C4H ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
C4H is a ransomware-type cyber infection that belongs to the infamous GlobeImposter family. Since 2018, a reduction in the persistence of this ransomware family has been observed up until May 2020 when Petrovic, Russian cybersecurity expert, grasped a virus that encrypts files using .C4H file extension and appends "Decryption INFO.html."
Facts checked October 7, 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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C4H ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The predecessors of this ransomware tend to spread via Necurs botnet, malicious spam email attachments, pirated software, infected click-to-download ads, and similar. The C4H shows a tendency to mimic its family members |
|---|---|
| Name | C4H |
| Geology | GlobeImposter |
| Type | Ransomware virus |
| Extension | .C4H |
| Ransom note | Decryption INFO.html; the text is quoted in full below |
| 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 16 more facts
| Developer's email | chinarecoverycompany@cock.li chinarecoverycompany@airmail.cc |
|---|---|
| Virus files | 1589462941_QS_pafish.exe or filetype:peexe[1] |
| Symptoms | The malware initiates a variety of Windows alterations in the first phase. Therefore, errors, terminated AV programs, unresponsive software, crashes, slowdowns, and similar symptoms may be noticed. The second phase encompasses encryption of victim's files and delivery of ransom instructions |
| Decryption | The previous versions of this malware have been deciphered. The free decryption software is still available for people on the NoMoreRansom project. However, the decryptor has been adapted to retrieve file extensions released until 2018, so there is no guarantee that the current .C4H |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | chinarecoverycompany@cock.li, chinarecoverycompany@airmail.cc |
| Encrypted file extension | .c4h |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .c4h |
| Attacker contacts | chinarecoverycompany@cock.li |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 15 May 2020 |
| Microsoft Defender name | Ransom:Win32/GlobeImposter.180910 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Which name will your scanner show?
Microsoft's name for C4H is Ransom:Win32/GlobeImposter.180910.
Defender sorts threats by category first, so the word before the colon tells you what kind of program was found, even if the family name means nothing to you.
Do not search for a removal tool by the detection name alone; fake "removal tools" use the same keywords. How the naming works is explained in our guide to antivirus detection names.
- File extension:
.c4h - Note file:
INFO.html - Contact:
chinarecoverycompany@cock.li
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on C4H
- C4H ransomware removal can be implemented with a professional anti-virus program.
- There is no other way to get rid of the whole bundle of malicious files.
- The system's recovery after ransomware infiltration is not of less importance.
- Ransomware removal does not restore damaged system's files and registries, so it's imminent to render a reliable Windows optimization tool.
How C4H ransomware behaves
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
C4H is a malicious file-encrypting virus hailing from the Globeimposter ransomware family
C4H is a ransomware-type cyber infection that belongs to the infamous GlobeImposter family.
Since 2018, a reduction in the persistence of this ransomware family has been observed up until May 2020 when Petrovic, Russian cybersecurity expert, grasped a virus that encrypts files using .C4H file extension and appends "Decryption INFO.html."
The ransomware is distributed via trojanized apps, spam emails, or pirated software like cracks. Upon infiltration, it installs Windows boot-up entries, Registry keys, and executables int the Task Manager.
Furthermore, it loads an automatic encryption software, which targets non-system files on D: drive and locks them using AES and RSA encryption with the .C4H extension. As a final point, the ransomware generates a ransom note, which presses the victim to contact criminals via chinarecoverycompany@cock.li or chinarecoverycompany@airmail.cc email.
C4H ransomware and other file-encrypting viruses are used by extortionists who seek financial profit on behalf of other people's misfortune. Criminals engage many strategies to disseminate ransomware payloads and the most "successful" way of tricking regular users seems to be email attachments.
Once the virus finds its place on a target system, criminals engage social engineering techniques to scare victims that the only way to decrypt files is to pay the ransom. For this purpose, C4H virus developers use false claims that running an antivirus program or attempts to self-decrypt files will end up in a permanent loss of encrypted files.
It is not recommended to trust criminals' promises that the C4H decryptor will immediately be provided as soon as the ransomware demand will be received. Paying the ransom poses a high risk of identity theft and other privacy-related issues.
The ransom note provides two ways to contact the virus developers, i.e. chinarecoverycompany@cock.li or chinarecoverycompany@airmail.cc. However, instead of disputes with criminals, immediate C4H removal is recommended.
The only way to remove C4H ransomware from the system is to restart Windows into Safe Mode and run a thorough scan with a reputable anti-virus program. Once all malicious entries are removed, you can try to retrieve locked data with a free GlobeImposter decryptor or give a try for alternative recovery methods in case the first one fails.
Currently, according to VirusTotal analysis, the C4H virus can successfully be detected and decontaminated by 60 AV engines out of 72. The detection rate is very high, so do not ignore pop-ups of the AV engine if it delivers one of the following warnings:
If the data on your PC has been encrypted, a ransom note created on the desktop and other folders, desktop background were changed and other signs evidence a ransomware attack, do not postpone C4H removal. Such and similar cyber infections often bear secondary payloads for trojans and spyware. Therefore, the longer you keep an intruder on the system, the higher the danger gets.
- Ransom:Win32/GlobeImposter.180910
- Trojan /Win32.GlobeImposter
- Generic.Ransom.GlobeImposter.9F3AF8D5
- TrojWare.Win32.Necne.AB@7l2s58
- Generic.Ransom.GlobeImposter.9F3AF8D5 (B)
- Ransom.GlobeImposter
- Troj/Ransom-EVE
- Mal_FakeGlobe, etc.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Strategies that criminals use to spread ransomware
Our colleagues from LosVirus.es warn users about various insecurities online that can help ransomware to get inside the system.
In many cases, ransomware viruses are launched as second payloads of trojans, which usually get installed after vulnerability exploits or pirated software. However, the most infamous online places where people encounter the highest risk to get a ransomware infection are email accounts (spam section), torrent websites, questionable gaming websites, or adult content (gambling, porn) websites.
Apart from having a powerful AV engine with real-time protection enabled, there are other precautionary measures that people should render to stay away from file-encrypting and other malware:
A combination of precaution and powerful anti-virus program should be enough to protect your personal information, software, identity, and money from violations.
- Manage your email with extreme carefulness. Do not rely on email messages that fall into the spam section. The biggest danger hides under messages that carry attachments or links.
- Avoid visiting unprotected websites and secondary networks. Poorly protected third-party websites can easily be exploited by criminals and infected with malicious ransomware code.
- Avoid visiting adult-content websites. Although there are some potentially secure porn websites , clicking on shady ads positioned on those sites poses a risk of being redirected to a phishing website.
The C4H ransomware note
ENGLISH
ALL YOUR FILES AND IMPORTANT DATA ARE ENCRYPTED!
To recover data you need decryptor.
To get the decryptor you should:
Send 1 test image or text file chinarecoverycompany@cock.li or chinarecoverycompany@airmail.cc.
In the letter include your personal ID (look at the beginning of this document).
We will give you the decrypted file and assign the price for decryption all files
After we send you instruction how to pay for decrypt and after payment you will receive a decryptor and instructions We can decrypt one file in quality the evidence that we have the decoder.
Attention!
Only chinarecoverycompany@cock.li or chinarecoverycompany@airmail.cc can decrypt your files
Do not trust anyone chinarecoverycompany@cock.li or chinarecoverycompany@airmail.cc
Do not attempt to remove the program or run the anti-virus tools
Attempts to self-decrypting files will result in the loss of your data
Decoders other users are not compatible with your data, because each user's unique encryption key
How to remove C4H 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 C4H 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
C4H encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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
Copy
INFO.htmland one or two files ending in.c4hto a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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
For C4H, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while C4H still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or 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
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
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
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
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 May 2020 · not reviewed since
C4H ransomware elimination and data recovery guidelines
C4H ransomware removal process is implemented by both regular users and skilled users in the same way - a full scan with a professional anti-virus program is required.
Manual removal is not possible in any way and any attempt to change malicious files can put the system at risk.
Before you take any actions to remove C4H ransomware, we strongly recommend making the backups of the locked files. That's a measure to ensure that you'll have copies in case the virus gets removed alongside files with .c4h file extensions. For that, you can use a USB flash drive or cloud storage.
Once ready, restart Windows into Safe Mode with networking as explained below, and launch the scanner of your AV tool. A professional tool will detect all ransomware-related entries, processes, and registries that have to be terminated together to successfully finish the C4H removal.
Finally, do not forget to fix virus damage. Ransomware affects the Windows system severely and, unfortunately, AV programs cannot fix system damage. For that, use a tool like .
[GI=method-1]Restart Windows into Safe Mode with Networking to terminate all malicious processes triggered by C4H ransomware.
[GI=method-2]The System Restore function on Windows can help with the C4H removal and retrieval of encrypted data.
Files encrypted by C4H ransomware virus can be recovered with the help of third-party software. However, successful decryption is possible when a process is performed step-by-step as shown below.
Windows Previous Versions can be of use when dealing with ransomware encrypted files
This software can be used to restore some files affected by file-encrypting malware. However, this option is only available when a System Restore feature was enabled on the system before.
Take advantage of the Shadow Explorer
In case C4H ransomware fails to remove Volume Shadow Copies of the data stored on the system, most of the files can be retrieved by following these steps:
C4H ransomware decryption software hasn't been developed yet
Despite the fact that there's no official C4H decrypter, you can give a free GlobeImposter decryption software a try since both viruses stem from the same family.
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 .c4h 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.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about C4H ransomware
Should I pay the ransom in INFO.html?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from INFO.html and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
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 do I open .c4h files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .c4h ending shows that C4H 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 C4H. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Is there a free C4H decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for C4H 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 "C4H 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.
How did C4H get on my computer?
The way C4H 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 .c4h 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.
Did C4H steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by C4H, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .c4h 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 C4H 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 .c4h from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .c4h 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.
What does INFO.html tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name INFO.html, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
Will Fortect remove C4H?
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 C4H, 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
- VirusTotal: peexe (read October 7, 2026)
- LosVirus: NOTICIAS SOBRE SEGURIDAD Y VIRUS (read October 7, 2026)
- Cosmopolitan: 10 Women-Friendly and Computer-Safe Porn Websites (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)