Witch EXPOSED: .witch Files, readme.txt, and cozypandas@morke.ru
Written by: Lapain Epuran
Published on:
You open Documents the way you did yesterday. The first photo should still be 1.jpg. The snapshot should still be 2.png. The vacation shot should still be vacation.jpg. The invoice should still be invoice-2026.pdf. Instead every familiar name has a second ending tacked on. 1.jpg is now 1.jpg.witch. 2.png is now 2.png.witch. A small text file named readme.txt is sitting in the same folder, as if it has always belonged there.
That is the trap, not a glitch.
This page is for the hour those names appear. It is not a miracle key. It is a map of the trap, so the note does not become your incident plan.
Encrypted files after Witch. The .witch names and readme.txt are the tell.
Overview
Witch ransomware locks the files first. Then it keeps the old name and the old type, and hangs .witch on the end. Then it drops readme.txt and talks like a recovery desk. The note is a storefront. It shouts that your network has been penetrated. It claims every file on each host is locked with a strong algorithm. It says the operators exclusively have decryption software, and that no decryption software is available in the public. It tells you not to reset or shut down, not to rename or move the locked files and the readme files, and not to delete the readme files. For decrypt info it points you at cozypandas@morke.ru. It tells you to send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC, which is a $25 ask, and it prints one Monero wallet and one Bitcoin wallet.
If you are staring at a pile of .witch files and that text note, you are in a ransom incident, not a broken disk and not a Windows pop-up. The folder is the evidence. The note is a checkout. Stay with the folder, not with the script.
The first tell is the rename. In the sample used for this page, 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.witch. 2.png becomes 2.png.witch. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.witch. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.witch. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.witch. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.witch. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it. Windows may call the type a WITCH File and offer a useless “choose an app” box. An app cannot talk locked bytes back into a JPEG.
The second tell is the note. After the files are locked, the malware drops readme.txt into the same folders. README sounds like documentation. A .txt ending is the type Windows already trusts. Put them together and the first English you can still read after the photos break is a sales flyer. The flyer is meant to be opened. It is not meant to be trusted.
The body of that sample is short on purpose, and the typing is sloppy on purpose. Your network has been penetrated. All files on each host have been encrypted with a strong algorithm.any other methods may damage encrypted data but not recover. We exclusively have decryption software for your situationNo decryption software is available in the public. DO NOT RESET OR SHUTDOWN files may be damaged. DO NOT RENAME OR MOVE the encrypted and readme files. DO NOT DELETE readme files. This may lead to the impossibility of recovery of the certain files. To get info (decrypt your files) contact us at cozypandas@morke.ru. Send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC to this wallet. Then the two strings. XMR = 44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW. BTC = bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6. That is the whole costume.
Copy those contacts and wallets exactly. Do not tidy a character. Do not add a space. Do not guess a different inbox because pandas looks cute. The printed mailbox is cozypandas@morke.ru. The printed Monero string is 44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW. The printed Bitcoin string is bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6. Those marks are how you prove this was this strain. They are not a checkout you should complete.
That is the whole pitch. A locked folder of .witch names. A readme.txt file that talks like a network incident brief. A penetrated shout. A monopoly claim that only they can decrypt. Three DO NOT lines. One inbox. A $25 ask in XMR or BTC. Two printed wallets and no others. There is no leak claim. There is no Session ID. There is no onion site. There is no second inbox. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to mail that inbox today because a text file told you to. This locker is also not the old Witchcraft Cash adware. A pop-up brand and a .witch file ending are not the same incident.
The .witch name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. This one uses .witch. The extra cruelty is how readable the listing stays. You do not have to decode anything. You can still see 1.jpg inside 1.jpg.witch. You can still see 2.png inside 2.png.witch. You can still see the invoice year. You can still see the word taxes. The familiar words are still in the folder. The files are not familiar anymore.
Do not treat that readable name as a fix. Do not strip .witch off the end and expect Photos or Excel to open the file. Do not run a bulk “extension fixer” you found in an ad. The name is a label. The lock is in the content. Editing the label can make a later trusted tool have a harder time matching the file to what it was. Leave the locked copies as they are until you have a clean machine and a plan that does not start in a criminal inbox.
The extra ending also does advertising. Anyone who sees vacation.jpg.witch next to readme.txt can pretend they already have your case. A later fake helper will quote the extension back to you as if that were expertise. The extension is public. It is sitting in the folder. Quoting it proves nothing except that they can read a listing.
readme.txt is a sales floor, not a help file
The ransom note is a plain text file with the most ordinary name on a PC. readme.txt wants the first click after the panic. Plenty of real software drops a readme. This one uses that habit against you. It is meant to be the first English you can still read when the photos will not open.
Double-clicking it opens Notepad. That is why a panicked first click feels like opening the help page. It is not help. It is the demand, written so it looks official enough to follow. The filename is built to look like paperwork. README. A .txt ending Windows already trusts. Paperwork is easier to obey than a threat, especially when the threat is spelled like a rushed intern wrote it.
Keep the file on disk. Then close it. Do not treat it as a set of steps you should follow. Do not tidy the filename. Do not rename it to “the witch note” when you write the incident down. Copy readme.txt the way you would copy a serial off a stolen laptop. That string is how a responder matches this locker. It is not a coupon you redeem by mailing cozypandas@morke.ru.
Your network has been penetrated is a shout, not a lab report
The first line of the sample is not a diagnosis. It is a headline. Your network has been penetrated does the same job a fake breaking-news banner does on a supplement page. It names the disaster in a voice that sounds like a corporate breach even if the machine is a home PC with one user. You are supposed to stop thinking and start obeying.
The shout is also a brand. Later search ads will quote it. Later “helpers” will paste it so they sound close to your folder. Anyone can copy a headline. Copying Your network has been penetrated does not mean they can reverse .witch. It means they read the same note you did, or they read a screenshot of it.
The next sentence keeps the costume going. All files on each host have been encrypted with a strong algorithm. Host is a server word. Each host is a network word. On a laptop that never ran a server, that language is theater. It is meant to make one Documents folder feel like a whole company outage. It is still one locker dropping readme.txt next to 1.jpg.witch and 2.png.witch.
Strong algorithm is a costume, not a key in your hand
The note claims the files were encrypted using a strong algorithm. It does not name AES. It does not name RSA. It does not name a key length. Strong is the whole lab report. Then it glues the scare to the next sentence without a space: algorithm.any other methods may damage encrypted data but not recover. The missing space is not a puzzle. It is how this flyer was typed. Keep the ugly line as evidence. Do not clean it up so it looks more professional before you show it to anyone.
What the note is actually selling is helplessness. If other methods damage the data, then their mail is the only aisle. If they exclusively have decryption software for your situation, then $25 starts to feel like the last remaining lever. Naming a strong algorithm does not put a key on your desk. It does not prove the implementation. It does not prove they still have a key. It does not prove they will send one if you write cozypandas@morke.ru.
The monopoly line is the same scare with worse punctuation. We exclusively have decryption software for your situationNo decryption software is available in the public. Two claims, one missing space. Public here means “anyone but us.” That is a sales sentence. It is not a reason to start mailing keys into an inbox they own. It is also not a reason to hunt a “witch decryptor” in ads. A tool that promises to reverse a strong algorithm because a ransom note printed the words is selling the same fear in a different window.
cozypandas@morke.ru is checkout, not support
The printed contact is cozypandas@morke.ru. Copy that string exactly. Do not tidy it. Do not add a space. Do not guess cozypanda without the s. Do not guess a .com because .ru looks scary, or because it looks like a typo. The note prints it as the decrypt aisle. It is an attacker mailbox, not a verified help desk, not a company, and not a person you can leave a review for.
Do not open a fresh mail account because the note said to. Do not send a test file to prove you are a real victim. Do not paste a folder listing into a new message. Do not argue about the $25 price as if a discount were available. Those addresses belong to the people who locked the files. Writing them is the product.
The handle is branding, the same way .witch is branding. Cozy pandas is a soft name on a hard demand. Cute is how a $25 ask hopes you will lower your guard. Anyone can stand up a lookalike inbox after a wave of locked folders. Writing the first message does not start a warranty. It starts a conversation you cannot enforce. The $25 line is how they make that first message feel like a finished purchase. A finished purchase is how a larger bill can still appear later, even when the flyer never printed a second $ figure.
$25 in XMR or BTC is a price tag, not a repair
The printed ransom is 25 dollars in XMR or BTC. That is a $25 ask. The number is small enough, in attacker math, to feel “reasonable” next to a tax folder, a photo library, or a weekend of lost work. It is small enough that a person who would never pay a six-figure crew still thinks, maybe this one time. Cheap is a tactic. It is not a discount from a vendor who will still be there on Monday.
$25 does not buy a contract. It does not buy a clean machine. It does not buy a guarantee that vacation.jpg.witch will open. It buys a coin transfer to people who already locked your files, plus a mail thread they can drop whenever they like. The CISA StopRansomware Guide is blunt about this kind of squeeze. Paying does not ensure the files come back, does not ensure the systems are clean, and does not ensure anyone on the other side keeps a promise.
The note already did the quoting. Your job, in their script, is checkout. Do not complete it. Do not “test” a smaller amount to see if they answer. A test payment is still a payment. It still tells them this victim pays. Do not invent a second victim $ amount because a later chat asks for more. The published flyer printed $25 and stopped. This page will not invent another price.
The two wallets are still a checkout
The note says Send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC to this wallet, then prints two strings. Monero first. Bitcoin second. XMR = 44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW. BTC = bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6. Copy them only into an incident record. Do not type them into an exchange. Do not photograph them into a group chat. Do not paste them into a second site that offers to “check if the wallet is real.”
Two coins are not a kindness. They are two doors on the same shop. XMR is there so a payment is harder to follow. BTC is there so a person who only knows Bitcoin still has a box to fill. The flyer still asks for $25 either way. It does not print a third wallet. It does not print a Lightning invoice. It does not print a cash-app handle. Do not invent those extras because a comment said “real crews always have more addresses.”
A printed wallet also gives copycats a job. They will sell a “corrected” string. They will say the Monero address in readme.txt is stale. They will ask you to mail cozypandas@morke.ru first, then paste what they send. That is still the same shop, or a second shop standing in the same doorway. The public flyer already named both wallets. Do not finish a third one for them.
Do not reset, rename, or delete is how they keep you still
The note stacks three commands. DO NOT RESET OR SHUTDOWN files may be damaged. DO NOT RENAME OR MOVE the encrypted and readme files. DO NOT DELETE readme files. Then the punchline: this may lead to the impossibility of recovery of the certain files. That grammar is the flyer. The point is not grammar. The point is to freeze you in the chair with readme.txt still open.
Criminal shops love “do not reboot” warnings because reboot is how a lot of people try to get a stuck PC back. They love “do not rename” because renaming is how a panicked person tries to undo .witch. They love “do not delete the readme” because the readme is the checkout. Leave the locked names as they are. Keep readme.txt. That overlap with their command is coincidence in the result, not obedience in the motive. You keep the artifacts as evidence. You do not keep them because a ransom note threatened you.
Do not test the threat by deleting one copy of the note “to see.” Do not test it by renaming 1.jpg.witch back to 1.jpg for a minute. Do not power-cycle in a panic because the flyer told you not to, and do not refuse a later clean-machine plan because the flyer told you not to. The note is not in charge of the incident. The people whose files lived on the machine still need a real plan. The text file does not get a vote.
This is not the old Witchcraft Cash adware
Witch is an ordinary English word. Games, shops, and old adware campaigns have used witch language for years. This page is not a smear of any of them. If a program you actually installed happens to share the word, that does not make it this locker. This locker is the one that appends .witch, drops readme.txt, and points you at cozypandas@morke.ru for a $25 XMR or BTC send.
There is already a published adware guide for a different mess: Remove Done.Witchcraftcash.com Ads. That older page is about browser pop-ups and a Witchcraft Cash brand, not about files ending in .witch. Do not hunt a browser extension because this ransom note used a similar English word. Do not uninstall a game called Witch because a locker stole the syllable. Do not treat the old adware writeup as a decryptor for 1.jpg.witch and 2.png.witch.
A later helper will blur that line on purpose. They will say “Witch files” as if they were talking about the old pop-up. They will ask you to install a “witchcraft cleaner” that is just more malware. Stay with the extension. Stay with readme.txt. Stay with cozypandas@morke.ru and the two printed wallets. Those are the strain marks. A shared English word is not.
There is no leak line, Session ID, or onion door
Some lockers add a second squeeze. They claim they already copied mail, payroll, or photos, and they will publish the stash if you do not pay. This note does not. It does not name a leak site. It does not print a Session ID. It does not print an onion link. It does not print a Telegram handle. It does not print a second inbox. Do not invent those extras because other families use them. The published flyer talks about a penetrated network, a strong algorithm, three DO NOT lines, cozypandas@morke.ru, and $25 in XMR or BTC. That is enough theater. Leave the rest uninvented.
A missing leak claim is not proof they stole nothing. It is also not proof they stole everything. It is a missing sentence. A stranger who later adds a leak story, a countdown, a Session chat, or a bigger $ sticker is rewriting the flyer so they can stand in the aisle. The original shop already named the contact. It already named the price. It already named both wallets. It did not need a leak to get you to type.
How The Attack Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Brand the names with .witch. Drop a readme that shouts penetrated and names a strong algorithm. Forbid reset, rename, and delete. Point the scared person at cozypandas@morke.ru. Print $25 in XMR or BTC. Print one Monero wallet and one Bitcoin wallet. Skip the leak. Skip the onion. Skip the Session ID. Then wait for someone else to sell a “better” wallet.
1. The lock keeps the old name so you recognize the loss
Witch encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then appends .witch. That is why 1.jpg is still readable as 1.jpg.witch, and why 2.png is still readable as 2.png.witch. The operators want you to inventory the damage in seconds. They want you to see the vacation photo, the invoice, the tax sheet, and the family video in one glance. A coded filename can confuse you. A readable filename makes you feel the theft.
If only one folder looks wrong, do not assume the rest of the disk is safe. Ransomware walks trees. It hits Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads, and any drive letter it can reach, including a USB stick you forgot was plugged in. Unplug extra disks. Do not plug in a copy “just to check.” Checking is how the extra copy gets the same .witch ending.
Double-clicking a renamed file does not bring the photo back. The thumbnail may already look broken. Excel may ask for a workbook that is still sitting in the same folder, only the bytes inside are no longer a workbook. That broken open is the first proof. The second proof is the extra ending. Together they are enough. You do not need to mail cozypandas@morke.ru to confirm what you are looking at.
2. readme.txt turns a break-in into a ticket
Once the names are branded, the malware needs a voice. readme.txt is that voice. It sits in the same folders as the locked files so the first sort puts help next to harm. On many machines a text file sorts near the top, especially with a short lowercase name. You open it because it looks like the only thing that still speaks English.
The body is short enough to finish before a relative walks into the room. Penetrated. Strong algorithm. No public decryptor. Do not reset. Do not rename. Do not delete. Contact this inbox. Send $25 in XMR or BTC to these wallets. Each beat closes a door. The shout closes “maybe Windows just glitched.” The algorithm line closes “maybe it is a simple rename.” The inbox closes “maybe there is a local tool.” The $25 line closes “maybe I should wait overnight” by handing you a finished price that looks small.
Notice what the note does not give you. It does not give you a company, a refund policy, or a way to prove the other side will ever send a key. It does not give you a deadline. It does not give you a test decrypt. It does not give you a unique ID. It gives you a tone that says this is already decided. That tone is the product. Read the file as a sales flyer. Then close it. Keep it on disk.
3. Your network has been penetrated is the opening shout
The first line of the sample is a headline, not a technician. Your network has been penetrated names the disaster in a voice stolen from incident response. You are supposed to feel outmatched before you have even reached the contact line. Network words do that work. Host words do that work. Together they make the inbox feel like the only adult move left.
The shout also travels. Search ads will recycle it. Commenters will paste it. A later “Witch helper” will recite it so they sound close to your Documents folder. Reciting a headline is not a decryptor. It is proof they can read. Keep the line as an identifier when you describe the incident. Do not treat it as a diagnosis you have to obey.
If the shout is sitting in more than one folder, that is normal for this family. Lockers drop the same text in many places so you cannot miss it. Finding five copies of readme.txt is not five incidents. It is one incident with a loud flyer. Keep one clean copy as evidence. You do not need to open every copy. You do not need to compare them in mail to cozypandas@morke.ru.
4. No public decryptor is the monopoly claim
After the algorithm line, the note claims exclusive control. We exclusively have decryption software for your situation. No decryption software is available in the public. That pair is meant to end the argument you have not even started. If only they have a tool, then their mailbox is not optional. If nothing exists in public, then waiting feels naive.
Treat it as attacker copy, not as a catalog. Naming exclusive software does not prove they wrote a decryptor that still works. It does not prove they will send it for $25. It does not prove a later trusted project will never publish a free tool. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain today. That fact is not a reason to pay. It is a reason to stop treating readme.txt as a store.
People hear “no public software” and go looking for a matching “Witch decryptor” in ads anyway. That search is the next trap. A site that promises to reverse .witch because a ransom note said only criminals can do it is selling the same fear in a different window. Leave the locked files alone. Do not feed them to a mystery app that asked for admin rights because a text file claimed a monopoly.
5. The three DO NOTs keep you in the chair
DO NOT RESET OR SHUTDOWN. DO NOT RENAME OR MOVE. DO NOT DELETE readme files. Three bans, one goal. A person who is afraid to power down is a person who will type. A person who is afraid to touch 1.jpg.witch is a person who will hunt cozypandas@morke.ru from the same machine. A person who is afraid to remove readme.txt is a person who will keep the checkout on the desktop.
Do not treat those lines as a technician. They are still a flyer. They are still sitting on top of files that already end in .witch. The recovery-impossibility punchline is there so a normal instinct (reboot, rename, tidy the junk text files) feels like you personally wrecked the photos. That guilt is useful to them. It is not useful to you.
This page will not walk you through killing the locker process. It will tell you the note is not in charge of the incident. Keep the locked names. Keep readme.txt. Those are evidence steps. They are not obedience to DO NOT DELETE. The people who locked the files do not get to write your runbook.
6. cozypandas@morke.ru is the door they want you to walk through
The recovery step on the note is a mailbox. To get info (decrypt your files) contact us at cozypandas@morke.ru. That is the whole door. It looks like support because support uses mail. Criminal shops use mail too, because a thread is where a $25 sticker becomes a negotiation and a locked photo becomes a sample they asked you to attach.
Do not write that inbox. Do not create a throwaway account “just to see.” Do not send a screenshot of Explorer to prove the lock. They already chose the extension. They already chose the note text. A photo of 1.jpg.witch sitting next to 2.png.witch does not make you a verified customer. It makes you a person still following the flyer.
If someone later says they will “talk to Witch for you” through that same address, that is a broker pitch. Brokers need you in the same funnel. You do not owe them a seat. Report the incident through official desks. Let counsel decide if contact is ever required for a specific legal reason. That decision is not yours to make from Notepad at midnight.
7. $25 is cheap on purpose
Send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC to this wallet. Other families use 48-hour clocks and rising $ figures. This one uses a small, round number. $25 feels like a parking ticket. Parking tickets get paid. That is the point. Cheap is how a person who would never fund a crew still opens an exchange.
Do not add a clock the note never printed. Do not start a personal countdown because a forum post said “they only wait two days.” Do not send a small file because a later message offered a test decrypt the original screen never printed. The published flyer did not print a deadline and did not print a demo. Leave those uninvented.
Silence is not rude here. Silence is how you stay out of their queue. A relative, an insurer, or an incident lead can still talk on a phone. The people who locked the files do not get a seat in that call. $25 is still a ransom. A calm sentence is still a demand.
8. Two coins, one ask, no extra wallets
Plenty of lockers print one coin so you can pay without thinking. This one prints two. XMR = 44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW. BTC = bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6. The ask is still $25. The extra coin is not a sale. It is coverage. If you do not have Monero, Bitcoin is waiting. If you are afraid Bitcoin is traceable, Monero is waiting.
This page will not invent a third wallet to finish their sentence. It will not invent a Session ID. It will not invent an .onion link. It will not invent a second inbox. If a later screenshot shows extra lines, treat those extras as a different flyer or as a rewrite. The note used for this page names cozypandas@morke.ru, $25, and those two strings. Do not complete a checkout they left off the page, and do not pay the checkout they printed.
A missing extra also gives copycats a job. They will sell the missing string. They will say they have the operator’s real address. They will ask you to message cozypandas@morke.ru first, then paste what they send. That is still the same shop, or a second shop standing in the same doorway. The public flyer already filled both coin lines. Do not add a third.
9. Third parties will sell a Witch conversation
After a ransomware incident, search results fill up with companies that say they can decrypt Witch or “all .witch files.” Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote readme.txt so they sound close to the case. They will mention a penetrated network. They will mention $25. They will mention cozypandas@morke.ru as if they already called the original crew. They will ask for a sample file, a remote-access session, or a deposit.
A demo that “unlocks one file” is not proof they can unlock the vacation photo. Anyone can open one junk file they control. Anyone can send you a wallet string that makes an exchange window appear. An exchange window is not Photos opening vacation.jpg again. If a later message skips the original inbox and asks for coin over ordinary mail, that is still the same market, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. Do not answer. Do not help them set a wallet the flyer already printed.
A real public decryptor, when one exists, shows up on an official project page that already existed before your incident. It does not need a $25 send. It does not need cozypandas@morke.ru. If the pitch is “we can decrypt, pay us first,” you are still in the market the ransomware created. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Until a trusted project publishes one, treat any site that says “we already have the Witch key” as a second sales pitch.
10. Payment and mailing that inbox close nothing
Paying a stranger for a private key is not a guarantee. The people who send the note can take the $25 and disappear. They can send a string that only makes a decryptor show an error. They can come back later and lock the same machine again. A mail thread makes that outcome easier, not harder. You cannot leave a review on a criminal inbox named after pandas.
Mailing cozypandas@morke.ru is the free version of the same dead end. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Starting a thread does not rebuild a JPEG. It only keeps you in their story while the rest of the disk still needs a real plan. Paying $25 in XMR to 44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW is still a payment to the people who locked family.mp4. Paying $25 in BTC to bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6 is the same payment in a different coin. It still funds the next copy of the same locker. It still does not produce a warranty.
If this is a company machine, tell counsel and your incident lead. If this is a home PC, tell the people whose files lived on it. Change passwords from a clean device. Watch bank and email alerts. Opening that inbox again is not useful work. Sending $25 is not useful work. It is the checkout, even when the number on the flyer looks small.
What To Do
Do not pay. Do not send that $25. Do not mail cozypandas@morke.ru. Do not send XMR to 44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW. Do not send BTC to bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6. Do not invent a leak site, a Session ID, an onion link, a second inbox, or another victim $ amount to finish readme.txt. Do not type a wallet from the page into an exchange, a “wallet checker,” or a form a stranger sends back. Do not send proof of payment. Do not send a test file. If you already sent a message before you found this page, stop there. Do not pay a deposit to “hold the original $25” for anyone who quotes the note. Do not treat the old Remove Done.Witchcraftcash.com Ads guide as a fix for this folder.
STEP 1: Use Rkill to terminate suspicious programs.
In this first step, we will download and run Rkill to terminate suspicious programs that may be running on your computer.
RKill is a program that was developed at BleepingComputer.com that attempts to terminate known malware processes so that your normal security software can then run and clean your computer of infections. When RKill runs it will kill malware processes and then removes incorrect executable associations and fixes policies that stop us from using certain tools.
Download Rkill.
You can download RKill to your computer from the below link. When at the download page, click on the Download Now button labeled iExplore.exe. We are downloading a renamed version of Rkill (iExplore.exe) because some malware will not allow processes to run unless they have a certain filename.
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new page from where you can download Rkill)
Run RKill.
After downloading, double-click the iExplore.exe icon to kill malicious processes. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder. The program may take some time to search for and end various malware programs.
When it is finished, the black window will close automatically and a log file will open. Do not restart your computer. Proceed to the next step in this guide.
STEP 2: Use Malwarebytes to remove Ransomware and Unwanted Programs
In this second step, we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present on your computer.
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan and clean your PC in just a few minutes.
Download Malwarebytes
Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.
(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)
Install Malwarebytes
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:
Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.
Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.
When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.
On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.
Enable “Scan for Rootkits”
Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the Settings gear icon on the left side of the screen.
In the settings menu, find “Scan for rootkits” and click the toggle so it turns blue.
Done? Click “Dashboard” in the left pane to return to the main screen.
Start the Scan
Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take several minutes. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.
Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.
Restart Your Computer
Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, your PC is clean and you can continue with the next steps in this guide.
STEP 3: Use HitmanPro to remove Rootkits and other Malware
In this third step, while the computer is in normal back, we will download and run a scan with HitmanPro to remove Trojans, rootkits, and other malicious programs.
HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner — it’s designed to catch what your main antivirus might have missed. Instead of relying on a single detection engine, it checks the behavior of files in the locations where malware usually hides. Anything suspicious gets sent to the cloud, where it’s analyzed by two of the best antivirus engines available: Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
Good news: scanning is completely free, with no limits. You only need a license when it’s time to remove what was found — and even then, you can activate a free one-time 30-day trial to clean your PC at no cost. (A full license is $24.95 per year for 1 PC.)
Download HitmanPro
Click the button below to download HitmanPro. Remember — the scan is free, so you have nothing to lose by checking your PC.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file: “hitmanpro.exe” on 32-bit Windows, or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” on 64-bit Windows.
If a User Account Control pop-up asks whether HitmanPro can make changes to your device, click “Yes” to continue.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts
On the HitmanPro start screen, click “Next” to begin the system scan. No lengthy setup required — it goes straight to work.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
HitmanPro will now check your computer for malicious programs. This usually takes just a few minutes thanks to its cloud-based scanning.
Review the Results and Click “Next”
When the scan is done, HitmanPro will show you everything it found. Click “Next” to remove the detected threats.
Click “Activate Free License”
To remove the malicious files, click the “Activate free license” button. This starts your free 30-day trial — no payment details needed — and unlocks the full cleanup.
When the removal is complete, HitmanPro will show a summary of everything it cleaned. Click Next, then click Reboot if prompted. If there’s no reboot prompt, just click Close — your PC is clean.
STEP 4: Use AdwCleaner to remove Malicious Browser Extensions and Adware
In this next step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and unwanted browser extensions from your computer.
AdwCleaner is a free on-demand scanner that specializes in adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars — the exact threats that mainstream antivirus programs often miss. It also includes tools that repair the damage malware leaves behind, like hijacked browser settings and malicious policies. It’s a quick scan that’s well worth running.
Download AdwCleaner
Click the button below to download AdwCleaner — it’s free, portable, and requires no installation.
Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe“. There’s no installation — the program starts right away.
If Windows asks whether you want to allow AdwCleaner to run, click “Yes“. When the license agreement appears, click I agree to continue.
Enable “Reset Chrome policies”
This setting removes malicious browser policies — a trick malware uses to lock your browser settings so you can’t change them back. Click “Settings” on the left side of the window, then turn on “Reset Chrome policies“.
Start the Scan
Click “Dashboard” on the left side of the window, then click the “Scan” button.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
AdwCleaner will now check your computer for adware and other malware. This usually takes only a few minutes — it’s one of the fastest scanners around.
Quarantine the Detected Threats
When the scan finishes, AdwCleaner will list everything it found. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all the malicious items at once.
Click “Continue” to Finish the Cleanup
Save any open work first — AdwCleaner needs to close your open programs before it can clean. When you’re ready, click the “Continue” button.
AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. If it asks you to restart your PC, allow it — your computer will be clean when you log back in.
STEP 5: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner
This final step involves installing and running a scan with ESET Online Scanner to check for any additional malicious programs that may be installed on the computer..
ESET Online Scanner is a free second-opinion scanner that performs a deep, full-system check for viruses, trojans, rootkits, and other malware. We use it as the final step because it’s thorough — if anything slipped past the previous scans, ESET will find it. A clean result here means your computer is malware-free.
Download ESET Online Scanner
Click the button below to download ESET Online Scanner.
When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click “esetonlinescanner.exe“.
Install ESET Online Scanner
On the start screen, select your language from the drop-down menu and click Get started.
On the Terms of use screen, click Accept.
Choose your preferences for the Customer Experience Improvement Program and the Detection feedback system (either choice is fine), then click Continue.
Start a Full Scan
Click Full Scan — this checks your entire computer, not just the common hiding spots.
Select Enable for Detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications — this lets ESET catch adware and bundled junk programs, not just viruses. Then click Start scan.
Wait for the Scan to Finish
ESET will now check every file on your computer. Because it’s a full scan, this can take a while — often an hour or more, depending on how much data you have. Leave it running in the background and check on it from time to time.
Review the Results
When the scan completes, the Found and resolved detections screen appears. Any threats found were automatically cleaned and quarantined — there’s nothing extra you need to do. Click View detailed results if you want to see exactly what was removed.
If ESET found nothing — congratulations, your computer has passed the final check and is malware-free.
STEP 6: Restore the files encrypted by ransomware
Unfortunately, in most cases, it’s not possible to recover the files encrypted by this ransomware virus because the private key which is needed to unlock the encrypted files is only available through the attackers. However, below we’ve listed three options you can use to try and recover your files.
Make sure you remove the malware from your computer first, otherwise, it will repeatedly lock your system or encrypt files. If you suspect that your computer is still infected with malware, you can run a free scan with Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
Option 1: Search a decryption tool for this ransomware
The cybersecurity community is constantly working to create ransomware decryption tools, so you can try to search these sites for updates:
Option 2: Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free to recover the encrypted files
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free can restore files and repair corrupted files with simple clicks. Its powerful scanning algorithms can identify and retrieve huge file type library, including all of the popular video files, audio files, photos, and document formats. While the free version only allows you to recover 2 GB of data, this can be helpful to see if the recovery is possible and restore back the most important files from your computer.
Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free.
You can download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free by clicking the link below.
Double-click on the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free setup file.
When EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
You may be presented with a User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow EaseUS to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation begins, click on the “Install Now” as seen in the image below.
When your EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation completes, click the “Start Now” button to start the program.
Select a location to start recovering the encrypted files.
Choose the drive or folder where you are the encrypted files that you want to recover and click “Scan“.
Wait for the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan to complete.
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard will now scan your computer files that can be restored. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Find the files you want to recover.
When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan is finished scanning it will show a screen that displays the files that can be recovered. This tool can recover a lot of data, use the “Filter” button to quickly filter specific file types and find the files that you want to recover.
Click the “Preview” button or double-click on a file for a full preview.
Select your files and click “Recover”.
Finally, select the the files you want to recover and click “Recover“. Choose a safe location to save all the files. The free version only allow you to recover 2 GB of data, however, this will allow you to recover the most important files and see if EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can correctly recover them.
Option 3: Try to restore your files with ShadowExplorer
This ransomware will attempt to delete all shadow copies when you first start any executable on your computer after becoming infected. Thankfully, the infection is not always able to remove the shadow copies, so you should continue to try restoring your files using this method.
Download ShadowExplorer.
You can download ShadowExplorer from the below link.
Double-click on the ShadowExplorer-x.x-setup file to start the installation process, then follow the on-screen promts to install this program.
Select snapshot date.
Open ShadowExplorer and then from the top bar select the drive where the files that you want to save are located, then select from the snapshot available one previous to this infection.
Export the files that you want to recover.
Once you have found a copy of the original file or folder, right-click on it and the select “Export”. A window will prompt you where you want to save the file or folder.
Keep every .witch name exactly as it is. Keep at least one locked sample. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.witch back to 1.jpg, or 2.png.witch back to 2.png, or vacation.jpg.witch back to a normal JPEG, or invoice-2026.pdf.witch back to a normal PDF, or taxes.xlsx.witch back to a spreadsheet, or family.mp4.witch back to a video. Stripping the extra ending is not a repair. It can make a later trusted tool worse, not better. The original name is already sitting in front of .witch. You do not need to edit it to know what you lost.
Keep readme.txt with the locked files. Do not “clean up” every copy of the note. Do not fill in a third wallet so the flyer looks complete. The wording, the missing spaces, and the two printed strings are part of how you prove this was this strain and not a different locker that only sounds similar. Keep the contact marks as identifiers: cozypandas@morke.ru, the penetrated line, the $25 ask, XMR 44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW, and BTC bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6. Those artifacts are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.
Do not mail cozypandas@morke.ru. Do not ask a friend to write them “just to see.” A printed $25 is still a ransom. A calm address is still the people who locked the files. If a later message quotes readme.txt and offers “the real wallet,” that is still the same shop. If a later message skips the original inbox and asks for $25 over a different address, that is still the same shop, or a copycat standing in the same doorway.
This is not the old Witchcraft Cash adware. Remove Done.Witchcraftcash.com Ads is a different mess and a different filename. Pop-ups are not .witch files. If a helper only knows the older title, they are not matching your folder. Do not follow the older page as if it already solved readme.txt.
Do not pay. Do not send that $25 in XMR. Do not send that $25 in BTC. If someone claims they can already decrypt Witch files for a fee because they can recite the penetrated line and the pandas inbox, they are selling a report, not a key. If they mention cozypandas@morke.ru as proof they “already called the crew,” they read the same note you did. Do not answer. Do not complete their checkout. Do not help them fix the flyer.
If Windows still offers to pick an app for the .witch type, decline it. There is no player for that ending.
The Bottom Line
Witch ransomware is a locker with a readable filename, a readme that shouts penetrated, and a checkout that names $25. It keeps the old name and appends .witch. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.witch. 2.png becomes 2.png.witch. The note is readme.txt. It claims a strong algorithm, says no public decryptor exists, forbids reset and rename and delete, points you at cozypandas@morke.ru, and tells you to send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC. The printed Monero wallet is 44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW. The printed Bitcoin wallet is bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6. There is no leak claim. There is no Session ID. There is no onion door. There is no second inbox. There is no extra victim $ amount. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. This is not the old Witchcraft Cash adware in Remove Done.Witchcraftcash.com Ads.
Do not pay. Do not send that $25. Do not mail that inbox. Do not invent a leak site or a third wallet. Do not rename the pile in bulk. Keep readme.txt and a .witch sample. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in .witch, plus readme.txt with a penetrated shout, a $25 XMR or BTC ask, and cozypandas@morke.ru, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone offers to fill a wallet the note already printed, and before anyone hands you the old adware guide as if pop-ups and locked photos were the same mess.
10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams
Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.
Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.
Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).
If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.
Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.
Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.
If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.
Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.
Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.
If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.
Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.
Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.
If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.
Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.
Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.
If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.
Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.
Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.
If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.
Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.
Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.
If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.
Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).
Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.
If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.
Back up important files and keep one backup offline.
Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.
If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.
If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.
Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.
Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.
These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.
Hello! I'm Lapain Epuran, your go-to source for detailed and honest product reviews. From tech gadgets to miracle cures, I provide insights to help you make informed choices. Join me as we discover what's truly worth your time and money.
