FastWind ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
FastWind ransomware - cryptovirus that makes files useless and locks them using .FastWind file marker, so the victim knows about the complete encoding procedure. Once that is done, malware creators can require money for the alleged unlocking that is needed to get any of the data back.
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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FastWind ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Malicious files with the script triggering the installation of cryptovirus can be added to the system from spam emails listed as financial notifications from companies. Also, other malware can install the ransomware directly and spread these threats using hacked sites[1] |
|---|---|
| Name | FastWind ransomware |
| File appendix | .FastWind – the extension that gets added at the end of every affected file and indicates encrypted files from other non-affected data |
| Ransom note | ransomware; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact information | fastwindGlobe@protonmail.com, fastwindGlobe@mail.ee |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 10 more facts
| Encrypted file extension | .fastwind |
|---|---|
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| 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 | .fastwind |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 20 July 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.fastwind - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on FastWind ransomware
- ransomware.txt is the text file containing the message from criminals related to the threat, so information for the victim is delivered via this note
- FastWind ransomware removal process includes cleaning after the infection, so you need to fully check the machine and terminate any related programs to ensure that processes are not going to occur again
- As for system files that get altered, added, or deleted on the machine, you need to rely on PC repair tools and clear or fix any virus damage.
How FastWind ransomware behaves
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
FastWind ransomware is the files virus that relies on encrypting data, so money can be demanded from you directly
FastWind ransomware - cryptovirus that makes files useless and locks them using .FastWind file marker, so the victim knows about the complete encoding procedure.
Once that is done, malware creators can require money for the alleged unlocking that is needed to get any of the data back. The computer can get even further affected if the threat manages to access system folders, crucial system data, and make changes there.
The threat triggers the encryption and uses a powerful army-grade algorithm that allows attackers to change the original code of an image, document, archive file, database, video, or audio type data.
Once the encryption is successful, FastWind ransomware virus drops the file named ransomware.txt that informs about the encryption process and notes what steps users have to follow next. This file lists paying as the only option, but criminals are not trustworthy, and victims shouldn't pay any money. Especially when the decryption process, in most cases, is only a trick to make people more eager to pay up.
FastWind ransomware is the virus that spreads the infection quickly using the payload dropper or another virus that triggers malicious scripts for the malware on the targeted machine. There are additional issues regarding the damage to this computer because encrypted files are not the only ones that get inaccessible and altered.
Since the malware that relates to cryptocurrency can spread quickly and silently, you cannot notice the initial infiltration until FastWind ransomware shows symptoms and delivers the ransom note with all the instructions on the payment. The following message informs users about further actions needed and possible options:
The personal ID that is displayed at the beginning is needed for the possible decryption that developers promise for the victim.
To remove FastWind ransomware, you need anti-malware tools. The security software designed especially for the malware termination can help you to detect, find, and delete infections without any other software needed. However, your files will not get restored this way.
Since malware like this can be distributed around quickly and widely, the data that gets encrypted by the file virus is marked with the extension .FastWind that indicates a particular threat running on the system.
Once that is done, you can be sure that FastWind ransomware is done with the process of encryption. But from there, your files are not accessible and cannot be opened or used. You need to recover them using other methods since paying is never the best solution.
The FastWind ransomware note
Your personal ID
English ☣Your files are encrypted!☣
——————————————————————————–
⬇ To decrypt, follow the instructions below.⬇
To recover data you need decrypt tool.
To get the decrypt tool you should:
Send 1 crypted test image or text file or document to fastwindGlobe@protonmail.com
Or alternate mail fastwindGlobe@mail.ee
In the letter include your personal ID (look at the beginning of this document). Send me this ID in your first email to me.
We will give you free test for decrypt few files (NOT VALUE) and assign the price for decryption all files.
After we send you instruction how to pay for decrypt tool and after payment you will receive a decrypt tool and instructions how to use it We can decrypt few files in quality the evidence that we have the decoder.
——————————————————————————–
MOST IMPORTANT!!!
Do not contact other services that promise to decrypt your files, this is fraud on their part! They will buy a decoder from us, and you will pay more for his services. No one, except fastwindGlobe@protonmail.com(fastwindGlobe@mail.ee), will decrypt your files.
——————————————————————————–
Only fastwindGlobe@protonmail.com(fastwindGlobe@mail.ee) can decrypt your files
Do not trust anyone besides fastwindGlobe@protonmail.com(fastwindGlobe@mail.ee)
Antivirus programs can delete this document and you can not contact us later.
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 FastWind 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 FastWind 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 FastWind 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
.fastwindand 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 FastWind 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 FastWind 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 FastWind 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 Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Ways to recover after .FastWind files virus
Remember that FastWind ransomware virus is the threat that focuses on getting money from all the targeted people, so these encryption processes and blackmailing messages look scary enough to encourage people to pay up. However, there is no need to panic and think about contacting criminals right away.
You need either to get a decryption tool designed to fight the data locked by FastWind ransomware virus that is developed by researchers or rely on the third-party applications that restore files, your data backups on external cloud platforms or devices. Unfortunately, there are not official decryption options at the moment, so experts recommend relying on other options.
So file recovery after the FastWind files virus infection can only be achieved using a security tool that finds all traces of the infection and deletes files, programs fully. Then the best option would be to remove virus damage, repair corrupted files, affected software using and since that is done rely on your backups, so you can repair files or replace affected data with safe copies yourself.
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Remove the FastWind files virus and repair the damage, encrypted files yourself
Since the threat is focused on the encryption, file locking, and triggers more issues on the system, you need to take the attack of FastWind ransomware virus seriously.
This infection can affect files in the system and trigger damage that interferes with virus termination processes.
When FastWind ransomware removal is affected by the changes made in the system folders and program functions, you may need to reboot the PC in Safe Mode with Networking first, then load the AV tool of your choice. or can find all the traces for you.
However, we should again note that when you remove FastWind ransomware with anti-malware tools, the process only ensures system cleaning, not file repairing. System functions can get restored with , but encoded data requires other options. You can find some of them below.
[GI=method-1]Enter the Safe Mode with Networking and then run the anti-malware program to remove FastWind ransomware virus fully
[GI=method-2]System Restore feature can often be the solution for virus infection because it recovers the computer in a previous state before the infection
Windows Previous Versions feature capable of recovering individual data after FastWind ransomware attack
If you enable the System restore to clear the machine, you can, later on, rely on Windows Previous Versions and recover affected files
ShadowExplorer - a method for file restoring after encoding
When you are sure that FastWind ransomware left Shadow Volume Copies untouched, you can rely on the ShadowExplorer and restore data
Decryption tool for FastWind ransomware is not availiable
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 FastWind 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 files that end in .fastwind and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about FastWind ransomware
How do I open .fastwind files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .fastwind 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 FastWind ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for FastWind 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 "FastWind 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 FastWind ransomware get on my computer?
The way FastWind 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 .fastwind 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 FastWind ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by FastWind ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .fastwind 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 FastWind 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 the ransom note?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text the ransom note 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.
My files got .fastwind 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 .fastwind 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 Fortect remove FastWind 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 FastWind 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
- BBC: How hackers extorted $1.14m from University of California, San Francisco (read October 7, 2026)
- ZDNet: Ransomware attacks: Why and when it makes sense to pay the ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)