The disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for acquiring an electronic file. The method for acquiring an electronic file includes: generating a first encryption key according to login information of a user of a terminal device at the time of logging in to a platform server and a first identifier corresponding to an information providing server that provides the electronic file; sending a first request message for acquiring the electronic file to the platform server; receiving the electronic file encrypted using a second encryption key and returned by the platform server according to the login information and the first request message; and generating a first decryption key according to the first encryption key, and decrypting, using the first decryption key, the electronic file encrypted using the second encryption key, so as to obtain the decrypted electronic file. By means of the disclosed embodiments, private information concerning a user in an electronic file is not leaked by a platform server. Since a terminal device can obtain a decryption key without the need to perform key exchange with an information providing server, use by the user of the terminal device is facilitated.