{"id":404039,"date":"2026-08-20T13:16:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/?p=404039"},"modified":"2026-08-20T13:16:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:16:54","slug":"witch-ransomware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/witch-ransomware\/","title":{"rendered":"Witch EXPOSED: .witch Files, readme.txt, and cozypandas@morke.ru"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You open Documents the way you did yesterday. The first photo should still be <strong>1.jpg<\/strong>. The snapshot should still be <strong>2.png<\/strong>. The vacation shot should still be <strong>vacation.jpg<\/strong>. The invoice should still be <strong>invoice-2026.pdf<\/strong>. Instead every familiar name has a second ending tacked on. <strong>1.jpg<\/strong> is now <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong>. <strong>2.png<\/strong> is now <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong>. A small text file named <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> is sitting in the same folder, as if it has always belonged there.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad3406089876\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309684--placement_400588\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3957935887\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is the trap, not a glitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad4049996803\" class=\"mwtadp1 mwtadentity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"> \r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\"\r\n     data-ad-layout=\"in-article\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7312657698\"><\/ins>\r\n <\/div><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"860\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/witch-explorer.png\" alt=\"Encrypted files after Witch. The .witch names and readme.txt are the tell.\" class=\"wp-image-404038\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/witch-explorer.png 1400w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/witch-explorer-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/witch-explorer-1024x629.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Encrypted files after Witch. The .witch names and readme.txt are the tell.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad940234029\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309747-ad_309691-placement_400589\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"9589536513\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Witch ransomware locks the files first. Then it keeps the old name and the old type, and hangs <strong>.witch<\/strong> on the end. Then it drops <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> and talks like a recovery desk. The note is a storefront. It shouts that your network has been penetrated. It claims every file on each host is locked with a strong algorithm. It says the operators exclusively have decryption software, and that no decryption software is available in the public. It tells you not to reset or shut down, not to rename or move the locked files and the readme files, and not to delete the readme files. For decrypt info it points you at <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. It tells you to send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC, which is a $25 ask, and it prints one Monero wallet and one Bitcoin wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are staring at a pile of <strong>.witch<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad41201033\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309686-ad_309691-placement_400597\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"6935453015\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first tell is the rename. In the sample used for this page, <strong>1.jpg<\/strong> becomes <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong>. <strong>2.png<\/strong> becomes <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong>. <strong>vacation.jpg<\/strong> becomes <strong>vacation.jpg.witch<\/strong>. <strong>invoice-2026.pdf<\/strong> becomes <strong>invoice-2026.pdf.witch<\/strong>. <strong>taxes.xlsx<\/strong> becomes <strong>taxes.xlsx.witch<\/strong>. <strong>family.mp4<\/strong> becomes <strong>family.mp4.witch<\/strong>. You can still read what the file used to be. You cannot open it. Windows may call the type a WITCH File and offer a useless &#8220;choose an app&#8221; box. An app cannot talk locked bytes back into a JPEG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second tell is the note. After the files are locked, the malware drops <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> into the same folders. README sounds like documentation. A .txt ending is the type Windows already trusts. Put them together and the first English you can still read after the photos break is a sales flyer. The flyer is meant to be opened. It is not meant to be trusted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad1986983920\" class=\"mwtadp3 mwtadentity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\"\r\n     data-ad-layout=\"in-article\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"5910219726\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The body of that sample is short on purpose, and the typing is sloppy on purpose. Your network has been penetrated. All files on each host have been encrypted with a strong algorithm.any other methods may damage encrypted data but not recover. We exclusively have decryption software for your situationNo decryption software is available in the public. DO NOT RESET OR SHUTDOWN files may be damaged. DO NOT RENAME OR MOVE the encrypted and readme files. DO NOT DELETE readme files. This may lead to the impossibility of recovery of the certain files. To get info (decrypt your files) contact us at <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. Send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC to this wallet. Then the two strings. XMR = <strong>44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW<\/strong>. BTC = <strong>bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6<\/strong>. That is the whole costume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Copy those contacts and wallets exactly. Do not tidy a character. Do not add a space. Do not guess a different inbox because pandas looks cute. The printed mailbox is <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. The printed Monero string is <strong>44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW<\/strong>. The printed Bitcoin string is <strong>bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6<\/strong>. Those marks are how you prove this was this strain. They are not a checkout you should complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is the whole pitch. A locked folder of <strong>.witch<\/strong> names. A <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> file that talks like a network incident brief. A penetrated shout. A monopoly claim that only they can decrypt. Three DO NOT lines. One inbox. A $25 ask in XMR or BTC. Two printed wallets and no others. There is no leak claim. There is no Session ID. There is no onion site. There is no second inbox. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. There is no reason to mail that inbox today because a text file told you to. This locker is also not the old Witchcraft Cash adware. A pop-up brand and a <strong>.witch<\/strong> file ending are not the same incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The .witch name is the first warning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most lockers pick an extension so you notice the change in seconds. This one uses <strong>.witch<\/strong>. The extra cruelty is how readable the listing stays. You do not have to decode anything. You can still see <strong>1.jpg<\/strong> inside <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong>. You can still see <strong>2.png<\/strong> inside <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong>. 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.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad2642034592\" class=\"mwtadp4 mwtadentity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\"\r\n     data-ad-layout=\"in-article\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"5910219726\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not treat that readable name as a fix. Do not strip <strong>.witch<\/strong> off the end and expect Photos or Excel to open the file. Do not run a bulk &#8220;extension fixer&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The extra ending also does advertising. Anyone who sees <strong>vacation.jpg.witch<\/strong> next to <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">readme.txt is a sales floor, not a help file<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ransom note is a plain text file with the most ordinary name on a PC. <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad3360427835\" class=\"mwtadp5 mwtadentity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\"\r\n     data-ad-layout=\"in-article\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"8560433799\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Double-clicking it opens Notepad. That is why a panicked first click feels like opening the help page. It is not help. It is the demand, written so it looks official enough to follow. The filename is built to look like paperwork. README. A .txt ending Windows already trusts. Paperwork is easier to obey than a threat, especially when the threat is spelled like a rushed intern wrote it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep the file on disk. Then close it. Do not treat it as a set of steps you should follow. Do not tidy the filename. Do not rename it to &#8220;the witch note&#8221; when you write the incident down. Copy <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> 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 <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your network has been penetrated is a shout, not a lab report<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first line of the sample is not a diagnosis. It is a headline. Your network has been penetrated does the same job a fake breaking-news banner does on a supplement page. It names the disaster in a voice that sounds like a corporate breach even if the machine is a home PC with one user. You are supposed to stop thinking and start obeying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shout is also a brand. Later search ads will quote it. Later &#8220;helpers&#8221; will paste it so they sound close to your folder. Anyone can copy a headline. Copying Your network has been penetrated does not mean they can reverse <strong>.witch<\/strong>. It means they read the same note you did, or they read a screenshot of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad3324934697\" class=\"mwtadp6 mwtadentity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\"\r\n     data-ad-layout=\"in-article\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"4034304343\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div><p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next sentence keeps the costume going. All files on each host have been encrypted with a strong algorithm. Host is a server word. Each host is a network word. On a laptop that never ran a server, that language is theater. It is meant to make one Documents folder feel like a whole company outage. It is still one locker dropping <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> next to <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong> and <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Strong algorithm is a costume, not a key in your hand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The note claims the files were encrypted using a strong algorithm. It does not name AES. It does not name RSA. It does not name a key length. Strong is the whole lab report. Then it glues the scare to the next sentence without a space: algorithm.any other methods may damage encrypted data but not recover. The missing space is not a puzzle. It is how this flyer was typed. Keep the ugly line as evidence. Do not clean it up so it looks more professional before you show it to anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What the note is actually selling is helplessness. If other methods damage the data, then their mail is the only aisle. If they exclusively have decryption software for your situation, then $25 starts to feel like the last remaining lever. Naming a strong algorithm does not put a key on your desk. It does not prove the implementation. It does not prove they still have a key. It does not prove they will send one if you write <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The monopoly line is the same scare with worse punctuation. We exclusively have decryption software for your situationNo decryption software is available in the public. Two claims, one missing space. Public here means &#8220;anyone but us.&#8221; That is a sales sentence. It is not a reason to start mailing keys into an inbox they own. It is also not a reason to hunt a &#8220;witch decryptor&#8221; in ads. A tool that promises to reverse a strong algorithm because a ransom note printed the words is selling the same fear in a different window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">cozypandas@morke.ru is checkout, not support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The printed contact is <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. Copy that string exactly. Do not tidy it. Do not add a space. Do not guess cozypanda without the s. Do not guess a .com because .ru looks scary, or because it looks like a typo. The note prints it as the decrypt aisle. It is an attacker mailbox, not a verified help desk, not a company, and not a person you can leave a review for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not open a fresh mail account because the note said to. Do not send a test file to prove you are a real victim. Do not paste a folder listing into a new message. Do not argue about the $25 price as if a discount were available. Those addresses belong to the people who locked the files. Writing them is the product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The handle is branding, the same way <strong>.witch<\/strong> is branding. Cozy pandas is a soft name on a hard demand. Cute is how a $25 ask hopes you will lower your guard. Anyone can stand up a lookalike inbox after a wave of locked folders. Writing the first message does not start a warranty. It starts a conversation you cannot enforce. The $25 line is how they make that first message feel like a finished purchase. A finished purchase is how a larger bill can still appear later, even when the flyer never printed a second $ figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">$25 in XMR or BTC is a price tag, not a repair<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The printed ransom is 25 dollars in XMR or BTC. That is a $25 ask. The number is small enough, in attacker math, to feel &#8220;reasonable&#8221; next to a tax folder, a photo library, or a weekend of lost work. It is small enough that a person who would never pay a six-figure crew still thinks, maybe this one time. Cheap is a tactic. It is not a discount from a vendor who will still be there on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">$25 does not buy a contract. It does not buy a clean machine. It does not buy a guarantee that <strong>vacation.jpg.witch<\/strong> will open. It buys a coin transfer to people who already locked your files, plus a mail thread they can drop whenever they like. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\/stopransomware\/ransomware-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CISA StopRansomware Guide<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The note already did the quoting. Your job, in their script, is checkout. Do not complete it. Do not &#8220;test&#8221; a smaller amount to see if they answer. A test payment is still a payment. It still tells them this victim pays. Do not invent a second victim $ amount because a later chat asks for more. The published flyer printed $25 and stopped. This page will not invent another price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The two wallets are still a checkout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The note says Send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC to this wallet, then prints two strings. Monero first. Bitcoin second. XMR = <strong>44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW<\/strong>. BTC = <strong>bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6<\/strong>. Copy them only into an incident record. Do not type them into an exchange. Do not photograph them into a group chat. Do not paste them into a second site that offers to &#8220;check if the wallet is real.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two coins are not a kindness. They are two doors on the same shop. XMR is there so a payment is harder to follow. BTC is there so a person who only knows Bitcoin still has a box to fill. The flyer still asks for $25 either way. It does not print a third wallet. It does not print a Lightning invoice. It does not print a cash-app handle. Do not invent those extras because a comment said &#8220;real crews always have more addresses.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A printed wallet also gives copycats a job. They will sell a &#8220;corrected&#8221; string. They will say the Monero address in <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> is stale. They will ask you to mail <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> first, then paste what they send. That is still the same shop, or a second shop standing in the same doorway. The public flyer already named both wallets. Do not finish a third one for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do not reset, rename, or delete is how they keep you still<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The note stacks three commands. DO NOT RESET OR SHUTDOWN files may be damaged. DO NOT RENAME OR MOVE the encrypted and readme files. DO NOT DELETE readme files. Then the punchline: this may lead to the impossibility of recovery of the certain files. That grammar is the flyer. The point is not grammar. The point is to freeze you in the chair with <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> still open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Criminal shops love &#8220;do not reboot&#8221; warnings because reboot is how a lot of people try to get a stuck PC back. They love &#8220;do not rename&#8221; because renaming is how a panicked person tries to undo <strong>.witch<\/strong>. They love &#8220;do not delete the readme&#8221; because the readme is the checkout. Leave the locked names as they are. Keep <strong>readme.txt<\/strong>. That overlap with their command is coincidence in the result, not obedience in the motive. You keep the artifacts as evidence. You do not keep them because a ransom note threatened you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not test the threat by deleting one copy of the note &#8220;to see.&#8221; Do not test it by renaming <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong> back to <strong>1.jpg<\/strong> for a minute. Do not power-cycle in a panic because the flyer told you not to, and do not refuse a later clean-machine plan because the flyer told you not to. The note is not in charge of the incident. The people whose files lived on the machine still need a real plan. The text file does not get a vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">This is not the old Witchcraft Cash adware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Witch is an ordinary English word. Games, shops, and old adware campaigns have used witch language for years. This page is not a smear of any of them. If a program you actually installed happens to share the word, that does not make it this locker. This locker is the one that appends <strong>.witch<\/strong>, drops <strong>readme.txt<\/strong>, and points you at <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> for a $25 XMR or BTC send.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is already a published adware guide for a different mess: Remove Done.Witchcraftcash.com Ads. That older page is about browser pop-ups and a Witchcraft Cash brand, not about files ending in <strong>.witch<\/strong>. Do not hunt a browser extension because this ransom note used a similar English word. Do not uninstall a game called Witch because a locker stole the syllable. Do not treat the old adware writeup as a decryptor for <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong> and <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A later helper will blur that line on purpose. They will say &#8220;Witch files&#8221; as if they were talking about the old pop-up. They will ask you to install a &#8220;witchcraft cleaner&#8221; that is just more malware. Stay with the extension. Stay with <strong>readme.txt<\/strong>. Stay with <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> and the two printed wallets. Those are the strain marks. A shared English word is not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">There is no leak line, Session ID, or onion door<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some lockers add a second squeeze. They claim they already copied mail, payroll, or photos, and they will publish the stash if you do not pay. This note does not. It does not name a leak site. It does not print a Session ID. It does not print an onion link. It does not print a Telegram handle. It does not print a second inbox. Do not invent those extras because other families use them. The published flyer talks about a penetrated network, a strong algorithm, three DO NOT lines, <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>, and $25 in XMR or BTC. That is enough theater. Leave the rest uninvented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A missing leak claim is not proof they stole nothing. It is also not proof they stole everything. It is a missing sentence. A stranger who later adds a leak story, a countdown, a Session chat, or a bigger $ sticker is rewriting the flyer so they can stand in the aisle. The original shop already named the contact. It already named the price. It already named both wallets. It did not need a leak to get you to type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad58369148\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309748-ad_309691-placement_400590\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3906789406\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How The Attack Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shop is simple once you stop reading it as a rescue. Lock the files. Brand the names with <strong>.witch<\/strong>. Drop a readme that shouts penetrated and names a strong algorithm. Forbid reset, rename, and delete. Point the scared person at <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. Print $25 in XMR or BTC. Print one Monero wallet and one Bitcoin wallet. Skip the leak. Skip the onion. Skip the Session ID. Then wait for someone else to sell a &#8220;better&#8221; wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The lock keeps the old name so you recognize the loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Witch encrypts the files it wants as leverage, then appends <strong>.witch<\/strong>. That is why <strong>1.jpg<\/strong> is still readable as <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong>, and why <strong>2.png<\/strong> is still readable as <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong>. The operators want you to inventory the damage in seconds. They want you to see the vacation photo, the invoice, the tax sheet, and the family video in one glance. A coded filename can confuse you. A readable filename makes you feel the theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 &#8220;just to check.&#8221; Checking is how the extra copy gets the same <strong>.witch<\/strong> ending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> to confirm what you are looking at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. readme.txt turns a break-in into a ticket<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the names are branded, the malware needs a voice. <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> is that voice. It sits in the same folders as the locked files so the first sort puts help next to harm. On many machines a text file sorts near the top, especially with a short lowercase name. You open it because it looks like the only thing that still speaks English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The body is short enough to finish before a relative walks into the room. Penetrated. Strong algorithm. No public decryptor. Do not reset. Do not rename. Do not delete. Contact this inbox. Send $25 in XMR or BTC to these wallets. Each beat closes a door. The shout closes &#8220;maybe Windows just glitched.&#8221; The algorithm line closes &#8220;maybe it is a simple rename.&#8221; The inbox closes &#8220;maybe there is a local tool.&#8221; The $25 line closes &#8220;maybe I should wait overnight&#8221; by handing you a finished price that looks small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notice what the note does not give you. It does not give you a company, a refund policy, or a way to prove the other side will ever send a key. It does not give you a deadline. It does not give you a test decrypt. It does not give you a unique ID. It gives you a tone that says this is already decided. That tone is the product. Read the file as a sales flyer. Then close it. Keep it on disk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Your network has been penetrated is the opening shout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first line of the sample is a headline, not a technician. Your network has been penetrated names the disaster in a voice stolen from incident response. You are supposed to feel outmatched before you have even reached the contact line. Network words do that work. Host words do that work. Together they make the inbox feel like the only adult move left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shout also travels. Search ads will recycle it. Commenters will paste it. A later &#8220;Witch helper&#8221; will recite it so they sound close to your Documents folder. Reciting a headline is not a decryptor. It is proof they can read. Keep the line as an identifier when you describe the incident. Do not treat it as a diagnosis you have to obey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the shout is sitting in more than one folder, that is normal for this family. Lockers drop the same text in many places so you cannot miss it. Finding five copies of <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> 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 <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. No public decryptor is the monopoly claim<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the algorithm line, the note claims exclusive control. We exclusively have decryption software for your situation. No decryption software is available in the public. That pair is meant to end the argument you have not even started. If only they have a tool, then their mailbox is not optional. If nothing exists in public, then waiting feels naive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Treat it as attacker copy, not as a catalog. Naming exclusive software does not prove they wrote a decryptor that still works. It does not prove they will send it for $25. It does not prove a later trusted project will never publish a free tool. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain today. That fact is not a reason to pay. It is a reason to stop treating <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> as a store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People hear &#8220;no public software&#8221; and go looking for a matching &#8220;Witch decryptor&#8221; in ads anyway. That search is the next trap. A site that promises to reverse <strong>.witch<\/strong> because a ransom note said only criminals can do it is selling the same fear in a different window. Leave the locked files alone. Do not feed them to a mystery app that asked for admin rights because a text file claimed a monopoly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. The three DO NOTs keep you in the chair<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DO NOT RESET OR SHUTDOWN. DO NOT RENAME OR MOVE. DO NOT DELETE readme files. Three bans, one goal. A person who is afraid to power down is a person who will type. A person who is afraid to touch <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong> is a person who will hunt <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> from the same machine. A person who is afraid to remove <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> is a person who will keep the checkout on the desktop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not treat those lines as a technician. They are still a flyer. They are still sitting on top of files that already end in <strong>.witch<\/strong>. The recovery-impossibility punchline is there so a normal instinct (reboot, rename, tidy the junk text files) feels like you personally wrecked the photos. That guilt is useful to them. It is not useful to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This page will not walk you through killing the locker process. It will tell you the note is not in charge of the incident. Keep the locked names. Keep <strong>readme.txt<\/strong>. Those are evidence steps. They are not obedience to DO NOT DELETE. The people who locked the files do not get to write your runbook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. cozypandas@morke.ru is the door they want you to walk through<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recovery step on the note is a mailbox. To get info (decrypt your files) contact us at <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. That is the whole door. It looks like support because support uses mail. Criminal shops use mail too, because a thread is where a $25 sticker becomes a negotiation and a locked photo becomes a sample they asked you to attach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not write that inbox. Do not create a throwaway account &#8220;just to see.&#8221; Do not send a screenshot of Explorer to prove the lock. They already chose the extension. They already chose the note text. A photo of <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong> sitting next to <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong> does not make you a verified customer. It makes you a person still following the flyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If someone later says they will &#8220;talk to Witch for you&#8221; through that same address, that is a broker pitch. Brokers need you in the same funnel. You do not owe them a seat. Report the incident through official desks. Let counsel decide if contact is ever required for a specific legal reason. That decision is not yours to make from Notepad at midnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. $25 is cheap on purpose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC to this wallet. Other families use 48-hour clocks and rising $ figures. This one uses a small, round number. $25 feels like a parking ticket. Parking tickets get paid. That is the point. Cheap is how a person who would never fund a crew still opens an exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not add a clock the note never printed. Do not start a personal countdown because a forum post said &#8220;they only wait two days.&#8221; Do not send a small file because a later message offered a test decrypt the original screen never printed. The published flyer did not print a deadline and did not print a demo. Leave those uninvented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silence is not rude here. Silence is how you stay out of their queue. A relative, an insurer, or an incident lead can still talk on a phone. The people who locked the files do not get a seat in that call. $25 is still a ransom. A calm sentence is still a demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Two coins, one ask, no extra wallets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plenty of lockers print one coin so you can pay without thinking. This one prints two. XMR = <strong>44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW<\/strong>. BTC = <strong>bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6<\/strong>. The ask is still $25. The extra coin is not a sale. It is coverage. If you do not have Monero, Bitcoin is waiting. If you are afraid Bitcoin is traceable, Monero is waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This page will not invent a third wallet to finish their sentence. It will not invent a Session ID. It will not invent an .onion link. It will not invent a second inbox. If a later screenshot shows extra lines, treat those extras as a different flyer or as a rewrite. The note used for this page names <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>, $25, and those two strings. Do not complete a checkout they left off the page, and do not pay the checkout they printed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A missing extra also gives copycats a job. They will sell the missing string. They will say they have the operator&#8217;s real address. They will ask you to message <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> first, then paste what they send. That is still the same shop, or a second shop standing in the same doorway. The public flyer already filled both coin lines. Do not add a third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Third parties will sell a Witch conversation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a ransomware incident, search results fill up with companies that say they can decrypt Witch or &#8220;all <strong>.witch<\/strong> files.&#8221; Some of those shops are ordinary overpriced consultants. Plenty are a second scam. They will quote <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> so they sound close to the case. They will mention a penetrated network. They will mention $25. They will mention <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> as if they already called the original crew. They will ask for a sample file, a remote-access session, or a deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A demo that &#8220;unlocks one file&#8221; 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 <strong>vacation.jpg<\/strong> again. If a later message skips the original inbox and asks for coin over ordinary mail, that is still the same market, or a copycat standing in the same doorway. Do not answer. Do not help them set a wallet the flyer already printed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A real public decryptor, when one exists, shows up on an official project page that already existed before your incident. It does not need a $25 send. It does not need <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. If the pitch is &#8220;we can decrypt, pay us first,&#8221; 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 &#8220;we already have the Witch key&#8221; as a second sales pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Payment and mailing that inbox close nothing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paying a stranger for a private key is not a guarantee. The people who send the note can take the $25 and disappear. They can send a string that only makes a decryptor show an error. They can come back later and lock the same machine again. A mail thread makes that outcome easier, not harder. You cannot leave a review on a criminal inbox named after pandas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mailing <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> is the free version of the same dead end. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. Starting a thread does not rebuild a JPEG. It only keeps you in their story while the rest of the disk still needs a real plan. Paying $25 in XMR to <strong>44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW<\/strong> is still a payment to the people who locked <strong>family.mp4<\/strong>. Paying $25 in BTC to <strong>bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6<\/strong> is the same payment in a different coin. It still funds the next copy of the same locker. It still does not produce a warranty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If this is a company machine, tell counsel and your incident lead. If this is a home PC, tell the people whose files lived on it. Change passwords from a clean device. Watch bank and email alerts. Opening that inbox again is not useful work. Sending $25 is not useful work. It is the checkout, even when the number on the flyer looks small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad2031905170\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309749-ad_309691-placement_400591\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"5354318971\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What To Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not pay. Do not send that $25. Do not mail <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. Do not send XMR to <strong>44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW<\/strong>. Do not send BTC to <strong>bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6<\/strong>. Do not invent a leak site, a Session ID, an onion link, a second inbox, or another victim $ amount to finish <strong>readme.txt<\/strong>. Do not type a wallet from the page into an exchange, a &#8220;wallet checker,&#8221; or a form a stranger sends back. Do not send proof of payment. Do not send a test file. If you already sent a message before you found this page, stop there. Do not pay a deposit to &#8220;hold the original $25&#8221; for anyone who quotes the note. Do not treat the old Remove Done.Witchcraftcash.com Ads guide as a fix for this folder.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul class=\"stepsbox\">\n<li><a href=\"#rkill\"><strong>STEP 1<\/strong>: Use Rkill to terminate suspicious programs.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#malwarebytes\"><strong>STEP 2<\/strong>: Use Malwarebytes to remove for Ransomware and Unwanted Programs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#hitmanpro\"><strong>STEP 3<\/strong>: Use HitmanPro to remove Trojans and other Malware<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#adwcleaner\"><strong>STEP 4<\/strong>: Use AdwCleaner to remove Malicious Browser Extensions and Adware<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#eset\"><strong>STEP 5<\/strong>: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#restore\"><strong>STEP 6<\/strong>: Restore the files encrypted by ransomware<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 id=\"rkill\" class=\"mt_blue toch4\">STEP 1: Use Rkill to terminate suspicious programs.<\/h4>\n<p>In this first step, we will download and run Rkill to terminate suspicious programs that may be running on your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Download Rkill.<\/p>\n<p>You can download RKill to your computer from the below link. When at the download page, click on the <em>Download Now<\/em> button labeled <strong>iExplore.exe<\/strong>. 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. <\/p>\n  \n<div class=\"mwt_download_box\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bleepingcomputer.com\/download\/rkill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-160643 mwt_product_icon_logo\" title=\"Malwarebytes Icon\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/RKill-Icon.png\" alt=\"RKILL Logo\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\"\/><\/figure>\n<strong>RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK<\/strong><\/a><br \/><em>(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Rkill)<\/em><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Run RKill.<\/p>\n<p>After downloading, double-click the <strong>iExplore.exe<\/strong> icon to kill malicious processes. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the&nbsp;<em>Downloads<\/em> folder.<br \/>The program may take some time to search for and end various malware programs.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-160644 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/RKILL-2.jpg\" alt=\"RKILL Window\" width=\"800\" height=\"438\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/RKILL-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/RKILL-2-300x164.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 id=\"malwarebytes\" class=\"mt_blue toch4\">STEP 2: Use Malwarebytes to remove Ransomware and Unwanted Programs<\/h4>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Malwarebytes<\/strong> is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows \u2014 and it&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Download Malwarebytes<\/p> <p>Click the button below to download the latest version of <strong>Malwarebytes for Windows<\/strong> from the official source. The free version is all you need \u2014 it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.<\/p> <div class=\"mwt_download_box\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Malwarebytes Icon\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-81150 mwt_product_icon_logo\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Malwarebytes-LOGO.png\" alt=\"Malwarebytes Logo\"\/><\/figure> <strong><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/downloads\/MBSetup-076886.076886-consumer.exe\" onclick=\"window.open(&#039;https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/get\/malwarebytes-free&#039;);\">DOWNLOAD MALWAREBYTES FOR WINDOWS (FREE)<br \/>\n<\/a><\/strong><br \/><em class=\"small-text-disclaimer\">(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)<\/em><\/div><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Install Malwarebytes<\/p>\n\n<p>When the download finishes, open your <strong>Downloads<\/strong> folder and <strong>double-click the MBSetup file<\/strong>. If Windows shows a <strong>User Account Control<\/strong> pop-up, click &#8220;<em>Yes<\/em>&#8221; to allow the installation.<\/p>\n\n \n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285934\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM1.jpg 975w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM1-300x154.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/figure>\n \n\n \n  \n\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes<\/p> \n\n<p>The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \n  <li>\n    <p>Choose where you&#8217;re installing the program \u2014 &#8220;<strong>Personal Computer<\/strong>&#8221; or &#8220;<strong>Work Computer<\/strong>&#8221; \u2014 then click <strong>Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n    \n    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"737\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285953\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM3-1.jpg 737w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM3-1-300x204.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 737px) 100vw, 737px\" \/>\n    <\/figure>\n    \n  <\/li>\n  <li>\n    <p>Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.<\/p>\n    \n    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"759\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285937\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM4.jpg 759w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM4-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px\" \/>\n    <\/figure>\n    \n  <\/li>\n  <li>\n    <p>When installation is complete, the &#8220;<strong>Welcome to Malwarebytes<\/strong>&#8221; screen will open automatically.<\/p>\n    \n    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM6-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285951\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM6-1.jpg 705w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM6-1-300x213.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/>\n    <\/figure>\n    \n  <\/li>\n  <li>\n    <p>On the final screen, click <strong>Open Malwarebytes<\/strong> to launch the program.<\/p>\n    \n    <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\n      <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM5-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285952\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM5-1.jpg 749w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM5-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/>\n    <\/figure>\n    \n  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Enable &#8220;Scan for Rootkits&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Before scanning, turn on rootkit detection so Malwarebytes can find even the most hidden threats. Click the <strong>Settings<\/strong> gear icon on the left side of the screen.\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"842\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM8.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285942\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM8.jpg 842w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM8-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the settings menu, find &#8220;<strong>Scan for rootkits<\/strong>&#8221; and click the toggle so it turns blue.\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"841\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285943\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM9.jpg 841w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM9-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px\" \/><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Done? Click &#8220;<strong>Dashboard<\/strong>&#8221; in the left pane to return to the main screen.\n\n <\/p><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Start the Scan<\/p> <p>Click the blue <strong>Scan<\/strong> button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"849\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM10.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285941\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM10.jpg 849w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM10-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 849px) 100vw, 849px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Wait for the Scan to Finish<\/p>\n<p>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 \u2014 just check back occasionally to see the progress.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"842\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM11.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285944\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM11.jpg 842w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM11-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Quarantine the Detected Threats<\/p>\n<p>When the scan is done, you&#8217;ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found \u2014 malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the &#8220;<strong>Quarantine<\/strong>&#8221; button to remove all of them at once.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"844\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM12.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285945\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM12.jpg 844w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM12-300x213.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 844px) 100vw, 844px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"842\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM13.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285946\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM13.jpg 842w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM13-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px\" \/><\/figure>\n <\/p><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n  <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Restart Your Computer<\/p>\n  <p>Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click <strong>Yes<\/strong>. Once you&#8217;re logged back in, your PC is clean and you can continue with the next steps in this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"844\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM14.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-285947\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM14.jpg 844w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/MBAM14-300x213.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 844px) 100vw, 844px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 id=\"hitmanpro\" class=\"mt_blue toch4\">STEP 3: Use HitmanPro to remove Rootkits and other Malware<\/h4>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HitmanPro<\/strong> is a second-opinion scanner \u2014 it&#8217;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&#8217;s analyzed by two of the best antivirus engines available: <strong>Bitdefender<\/strong> and <strong>Kaspersky<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good news: <strong>scanning is completely free, with no limits<\/strong>. You only need a license when it&#8217;s time to remove what was found \u2014 and even then, you can activate a <strong>free one-time 30-day trial<\/strong> to clean your PC at no cost. (A full license is $24.95 per year for 1 PC.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Download HitmanPro<\/p>\n<p>Click the button below to download <strong>HitmanPro<\/strong>. Remember \u2014 the scan is free, so you have nothing to lose by checking your PC.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mwt_download_box\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-81147 alignleft mwt_product_icon_logo\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/icon-hitmanpro.png\" alt=\"HitmanPro Logo\" width=\"38\" height=\"38\" title=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/get\/hitmanpro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><strong>DOWNLOAD HITMANPRO (FREE SCAN)<\/strong><\/a><br \/><em class=\"small-text-disclaimer\">(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)<\/em><\/div>\n<\/li><li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Install HitmanPro<\/p>\n<p>When the download finishes, open your <em>Downloads<\/em> folder and double-click the file: <strong>&#8220;hitmanpro.exe&#8221;<\/strong> on 32-bit Windows, or <strong>&#8220;hitmanpro_x64.exe&#8221;<\/strong> on 64-bit Windows.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136909 alignnone\" title=\"Double-click on the HitmanPro setup file\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Download-HitmanPro.jpg\" alt=\"Double-click on the HitmanPro file\" width=\"800\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Download-HitmanPro.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Download-HitmanPro-300x158.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<p>If a <em>User Account Control<\/em>&nbsp;pop-up asks whether HitmanPro can make changes to your device, click &#8220;<em>Yes<\/em>&#8221; to continue.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136916 alignnone\" title=\"Windows asking for permissions to run the HitmanPro setup file\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-UAC.jpg\" alt=\"Windows asking for permissions to run the HitmanPro setup \" width=\"676\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-UAC.jpg 676w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-UAC-300x222.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li><li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Follow the On-Screen Prompts<\/p>\n<p>On the HitmanPro start screen, click &#8220;<strong>Next<\/strong>&#8221; to begin the system scan. No lengthy setup required \u2014 it goes straight to work.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136913 alignnone\" title=\"Click Next to install HitmanPro on your computer\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Install.jpg\" alt=\"Click Next to install HitmanPro on your PC\" width=\"800\" height=\"639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Install.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Install-300x240.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136912 alignnone\" title=\"Click Next to finish the HitmanPro install\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Install-2.jpg\" alt=\"HitmanPro final installer screen\" width=\"800\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Install-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Install-2-300x240.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li><li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Wait for the Scan to Finish<\/p>\n<p>HitmanPro will now check your computer for malicious programs. This usually takes just a few minutes thanks to its cloud-based scanning.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136915 alignnone\" title=\"HitmanPro while scanning for malware\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Scanning.jpg\" alt=\"HitmanPro scans your computer for any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present\" width=\"800\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Scanning.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Scanning-300x240.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li><li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Review the Results and Click &#8220;Next&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>When the scan is done, HitmanPro will show you everything it found. Click &#8220;<strong>Next<\/strong>&#8221; to remove the detected threats.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136914 alignnone\" title=\"Click Next to remove the malware that HitmanPro has detected\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Quarantine-Malicious-Files.jpg\" alt=\"HitmanPro scan summary. Click Next to remove malware\" width=\"800\" height=\"643\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Quarantine-Malicious-Files.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Quarantine-Malicious-Files-300x241.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li><li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Click &#8220;Activate Free License&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>To remove the malicious files, click the &#8220;<strong>Activate free license<\/strong>&#8221; button. This starts your <em>free 30-day trial<\/em> \u2014 no payment details needed \u2014 and unlocks the full cleanup.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136911 alignnone\" title=\"Click on the Activate free license button to remove malware\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Activate-License.jpg\" alt=\"Click on the Activate free license button\" width=\"800\" height=\"635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Activate-License.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/HitmanPro-Activate-License-300x238.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When the removal is complete, HitmanPro will show a summary of everything it cleaned. Click <strong>Next<\/strong>, then click <strong>Reboot<\/strong> if prompted. If there&#8217;s no reboot prompt, just click <strong>Close<\/strong> \u2014 your PC is clean.<\/p>\n<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 id=\"adwcleaner\" class=\"mt_blue toch4\">STEP 4: Use AdwCleaner to remove Malicious Browser Extensions and Adware<\/h4>\n<p>In this next step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and unwanted browser extensions from your computer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>AdwCleaner<\/strong> is a free on-demand scanner that specializes in adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars \u2014 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&#8217;s a quick scan that&#8217;s well worth running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Download AdwCleaner<\/p>\n<p>Click the button below to download <strong>AdwCleaner<\/strong> \u2014 it&#8217;s free, portable, and requires no installation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mwt_download_box\"><figure><\/figure> <a href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/get\/adwcleaner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-84923 alignleft mwt_product_icon_logo\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/AdwCleaner-Icon.png\" alt=\"AdwCleaner Icon\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" title=\"\"><\/figure> <strong>DOWNLOAD ADWCLEANER (FREE)<\/strong><\/a><br \/><em class=\"small-text-disclaimer\">(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)<\/em><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Run AdwCleaner<\/p>\n<p>Open your <em>Downloads<\/em> folder and double-click the file named &#8220;<strong>adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe<\/strong>&#8220;. There&#8217;s no installation \u2014 the program starts right away.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136932 alignnone\" title=\"Double-click on the AdwCleaner setup file\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Download-AdwCleaner.jpg\" alt=\"Download AdwCleaner on your computer\" width=\"800\" height=\"424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Download-AdwCleaner.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Download-AdwCleaner-300x159.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If Windows asks whether you want to allow AdwCleaner to run, click &#8220;<strong>Yes<\/strong>&#8220;. When the license agreement appears, click <strong>I agree<\/strong> to continue.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136935 alignnone\" title=\"Click Yes to allow AdwCleaner to run\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Windows-asks-to-run-AdwCleaner.jpg\" alt=\"Windows ask if you want to run AdwCleaner\" width=\"585\" height=\"424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Windows-asks-to-run-AdwCleaner.jpg 585w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Windows-asks-to-run-AdwCleaner-300x217.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Enable &#8220;Reset Chrome policies&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This setting removes malicious browser policies \u2014 a trick malware uses to lock your browser settings so you can&#8217;t change them back. Click &#8220;<strong>Settings<\/strong>&#8221; on the left side of the window, then turn on &#8220;<strong>Reset Chrome policies<\/strong>&#8220;.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136933 alignnone\" title=\"Enable Reset Chrome policies to remove malware\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Reset-Chrome-Policies-AdwCleaner.jpg\" alt=\"Enable Reset Chrome policies to remove malicious browser policies\" width=\"800\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Reset-Chrome-Policies-AdwCleaner.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Reset-Chrome-Policies-AdwCleaner-300x180.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Start the Scan<\/p>\n<p>Click &#8220;<strong>Dashboard<\/strong>&#8221; on the left side of the window, then click the &#8220;<strong>Scan<\/strong>&#8221; button.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136934 alignnone\" title=\"Click on Scan to start a AdwCleaner scan\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Start-a-AdwCleaner-Scan.jpg\" alt=\"Click on Scan to start a AdwCleaner scan\" width=\"800\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Start-a-AdwCleaner-Scan.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Start-a-AdwCleaner-Scan-300x180.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Wait for the Scan to Finish<\/p>\n<p>AdwCleaner will now check your computer for adware and other malware. This usually takes only a few minutes \u2014 it&#8217;s one of the fastest scanners around.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136931 alignnone\" title=\"AdwCleaner scanning for malware\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Scan.jpg\" alt=\"AdwCleaner scanning for adware and other malware\" width=\"800\" height=\"479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Scan.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Scan-300x180.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Quarantine the Detected Threats<\/p>\n<p>When the scan finishes, AdwCleaner will list everything it found. Click the &#8220;<strong>Quarantine<\/strong>&#8221; button to remove all the malicious items at once.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136930 alignnone\" title=\"Click on Quarantine to remove malware\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Quarantine-Malicious-Files.jpg\" alt=\"Click on Quarantine to remove malware\" width=\"800\" height=\"473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Quarantine-Malicious-Files.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Quarantine-Malicious-Files-300x177.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> <p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Click &#8220;Continue&#8221; to Finish the Cleanup<\/p> <p><strong>Save any open work first<\/strong> \u2014 AdwCleaner needs to close your open programs before it can clean. When you&#8217;re ready, click the &#8220;<strong>Continue<\/strong>&#8221; button.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Save your work and then click on the Continue button\" width=\"800\" height=\"477\" class=\"size-full wp-image-136929 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Confirm-Removal-Of-Malicious-Files.jpg\" alt=\"Click Continue to remove malicious files\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Confirm-Removal-Of-Malicious-Files.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/AdwCleaner-Confirm-Removal-Of-Malicious-Files-300x179.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p> <p>AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. If it asks you to restart your PC, allow it \u2014 your computer will be clean when you log back in.<\/p> <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 id=\"eset\" class=\"mt_blue toch4\">STEP 5: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner <\/h4>\n<p>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..<\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ESET Online Scanner<\/strong> 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&#8217;s thorough \u2014 if anything slipped past the previous scans, ESET will find it. A clean result here means your computer is malware-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Download ESET Online Scanner<\/p>\n<p>Click the button below to download <strong>ESET Online Scanner<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mwt_download_box\"><a href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/get\/esetonlinescanner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft mwt_product_icon_logo size-full wp-image-148927\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Eset-Logo.png\" alt=\"ESET logo\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" title=\"\"><\/figure><strong>DOWNLOAD ESET ONLINE SCANNER (FREE)<\/strong><\/a><br \/><em>(The link opens in a new page where your download will start)<\/em><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Run the Installer<\/p>\n<p>When the download finishes, open your <em>Downloads<\/em> folder and double-click &#8220;<strong>esetonlinescanner.exe<\/strong>&#8220;.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-148926\" title=\"Double-click on the ESET Online Scanner setup file\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Installer.jpg\" alt=\"Image - Double-click on the ESET Online Scanner setup file\" width=\"800\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Installer.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Installer-300x155.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Install ESET Online Scanner<\/p>\n<p>On the start screen, select your language from the drop-down menu and click <strong>Get started<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-148858\" title=\"Click Get Started to install ESET Online Scanner\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-1.jpg\" alt=\"Image - Click Get Started to install ESET Online Scanner\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<p>On the <em>Terms of use<\/em> screen, click <strong>Accept<\/strong>.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-148863\" title=\"Accept Terms to Install ESET Online Scanner\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Image - Accept Terms to Install ESET Online Scanner\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-2-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-2-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Choose your preferences for the <em>Customer Experience Improvement Program<\/em> and the <em>Detection feedback system<\/em> (either choice is fine), then click <strong>Continue<\/strong>.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-148859\" title=\"Follow the on-screen prompts to install ESET Online Scanner\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-3.jpg\" alt=\"Image - Follow the on-screen prompts\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-3.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-3-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Start a Full Scan<\/p>\n<p>Click <strong>Full Scan<\/strong> \u2014 this checks your entire computer, not just the common hiding spots.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-148860\" title=\"Start a Full Scan with ESET Online Scanner\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-4.jpg\" alt=\"Start a Full Scan with ESET Online Scanner\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-4.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-4-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<p>Select <strong>Enable<\/strong> for <em>Detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications<\/em> \u2014 this lets ESET catch adware and bundled junk programs, not just viruses. Then click <strong>Start scan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-148929\" title=\"Enable PUA Detection and Start Scan\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-Step-5.jpg\" alt=\"Image - Enable PUA Detection and Start Scan\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-Step-5.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-Step-5-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Wait for the Scan to Finish<\/p>\n<p>ESET will now check every file on your computer. Because it&#8217;s a full scan, this can take a while \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-148930\" title=\"Wait for the ESET Online Scanner scan to finish\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-6-1.jpg\" alt=\"Image- Wait for the ESET Online Scanner scan to finish\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-6-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Scan-6-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Review the Results<\/p>\n<p>When the scan completes, the <em>Found and resolved detections<\/em> screen appears. Any threats found were <strong>automatically cleaned and quarantined<\/strong> \u2014 there&#8217;s nothing extra you need to do. Click <strong>View detailed results<\/strong> if you want to see exactly what was removed.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-148933\" title=\"ESET Online Scanner malware removal\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Step-7.jpg\" alt=\"Image - ESET Online Scanner malware removal\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Step-7.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ESET-Step-7-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If ESET found nothing \u2014 congratulations, your computer has passed the final check and is malware-free.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<h4 id=\"restore\" class=\"mt_blue toch4\">STEP 6: Restore the files encrypted by ransomware<\/h4>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, in most cases, it\u2019s 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&#8217;ve listed three options you can use to try and recover your files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"mt_noter\">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 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/downloads-emsisoft-emergency-kit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Emsisoft Emergency Kit<\/a><\/strong>.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Option 1: Search a decryption tool for this ransomware<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cybersecurity community is constantly working to create ransomware decryption tools, so you can try to search these sites for updates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/decrypter.emsisoft.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/decrypter.emsisoft.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/noransom.kaspersky.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/noransom.kaspersky.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.avast.com\/ransomware-decryption-tools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.avast.com\/ransomware-decryption-tools<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Option 2: Use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free to recover the encrypted files<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<br \/>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free.<\/p>\n<p>You can download <strong>EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free<\/strong>&nbsp;by clicking the link below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mwt_download_box\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/get-easeus-data-recovery-wizard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-150416 mwt_product_icon_logo\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-Logo.png\" alt=\"EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Logo\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" title=\"\"><\/figure> EASEUS DATA RECOVERY WIZARD FREE DOWNLOAD LINK<\/a><\/strong><br \/><em class=\"small-text-disclaimer\">(The above link will open a new page from where you can download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard)<\/em><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Double-click on the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free setup file.<\/p>\n<p>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 <em>Downloads<\/em> folder.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150415\" title=\"EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Installer\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-0.jpg\" alt=\"Image: EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Installer\" width=\"800\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-0.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-0-300x155.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<p>You may be presented with a <em>User Account Control<\/em>&nbsp;pop-up asking if you want to allow EaseUS to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click \u201c<em>Yes<\/em>\u201d to continue with the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free installation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Follow the on-screen prompts to install EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.<\/p>\n<p>When the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation begins, click on the &#8220;Install Now&#8221; as seen in the image below.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150403\" title=\"EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Install Now\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-1.jpg\" alt=\"EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Install Now\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-1-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When your EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard installation completes, click the &#8220;<strong>Start Now<\/strong>&#8221; button to start the program.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150404\" title=\"Click Start Now\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-2.jpg\" alt=\"Image: Click Start Now\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-2-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Select a location to start recovering the encrypted files.<\/p>\n<p>Choose the drive or folder where you are the encrypted files that you want to recover and click &#8220;<strong>Scan<\/strong>&#8220;.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150405\" title=\"Select a location to start recovering the encrypted files\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-3.jpg\" alt=\"Select a location to start recovering the encrypted files\" width=\"800\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-3.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-3-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Wait for the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan to complete.<\/p>\n<p>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.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150414\" title=\"Wait for the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan to complete.\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-4A.jpg\" alt=\"Image: Wait for the EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard scan to complete.\" width=\"800\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-4A.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-4A-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Find the files you want to recover.<\/p>\n<p>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 &#8220;<strong>Filter<\/strong>&#8221; button to quickly filter specific file types and find the files that you want to recover.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150421\" title=\"Filter the Files by Type\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-8.jpg\" alt=\"Filter the Files by Type\" width=\"800\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-8.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-8-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Click the &#8220;<strong>Preview<\/strong>&#8221; button or double-click on a file for a full preview.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150423\" title=\"Click Preview to view the file\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-9.jpg\" alt=\"Image: Click Preview to view the file\" width=\"800\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-9.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-9-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Select your files and click &#8220;Recover&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, select the the files you want to recover and click &#8220;<strong>Recover<\/strong>&#8220;.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150407\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-5.jpg\" alt=\"Select your files and click Recover\" width=\"800\" height=\"542\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-5.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-5-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><br \/>Choose a safe location to save all the files.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150408\" title=\"Select a safe location\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-6.jpg\" alt=\"Select a safe location\" width=\"800\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-6.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-6-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><br \/>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.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-150409\" title=\"View Recovered Files\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-7.jpg\" alt=\"Image: View Recovered Files\" width=\"800\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-7.jpg 800w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/EaseUS-Data-Recovery-Wizard-Free-7-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Option 3: Try to restore your files with ShadowExplorer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Download ShadowExplorer.<\/p>\n<p>You can download <strong>ShadowExplorer<\/strong> from the below link.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mwt_download_box\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shadowexplorer.com\/downloads.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <strong>SHADOW EXPLORER DOWNLOAD LINK<\/strong><\/a><br \/><em>(This link will open a new web page from where you can download &#8220;ShadowExplorer&#8221;)<\/em><\/div>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Install ShadowExplorer.<\/p>\n<p>Double-click on the <strong>ShadowExplorer-x.x-setup<\/strong> file to start the installation process, then follow the on-screen promts to install this program.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-115405\" title=\"Install Shadow Defender\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Install-Shadow-Defender.jpg\" alt=\"Install Shadow Defender\" width=\"590\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Install-Shadow-Defender.jpg 590w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Install-Shadow-Defender-300x237.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Select snapshot date.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-115411\" title=\"Select drive and snapshot date\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Select-date.jpg\" alt=\"Select drive and date to recover the files encrypted by this ransomware \" width=\"1180\" height=\"895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Select-date.jpg 1180w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Select-date-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Select-date-1024x777.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1180px) 100vw, 1180px\" \/><\/figure><p><\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n<p class=\"mwt_quick_overview\">Export the files that you want to recover.<\/p>\n<p>Once you have found a copy of the original file or folder, right-click on it and the select &#8220;Export&#8221;. A window will prompt you where you want to save the file or folder.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-115403\" title=\"Find copy then click on Export\" src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Export-files-ransomware.jpg\" alt=\"Find copy then click on Expor to recover the files encrypted by this ransomware \" width=\"590\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Export-files-ransomware.jpg 590w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Export-files-ransomware-300x228.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep every <strong>.witch<\/strong> name exactly as it is. Keep at least one locked sample. Do not bulk-rename <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong> back to <strong>1.jpg<\/strong>, or <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong> back to <strong>2.png<\/strong>, or <strong>vacation.jpg.witch<\/strong> back to a normal JPEG, or <strong>invoice-2026.pdf.witch<\/strong> back to a normal PDF, or <strong>taxes.xlsx.witch<\/strong> back to a spreadsheet, or <strong>family.mp4.witch<\/strong> 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 <strong>.witch<\/strong>. You do not need to edit it to know what you lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> with the locked files. Do not &#8220;clean up&#8221; every copy of the note. Do not fill in a third wallet so the flyer looks complete. The wording, the missing spaces, and the two printed strings are part of how you prove this was this strain and not a different locker that only sounds similar. Keep the contact marks as identifiers: <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>, the penetrated line, the $25 ask, XMR <strong>44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW<\/strong>, and BTC <strong>bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6<\/strong>. Those artifacts are evidence. They are not instructions you should carry out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not mail <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>. Do not ask a friend to write them &#8220;just to see.&#8221; A printed $25 is still a ransom. A calm address is still the people who locked the files. If a later message quotes <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> and offers &#8220;the real wallet,&#8221; that is still the same shop. If a later message skips the original inbox and asks for $25 over a different address, that is still the same shop, or a copycat standing in the same doorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is not the old Witchcraft Cash adware. Remove Done.Witchcraftcash.com Ads is a different mess and a different filename. Pop-ups are not <strong>.witch<\/strong> files. If a helper only knows the older title, they are not matching your folder. Do not follow the older page as if it already solved <strong>readme.txt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not pay. Do not send that $25 in XMR. Do not send that $25 in BTC. If someone claims they can already decrypt Witch files for a fee because they can recite the penetrated line and the pandas inbox, they are selling a report, not a key. If they mention <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong> as proof they &#8220;already called the crew,&#8221; they read the same note you did. Do not answer. Do not complete their checkout. Do not help them fix the flyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Windows still offers to pick an app for the <strong>.witch<\/strong> type, decline it. There is no player for that ending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"mwtad1473199698\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309750-ad_309691-placement_400592\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"4041237300\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Witch ransomware is a locker with a readable filename, a readme that shouts penetrated, and a checkout that names $25. It keeps the old name and appends <strong>.witch<\/strong>. <strong>1.jpg<\/strong> becomes <strong>1.jpg.witch<\/strong>. <strong>2.png<\/strong> becomes <strong>2.png.witch<\/strong>. The note is <strong>readme.txt<\/strong>. It claims a strong algorithm, says no public decryptor exists, forbids reset and rename and delete, points you at <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>, and tells you to send 25 dollars in XMR or BTC. The printed Monero wallet is <strong>44VtxWjsT4WiUNaPnspzH9ei59zs9wsrt9zuUDfVzVjaj2dTVBjGFsyizBiJ91ZZGhQhnCDtQTfFiabRHj5Lf9Ho2qnCwEW<\/strong>. The printed Bitcoin wallet is <strong>bc1qluc443wla779j0gvtfnhc53f2wzhr38rajzgz6<\/strong>. There is no leak claim. There is no Session ID. There is no onion door. There is no second inbox. There is no extra victim $ amount. There is no public free decryptor known for this strain. This is not the old Witchcraft Cash adware in Remove Done.Witchcraftcash.com Ads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not pay. Do not send that $25. Do not mail that inbox. Do not invent a leak site or a third wallet. Do not rename the pile in bulk. Keep <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> and a <strong>.witch<\/strong> sample. If you take one sentence with you, take this. A folder of names ending in <strong>.witch<\/strong>, plus <strong>readme.txt<\/strong> with a penetrated shout, a $25 XMR or BTC ask, and <strong>cozypandas@morke.ru<\/strong>, is ransomware on the first sighting. Treat it that way before anyone offers to fill a wallet the note already printed, and before anyone hands you the old adware guide as if pop-ups and locked photos were the same mess.<\/p>\n\n<div id=\"mwtad1927886224\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_176819-ad_309691-placement_400595\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"8386082122\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Witch EXPOSED: .witch Files, readme.txt, and cozypandas@morke.ru\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/witch-ransomware\/#more-404039\" aria-label=\"Read more about Witch EXPOSED: .witch Files, readme.txt, and cozypandas@morke.ru\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":404038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2836,2727],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-404039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-malware-removal-and-popup-scam-alerts","category-ransomware","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50","resize-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=404039"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":404040,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/404039\/revisions\/404040"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/404038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=404039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=404039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=404039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}