ABCD ransomware: what it is and how to restore .abcd files

ABCD ransomware is the first version of LockBit:

  • it encrypts your files
  • adds .abcd to their names
  • leaves Restore-My-Files.txt

No free decryptor for .abcd files is listed, so backups are the way back; do not pay.

Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation.

Automatic

Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.

Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.

Before you restore backups, a full scan can confirm the program that added .abcd is gone.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.

Do it yourself · free Remove ABCD ransomware yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.

Start the steps
Restore-My-Files note open in Notepad on a Windows desktop, with a long personal id at the bottom
The ABCD ransom note in Notepad, as our 2019 report showed it (the title text is report artwork).

ABCD ransomware: summary

TypeFile-encrypting ransomware (AES), the first version of LockBit
RiskHigh: files on the PC and network drives are encrypted, and no free decryptor for .abcd is listed
SymptomsFiles renamed name.ext.abcd, Restore-My-Files.txt in most folders
How to get rid of itDisconnect, copy the encrypted files, scan in Safe Mode with Microsoft Defender, close Remote Desktop, change passwords; see the plan
Our checkSource check on 6 October 2026 (Akamai, Intel 471, CISA, No More Ransom); we did not run the malware
First seenSeptember 2019 (Intel 471); our first report 19 December 2019
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
NameABCD ransomware, also LockBit 1.0
Encrypted file extension.abcd, for example picture.jpg.abcd
Ransom noteRestore-My-Files.txt, quoted below
DecryptorNone listed for .abcd; a LockBit 3.0 one exists on No More Ransom, not confirmed for .abcd
Contactsupportpc@cock.li and goodsupport@cock.li; other versions used other addresses
DistributionMostly weakly protected Remote Desktop; also phishing, unpatched software and stolen accounts
DamageFiles encrypted, shadow copies deleted, backups on connected drives at risk
Evidence0 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet
Encrypted files.abcd
Free decryptorNo free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026)
Microsoft Defender nameRansom:Win32/LockBit.A!MTB
Detection namesMicrosoft: Ransom:Win32/LockBit.A!MTB
Facts checked6 October 2026

Facts checked on 6 October 2026 against Akamai's LockBit glossary, Intel 471's LockBit report, CISA's LockBit 3.0 advisory, the No More Ransom tools list and our own 2019 screenshots. We did not run the malware.

What ABCD ransomware is

ABCD ransomware is the first version of what became LockBit: a Windows file encryptor that adds .abcd to your files and leaves Restore-My-Files.txt in the folders, and no free decryptor for .abcd files is listed today.

Our 2019 guide called it a variant of MegaCortex and LockerGoga. Akamai and Intel 471 both say it is the early form of LockBit instead, so this page follows them.

Also called
LockBit 1.0, the ".abcd" ransomware (Intel 471, Akamai)
First seen
September 2019 (Intel 471); our report on 19 December 2019 says mid-October 2019
Extension
.abcd, for example picture.jpg.abcd; later versions use .lockbit
Note
Restore-My-Files.txt, dropped in most folders
Encryption
AES (Intel 471); the files keep their own name with .abcd added
Payment
Bitcoin, arranged by e-mail; the note holds no wallet address
Main targets
Companies, through weakly protected Remote Desktop

How the ABCD story went

  1. September 2019

    First seen

    Intel 471 dates the first LockBit sightings to September 2019, when files were still renamed .abcd.

  2. Mid-October 2019

    Companies start reporting it

    Our guide said it had been hitting companies worldwide since mid-October 2019. Encrypted files looked like this in File Explorer.

    Windows File Explorer folder My documents with files named jpg.abcd, pdf.abcd and a Restore-My-Files text file
    Our 2019 screenshot of a folder after the attack: every file has .abcd added to its name and Restore-My-Files sits beside them (the title text is report artwork).
  3. 19 December 2019

    Our first report

    We called it a variant of MegaCortex and LockerGoga that attacks through Remote Desktop. The Remote Desktop part holds up; the family claim does not.

    Restore-My-Files note in Notepad and a list of files ending in .abcd, with a stock photo of a woman in a suit
    The note and the renamed files together in our 2019 report. The woman is stock artwork, not a victim or a suspect.
  4. January 2020

    The extension changes to .lockbit

    Akamai dates the files renamed .lockbit to January 2020, and CISA says LockBit has run as an affiliate service since then.

  5. June 2021

    LockBit 2.0

    Akamai lists version 2.0 with a built-in data-stealing tool called StealBit.

  6. March 2022

    LockBit 3.0 (LockBit Black)

    CISA describes it as more modular and evasive than the earlier versions.

  7. February 2024

    Police take over the leak sites

    Europol and the UK National Crime Agency announced Operation Cronos, and released a LockBit 3.0 decryptor through No More Ransom. Akamai notes the group was back within days.

What we checked and what we did not

We did not run this malware, and ABCD has no website, so there is no site test; this is a check of sources.

ABCD ransomware · source check · 6 October 2026

  • FamilyAkamai and Intel 471 both name ABCD as the early form of LockBit. Our 2019 "MegaCortex and LockerGoga variant" claim was wrong.
  • Ransom note textRead from our own 2019 screenshots of Restore-My-Files.txt in Notepad.
  • Free decryptor for .abcdNone is listed. No More Ransom lists a LockBit 3.0 decryptor only, with no mention of .abcd.
  • Does the LockBit 3.0 decryptor work on .abcd?Not confirmed. We did not test it, and the page for it does not name earlier versions.
  • 2019 detailsProcess Hacker 2, startup repair, the exact vssadmin line and Dropbox deletion are not in the sources we read: unconfirmed.
  • The ABCD sampleWe do not have a sample, so we could not confirm file names, registry keys or hashes ourselves.

No free way back is confirmed Files encrypted with AES cannot be reversed by guessing. Only backups, or a decryptor that someone proves works on .abcd, will bring them back, and we found neither for sure.

  • File extension: .abcd
  • Note file: Restore-My-Files.txt

What antivirus programs call it

Detection names change often.

The list below is what the 2019 guide read from a VirusTotal result and is only useful to confirm the right family.

Names the old guide listed. We did not re-scan a sample.
WhoNameWhere it comes from
MicrosoftRansom:Win32/LockBit.A!MTBOur 2019 report; the name already points to LockBit
Kaspersky-style genericWin32.Trojan-Ransom.Filecoder.BOOur 2019 report
ESETA Variant Of Win32/Filecoder.NXQOur 2019 report
Generic detectionsWin32:Trojan-gen, BehavesLike.Win32.Emotet.lh, W32.Trojan.TR.DownloaderOur 2019 report; these are generic and not specific to ABCD

How ABCD ransomware behaves

What it does on the PC, step by step

The 2019 guide listed preparations before the encryption starts.

Some are confirmed for LockBit in general, some only come from our 2019 report, and the steps say which.

  1. 1

    An attacker gets in, usually through Remote Desktop

    Intel 471 and Akamai name phishing, unpatched software, stolen passwords and an exposed Remote Desktop port as the ways LockBit got a foothold. Our 2019 guide saw mostly the last one.

  2. 2

    The program is started by hand

    Once the executable runs, the infection routine starts. Intel 471 adds that LockBit spreads on its own to other reachable computers, without the attacker doing it machine by machine.

  3. 3

    Defences and backups are switched off

    Intel 471 reports that LockBit disables security services and deletes shadow copies. Our 2019 guide gave the command vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet; we have not seen that exact line in the sources we read. It also said backups in cloud storage such as Dropbox are deleted; we found no source for that either.

  4. 4

    Startup repair is disabled

    Our 2019 guide said Windows startup repair is turned off. Not confirmed in any source we read.

  5. 5

    A legitimate tool is installed

    The 2019 guide said Process Hacker 2, a system monitor, was installed on infected machines. Not confirmed in any source we read; treat it as a clue only if you find it.

  6. 6

    Files are encrypted on the PC and on network drives

    AES is used on local and network files; system and executable files are skipped so Windows keeps running. Each file gets .abcd after its own name.

  7. 7

    The note is dropped

    Restore-My-Files.txt appears in most folders, and Intel 471 says the wallpaper is changed in LockBit attacks. Our 2019 screenshots show the note in Notepad.

What the note demands

The note is in English with the writer's own grammar.

The 2019 screenshot shows the five steps it gives, and the text here follows it.

What Restore-My-Files.txt asks for, with our reading.
ItemWhat the note saysWhat it means
ProofOne encrypted file (up to 1 MB) and your personal key, sent to them, decrypted free as a testA way to look trustworthy before the demand. The personal key is the long block of text at the bottom of the note.
Payment"We accept Bitcoin"The note holds no wallet address; it is given after you write. We do not print any.
Contactsupportpc@cock.li, with a copy to goodsupport@cock.liOur 2019 guide also listed goeila@countermail.com, gupzkz@cock.li and abcd-help@countermail.com for other versions.
Warning"Do not rename encrypted files" and do not use third-party softwareRenaming is harmless to the encryption, but the warning is meant to keep you from trying other help.
PriceNot in the noteReports collected in 2019 said as much as 3 BTC per victim, whatever the number of computers. That figure is from affected users, not confirmed by us.

Some victims who paid said they received a working decryptor. Others cannot be known: there is no way to hold a criminal to a promise, and the next section explains why paying is a poor bet.

How ABCD reaches a network

The 2019 guide stressed Remote Desktop but said that other ways are possible.

CISA's LockBit advisory and Akamai agree, and list the same spread of entry points.

  • High

    Remote Desktop with a weak password

    Credentials are bought on underground forums or guessed by a program that tries many passwords (Akamai, CISA). The attacker then logs in and runs the program.

  • Medium

    Phishing e-mails

    Akamai lists phishing for LockBit. The 2019 guide named spam, fake updates and cracks too.

  • Medium

    Unpatched software

    Akamai lists exploited software vulnerabilities, so patching remains part of the defence.

Remote Desktop: how to close the door

The old guide explained why Remote Desktop is attacked and how to protect it.

The ideas below keep its list, with the points that changed.

  1. 1

    Do not leave port 3389 open to the internet

    Reach the PC through a VPN or a Remote Desktop Gateway instead. The 2019 guide suggested changing the port; that only hides it from the laziest scans, so treat it as a minor extra.

  2. 2

    Limit who can log in

    In the Remote Desktop settings, choose who may connect (Microsoft: select users that can remotely access this PC, then Add) and remove everyone else.

  3. 3

    Use a long, unique password and two-step sign-in

    A password that cannot be guessed stops the program that tries thousands of them. CISA and Akamai both recommend multi-factor sign-in.

  4. 4

    Turn Remote Desktop off when you do not use it

    A switched-off service cannot be attacked.

  5. 5

    Require Network Level Authentication

    This makes the visitor prove who they are before a session opens. The setting is in the Remote Desktop settings; its exact menu name changes between Windows builds, so we do not quote a path.

  6. 6

    Keep Windows updated and backups apart

    General habits matter as much as this one door: patching, security software and a copy the attacker cannot reach.

Similar names and lookalikes

Several names get mixed up with ABCD, and following the wrong instructions can cost days.

No More Ransom lists decryptors for MegaCortex and LockerGoga, but we have no source saying they work on .abcd.
NameHow it relatesWhat to do
LockBit, .lockbit filesThe later versions of the same family (Akamai, Intel 471)Same reading of the note; LockBit 3.0 has a decryptor on No More Ransom
MegaCortexIntel 471 says LockBit's methods are similar; we have no source that .abcd is MegaCortexDo not use MegaCortex tools on .abcd files
LockerGogaSame remarkAs above
STOP/Djvu filesHome-user ransomware with other extensionsTheir decryptors do not apply to .abcd

Was anything stolen?

Assume yes for any company network. LockBit's later versions copy files out before encrypting; for .abcd we cannot say.

  • Medium

    Passwords and accounts

    Attackers who log in over Remote Desktop can read what the account sees. Change the passwords of every account used on that PC, from a clean device.

  • Medium

    Files copied out

    Intel 471 says important data was uploaded to services such as MEGA before encryption in LockBit attacks. The 2019 note makes no data-leak threat.

  • Low

    Other computers on the network

    Our 2019 guide said it tries to infect all connected computers and servers, and Intel 471 says it spreads by itself. Check them before you reconnect.

What to do in the first hour

Do not start copying or deleting yet: first stop the attack from spreading, then protect the evidence.

  1. 1

    Disconnect from the network

    Pull the cable or turn off Wi-Fi on this PC, and on any computer showing .abcd files. The malware reaches network drives.

  2. 2

    Turn off remote access

    Close Remote Desktop to the internet at the router, and change the password of every account that could log in.

  3. 3

    Photograph the note

    Take a photo of the screen and keep Restore-My-Files.txt; you will need the personal key text if a decryptor appears.

  4. 4

    Copy the encrypted files

    Copy them to an external drive before you remove anything, then unplug the drive.

  5. 5

    Boot into Safe Mode with Networking and scan

    The 2019 guide advised this because the program may interfere with security software. Run a full Microsoft Defender scan; the plan below gives the Windows 11 and Windows 10 steps.

  6. 6

    Do not rely on System Restore to remove it

    The 2019 guide offered System Restore as a removal method. It restores system files, not your documents, and ransomware often deletes its restore points, so use it only as an extra.

The ABCD ransomware note

a ransom note left in folders

All your important files are encrypted!

There is only one way to get your files back:

1. Contact with us

2. Send us 1 any encrypted your file and your personal key

3. We will decrypt 1 file for test (maximum file size - 1 MB), its guarantee what we can decrypt your files

4. Pay

5. We send for you decryptor software

We accept Bitcoin

Attention!

Do not rename encrypted files.

Do not try to decrypt using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.

Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our)

Contact information: supportpc@cock.li

Be sure to duplicate your message on the e-mail: goodsupport@cock.li

Your personal id: [a long block of text, left out here]

Can ABCD ransomware files be decrypted?

Can .abcd files be restored?

Not by anything we can promise: AES encryption has no shortcut, and no decryptor for .abcd is listed on No More Ransom. The old guide said the same, and it still holds.

There is one thing to check. After Operation Cronos in 2024, No More Ransom added a LockBit 3.0 decryptor. It is meant for version 3.0 and its page does not mention .abcd, so do not count on it, but it costs nothing to read its guide.

  1. 1

    Copy the encrypted files first

    Copy files ending .abcd and Restore-My-Files.txt to a USB drive or a second disk. Removing the malware can change the files, as the old guide warned, and a copy is your insurance.

  2. 2

    Keep one sample and the note

    A decryptor, if one appears, needs a pair: an encrypted file and its original. Keep an encrypted file under 1 MB and a photo of the note.

  3. 3

    Read the No More Ransom page

    Open nomoreransom.org, then Decryption Tools, and search for LockBit. Read the how-to guide before you download anything. Never use a decryptor from a website you reached through an ad.

  4. 4

    Check later

    Researchers sometimes publish keys years later, as happened for LockerGoga and MegaCortex in 2022. We do not know of one for .abcd.

Should you pay the ransom?

No. The 2019 guide said some victims who paid received a working decryptor, others were asked for more, and users reported demands of up to 3 BTC whatever the size of the network.

  • High

    You pay and get nothing

    The decryptor is sold by the same people who locked the files; nothing makes them answer you.

  • High

    You are marked as a payer

    Paying tells the criminals that your network gives money, and it supports the next attack.

  • Medium

    The malware stays

    A decryptor does not remove the way in. Without closing Remote Desktop, the same people can come back.

How to remove ABCD 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 ABCD 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.

  1. 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 ABCD 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 quick settings with Wi-Fi turned off
    Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files

  2. Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family

    Your files now end in .abcd and the instructions are in Restore-My-Files.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.

    A ransom note text file next to encrypted files in File Explorer
    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

  3. Step 3: Check for a free decryptor

    Our last check found that for ABCD 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

  4. Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt

    Removing ABCD 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 Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

  5. 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 shadows in 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.

    Command Prompt running vssadmin list shadows
    Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files

  6. 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 ABCD 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

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

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.

Other ways to get files back

If no backup exists, these are the options the old guide listed.

They are partial: always work on copies.

  1. 1

    Your own backups

    An external drive, a NAS or cloud storage that was not connected during the attack is the only fully reliable source. Plug it in only after the PC is clean.

  2. 2

    Previous Versions

    Right-click a folder, choose Properties, then Previous Versions (on Windows 11 choose Show more options first). This works only if System Protection was on and the copies survived.

  3. 3

    Shadow copies

    Run vssadmin list shadows in an administrator Command Prompt. Microsoft's page says it lists existing copies. Our 2019 guide said ABCD deletes them, but where any remain, a viewer such as ShadowExplorer can open them.

  4. 4

    File recovery software

    A recovery program can find the unencrypted originals that the malware deleted, if they have not been overwritten. Stop using the PC first. Results vary and the 2019 guide made no promises.

  5. 5

    Wait for a decryptor

    Researchers and police sometimes publish keys later; this happened for other LockBit versions. Keep the encrypted files and the note.

Back up with the 3-2-1 rule

The only secure and free way to get files back is a backup that the attacker could not reach.

CISA's guidance for ransomware recommends offline copies.

The 3-2-1 backup rule.
NumberRuleExample
3Three copies of every important fileThe working file and two backups
2Two kinds of storageYour disk and a USB drive
1One copy offline or away from the PCA drive in a drawer, or cloud storage with version history

How to prevent ABCD ransomware and the next attack

The old guide said closing one door is not enough.

These habits cover the routes in this page.

Do

  • Keep Windows and your software updated
  • Close Remote Desktop to the internet, or protect it with a strong password, a VPN and two-step sign-in
  • Keep security software on and run a full scan after anything odd
  • Turn on file extensions in File Explorer (View > Show > File name extensions)

Don't

  • Do not open attachments you did not expect
  • Do not install cracks or fake updates
  • Do not reuse one password on several accounts

Questions about ABCD ransomware

Is there a decryptor for .abcd files?

No decryptor for .abcd files is listed on No More Ransom, and AES encryption cannot be broken by guessing. The site does list a LockBit 3.0 decryptor, published after Operation Cronos in 2024, but its page does not mention .abcd and we did not test whether it works on the early version.

Keep copies of the encrypted files and the note, so that you can try a decryptor if one is shown to work. Do not trust sites that sell an ABCD decryptor, since they are a common way to deliver more malware.

Should I pay the ABCD ransom?

No, we do not recommend paying. Some victims in 2019 said they received a working decryptor after paying, but there is no way to hold criminals to a promise, and affected users reported demands of up to 3 BTC whatever the size of the network.

Paying also shows the attackers that your network pays, and it does not close the Remote Desktop hole they used. Keep the note, report the attack to the police, and try your backups and the recovery options first. Some people with no backup have no other choice, and that is their decision.

How did ABCD ransomware get onto my computer?

Most likely through Remote Desktop. Attackers buy stolen logins or guess passwords with software, sign in and run the program themselves. Akamai and Intel 471 list other routes for LockBit:

  • phishing e-mails
  • unpatched software
  • stolen VPN accounts

Our 2019 guide also named spam, fake updates and software cracks. Check which of these your network has left open, because closing one door is not enough. The program is not something a web page can install by itself.

Is ABCD the same as LockBit, MegaCortex or LockerGoga?

ABCD is the same as LockBit: it is the first version of that family. Intel 471 calls LockBit "previously known as the .abcd ransomware", and Akamai says the first version used the .ABCD extension. Files were renamed .lockbit from January 2020, with LockBit 2.0 in 2021 and 3.0 in 2022.

MegaCortex and LockerGoga are different families; Intel 471 only says their methods are similar, and our 2019 "variant" claim was wrong. Use tools meant for the name on your files, and check the extension before you download anything.

How do I open .abcd files?

You cannot open .abcd files: they are encrypted with AES, and renaming them back to .jpg or .docx does not decrypt anything. Windows will not know a program for the extension.

If you have a backup, restore the original files from it after the PC is clean. Otherwise keep the .abcd copies safe, because a decryptor might be published later. Do not download an .abcd converter or opener; such sites are a common way to spread more malware.

Do paid decryption services work for ABCD files?

We found no evidence that they do. Paid services that promise to unlock .abcd files either pay the attackers on your behalf, which adds their fee to the ransom, or sell nothing at all. The ABCD note itself warns that third parties "may cause increased price", which is the attackers protecting their business.

The one route we know to be free and honest is No More Ransom, run by Europol and partners, where nothing costs money. Ask what a service will do for you before you send any file or payment.

Was data stolen in an ABCD attack?

Assume it could have been for any company network, though we cannot say for the early .abcd version. Intel 471 says that in LockBit attacks important files were uploaded to services such as MEGA before the encryption, and later versions threaten to publish them.

The ABCD note in our 2019 screenshots makes no such threat. Anyone who logged in over Remote Desktop could read what that account saw, so change the passwords of every account used on the infected PC from a clean device.

Will Fortect remove ABCD 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 ABCD 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

More removal guides

Questions and experiences: ABCD ransomware

Still seeing it, or found something we did not cover? Ask here: members and our editors answer. Reading is open; writing needs a free account.

0 comments

…

5,529 members already hereReading, writing, commenting and voting. 0 verified · 254 joined this year