Inchin ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Inchin ransomware is a notorious infection that comes from the Scarab family and appends the .inchin extension to each locked file and document. Discovered by Amigo-A and announced on Twitter, this ransomware virus drops the RECOVER.txt ransom message where it provides Inchinaiturtle@protonmail.com and WuTang444@protonmail.com email addresses for creating communication between the cybercriminals and victims.
Facts checked October 6, 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.
A free scan checks for the encryptor still on the PC; it does not decrypt .inchin files.
Do it yourself · free Remove Inchin ransomware yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Inchin ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Ransomware infections are most commonly distributed through phishing emails and their infectious attachments. These cyber threats can also spread through cracked software that is downloaded from p2p networks, and through vulnerable Remote Desktop Protocol configuration |
|---|---|
| Name | Inchin ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware virus/malware |
| Founder | Amigo-A is a cybersecurity researcher that has announced about his findings on Twitter social network |
| Appendix | The ransomware virus uses symmetric or asymmetric encryption to lock up the files and adds the .inchin appendix to each filename |
| Ransom note | This malware provides all of its threatenings and demands via the RECOVER.txt text message |
| 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 14 more facts
| Crooks' emails | The criminals add Inchinaiturtle@protonmail.com and WuTang444@protonmail.com email addresses as a way to contact them |
|---|---|
| Data recovery | If you have discovered .inchin files and documents on your Windows computer system, you should not rush to pay the cybercriminals as these people might seek to scam you. Instead of taking such risk, go to the end of this article and try some data recovery methods that are placed there |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Inchinaiturtle@protonmail.com, WuTang444@protonmail.com |
| Encrypted file extension | .inchin |
| 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 | .inchin |
| Attacker contacts | Inchinaiturtle@protonmail.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 13 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.inchin - Note file:
RECOVER.txt - Contact:
Inchinaiturtle@protonmail.com
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Inchin ransomware
- You can get rid of the ransomware virus by employing automatical software and carrying out the process with a strong and reliable antimalware tool.
- Keep in mind that the manual elimination is not an option in this case as you might miss some crucial steps or locations where the malware might be hiding
- If you have found some compromised entries or other areas on your affected device, you can try repairing them with automatical software such as
How Inchin ransomware behaves
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Inchin ransomware - a cyber threat that comes from the Scarab ransomware family
Inchin ransomware is a notorious infection that comes from the Scarab family and appends the .inchin extension to each locked file and document.
Discovered by Amigo-A and announced on Twitter, this ransomware virus drops the RECOVER.txt ransom message where it provides Inchinaiturtle@protonmail.com and WuTang444@protonmail.com email addresses for creating communication between the cybercriminals and victims. The crooks offer to help the users to decrypt their files by delivering them the decryption software for a specific payment.
Also, Inchin virus developers offer to send them one file up to 5 MB for a free decryption process as bringing up evidence that the recovery tool truly exists. Additionally, this ransomware virus has multiple similarities with Danger ransomware.
Inchin ransomware is a notorious malware strain that can apply suspicious modifications to the Windows Task Manager and Registry locations. There you might discover unknown processes and registry keys injected. Note that such processes might allow the ransomware to boot itself up within every Windows computer startup process.
Continuously, Inchin ransomware might be able to scan the entire system once in a while and search for encryptable components. Once all files are locked, the cybercriminals save both encryption and decryption software on remote servers where the keys become unreachable for anyone except the cybercrooks themselves.
Afterward, Inchin ransomware provides a ransom message and threatens the users that the only way to recover the lost data is by purchasing the key from them, otherwise, the files might be lost forever:
They might ask you for an inadequate sum of money and leave you with no tool at all. Mostly, such crooks demand Bitcoin or another type of cryptocurrency that allows the process to remain safe and untrackable.
Continuously, Inchin ransomware might try to harden the process for you by deleting or permanently damaging the Shadow Volume Copies of infected files by running specific PowerShell commands. Also, the malware might be capable of destroying the Windows hosts file to prevent you from accessing security-related websites and forum pages.
In addition, Inchin ransomware makes the infected Windows computer system vulnerable to other infections. As a result, you might end up with a Trojan virus on your machine. If this happens, it may result in serious data and money theft. Also, your machine might receive serious damage that can be hardly repairable.
You should remove Inchin ransomware from your Windows computer, otherwise, it might experience serious damage. Besides, you will not be able to recover your files properly until the infection is gone. If you are having trouble with detecting the malware, travel to the end of the article where you will find system rebooting steps.
After Inchin ransomware removal, you should scan your entire computer system for possible damage. If the software finds any signs of corruption, you can try fixing the touched areas with the help of a repair program such as . When the virus is gone and the damage is fixed, continue with data recovery techniques that are added to the end of this page.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Malicious actors deliver the infectious payload attached to phishing emails
Security experts from LosVirus.es state that ransomware infections are widely distributed through email spam and the malicious attachments that come clipped to the phishing email message.
This happens when the crooks succeed to trick the victims by pretending to be from well-known shipping companies such as FedEx and DHL or from other healthcare and banking organizations.
You should always carefully verify the sender and his email address. If you are seeing a questionable email sender address, you should avoid opening the message.
However, if you have already viewed the content of the message, do not click on any hyperlinks that are provided in it and check for possible grammar mistakes as if it were a note from a reliable organization, no mistakes would be left in the text.
Continuously, cracked software is another possible delivery source of ransomware. If you are a frequent visitor of peer-to-peer networks, you might find yourself sitting with malware afterward.
A piece of advice would be to get all of your products and services only from reliable websites and the official developers. Also, use antimalware protection so that you would be alerted if something dubious or malicious is trying to sneak into your computer system.
Last but not least, ransomware infections are distributed through unsecured Remote Desktop Protocol configuration. If the RDP includes an easy-guessable password such as "abc123", then the hackers might easily hack your machine.
Having none password at all, doubles the risk. What you have to do is properly secure your RDP. Think of complex security codes that include symbols, letters, and numbers.
The Inchin ransomware note
All your files are encrypted, and currently unavailable. You can check it: all files on your computer have extension .inchin. Everything is possible to recover (decrypt), but you need to follow our instructions. Otherwise, you can never return your data. Write to our email Inchinaiturtle@protonmail.com.
It's just a business. We absolutely do not care about you and your deals, except getting benefits. If we do not do our work and liabilities – nobody will cooperate with us. It is not our interests.
For proof – send any file up to 5 megabytes and we will decrypt it.
If you will not cooperate with our service – for us, it does not matter. But you will lose your time and data, because we have the private key. In practice – time is much valuable than money.
How to remove Inchin 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 Inchin 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
Inchin 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 confirm the family
Copy
RECOVER.txtand one or two files ending in.inchinto a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For Inchin ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 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 Inchin 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 Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Automatical removal guidelines for Inchin ransomware
If Inchin ransomware has been launching malicious processes that have been preventing you from detecting or eliminating the malware, you should boot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking or via System Restore to deactivate the ransomware virus first. We have provided instructions for both booting methods at the end of this article.
Afterward, you should proceed with Inchin ransomware removal automatically. This includes downloading and installing antimalware software that is strong enough to detect and remove the ransomware virus from your Windows computer. Also, if you want to look for possible damage, you can try employing software such as or .
If the tools discover any corrupted areas, you can try fixing them with a tool such as . Once you remove Inchin ransomware from the computer and fix all the damage that it might have brought, you can start going through some data recovery tips that have been added to the end of this page and might help you to restore some of your files.
[GI=method-1]To deactivate malicious settings on your Windows computer system and disable the parasite, you should boot your machine in Safe Mode with Networking. If you do not know how to opt for this feature, you should complete the below-provided step-by-step guide.
[GI=method-2]To disable bogus changes on your Windows computer and deactivate Inchin ransomware virus, you should opt for the System Restore feature. You can use the steps below to apply for this function.
If the ransomware virus has locked all of your files and documents, you can try recovering them back to their previous state by employing such software. Also, complete all steps exactly as displayed in the instructions, otherwise, you might not be able to reach the best results possible,
Windows Previous Versions feature might help you with data recovery tasks.
If you have activated System Restore on your Windows computer and disabled all malicious changes, you should give this method a try as it might recover some of your individual files.
Use Shadow Explorer for the files' restoring process.
Try using this piece of software if there is some data that you want to bring back to its previous state. Note that this technique might not work properly if the ransomware virus has launched specific PowerShell commands to eliminate the Shadow Volume Copies of your encrypted files and documents.
Currently, the cybersecurity experts are working on the official decryption tool.
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 .inchin 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 Inchin ransomware
How do I open .inchin files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .inchin ending shows that Inchin 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 Inchin ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Inchin ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Inchin ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .inchin 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 there a free Inchin ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Inchin 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 "Inchin 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.
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.
How did Inchin ransomware get on my computer?
The way Inchin 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 .inchin 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 Inchin 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.
Can I just remove .inchin from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .inchin extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
Should I open RECOVER.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text RECOVER.txt 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.
Will Fortect remove Inchin 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 Inchin 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: New variant of #Scarab-#Danger #Ransomware (read October 6, 2026)
- LosVirus: LosVirus.es (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Email spam (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)