Ransoomed EXPOSED: .ransoomed Files, !!!READ_ME!!!.txt, and a 2.5 BTC Genesis Wallet
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.ransoomed. 2.png is now 2.png.ransoomed. A small text file named !!!READ_ME!!!.txt is sitting in the same folder, as if it has always belonged there. On some machines that same note already has .ransoomed on the end, so the “help” file will not open either.
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 Ransoomed. The .ransoomed names and !!!READ_ME!!!.txt are the tell.
Overview
Ransoomed is a locker. It is not a nation-state raid and it is not a polished crew with a leak site. It locks the files first. Then it keeps the old name and the old type, and hangs .ransoomed on the end. Then it drops !!!READ_ME!!!.txt and throws a pop-up that repeats the same checkout.
The flyer shouts that your files are encrypted with RSA-2048 and AES-256. It tells you to send 2.5 BTC to 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa. Then it tells you to mail the transaction ID to the recovery inbox at onionmail.org. That inbox is recovery@onionmail.org.
If you are staring at a pile of .ransoomed 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.ransoomed. 2.png becomes 2.png.ransoomed. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.ransoomed. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.ransoomed. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it. Windows may call the type a RANSOOMED File and offer a useless “choose an app” box. An app cannot talk locked bytes back into a JPEG. There is 0% chance Photos can open 1.jpg.ransoomed because you picked a viewer.
The second tell is the note. After the files are locked, the malware drops !!!READ_ME!!!.txt into the same folders. READ_ME sounds like documentation. The extra exclamation marks sound like an alarm. A .txt ending is something 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 third tell is a second copy of the same shop. A pop-up warning repeats the lock, names RSA-2048, points at the same 2.5 BTC send, and tells you to check the Desktop for instructions. It even misspells the last shout: DO NOT ATTEMP TO DECRYPT FILES YOURSELF. A real Windows alert does not sell a Bitcoin transfer. A polished crew does not leave a missing letter in the warning.
The body of that sample is short on purpose. !!! YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED !!! Your files have been encrypted with RSA-2048 and AES-256 encryption. Each file has been encrypted with a unique AES key, which is then encrypted with our RSA public key. Only we have the private key to decrypt your files.
What do I need to do? 1. Send 2.5 BTC to: 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa. 2. Email your transaction ID to: recovery@onionmail.org. After payment: send payment proof to the same inbox, you will receive the decryption tool, run it to restore your .ransoomed files.
WARNING: files now have the .ransoomed extension, do not modify encrypted files, do not use recovery software, time limit 72 hours, after 7 days keys destroyed. Contact: recovery@onionmail.org (TOR recommended).
That wallet string is not a mystery. 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa is the well-known Bitcoin genesis address, the first Bitcoin wallet. A payment sent there cannot be collected by the operator who left this note. 2.5 BTC into that address is money down a hole. This page will not invent a second wallet to “fix” the flyer. The printed address is the demand. The demand is structurally broken.
That is the whole pitch. A locked folder of .ransoomed names. A !!!READ_ME!!!.txt file that talks like a recovery brief, then often gets locked itself. A pop-up that repeats the same checkout. RSA-2048 and AES-256 as scare words. One inbox. A 2.5 BTC ask. A genesis wallet that cannot pay the people who locked the photos. A 72 hour clock. A 7 day key threat.
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. There is no reason to send 2.5 BTC into an address the operator cannot cash.
The .ransoomed name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. This one uses .ransoomed. 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.ransoomed. You can still see 2.png inside 2.png.ransoomed. You can still see the invoice year. 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 .ransoomed 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.ransoomed next to !!!READ_ME!!!.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.
!!!READ_ME!!!.txt is a sales floor, not a help file
The ransom note is a plain text file with a name that sounds like an emergency brief. !!!READ_ME!!!.txt wants the first click after the panic. Plenty of real software drops a READ_ME. This one uses that habit against you, then wraps it in alarm marks so it sorts like a siren. It is meant to be the first English you can still read when the photos will not open.
Double-clicking it opens Notepad, if the file is still a real text file. 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 that is already screaming. READ ME. A .txt ending Windows already trusts. Paperwork is easier to obey than a threat.
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 shorten it to “the readme” when you write the incident down. Copy !!!READ_ME!!!.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 the recovery inbox at onionmail.org.
The pop-up is a second checkout, not a Windows alert
The locker does not stop at the text file. It also throws a pop-up warning. The sample shouts !!! WARNING !!! then YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED. It says all your important files have been encrypted with RSA-2048. It says files now have the .ransoomed extension. It tells you to send 2.5 BTC to the same genesis string. It gives you 72 hours. It tells you to check the Desktop for instructions. It ends with DO NOT ATTEMP TO DECRYPT FILES YOURSELF.
That window is still the flyer. It is not a system repair. It is not a driver update. It is not a trusted decryptor. It exists so you cannot miss the price if you never opened the .txt. The missing letter in ATTEMP is not a cute joke. It is how a cheap builder looks when you stop treating the pop-up as a lab.
Close the window. Do not click a “recover” control if one appears. Do not follow “check Desktop” as if the Desktop were a support desk. The Desktop copy is the same !!!READ_ME!!!.txt shop, or the locked version of that shop. A second copy of a broken demand is still a broken demand.
The note file also gets locked
This strain has a tell that a careful locker usually avoids. The text file named !!!READ_ME!!!.txt gets encrypted along with the rest of the folder. If that already happened, the “help” file will not open. You may see !!!READ_ME!!!.txt.ransoomed sitting next to 1.jpg.ransoomed. The sales flyer locked itself.
That is not advanced tradecraft. A locker that encrypts its own instructions is a builder that walked the same tree twice, or a hoax costume that never got a second pass. It does not make the photos any safer. It does not make the 2.5 BTC ask any more real. It does make the pop-up more important as evidence, because the .txt may already be unreadable.
Do not rename !!!READ_ME!!!.txt.ransoomed back to a .txt and expect Notepad to explain the incident. Do not hunt a second “clean” copy by plugging in a USB stick. If you still have an unencrypted !!!READ_ME!!!.txt, keep it. If you only have the locked note, keep that too. Both names are identifiers. Neither one is a repair.
RSA-2048 and AES-256 is a costume, not a lab report
The first line of the sample is not a diagnosis. It is a headline. YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED does the same job a fake breaking-news banner does on a supplement page. Then the flyer names RSA-2048 and AES-256 so the rest of the page feels like the only adult in the room. 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 RSA-2048 so they sound close to your folder. Anyone can copy a headline. Copying AES-256 does not mean they can reverse .ransoomed. It means they read the same note you did, or they read a screenshot of it. The unique-AES-then-RSA paragraph is still attacker copy. Naming two ciphers is not the same as handing you a proof.
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 is not five incidents. It is one incident with a loud flyer. Keep one clean copy as evidence if you still have one. You do not need to open every copy. You do not need to compare them in mail to recovery@onionmail.org.
recovery@onionmail.org is checkout, not support
The printed contact is recovery@onionmail.org. That is the aisle. A private inbox puts you in a room they own, on an account they can delete, with a thread they can screenshot and reuse. The word recovery would feel like a ticket. This address is not a ticket. It is how a locked photo becomes a negotiation. The note even recommends TOR, which is costume for “write us where it is harder to trace.”
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 mail a transaction ID. Do not send “payment proof.” Do not argue about the 2.5 BTC price as if a discount were available. Those steps belong to the people who locked the files. Writing them is the product.
The handle is branding, the same way .ransoomed is branding. 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 2.5 BTC 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 printed wallet cannot collect the first one.
2.5 BTC is a price tag, not a repair
The printed ransom is 2.5 BTC. That number is large enough to feel like a serious incident and small enough, in attacker math, to feel “possible” next to a photo library or a tax folder. It is a $ figure dressed as coin. It is still a ransom. Cheap or expensive is a tactic. It is not a quote from a vendor who will still be there on Monday.
Two and a half bitcoin does not buy a contract. It does not buy a clean machine. It does not buy a guarantee that vacation.jpg.ransoomed will open. On this strain it does not even buy a transfer the operator can cash. 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. On this flyer it also sends coin into a genesis address. That is a $ hole with extra steps.
The printed wallet is Bitcoin’s genesis address
The note says send 2.5 BTC to 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa. That string is famous. It is the Bitcoin genesis address, the first wallet from the first block. It is not a private operator purse that this locker controls. A payment sent there cannot be collected by the people who encrypted 1.jpg.ransoomed.
This is the part a later “helper” will try to rewrite. They will say the printed address is a typo. They will say they have the “real” wallet. They will ask you to mail the recovery inbox at onionmail.org first, then paste what they send. This page will not invent a second address to finish their sentence. The sample used here prints that genesis string. Treat it as evidence. Do not treat it as a payment instruction.
A locker that points at an unspendable genesis wallet is not an APT. It is a broken builder, a hoax costume, or a kit that never got a real payout address. The lock on the files can still be real. The shop behind the lock is not a serious collection desk. Do not send 2.5 BTC to prove the point. The point is already on the page.
72 hours and 7 days are theater
The note prints a time limit of 72 hours. It also says after 7 days the keys will be destroyed. The pop-up repeats the 72 hour line. Those clocks are there to stop you from sleeping. They are not a service-level agreement. They are not a reason to rush a $ transfer into a genesis wallet.
Do not invent a shorter fuse because a later helper says “they only wait one night.” Do not invent a longer fuse because a forum post said “the 7 days is fake.” The published flyer printed both numbers. Leave them as printed. A stranger who adds a new timer, or who offers to unlock one file before the clock runs out, is rewriting the flyer so they can stand in the aisle.
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, and they cannot cash the wallet they printed anyway.
How The Ransomware Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Brand the names with .ransoomed. Drop a READ_ME that shouts ENCRYPT and names RSA-2048 and AES-256. Encrypt that READ_ME too, on a sloppy pass. Throw a pop-up that repeats the same 2.5 BTC send. Point the scared person at recovery@onionmail.org. Print Bitcoin’s genesis address as the purse. Print 72 hours and 7 days. Then wait for someone else to sell a “real” wallet.
1. The lock keeps the old name so you recognize the loss
Ransoomed encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then appends .ransoomed. That is why 1.jpg is still readable as 1.jpg.ransoomed, and why 2.png is still readable as 2.png.ransoomed. The operators want you to inventory the damage in seconds. They want you to see the vacation photo and the invoice 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 .ransoomed 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 recovery@onionmail.org to confirm what you are looking at.
2. !!!READ_ME!!!.txt turns a break-in into a ticket
Once the names are branded, the malware needs a voice. !!!READ_ME!!!.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 with alarm marks sorts near the top. 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. Encrypted. RSA-2048. AES-256. Unique AES key. RSA public key. Send 2.5 BTC to this wallet. Email the transaction ID to this inbox. Send payment proof. Get a decryption tool. 72 hours. 7 days. Do not modify files. Do not use recovery software. TOR recommended.
Each beat closes a door. The shout closes “maybe Windows just glitched.” The cipher pair closes “maybe it is a simple rename.” The inbox closes “maybe there is a local tool.” The 2.5 BTC line closes “maybe I should wait overnight” by handing you a finished price.
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 unique victim ID. It does not give you a leak site. This page will not invent them. 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 if it is still readable.
3. The pop-up repeats the same checkout
The second note is the pop-up. It is shorter. YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED. RSA-2048. Files now have the .ransoomed extension. Send 2.5 BTC to the same genesis string. You have 72 hours. Check Desktop for instructions. DO NOT ATTEMP TO DECRYPT FILES YOURSELF. Same shop. Fewer words. One spelling error left in the shout so you can see the kit for what it is.
A pop-up feels more official than a .txt because Windows itself uses pop-ups. That is the trick. The window is still a ransom note. Closing it does not unlock invoice-2026.pdf.ransoomed. Clicking through it does not start a repair. It only keeps your hands on their script. If the Desktop copy of !!!READ_ME!!!.txt is already locked, the pop-up is doing the talking the text file can no longer do.
4. The note encrypts itself
A careful locker protects the flyer. This one often does not. !!!READ_ME!!!.txt gets the same .ransoomed ending as the photos. That is how you end up with a folder full of locked files and a locked “help” document. The builder walked the tree, dropped the note, then locked the tree, including the note.
Treat that as a quality mark, not as a puzzle. Amateur kits do this. Hoax builders do this. Broken builders do this. None of those labels make the encryption imaginary. They do tell you not to promote this strain into an APT story. A locker can be real and still be sloppy. A sloppy locker can still ruin a weekend of photos. It cannot cash Bitcoin’s genesis address.
If you still have a readable !!!READ_ME!!!.txt, copy the exact strings into an incident record: the RSA-2048 and AES-256 line, the 2.5 BTC ask, 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa, and recovery@onionmail.org. If you only have !!!READ_ME!!!.txt.ransoomed, keep that filename as the identifier and use the pop-up text if you still remember it. Do not reconstruct a prettier note from memory and then obey the reconstruction.
5. RSA-2048 and AES-256 close the argument
After the shout, the note rests on two famous ciphers as if a pair of standards were a receipt. Each file gets a unique AES key. That key is then wrapped with “our” RSA public key. Only they have the private key. That paragraph is meant to end the conversation you have not even started. Cipher plus private control sounds like math you cannot beat at the kitchen table. It is still a sales paragraph. It is not a lab report.
You do not need to argue cryptography with a text file. You need to stop treating the file as a technician. Leave 1.jpg.ransoomed named as it is. Leave !!!READ_ME!!!.txt where it is, locked or not. The algorithm printed in that note is part of the pitch. It is not a recovery procedure. People hear AES-256 and go looking for a matching “AES-256 decryptor” in ads. That search is the next trap.
6. recovery@onionmail.org is the door they want you to walk through
The recovery step in the sample is mail. Email your transaction ID to the recovery inbox at onionmail.org. After payment, send payment proof to the same address. That is the whole door. It looks like support because support uses email. Criminal shops use email too, because a thread is where a price 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 name. A photo of !!!READ_ME!!!.txt sitting next to 1.jpg.ransoomed does not make you a verified customer. It makes you a person still following the flyer.
If someone later says they will “talk to Ransoomed 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 the Documents folder at midnight.
7. Send 2.5 BTC is checkout
Plenty of lockers hide the figure until you write. This one prints 2.5 BTC up front. That is not kindness. A printed price removes the last excuse for delay. You do not have to “ask what it costs.” You already know. The remaining step is the transfer and the mail. The note has already done the quoting.
A 2.5 BTC ask is easy to repeat in a family group, easy to treat like a crisis that has a single $ lever. It is still a payment to people who already locked 2.png.ransoomed. On this flyer it is worse than a normal ransom. The printed purse cannot collect. You would be funding a hole, not a decryptor. Cheap or huge, the number is theirs. The files are already locked. Another afternoon of panic will not change the bytes in vacation.jpg.ransoomed.
8. The genesis wallet cannot collect
The note says send 2.5 BTC to 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa. Public copy after public copy of Bitcoin history will show you that same string. It is the genesis address. It is not a unique operator wallet generated for your case. A send to that address cannot be collected by the inbox that asked for the transaction ID.
That gap is where copycats work. Someone will publish a long string and call it the “real Ransoomed wallet.” Someone will sell a “connector” that is just more malware. Someone will ask you to run a command so they can “reach the operator on your behalf.” None of that is a reason to finish their sentence. The sample used for this page prints the genesis address. Do not invent a replacement.
A wallet string, when you actually have one on disk, is an identifier for a responder. It is not a payment instruction you should carry out. It is not a password you redeem by mailing recovery@onionmail.org. Copy it into the incident record. Then leave it alone. Paying 2.5 BTC here is money down a hole, even before you get to the usual “they might not decrypt” problem.
9. 72 hours and 7 days keep you rushing
The sample prints a 72 hour limit. It prints a 7 day key destruction line. The pop-up repeats the 72 hours. Those missing-kindness clocks are the fuse. Other families use timers so you feel managed. This flyer uses them so you skip the part where you notice the wallet is famous. You are supposed to feel that waiting is already a mistake.
Do not add extra pieces yourself. Do not send a small file because a later message offered a test decrypt the original note never printed as a free demo. Do not start a personal countdown because a comment said “they only wait two days.” The published flyer printed 72 hours and 7 days. Leave the rest uninvented. A clock on a hoax checkout is still a clock meant to empty your wallet.
10. Third parties will sell a Ransoomed conversation
After a ransomware incident, search results fill up with companies that say they can decrypt Ransoomed or “all .ransoomed files.” Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote !!!READ_ME!!!.txt so they sound close to the case. They will mention RSA-2048. They will mention 2.5 BTC. They will mention recovery@onionmail.org 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 replace a genesis address with a purse they can actually cash.
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 2.5 BTC send. It does not need recovery@onionmail.org. 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 Ransoomed key” as a second sales pitch.
11. Payment and mailing that inbox close nothing
Paying a stranger for a private key is not a guarantee. On this strain it is worse. The people who send the note pointed you at a genesis wallet they cannot collect. They can still take a “corrected” payment later if you stay in the thread. 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.
Mailing the recovery inbox at onionmail.org 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. Sending a transaction ID is how they learn you already tried to pay. Do not teach them that.
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 OnionMail address again is not useful work. Sending 2.5 BTC to Bitcoin’s genesis address is not useful work. It is the checkout, even when the flyer is a broken builder pointing at an unspendable purse.
What To Do If You Have Fallen Victim
Do not pay 2.5 BTC. Do not send coin to 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa. That string is Bitcoin’s genesis address. A payment there cannot be collected by the operator. Do not mail the recovery inbox at onionmail.org. Do not send a transaction ID. Do not send payment proof.
Do not invent a second wallet because this one is famous. Do not type that genesis string into an exchange, a “wallet checker,” or a form a stranger sends back. 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 2.5 BTC” for anyone who quotes the note.
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 .ransoomed name exactly as it is. Keep at least one locked sample, including a documented name such as 1.jpg.ransoomed or 2.png.ransoomed. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.ransoomed back to 1.jpg, or 2.png.ransoomed back to 2.png, or vacation.jpg.ransoomed back to a normal JPEG, or invoice-2026.pdf.ransoomed back to a normal PDF. 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 .ransoomed. You do not need to edit it to know what you lost.
Keep !!!READ_ME!!!.txt if it is still readable. Keep !!!READ_ME!!!.txt.ransoomed if the note already locked itself. Do not “clean up” every copy of the flyer. Do not fill in a second wallet so the demand looks collectable. The genesis string, or the locked note on your disk, is part of how you prove this was this strain and not a different locker that only sounds similar.
Keep the contact marks as identifiers: recovery@onionmail.org, the RSA-2048 and AES-256 line, the 2.5 BTC ask, 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa, the 72 hour clock, the 7 day key line, and the pop-up typo ATTEMP. Those artifacts are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.
Do not pay 2.5 BTC. That send is money down a hole. The printed purse is the well-known Bitcoin genesis address, so the operator cannot collect it. A $ transfer into an unspendable wallet does not buy vacation.jpg back. It only proves you will pay. If a later message quotes !!!READ_ME!!!.txt and offers “the real wallet,” that is still the same shop, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. Do not help them fix a broken builder.
Do not treat this locker as an APT because the note shouted RSA-2048. Encrypting the note file itself, pointing at a genesis wallet, and leaving ATTEMP in the pop-up are amateur marks. A hoax costume can still lock files. A broken kit can still ruin a folder. Neither one is a reason to mail recovery@onionmail.org. If someone claims they can already decrypt Ransoomed files for a fee because they can recite 2.5 BTC and that genesis string, they are selling a report, not a key.
If Windows still offers to pick an app for the .ransoomed type, decline it. There is no player for that ending.
The Bottom Line
Ransoomed is a locker with a readable filename, a READ_ME that shouts ENCRYPT, a pop-up that repeats the same checkout, and a 2.5 BTC ask aimed at Bitcoin’s genesis address. It keeps the old name and appends .ransoomed. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.ransoomed. 2.png becomes 2.png.ransoomed. The note is !!!READ_ME!!!.txt, and that note often gets encrypted too.
It claims RSA-2048 and AES-256, points you at the recovery inbox at onionmail.org, and tells you to pay 2.5 BTC to 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa. That address cannot be collected by the operator. There is a 72 hour clock and a 7 day key threat. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain.
Do not pay 2.5 BTC. Do not mail that inbox. Do not invent a second wallet. Do not rename the pile in bulk. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in .ransoomed, plus !!!READ_ME!!!.txt or a pop-up with a 2.5 BTC genesis-wallet ask and recovery@onionmail.org, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone offers to replace an unspendable address with a purse they can actually cash.
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.
