Exorcist ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Exorcist ransomware is a type of malware that specializes in money extortion techniques by locking all victims' videos, pictures, music, documents, and other data. The virus uses a sophisticated encryption algorithm for the process - it also appends a randomized file extension to each of the files, preventing access to them.
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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Exorcist ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Malware authors typically use several distribution methods to infect more people, e.g., spam emails, exploit kits, fake update prompts, unprotected Remote Desktop connections, software cracks, repacked installers, etc. |
|---|---|
| Name | Exorcist ransomware |
| Type | File locking virus, crypto-malware |
| First spotted | July 2020 |
| File extension | Each of the non-system and non-executable files are appended with a randomly-generated file extension |
| Ransom note | [file extension]-decrypt.hta; 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
| Contact | Victims are asked to visit a Tor site http://4dnd3utjsmm2zcsb.onion for communication purposes |
|---|---|
| File recovery | If you have no backups ready, recovering encrypted files is almost impossible. Options include paying the ransom (not recommended), using third-party recovery software or waiting till security researchers create a free decryption tool |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| 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 | A ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 22 July 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- Note file:
decrypt.hta
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Exorcist ransomware
- Malware can cause serious damage to Windows system files and settings.
- In case you experience PC crashes, lag, BSODs, and similar issues after infection, attempt to fix virus damage with tools like
How Exorcist ransomware behaves
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Exorcist ransomware - file locking malware that avoids infecting users from Commonwealth of Independent States
Exorcist ransomware is a type of malware that specializes in money extortion techniques by locking all victims' videos, pictures, music, documents, and other data.
The virus uses a sophisticated encryption algorithm for the process - it also appends a randomized file extension to each of the files, preventing access to them. Malicious actors behind the Exorcist file virus also leave a ransom note " -decrypt.hta," where it is claimed that users have to pay a ransom in order to recover their files.
Exorcist ransomware authors do not provide an email as most other cybercriminals do, but instead ask users to access a specially-crafted website, where victims need to enter the authorization key to proceed further and make a payment in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency to retrieve Exorcist ransomware file decryptor. However, users are not recommended following these instructions, as there is no guarantee that the attackers will deliver what they promised.
Exorcist ransomware was first spotted in the second half of July 2020 by security research group MalwareHunterTeam. While there is not much known about this computer infection yet, there have been several victims that were infected already, and security researchers claim that this malware is more complex and sophisticated than most other computer threats of such kind.
Despite the malware being very new, several details emerged about it already. One of the most distinctive features of Exorcist ransomware is that it first checks the keyboard layout of the host computer. In case a potential victim is from one of the countries that belong to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) intergovernmental organization, it will exit the machine without infecting it.
This technique is very common and practiced by many cybercriminals who most likely perform their illegal operations from countries that belong to CIS. This way, they ensure that local law authorities will not begin investigation and shit down the illegal business for good. Good examples of malware that engage in keyboard checks include Avaddon, Nefilim, REvil, GandCrab, Anatova, and many others.
Since Exorcist ransomware has not yet been investigated thoroughly and very few victims exist so far, there is no information on how malware spreads. However, most ransomware developers choose several distribution methods in order to make it more effective. These techniques include:
Once Exorcist file virus gains access to the machine (after performing keyboard layout checks), it begins to prepare Windows for data encryption: modifies the Windows registry for persistence, drops thousands of malicious files, establishes background HTTP connections, and much more. These changes might sometimes remain on the system after Exorcist ransomware removal, so we suggest using when attempting to fix them.
As soon as the system is ready, Exorcist ransomware begins the file encryption process. During this time, malware scans the machine for most commonly used file types (PDF, MS Office documents, archives, image files, databases, etc.). It then locks them with a robust encryption algorithm. It is yet unknown if the virus uses a symmetric or asymmetric algorithm for the purpose.
Data locking process is performed almost instantaneously, and victims are then presented with a ransom note - a pop-up windows that reads:
Warning: We suggest you do not pay cybercriminals, as there is no guarantee that they will deliver the promised decryption tool, which would help you recover Exorcist ransomware files.
Since malware strain is new, decryption software might not even work for you, and you might lose files and money. Nonetheless, if you had no backups ready, paying cybercriminals might be the only choice, although there are a few methods that might help your retrieve at least some portion of the data.
If you choose not to pay criminals, you should copy all the encrypted files, remove Exorcist ransomware from your machine and only then attempt data recovery. To eliminate the infection, use powerful anti-malware software and then perform actions as described in our recovery section below - you might be lucky and retrieve data for free.
- Spam email attachments and embedded hyperlinks
- Software cracks/loaders/keygens and repacked installers
- Software vulnerabilities and exploit kits
- Poorly protected RDP connections
- Malicious advertisements and JavaScripts, etc.
The Exorcist ransomware note
Decrypt
All your data has been encrypted with Exorcist Ransomware.
Do not worry: you have some hours to contact us and decrypt your data by paying a ransom.
To do this, follow instructions on this web site: http://217.8.117.26/pay
Also, you can install Tor Browser and use this web site: http://4dnd3utjsmm2zcsb.onion/pay
IMPORTANT: Do not modify this file, otherwise you will not be able to recover your data!
Your authorization key:
How to remove Exorcist 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 Exorcist 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
Exorcist ransomware 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 identify the family
Find the ransom note, usually a
.txt,.htmlor .hta file in every folder or on the desktop, and copy it with one or two encrypted files to a USB stick.From another device, upload them to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note and the file extension. Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note for the report.
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 Exorcist ransomware, 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 Exorcist ransomware 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 Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Remove Exorcist ransomware and attempt to recover your files
Since there are several ways how Exorcist virus might gain access to your computer, you should ensure that you secure your computer in order to repel future malware attacks.
For example, it is very important to equip your machine with powerful anti-malware software that would detect unauthorized intrusions and terminate them before they can cause any harm. Additionally, you should also keep your system updated, avoid potentially dangerous websites, and backup your most important data on a separate medium.
However, you should not focus on Exorcist ransomware removal and file recovery methods. As previously mentioned, the data recovery process can be relatively difficult, as sophisticated encryption algorithms such as RSA are secure, and even the most powerful computers cannot decipher them.
Since paying cybercriminals is dangerous, you should instead use alternative solutions for file recovery we provide below. Don't forget you should delete Exorcist ransomware payload with the help of a powerful anti-malware tool prior to that.
[GI=method-1]Before you attempt to recover Exorcist files, you should eliminate the infection from your PC. In case you are unable to perform that in a normal mode, access Safe Mode with Networking:
[GI=method-2]System Restore might also be useful in some cases:
Data recovery software might sometimes be able to recover ransomware-encrypted files, although chances are relatively low.
Make use of Windows Previous Versions feature
If malware failed to delete Shadow Volume Copies, you could use Windows Previous Versions feature to restore files one-by-one.
Use ShadowExplorer after Exorcist ransomware infection is eliminated
ShadowExplorer is another tool that might work for you.
No decryption tool is currently available
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.
Backups: the 3-2-1 rule
Keep three copies of files that matter, on two kinds of storage, with one copy offline or off-site.
A disk that stays plugged in is reached by malware like Exorcist ransomware together with the PC; one you connect only for the backup is not.
On Windows 11, File History keeps versions on an external drive, and OneDrive keeps earlier versions of synced files. Before restoring anything, make sure the PC no longer shows ransom notes called decrypt.hta in every folder.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about Exorcist ransomware
When will a decryptor for Exorcist ransomware be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 7 October 2026, no free decryptor is known. Decryptors usually appear after one of three events:
- police seize the attackers' servers and keys
- the authors leak or publish the master keys
- researchers find a mistake in how the ransomware generates keys
Some families got a tool within weeks, others never. Keep the encrypted files and the note on an external drive, check No More Ransom every few months, and follow news about the Exorcist ransomware family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
Did Exorcist ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Exorcist ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is ransom notes called decrypt.hta in every folder, 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.
How did Exorcist ransomware get on my computer?
The way Exorcist 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 ransom notes called decrypt.hta in every folder, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Is Exorcist 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.
Should I open decrypt.hta?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text decrypt.hta cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
Can I get my files back without paying after decrypt.hta appeared?
Sometimes. Free decryptors exist for a number of families, especially older ones or those with flaws in their encryption. Other routes are copies the ransomware missed:
- OneDrive version history
- File History
- a backup drive that was disconnected
- email attachments
- phone photos
Shadow copies are often deleted, but it is worth checking. Identify the family from decrypt.hta first, because that tells you which of these routes is realistic. Keep encrypted files even if nothing works now; decryptors are sometimes released months later.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by Exorcist?
You cannot open locked files normally while they stay encrypted, and renaming them will not help. Our earlier report did not record the extension that Exorcist adds, so check one locked file name and the ransom note for it.
No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates. Do not rename the files, change the extension or edit them, because that can make recovery harder. Copy the locked files to an external drive before you clean the system, so a decryptor released later still has them.
Will Fortect remove Exorcist 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 Exorcist 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: The Exorcist Ransomware (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Commonwealth of Independent States (read October 7, 2026)
- ZDNet: New ransomware poses as games and software to trick you into downloading it (read October 7, 2026)
- SSL2Buy: Symmetric vs. Asymmetric Encryption – What are differences? (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)