Dishwasher ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Dishwasher ransomware - the cryptovirus that affect files and encourages people to press the "Decrypt all files" button. However, according to experts, data recovery was not implemented yet, and the service is not working.
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.
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.
Make sure nothing will rename more files to .clean: an automatic scan checks the PC first.
Do it yourself · free Remove Dishwasher ransomware yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Dishwasher ransomware: summary
| Distribution | File attachments with malicious macros,[2] payload droppers included in software crack packages |
|---|---|
| Name | Dishwasher ransomware |
| Type | Cryptovirus |
| Symptoms | The malware infects a machine and plants a malicious file on the system to perform needed processes, one of them is encryption, after which files that get encoded get .clean file marker. Once that is done various windows and images appear on the screen that contains information about the attack and suggests what to do next |
| Associated files | dishwasher.exe; dump.keys; bg.jpg |
| Ransom note | The image that is placed on the desktop and appears as a background also triggers the prog; the text of the note is not in our records |
| 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 11 more facts
| Decryption/ file recovery | The button that supposed to implement the decryption offered by criminals is not working, so you can recover your files by using a third-party tool designed to restore files or rely on researchers and their services |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .clean |
| 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; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .clean |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 16 October 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.clean
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Dishwasher ransomware
- The image that is placed on the desktop and appears as a background also triggers the program window with a simple indication that your files got locked and encrypted
- Use anti-malware tool and remove Dishwasher ransomware completely from the machine
- YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN LOCKED.
How Dishwasher ransomware behaves
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
Dishwasher ransomware is the infection that encodes files and adds .clean file extension to mark affected data but skips the ransom demand
Dishwasher ransomware - the cryptovirus that affect files and encourages people to press the "Decrypt all files" button.
However, according to experts, data recovery was not implemented yet, and the service is not working. Fortunately, data affected by this threat can possibly be decrypted. This is new ransomware based on no proven features that could be associated with other families known before.
That means two things: the coding is new and more difficult than other already analyzed samples, or the malware is in development still, so decryption is easier for ransomware experts.
If you encountered Dishwasher ransomware virus on the system, you should also find dishwasher.exe - core file of the infection, data marked with .clean appendix - encrypted files, and dump.key file that has a list of locations on the machine.
Other files may be added to the system, including programs and applications that disable some functions of your device, so you should react as soon as possible and try to store malware-related files, encrypted data on the separate device. Then you can remove the cryptovirus and wait for an official decryption tool.
Dishwasher ransomware might not be fully developed because decryption of files is not possible, although developers claim to offer such a service. The activity of this virus occurred first mid-October when some victims reported about the virus that encrypts files but doesn't demand a ransom.
There is no ransom note delivered by Dishwasher ransomware, but the lock screen and Desktop background once set to bg.jpg image, also shows the message:
However, the button that states about decryption possibility on the window is not working because once clicked it only delivers "Not yet implemented;)" instead of delivering to the payment system or further instructions. Dishwasher ransomware still is developed by people who are money-driven and focuses on locking files for the purpose of making a profit.
So you should remove Dishwasher ransomware, then clean the system fully and try to recover those affected files from the external device that stores backups. If you still believe that decryption might be possible in the future, you can store files associated with the malware, encrypted data, and wait for such a tool. However, if you want to use a computer normally, you need to terminate ransomware completely.
In most cases, such extortionists that create malware like Dishwasher ransomware deliver their ransom demands on text files or show instructions for the payment methods. However, there is nothing like that in this attack, and victims only have their encrypted data.
You may lose your files completely since Dishwasher ransomware creators are not offering you to pay for the data recovery. But researchers can sometimes restore the encoded data, especially when it comes to new threats like this. Don't remove any of those files, try to contact Michael Gillespie or look for information from other experts and then go for alternate file recovery methods.
Remember that you need to perform Dishwasher ransomware removal before you recover files yourself because any core file left behind can interfere with the recovery and even lead to second round of encoding. Get anti-malware tools like and run a full system check to find all traces of malware and malicious files.
You should also check tips and tricks below the article where we listed methods for data recovery, other features that can help for virus termination. Make sure to terminate the Dishwasher ransomware virus before any further actions to avoid system damage.
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
Common ransomware spreading methods include types of malicious files
Even though the ransomware coding differs from threat to threat, you can be sure that vectors used to spread the infection are mainly the same.
Although criminals can use system vulnerabilities and hack through insecure RDP configurations, malicious email attachments, fake installer files, and other types of data with the malicious script get employed more often.
Malicious macros get injected to Microsoft documents, PDFs, and attached to spam emails that pose as financial notifications from companies or services. When such document is opened, and macros enabled malicious scrips loads on the computer directly.
Another type of malicious file gets loaded in the craked software package with video game cheats, pirated programs, serial numbers of licensed application versions. These additions are not disclosed, so you risk getting malware when you rely on torrent services and such sites with downloads of cracks and cheats.
The Dishwasher ransomware note
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove Dishwasher 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 Dishwasher 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 Dishwasher 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 identify the family
The name of the family decides whether a free decryptor can help. Copy the ransom note and two small encrypted files to a USB stick, and check them on another device with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff.
Note the extension added to the files, the contact address and the victim ID shown in the note. Keep the originals on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC untouched.
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 Dishwasher ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 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 Dishwasher 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 Dishwasher 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 Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
Eliminate Dishwasher ransomware with anti-malware tool and clean the traces of this infection
Dishwasher ransomware virus is a new infection created in the category of cryptocurrency-extortion based malware.
There is not much information about a particular criminal group or tactics of the virus. However, based on typical issues with ransomware, this threat can delete programs, disable functions, and even files to affect the performance, decryption process.
By doing so, you terminate the infection fully and can recover files using data backups or third-party software.
When you decide to remove Dishwasher ransomware, you should take some facts into consideration: a virus can disable your AV tool, delete Shadow Volume Copies. , , or can find malware traces, files and fix possible damage, but you may need to reboot the machine in a Safe Mode first to achieve better results.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in a Safe Mode with Networking and perform a proper Dishwasher ransomware removal using anti-malware tools
[GI=method-2]System Restore can help with virus elimination because this feature allows recovering the system in a previous state when malware was not active
You may need to rely on third-party software designed to recover data when file backups are not the best options.
You may need alternate options for file restoring, so rely on Windows Previous Versions
This is the feature that can be used when you enable System Restore for the initial Dishwasher ransomware elimination
ShadowExplorer is the feature that allows file restoring
When ransomware leaves Shadow Volume Copies on the system, you can rely on ShadowExplorer and its functions
Decryption tool officially was not released yet for Dishwasher ransomware virus
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 .clean 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 Dishwasher ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .clean files?
That depends on the family behind the .clean extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
How do I open .clean files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .clean ending shows that Dishwasher 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 Dishwasher ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Are ransomware recovery services legitimate?
Some are, but read the offer carefully. Genuine data-recovery firms recover deleted originals from disks or rebuild damaged files, and they say so. Others promise to "decrypt any ransomware" for a fixed price, which is impossible without the key; they quietly pay the attackers and keep a margin, sometimes without telling the victim.
Be especially careful with services that contact you after you post about the attack online. Ask for references, a written method and a no-result-no-fee clause, and check the free tools on No More Ransom first.
Did Dishwasher ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Dishwasher ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .clean 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.
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.
How did Dishwasher ransomware get on my computer?
The way Dishwasher 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 .clean 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 Dishwasher 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.
My files got .clean overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .clean extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
Will removing Dishwasher ransomware unlock my .clean files?
No. Removing Dishwasher ransomware stops it from encrypting more files and from starting again, but it does not decrypt the files that already end in .clean. The scanner does not have the attackers' key.
Files come back only from a backup, from copies the ransomware did not reach, such as OneDrive version history, Previous Versions, e-mail attachments or a phone, or with a working decryptor if one exists.
Remove the ransomware first anyway: if you restore files while it is still active, it can encrypt them again. Keep the encrypted files; a decryptor may be published later.
Will Fortect remove Dishwasher 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 Dishwasher 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: Ransomware extensions .clean (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Macro virus (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)