0kilobypt ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
0kilobypt ransomware is the virus that is possibly developed by Russians because email details and ransom notes are written in this language. This ransomware allegedly encrypts files and claims to lock them, so the ransom can be demanded.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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0kilobypt ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The threat is distributed around using the main ways of ransomware spreading. It mainly involves malicious files and other threats that can trigger the drop of payload |
|---|---|
| Name | 0kilobypt ransomware |
| Extension | This threat is marking files with .CRYPT, .cr, .val, .Eivoh1na, .Aebaih6i, .lezei8bo, .lth2eelu, .mechu5Po, .leph0uxo |
| Ransom note | README.txt is the one file that can appear on the system if any. Also, some files with particular names and email addresses get placed on the machine after the attack, so you get more information about the ransomware operations and possible steps afterward. Examples: !!!ACCESS_ TO_FILES_WRITE __ (Iyieg9eB@secmail.pro).txt; !!!TECH_SUPPORT_ (Xieth8ie@secmail.pro).txt; WHERE ARE YOUR FILES READ ME.txt; !!!HELP_ WITH_FILES_ (rekoh4th@secmail.pro ).txt |
| Contact emails | tikitakbum@rambler.ru, thorntitini1979@danwin1210.me, postal.surgut@danwin1210.me, dizelmon@danwin1210.me, eR8iech5@danwin1210.me, eed8Aeta@danwin1210.me |
| Unique features | These activities were noticed back in 2016 and operations repeated over the years. Original files filled with zeros and modifications seem to be related with the same group of ransomware creators |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 13 more facts
| Most active versions | .leph0uxo file virus .mechu4Po file virus |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .leph0uxo |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .leph0uxo |
| Attacker contacts | Iyieg9eB@secmail.pro |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 22 July 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.leph0uxo - Note file:
README.txt - Contact:
Iyieg9eB@secmail.pro
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on 0kilobypt ransomware
- 0kilobypt ransomware removal requires anti-malware tools and programs that can ensure proper cleaning after the virus attack
- Also, think about the damage that ransomware causes in the system and files that get damaged.
- Run to find the affected data and possibly fix these issues automatically
How 0kilobypt ransomware behaves
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
0kilobypt ransomware is the version of cryptovirus that overwrites all files with nulls
0kilobypt ransomware is the virus that is possibly developed by Russians because email details and ransom notes are written in this language.
This ransomware allegedly encrypts files and claims to lock them, so the ransom can be demanded. However, there is no file extension or encryption procedure. the information in those targeted files gets erased completely, so the file becomes equal to 0 bytes or kilobytes, hence the name of the threat. There are no other threats that the virus may come from, so this is the new ransomware.
Unfortunately, 0kilobypt ransomware virus itself released a few versions already, so you may encounter different threats and notice various symptoms. Developers of the virus put their email addresses instead of the file extension, so files initially get marked. The file still says no data and paying the ransom is useless. Over time, some features have been altered because criminals evolve and change their operations on purpose.
0kilobypt ransomware virus is the one that can be considered the most dangerous due to the blackmail messages and money involvement. Crypto is the currency that criminals tend to go for when asking for payments because people might get scared into paying with those claims.
There are many features that 0kilobypt files virus adapted over the years, so you may experience issues with the machine due to changes alterations, damage in parts of the system folders, functions, program performance. The information that we know to this day about the processes and operations of this family include the list of extensions used to mark files.
These appendixes come after the email that is considered to be the primary contact method for the criminals:
0kilobypt ransomware may deliver various messages, insert files on the machine, and trigger alterations in system settings, program functions. This threat affects many parts of the machine, so you can experience symptoms and issues with functions, features, security tools, data recovery methods.
You need to take these additional functions of the file-locker into consideration when you remove 0kilobypt ransomware yourself. However, this is not the easiest procedure, because you need to get a proper anti-malware tool or a security program that can trigger the cleaning operations.
0kilobypt ransomware removal starts with the determination of the virus variant, and then selection of the proper anti-malware tool. Once you choose the program, you can run the system scan and fully check the machine for malware and virus traces. This is how you automatically delete the ransomware.
- Iyieg9eB@secmail.pro
- Ux3oe7ae@secmail.pro
- Xieth8ie@secmail.pro
- ghjujy@tuta.io
- rekoh4th@secmail.pro
- uroo7ohM@secmail.pro
- ivanmalahov@protonmail.com
- rusoftfond@protonmail.com
- g.kulahmet@secmail.pro
- g.kulahmet@protonmail.com
- soft. russian@protonmail.com
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Versions that are most active out of the .0kilobypt file virus family
In 2019 0kilobypt ransomware virus was pretty active, but released only a few versions that targeted various users since ransom notes were discovered in English, German and Russian language.
All of them included the initial functions - zeros instead of the data content.
0kilobypt ransomware 2020 actions where linked with .[G.kulahmet@protonmail.com].Ith2eelu, .[g.kulahmet@protonmail.com].UwajooB0, and .[g.kulahmet@protonmail.com].uB4Yiela random extensions added on the fake-encrypted data. Then the more persistent and unique versions came out in July 2020.
Also overwriting files with zeros, these threats affect various files found on the machine and then delivers the message in the README.txt file mainly. The message states:
The more common and widely spread samples that researches have analyzed are the one that marks files with .mechu4Po and .leph0uxo patterns. These two came out in July of 2020 and are distributed around together. There are not many different features, so your device is affected, files permanently damage when you encounter this ransomware.
Warning: Do not pay since it is useless.
Experts never recommend paying in the first place.
The 0kilobypt ransomware note
Revert files. Write to
Для получения доступа к файлам пишите на
soft.russian@secmail.pro soft.russian@protonmail.com
How to remove 0kilobypt ransomware
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove 0kilobypt ransomware and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so 0kilobypt ransomware cannot reach more files. Pause OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync, because synced folders upload the encrypted copies over the good ones.
Leave the PC on but offline while you read the next steps, since a restart can let the ransomware run again. This applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Your files now end in
.leph0uxoand the instructions are inREADME.txt. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
Our last check found that for 0kilobypt ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Look again yourself in the No More Ransom list and the free decryptor pages of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, which add new families every year.
A decryptor needs the ransomware gone first, or it encrypts the files again. Keep at least one copy of the encrypted files on an external drive, even if no tool works yet.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Removing 0kilobypt ransomware does not bring the files back, but it has to come first. Start with Defender's Full scan, then the offline scan from the same Scan options page, which checks the disk before Windows loads.
If the scan cannot start, use Safe Mode with Networking. Delete the ransom notes only after you have saved a copy, because removal tools sometimes leave them behind on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Windows keeps shadow copies for restore points and backups, and some ransomware fails to delete them.
vssadmin list shadowsin an administrator Command Prompt tells you at once whether any exist.If they do, right-click the folder that held your files, open Properties > Previous Versions, select a version from before the attack, and click Open to check it before you Restore or copy the files out. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have the tab.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
A backup made before the attack is the surest way back. Connect it only once the PC is clean, then restore from File History, Windows Backup, OneDrive's Restore your OneDrive or your own external copies.
Without a backup, try file recovery: the originals that 0kilobypt ransomware deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Try to get rid of the threat and remove any traces of 0kilobypt ransomware virus
0kilobypt ransomware removal process is the one that requires attention from the person that gets affected because there are many changes this virus can trigger in system folders, computer functions, and even programs that run on the machine. You need to control these procedures and try to clear any traces of the threat.
You cannot think that when you remove 0kilobypt ransomware you will also repair your affected files this way. This is a misconception because data is not repaired. In most cases, these attacks result in complete file damage, so you need to delete the threat to keep the system secure. Try or for the cleaning procedure.
Files that 0kilobypt ransomware virus overwrites with zeros cannot be restored, so it makes no sense to pay the demanded amount of money or even contacting these criminals. You cannot restore pieces of data that get corrupted like this. You may repair some system functions with and clear virus traces from the machine using the security applications, but your files get damaged permanently. You can only use file backups.
[GI=method-1]Try to reboot the machine in a Safe Mode with Networking, so you can run the anti-malware tool and remove 0kilobypt ransomware completely
[GI=method-2]System restore feature allows users to recover the machine in a previous state when the threat was not running
Windows Previous Versions feature can help with the lost data
In some cases, when you use the System Restore feature to remove the threat, you can rely on Windows Previous Versions method for file restoring
Decryption is not possible
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .leph0uxo and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about 0kilobypt ransomware
How do I open .leph0uxo files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .leph0uxo ending shows that 0kilobypt ransomware encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for 0kilobypt ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did 0kilobypt ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by 0kilobypt ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .leph0uxo and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before. Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Is there a free 0kilobypt ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for 0kilobypt ransomware no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "0kilobypt ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
How did 0kilobypt ransomware get on my computer?
The way 0kilobypt ransomware spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .leph0uxo and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Is 0kilobypt ransomware the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Can I just remove .leph0uxo from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .leph0uxo extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
Can I delete README.txt?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. README.txt contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Will Fortect remove 0kilobypt ransomware?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For 0kilobypt ransomware, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Twitter: New ransomware report (read October 6, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)