EXTEN EXPOSED: .EXTEN Files, readme.txt, and a 5 BTC Wallet
Written by: Lapain Epuran
Published on:
You open Documents the way you did yesterday. The first photo should still be 1.jpg. The vacation shot should still be vacation.jpg. The invoice should still be invoice-2026.pdf. The tax sheet should still be taxes.xlsx. Instead every familiar name has a second ending tacked on. 1.jpg is now 1.jpg.EXTEN. 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 EXTEN. The .EXTEN names and readme.txt are the tell.
Overview
EXTEN ransomware locks the files first. Then it keeps the old name and the old type, and hangs .EXTEN on the end. Then it drops readme.txt and talks like a recovery desk that already wrote the invoice. The note is a storefront. It opens with Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted. It says the only method to recover your data is to pay 5 BTC to the Bitcoin wallet printed on the page, bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa. After paying, it tells you to mail ddhizxvh@onionmail.org. It gives you 5 days, then says it will publicize the data it claims to have obtained. It warns you not to shutdown or reboot. It warns you never to try third-party tools. This page will not invent a second wallet, a Session ID, an onion site, or another $ amount to finish those lines.
If you are staring at a pile of .EXTEN 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.EXTEN. vacation.jpg becomes vacation.jpg.EXTEN. invoice-2026.pdf becomes invoice-2026.pdf.EXTEN. taxes.xlsx becomes taxes.xlsx.EXTEN. family.mp4 becomes family.mp4.EXTEN. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it. Windows may call the type an EXTEN 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 a brief. A .txt ending 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. Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted. We can recovery all your data, but the only method to recover your data, you must pay 5 BTC to this BTC address. After paying, please mail to us via this address. We will help you to recover your data for a hours. Then a numbered Notice: your data is encrypted; if they have not received any payment for more than 5 days they will publicize the data they have obtained; do not shutdown or reboot your devices; never try third-party tools or the data will cannot be decrypted. That is the whole costume. There is no test decrypt. There is no second inbox. There is no chat handle. There is no unique ID for you to fill in. The note does not need extra theater. A locked folder plus 5 BTC plus a wallet plus an inbox plus a leak clock is already a shop.
That is the whole pitch. A locked folder of .EXTEN names. A readme.txt file that talks like a recovery brief. A printed 5 BTC ask. A printed Bitcoin wallet, bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa. One inbox, ddhizxvh@onionmail.org. A 5-day leak threat. A shutdown warning. A third-party tools warning. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to send 5 BTC today because a text file told you to. There is no reason to mail that inbox today because the same text file said after paying.
The .EXTEN name is the first warning
Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. EXTEN uses .EXTEN. 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.EXTEN. 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 .EXTEN 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.EXTEN 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 a name that sounds like documentation. 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 that looks like 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 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 ddhizxvh@onionmail.org or by sending 5 BTC to bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa.
If the same text is sitting in more than one folder, that is normal for this family. Lockers drop the same flyer 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. You do not need to open every copy. You do not need to compare them in mail to that inbox.
Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted is a greeting, not a diagnosis
The first line of the sample is not a lab report. It is a soft open. Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted does the same job a fake apology does on a billing page. It names the disaster in a casual voice so the rest of the flyer feels like the only adult in the room. You are supposed to stop thinking and start obeying. The broken grammar is part of the costume, not a reason to decide this is a joke.
The shout is also a brand. Later search ads will quote it. Later helpers will paste Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted so they sound close to your folder. Anyone can copy a headline. Copying that line does not mean they can reverse .EXTEN. It means they read the same note you did, or they read a screenshot of it.
We can recovery all your data is the next beat. Recovery is misspelled on purpose or by habit. Either way, the sentence is a promise they do not have to keep. The only method, they say, is paying 5 BTC. That is not a method. That is a price. A method would be a key you already had, or a trusted public decryptor that already existed before your incident. A printed wallet is not a method. It is a checkout.
5 BTC is a price tag, not a repair
Plenty of lockers hide the figure until you write. This one prints 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, in their script, is the transfer and then the mail. The note has already done the quoting.
Five bitcoin is not a parking ticket. The note writes it as if it were a form field, a small box you fill so the photos come back in a hours. That casual tone is the product. A huge ask written like a receipt still funds the people who locked family.mp4.EXTEN. It still does not produce a warranty. Do not convert 5 BTC in your head into a local currency and decide it is or is not worth it. Rates move. The number they printed is 5 BTC. Leave other $ figures uninvented.
Do not send a smaller test amount to see if they answer. A test payment is still a payment. It still tells them this victim pays. The sample does not print a discount, a second price, or a family rate. This page will not invent one. You should not invent one either.
The printed wallet is checkout, not a refund desk
The printed payment line is the Bitcoin address bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa. That is the aisle. A wallet they chose puts the coin in a room they own. You cannot leave a review on a bc1q string. You cannot charge it back the way you charge back a card. You cannot prove the other side will ever send a key just because the address is long and looks official.
Treat that string as evidence, not as a payment instruction. Copy it into the incident record the way you would copy a serial. Then leave it alone. Do not type it into an exchange just to see the fee. Do not paste it into a wallet checker on a random website. Do not send a satoshi to confirm it is real. Confirming is how they learn you are still following the flyer.
Later copycats will publish a different wallet and call it the real EXTEN address. Later helpers will say this one is burned and here is a fresh one. The sample used for this page prints bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa. This page will not invent a second one. If a later message skips that string and asks for coin over ordinary mail, that is still the same shop, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. Do not help them replace the flyer.
ddhizxvh@onionmail.org is a door, not support
The printed contact is ddhizxvh@onionmail.org. That is the second half of the same aisle. The note says after paying, please mail to us via this address. We will help you to recover your data for a hours. Mail after payment is not a help desk. It is how a locked photo becomes a negotiation they already priced. A private inbox puts you in a room they own, on an account they can delete, with a thread they can screenshot and reuse.
Onionmail is a mail service. It is not a hidden site you are supposed to open in a special browser. The note did not print a .onion URL. This page will not invent one. Do not hunt for an EXTEN onion because other families use Tor. Do not invent a Session ID because other notes print one. The published flyer gave you one inbox. Leave the extra doors uninvented.
Do not write that inbox. Do not create a throwaway 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 readme.txt sitting next to 1.jpg.EXTEN does not make you a verified customer. It makes you a person still following the flyer. If someone later says they will talk to EXTEN 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.
5 days is leak theater, not a deadline you must meet
The Notice in the sample is numbered so it looks like a policy. Item 2 says if they have not received any payment for more than 5 days, they will publicize the data they have obtained. That is double extortion in one line. They want you to feel two losses at once. The photos will not open. The private files, they say, will be published if you wait. You are supposed to pay to unlock the disk and to stop a leak. The 5-day clock is how they sell both at once.
Treat the leak claim as a threat, not as a confirmed inventory. The flyer wants you to believe they already copied payroll, tax sheets, family scans, or client records. Maybe they did. Maybe they copied junk. Maybe the sentence is a template they drop on every machine. You cannot audit their stash from Documents. You also cannot disprove it by mailing them. Writing ddhizxvh@onionmail.org does not give you a receipt of what they took. It gives them a visitor.
Do not treat 5 days as a real clock you must meet. Do not stay up on night four because a text file counted for you. Do not send 5 BTC on night four because the leak line is still in your head. The files are already locked. Another afternoon of panic will not change the bytes in vacation.jpg.EXTEN. 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. The people who wrote readme.txt do not get to run that meeting.
Do not shutdown or reboot is how they keep you in the chair
Item 3 in the Notice says please do not shutdown or reboot your devices, with PCs, servers, and laptops named in the same breath. That line wants you sitting at the infected machine, still logged in, still looking at readme.txt, still close to a wallet app. A reboot warning from the people who locked the files is not a safety brief. It is a way to keep the checkout on screen.
Criminals love a victim who will not leave the chair. If you are afraid to power the machine down, you are more likely to pay from it. If you are afraid to reboot, you are more likely to keep the same session, the same browser, the same chance of sending 5 BTC while the locker is still running. Their warning is about their shop, not about your hardware.
Do not take that line as a reason to start sending coin from the same desktop. Do not take it as a reason to ignore the rest of the incident. The people who printed do not shutdown or reboot are not your IT desk. They are the people who turned 1.jpg into 1.jpg.EXTEN. Read the warning as pressure. Then close the note.
Third-party tools is how they close the other exits
Item 4 in the Notice says please never to try the third-party tools to recover your data, otherwise the data will cannot be decrypted. The broken English is the same costume as for a hours. The meaning is a closed door. If every other tool is dangerous, then their 5 BTC and their inbox are the only aisle left. That is the point of the sentence.
There is a useful half and a trap half. The useful half is this: random decryptors from ads, mystery fixers that ask for admin rights, and bulk rename toys can make locked files harder for a later trusted tool to match. The trap half is this: they want that fear to send you to ddhizxvh@onionmail.org. You can refuse the random tools and still refuse the inbox. Those are not opposite choices.
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 5 BTC send. It does not need ddhizxvh@onionmail.org. It does not need you to obey a Notice written by the people who locked the files. 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 EXTEN key as a second sales pitch.
How The Attack Works
The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Keep the old names so the listing still looks like yesterday plus one ugly ending. Drop a readme that sounds like paperwork. Open with a soft Oops. Print 5 BTC. Print a Bitcoin wallet. Print an inbox and tell you to write after you pay. Count 5 days until a leak. Warn you not to reboot. Warn you not to try anyone else. Then wait.
1. The lock keeps the old name so you recognize the loss
EXTEN encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then rebrands them just enough. That is why 1.jpg is still readable as 1.jpg.EXTEN. The operators want you to inventory the damage in one glance. They want the vacation photo name sitting next to a bill. A coded filename can confuse you. A familiar filename with .EXTEN stuck on the end tells you exactly what they took.
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. Do not copy a locked file onto a second machine just to check. Checking is how the extra copy gets the same ending.
Double-clicking 1.jpg.EXTEN does not bring the photo back. The thumbnail may already look broken, or it may still show a cached picture that is no longer the real bytes. 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 readme.txt in the same listing. Together they are enough. You do not need to mail ddhizxvh@onionmail.org to confirm what you are looking at.
Leave 1.jpg.EXTEN named as it is. Leave vacation.jpg.EXTEN named as it is. Leave invoice-2026.pdf.EXTEN named as it is. Leave taxes.xlsx.EXTEN named as it is. Leave family.mp4.EXTEN named as it is. People who are used to other lockers will strip the extra ending and then decide Windows is just being Windows. The extra ending is the design. The note name is the voice they chose to sit beside it.
2. readme.txt turns a break-in into a ticket
Once the files are locked, 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 named readme sorts among the documents you actually wanted. You open it because it looks like the only thing that still speaks English, and because README is a word you have trusted since the first installer you ever ran.
The body is short enough to finish before a relative walks into the room. Encrypted data. 5 BTC. A wallet. An inbox after paying. 5 days. No reboot. No third-party tools. Each beat is a closed door. 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 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.
Do not print the note and leave it on the kitchen table as if it were a bill. Do not photograph it and send it into a group chat with the files still attached. Do not rename it to EXTEN-help.txt so it looks tidier in a report. The ordinary name is the identifier. Keep readme.txt. A responder who sees that exact string next to .EXTEN names can match this locker without guessing from a generic readme used by a dozen other families.
3. Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted is the opening punch
The first line of the sample is a soft headline, not a technician. Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted names a disaster as if it were a shrug. You are supposed to feel caught, not attacked. Capital attention is not required when the folder already shows 1.jpg.EXTEN. The casual voice does that work. Together with We can recovery all your data, it makes a 5 BTC transfer feel like the only adult move left.
The shout also travels. Search ads will recycle it. Commenters will paste it. A later EXTEN helper will recite Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted 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 confirmed diagnosis you have to obey by paying.
We will help you to recover your data for a hours is the same costume. For a hours is not a service-level agreement. It is a promise with the grammar left unfixed so it still feels fast. Fast is how they keep you from sleeping on the 5-day line. Do not let a broken sentence set your calendar.
4. Pay 5 BTC to the printed wallet is checkout
The recovery step in the sample is coin. You must pay 5 BTC to this BTC address, then the string bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa. That is the whole register. It looks like support because support names a price. Criminal shops name a price too, because a number is how a locked folder becomes a transfer you can complete before anyone else in the house wakes up.
Do not send 5 BTC to that bc1q wallet. Do not send a smaller amount to test it. Do not ask an exchange to reverse a transfer because a text file promised recovery for a hours. The people who printed the address are not a merchant you can dispute. They are the people who locked the files. A printed price is still a ransom. A long wallet is still a ransom. Cheap or expensive is not the question. The question is whether you want to fund the next copy of the same locker.
Do not convert 5 BTC into a $ figure and argue with yourself about the math. This page will not invent that conversion. Rates move. The note printed 5 BTC. That is the ask. Leave other amounts uninvented. If a later helper says they can do it for less, they are selling a second shop in the same doorway.
5. Mail ddhizxvh@onionmail.org after paying is the second half of the same ask
The note does not ask you to write first and pay second. It asks you to pay, then mail. After paying, please mail to us via this address ddhizxvh@onionmail.org. That order is a trap. They want the coin in the wallet before they even have to talk. The inbox is not a negotiation. It is a drop box for people who already paid.
Do not reverse the order and write first just to see. Do not send proof of payment. Do not send a test file so they can decrypt one photo as a demo. The original note never offered a test decrypt. Adding one later is how a copycat starts a thread. Do not attach 1.jpg.EXTEN to prove you are a real victim. They already chose the ending. They already chose the note name.
If someone later says they will talk to EXTEN 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.
6. 5 days then we publicize is leak pressure
Item 2 of the Notice is the leak clock. If we have not received any payment for more than 5 days, we will publicize the data we have obtained. That sentence wants you to feel that waiting is already a leak. It wants the 5 BTC ask to feel like silence money as well as a key. It wants the family chat to start counting.
Do not treat that clock as a deadline you must meet. Five days is their number. It is not a court date. It is not a proof that they have a stash. It is not a proof that they will publish on day six. Paying does not prove they will delete anything either. Criminal shops can take the coin and still leak, or still claim they will, because you cannot audit a leak from Notepad.
If you later find copies of files on a cloud account, a mail draft, or a USB stick that was not mounted, those copies are not proof the criminals failed. They are copies you still control. Do not upload those copies to a stranger who offered to check whether they match the leak. Do not mail them to ddhizxvh@onionmail.org as a test. The 5-day line already wants that conversation. Do not start it.
7. Do not shutdown or reboot keeps you at their desk
Item 3 is a stay-put order. Please do not shutdown or reboot your devices. PCs, servers, laptops, etc. Named in a row so it sounds like an ops manual. It is still a way to keep the victim in the chair with readme.txt open and a wallet app one click away.
A reboot warning from ransomware is not a kindness to your disk. It is a way to keep their shop on the screen. People who are afraid to power down are people who pay from the same session. People who are afraid to reboot are people who do not go get a clean machine, a phone, or a relative who is not staring at 1.jpg.EXTEN.
Read the line. Then close the note. Do not let their shutdown warning become the reason you send 5 BTC before anyone else in the house is awake. Their devices list is not your incident plan. It is pressure copy.
8. Never try third-party tools closes the exits
Item 4 is the last numbered beat. Please never to try the third-party tools to recover your data, otherwise the data will cannot be decrypted. If every other path ruins the files, then 5 BTC and ddhizxvh@onionmail.org are the only path. That is a sales close, not a lab result.
Leave the locked files untouched. That matches the useful half of the warning without doing the rest of their job. You can refuse the random tools and still refuse the inbox. You can refuse a bulk rename and still refuse the wallet. Those are not opposite choices. The people who wrote otherwise the data will cannot be decrypted do not get to pick your next click.
Windows may still offer to pick an app, because the extra ending is new. Decline the random app. There is no player that turns locked bytes into last summer. There is no spreadsheet tool that rebuilds taxes.xlsx.EXTEN from a locked copy because the name still says xlsx in the middle. An EXTEN File type is not a healthy file. It is a costume.
9. Third parties will sell an EXTEN conversation
After a ransomware incident, search results fill up with companies that say they can decrypt EXTEN or all .EXTEN 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 5 BTC. They will mention bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa. They will mention ddhizxvh@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 set a second wallet the published flyer never 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 5 BTC send. It does not need ddhizxvh@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 EXTEN 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 5 BTC 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. They can still publicize, or still claim they will, after they are paid. A mail thread makes that outcome easier, not harder. You cannot leave a review on a criminal inbox.
Mailing ddhizxvh@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 5 BTC to bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa does not buy a warranty. It buys a hope they wrote in broken English.
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, especially if the note claimed data would be publicized. Opening that text file again is not useful work. It is the checkout, even when the 5-day line is still counting in your head.
What To Do If You Have Fallen Victim
Do not send 5 BTC to bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa. Do not email ddhizxvh@onionmail.org. Do not treat the 5-day leak clock as a deadline you must meet. Do not invent a second wallet, a Session ID, an onion site, or another $ amount to finish readme.txt. Do not send proof of payment. Do not send a test file. If you already opened the note before you found this page, stop there. Do not pay a deposit to hold a key for anyone who quotes the flyer. Keep readme.txt and a .EXTEN sample.
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 .EXTEN name exactly as it is. Do not bulk-rename 1.jpg.EXTEN back to 1.jpg, or vacation.jpg.EXTEN back to vacation.jpg, or invoice-2026.pdf.EXTEN back to a normal PDF, or taxes.xlsx.EXTEN back to a spreadsheet, or family.mp4.EXTEN 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 .EXTEN. You do not need to edit it to know what you lost.
Keep readme.txt with the locked files, and keep at least one .EXTEN sample next to it. Do not clean up every copy of the note. Do not fill in a second wallet so the flyer looks complete. The string 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: ddhizxvh@onionmail.org, bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa, the 5 BTC ask, the 5-day leak line, the shutdown warning, and the third-party tools warning. Those artifacts are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.
Do not send 5 BTC to that bc1q wallet. Do not mail that inbox. Do not ask a friend to write them just to see. A printed 5 BTC 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 5 BTC over a different address, that is still the same shop, or a copycat standing in the same doorway.
Do not treat 5 days as a clock you must meet. Do not pay this leak note. If someone claims they can already decrypt EXTEN files for a fee because they can recite 5 BTC and ddhizxvh@onionmail.org, they are selling a report, not a key. If they mention bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa 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 .EXTEN type, decline it. There is no player for that ending.
The Bottom Line
EXTEN ransomware is a locker with a readable filename, a readme that talks like paperwork, and a checkout that names 5 BTC. It keeps the old name and appends .EXTEN. 1.jpg becomes 1.jpg.EXTEN. The note is readme.txt. It opens with Oops… Seems like your data is encrypted, points you at ddhizxvh@onionmail.org after you pay, and tells you to send 5 BTC to bc1qf45nlye5z0m3kwxuuele5ml3scskagp4vux7xa. It counts 5 days until it says it will publicize stolen data. It warns you not to shutdown or reboot. It warns you not to try third-party tools. There is no test decrypt. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. This page will not invent a second wallet, a Session ID, an onion site, or another $ amount.
Do not send 5 BTC to that bc1q wallet. Do not email ddhizxvh@onionmail.org. Do not treat the 5-day leak clock as a deadline you must meet. Do not rename the pile in bulk. Keep readme.txt and a .EXTEN sample. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in .EXTEN, plus readme.txt with a 5 BTC ask, that printed wallet, that inbox, and a 5-day leak line, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone offers to replace the wallet, and before anyone treats their clock as yours.
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.
