Ekati ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Ekati ransomware is the crypto demonstration that displays the message with a link to the decryption tool. The message.html appears on the desktop and provides the victim information on encryption, time left to pay up, and the action button that reroutes straight to decryption tool.
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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Ekati ransomware: summary
| Distribution | This is a demonstration tool, so it cannot get distributed as malware, but common ways of spreading cryptovirus include spam email attachments, pirated software and trojans or malware designed to spread serious threats around |
|---|---|
| Name | Ekati ransomware |
| Type | Demonstrational ransomware |
| File markers | .encrypt or .encrypted should have been added on every file affected by the file-locking threat |
| Encryption | AES encryption algorithm[1] is demonstrated as the one in use for the file locking procedure |
| Ransom note | message; 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 11 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .encrypt |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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 | .encrypt |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 3 March 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.encrypt - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Ekati ransomware
- message.html file is the one that gets set as a desktop wallpaper or placed in various folders for the victim to see and read
- Ekati ransomware removal, if needed, can be performed with anti-malware tools and security programs that manage to find all malware-associated files and applications that can affect the machine
- Unfortunately, malware like this can also access crucial parts of the computer and damage files, functions, folders on the system to affect the persistence of the virus and control the detection.
How Ekati ransomware behaves
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Ekati ransomware is the demonstration malware that shows how the encryption processes and ransomware attack works
Ekati ransomware is the crypto demonstration that displays the message with a link to the decryption tool.
The message.html appears on the desktop and provides the victim information on encryption, time left to pay up, and the action button that reroutes straight to decryption tool. Since this is not real ransomware, only a testing tool it doesn't encrypt any files, but supposedly uses AES encryption algorithm and marks affected files with either .encrypt or .encrypted file appendix.
The encryption process is a particular reason making people more eager to pay the demanded ransom. However, no matter how scary the message is, you should never consider paying these criminals that create threats like ransomware. There are no reasons to trust them and believe that your data will get restored after the payment transfer.
Ekati ransomware is the demonstrational tool that shows how virus encrypts data using the AES algorithm and then displays the ransom-free message that has a link to possible decryption. During the test, encryption was not added, but it may mark affected files using .encrypt or .encrypted extensions.
If the Ekati ransomware virus acts as the proper cryptocurrency-extortion based threat, it shows email, buyback message, or may have few versions, get updates. It was spotted in the second half of February, but later on, researchers confirmed that this is a demo tool from malware experts, not the criminal-made threat.
Ekati ransomware reveals details about encryption on the program window that displays a countdown for the time left to pay and informs victim about the encryption process with the following text:
Ekati ransomware loads additional files on the machine besides this direct message for victims:
- ekati.exe
- ekati6482.exe
- redback.jpg
Also, various registry entries and executed commands appear on the machine. Besides the encryption process, ransomware can affect and even damage your computer significantly. Typical ransomware threats can easily change and read settings of system configuration, self-start on the machine, change settings of the internet, or read internet cache, steal passwords from web browsers, and other applications.
You should remove Ekati ransomware if it is running as proper malware. If that happens, the virus can change network settings, disconnect firewall, and use PowerShell commands, evade detection, start other functions and processes.
Ekati ransomware removal is needed when you can be sure that anti-malware tools detect the threat and find possible malicious activities on the system. Such anti-malware programs can indicate the threats and clean them off of the machine for you without causing additional damage.
Of course, for files affected by the encryption processes, you need either the official Ekati ransomware decryption tool or reliable data backups. AV tools can only remove the virus from your device, for malware damage and encoded files, you need to get another program or rely on a different method.
As for Ekati ransomware virus damage, you can repair those registries, system files, and similar parts of the device with a professional system optimizer or cleaner tool like . This is how you ensure that the virus is not going to damage the system further. As for decryption and file recovery - go to the bottom of the guide where additional data restoring features are listed.
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
The payload of malware gets dropped from malspam and software packages
Malicious script for ransomware can get initiated via payload dropper - the particular virus that is designed to infiltrate cryptovirus on the machine as a secondary payload.
A virus can also get distributed with the help of spam email campaigns, during which script is hidden of the malware as files attached to legitimate-looking email notifications.
Such emails may pose as financial information from services, shopping sites, other pages, shipping companies, so you don't bat an eye when you see order information, confirmation, or invoice files attached. However, those Microsoft files contain malicious macros, the parts that once enabled triggers the drop of the malware.
To avoid these instances, you should pay close attention to details, senders of those emails, and red flags like grammar mistakes, typos, or suspicious links, company names, and services. Delete any emails that create suspicion for you or notifications that you haven't expected to get.
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Clean the machine from traces of malware and Ekati ransomware
You may not get affected by this Ekati ransomware virus since it is not a particular malware that gets delivered on targeted devices.
However, you should know how to get rid of the cryptovirus if you ever encounter anything like this.
The first thing that you need to note is that Ekati ransomware removal cannot happen manually. The virus is a persistent threat that can renew its services and even encrypt files the second time or run additional processes. When the machine gets scanned using or various malware-related applications and files can get detected and eliminated from the machine fully.
When you remove Ekati ransomware this way, you can be sure that the machine has been properly cleaned.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and then run the AV tool for a proper Ekati ransomware elimination
[GI=method-2]System Restore is another feature that can be used for virus termination because it manages to recover the machine in a previous state
Windows Previous Versions feature for individual file recovery
When System Restore gets enabled in advance, you can rely on Windows Previous Versions and recover files encrypted by the Ekati ransomware
ShadowExplorer is working for encrypted files
When Ekati ransomware is not affecting particular Shadow Volume Copies, you can use ShadowExplorer and restore files
Decryption for Ekati ransomware is not available
The Ekati ransomware note
Your computer has been encrypted
The hard disks of your computer have been encrypted with a military grade encryption algorithm. It is impossible to recover your data without a special key.
This page will help you with the purchase of this key and the complete decryption of your computers.
Time left: 2d 23h 59m 56s
Click here to start the decryption process
How to remove Ekati 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 Ekati 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 Ekati 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
.encryptand the instructions are inthe ransom note. 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 Ekati 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 Ekati 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 Ekati 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.
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 .encrypt 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 Ekati ransomware
How do I open .encrypt files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .encrypt has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
Should I pay the ransom in the ransom note?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from the ransom note 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.
Is there a free Ekati ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Ekati 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 "Ekati 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.
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 Ekati ransomware get on my computer?
The way Ekati 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 .encrypt 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 Ekati ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Ekati ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .encrypt 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 Ekati 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.
What does the ransom note tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name the ransom note, 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 .encrypt spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .encrypt. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will Fortect remove Ekati 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 Ekati 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
- Wikipedia: Advanced encryption standard (read October 7, 2026)
- VirusTotal: Ekati detection rate (read October 7, 2026)
- Threatpost: Sextortion Emails Force Payment via GandCrab Ransomware (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)