INFECTION ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
INFECTION ransomware is a file-locking virus that steals private data from the infected computer before encrypting all non-system files and demanding a ransom. The stolen files are held as leverage until the victims would pay the ransom.
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.
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INFECTION ransomware: summary
| name | INFECTION ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware |
| family | Nefilim ransomware |
| Appointed file extension | All victim files receive .INFECTION extension |
| Ransom Note | INFECTION-HELP.txt |
| criminal contact details | christopherlampar1990@tutanota.com, rodtherry1985@tutanota.com, lewisldupre@protonmail.com |
| 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 16 more facts
| Additional info | Cybercriminals state that they have stolen some data and will start leaking it on hxxp://corpleaks.net if the victims don't contact them and pay the ransom |
|---|---|
| Virus removal | We recommend eliminating the cryptovirus with trustworthy anti-malware software instead of dealing with the cybercriminals |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .infection |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | INFECTION 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 | .infection |
| Ransom note | INFECTION-HELP.txt |
| Attacker contacts | christopherlampar1990@tutanota.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 15 December 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.infection - Note file:
INFECTION-HELP.txt - Contact:
christopherlampar1990@tutanota.com
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on INFECTION ransomware
- When INFECTION ransomware removal is completed, use system repair tools like the app to take care of the system registry and other core settings
How INFECTION ransomware behaves
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
INFECTION ransomware - a cryptovirus that threatens to publish stolen data if the victims don't pay the requested ransom
INFECTION ransomware is a file-locking virus that steals private data from the infected computer before encrypting all non-system files and demanding a ransom.
The stolen files are held as leverage until the victims would pay the ransom. If contact isn't made within seven of the attack, cybercriminals threaten to start publishing the files online.
The first thing that the virus does when it gains access to a targeted computer is scanning for frequently used files. As soon as some of them are downloaded onto a secure hacker server, all files are encrypted and renamed by appointing an .INFECTION extension to the original filenames.
When encryption is completed, ransom notes titled INFECTION-HELP.txt are generated and dropped in affected folders. Cybercriminals declare their instructions and demands within those notes, the most important being to contact them via three given emails (christopherlampar1990@tutanota.com, rodtherry1985@tutanota.com, lewisldupre@protonmail.com), or the stolen data will be leaked on hxxp://corpleaks.net website.
INFECTION ransomware virus belongs to the NEFILIM ransomware family, which uses a combination of AES and RSA cryptography algorithms to lock victims' files. All of the members from this lineage, such as TRAPGET, FUSION, and others, steal some data before encrypting it to blackmail their victims.
The assailants start off in the ransom note by claiming that they've stolen gigabytes of valuable data from infected computers. They would provide proof of that when the victims would contact them. If the criminals won't be contacted, they threaten to start publishing the stolen information.
Then the creators of INFECTION ransomware continue by stating that all files on the devices are encrypted with a military-grade coding algorithm, and if the victims didn't keep backups, then the only way to regain access to those files is by purchasing their decryption tool.
To prove that such a tool exists and works, the cybercriminals offer to send them any two encrypted files from the infected devices via three given emails for free decryption. All further instructions regarding the ransom will be sent to the victims after they make contact.
After an agreement is reached with INFECTION ransomware developers, they promise to send the necessary decryption tool that will swiftly unlock the encrypted data on infected devices and declare that the stolen information will be securely deleted from their servers.
Research shows, that companies who pay the criminals end-up losing twice as much money as the ones who didn't. So our recommendation is to remove INFECTION ransomware from all infected devices with trustworthy anti-malware software such as or .
When you're done with INFECTION ransomware removal, you should take care of the overall system health as cryptoviruses corrupt system files without encrypting them. Use system repair tools like the app to undo the damage that the system registry and other key system settings sustained.
Message in the INFECTION-HELP.txt ransom note reads:
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Improving cybersecurity level for home and office users
These days, cyberattacks are a common thing all over the world.
Regular, everyday people are becoming victims of such crimes as much as big companies. The only sure way to evade cyberattacks is to work offline, but we provide some guidelines that would greatly improve your home and office cybersecurity since that is not possible.
First and foremost - invest in cybersecurity by teaching your staff how cybercriminals operate. Our research shows that most attacks still happen during phishing campaigns. Please read about it, spread the word to your colleagues, hire an IT specialist to take care of your computer networks, purchase some services from professional cybersecurity experts to teach you and your staff about cyberattacks.
Another crucial point in cybersecurity is to keep backups. And then backups of those backups. Keep in mind that cybercriminals can't get to offline storage devices. In case of a cyberattack, you'll be able to safely remove the infection, clean your computer systems, and restore the data without any consequences.
Acquire a professional anti-malware software that would watch your back. Compared to the average costs of a ransom , reliable anti-virus software price seems like a drop in the ocean. Purchase one, update its virus database everyday, run full system scans at least once a week.
Keep all software, from web browsers to the operating system, up-to-date. Please install the latest updates as soon as they are available (except unstable beta versions). Cybercriminals love to exploit bugs in outdated program versions, so be sure not to give them a chance.
The INFECTION ransomware note
Two things have happened to your company.
============================================
Gigabytes of archived files that we deemed valuable or sensitive were downloaded from your network to a secure location.
When you contact us we will tell you how much data was downloaded and can provide extensive proof of the data extraction.
You can analyze the type of the data we download on our websites.
If you do not contact us we will start leaking the data periodically in parts.
============================================
We have also encrypted files on your computers with military grade algorithms.
If you don't have extensive backups the only way to retrieve your data is with our software.
Restoration of your data with our software requires a private key which only we possess.
============================================
To confirm that our decryption software works send 2 encrypted files from random computers to us via email.
You will receive further instructions after you send us the test files.
We will make sure you retrieve your data swiftly and securely and your data that we downloaded will be securely deleted when our demands are met.
If we do not come to an agreement your data will be leaked on this website.
Website: hxxp://corpleaks.net
TOR link: hxxp://hxt254aygrsziejn.onion
Contact us via email:
christopherlampar1990@tutanota.com
rodtherry1985@tutanota.com
lewisldupre@protonmail.com
How to remove INFECTION 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 INFECTION 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
INFECTION 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
INFECTION-HELP.txtand one or two files ending in.infectionto 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 INFECTION 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 INFECTION 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 Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Tutorial for INFECTION ransomware virus removal
Cyberattacks are a nightmare that's not going anywhere soon.
People have to enlighten themselves about these attacks and how to evade them. Investing in cybersecurity is a must, either financially or physically (taking some time to teach yourself). The only right way to deal with cybercriminals is to get rid of their creations ASAP.
If you didn't keep backups, then before deleting the virus, export all encrypted data to offline storage. There's no decryption tool available now, but there's always hope.
Following a successful INFECTION ransomware removal, experts suggest performing a system tune-up with the app or similar system repair tools to locate and restore any changes that the cryptovirus might have done to the system registry and other core system settings and its files.
[GI=method-1]If anti-malware software isn't able to remove ransomware in normal mode, please use Safe Mode with Networking
[GI=method-2]System Restore might be able to get rid of the virus
With this third-party app, users might be able to recover .INFECTION extension files.
Windows Previous Version feature might be able to help with file recovery
This Windows OS function might be able to restore .INFECTION extension files.
Using Shadow Explorer for data retrieval
Shadow Explorer restores data from Shadow Volume Copies that are kept on your devices. If the virus didn't delete those copies, then Shadow Explorer could be a helpful tool in data recovery.
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 INFECTION 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 .infection and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
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 INFECTION ransomware
How do I open .infection files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .infection ending shows that INFECTION 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 INFECTION ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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.
Is there a free INFECTION ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for INFECTION 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 "INFECTION 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.
How did INFECTION ransomware get on my computer?
The way INFECTION 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 .infection 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 INFECTION ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by INFECTION ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .infection 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 INFECTION 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 .infection from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .infection 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.
Can I delete INFECTION-HELP.txt?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. INFECTION-HELP.txt contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Will Fortect remove INFECTION 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 INFECTION 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
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)