download that carried it may have been copied to other computers, shared drives may hold the same installer, and an attacker who had access could have tried saved passwords on other devices.

Run a full scan on every Windows PC in the home or office, check shared folders for the original download, and change Wi-Fi and router passwords if they were stored on the infected machine.

How do I know if my PC has eFax email virus?

Often you do not, which is the point of a trojan. Possible signs are an antivirus alert naming eFax email virus or a generic trojan detection, unknown programs or scheduled tasks, processes with random names in Task Manager, browser extensions you did not add, security settings turned off, slower performance, or account alerts about logins from unknown places.

The reliable check is a full scan followed by Microsoft Defender's offline scan. If you recently ran a crack, a fake installer or a command a website told you to paste, scan even without symptoms.

I found AnyDesk or ScreenConnect that I did not install. Is that eFax email virus?

Not necessarily eFax email virus, but it is a warning sign. These are legitimate remote support tools, and criminals use them as ready-made backdoors, especially after tech support scams or fake invoice calls.

If you did not install it and no one you trust set it up, uninstall it, change passwords from a clean device and check your bank account. If someone connected to your PC through it, follow the steps for remote access trojans and consider a Windows reset. Installed apps sorted by date shows when it appeared.

My antivirus was on. How did a trojan get past it?

Antivirus programs see a file only when it is written or run, and criminals test each new build against popular scanners before release. Detection catches up within hours or days, which is often after the first victims ran it.

Archives with passwords, installers that fetch the malware later, and scripts run through PowerShell make the job harder. That is why behaviour such as downloading cracks or pasting commands matters more than any setting. Keep Windows and Defender updated, and turn on Reputation-based protection in App & browser control.

Should I report eFax email virus?

Report it if you lost money, if accounts were taken over, if you are a business, or if the trojan came through a scam call. A police or national cybercrime report gives you a reference number for your bank and insurer and helps link cases.

You do not need to report a trojan that antivirus blocked before it ran. Before reporting, write down the dates, the detection name, file names and any messages or transactions linked to the attack; screenshots of antivirus alerts are useful evidence. The country list is in the report section above.

Why can't I find eFax email virus in antivirus databases?

Because it is new or because it is listed under a different name. Antivirus companies name threats after the family they belong to, and a program that appears as eFax email virus on your PC may carry a generic or unrelated label in their databases.

Many new samples are first detected only by behaviour, without a family name. What you saw, EFax email virus in the list of installed apps, is enough to act on:

  • end the program
  • remove its startup entry
  • run a Microsoft Defender offline scan
  • secure your accounts

A detection name from a scan is worth noting for later.

Do I need to reinstall Windows to get rid of eFax email virus?

Usually not. A thorough clean-up is enough when the offline scan finds nothing afterwards and you do not see EFax email virus in the list of installed apps again. A reset is the safer choice if an attacker had remote control, if security tools were switched off, or if detections come back after every clean-up.

Windows 11 can reset itself without a USB stick under Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC. Copy documents and photos out first and scan the copies. A reset does not change passwords or undo stolen data, so the account steps still apply.

Will Fortect remove eFax email virus?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For eFax email virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

More removal guides

Questions and experiences: eFax email virus

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