Killdisk ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it
KillDisk was first developed as a disk-wiping malware helping criminals to hide their traces. However, crooks followed the success of infamous ransomware families, like Locky and CrytpoLocker, and upgraded the virus with file-encrypting features.
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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Killdisk ransomware virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | Not named in our report; the text of the note is not in our records |
| Contact | vuyrk568gou@lelantos.org |
| 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 |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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 8 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Killdisk ransomware virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 29 January 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
How Killdisk ransomware virus behaves
From our report of Jan 2018 · not reviewed since
The developers of KillDisk continue to upgrade their cyber infection
KillDisk was first developed as a disk-wiping malware helping criminals to hide their traces.
However, crooks followed the success of infamous ransomware families, like Locky and CrytpoLocker, and upgraded the virus with file-encrypting features. Currently, experts have discovered a variant of this dangerous threat which only poses as ransomware.
In the previous version of the ransomware, the crooks decided to play big and demand 222 bitcoins in exchange for the files! Users may dread after finding such cyber-mutant on their operating system. Nonetheless, virus researchers work restlessly to combat the cyber threats. If this menace targeted your computer as well, initiate Killdisk removal. speeds up the procedure.
KillDisk malware is capable of wreaking an operating system and making a device completely unbootable. Due to its destructive features of paralyzing the system, the felons aimed it at industries and big corporations. It has been combined with other trojans, such as BlackEnergy virtual infection, to deliver a destructive attack on an energy supply company.
Such assault ended in the cease of electricity for about 1,4 million of Ukrainian population on December 23rd in 2015. It seems that such effects did not satisfy the racketeers. Therefore, they have modified KillDisk malware into a file-encrypting virus which is not only capable of wiping the data on your local drives and but encode them.
It has also demanded an astonishing ransom of 222 Bitcoin which is equal to $2 457 097 at the moment. This threat employed an RSA-1028 algorithm to encode files. Also, the modified version of KillDisk encrypted local hard-drives and network-mapped folders.
Killdisk Wiper malware was using lelantos.org to cover their tracks, but specialists of CyberX suspect that the hackers known as TeleBots might be behind the attacks . The gang has become quite interested in ransomware assaults as it has significantly increased the number of their attacks in this specific field .
Likewise, people are advised to stay extremely cautious and protect their computers from this dangerous malware and its versions. In case you have encountered this cyber threat, immediately reboot your computer into Safe Mode and remove KillDisk. You can find the instructions on how to get rid of it below.
From our report of Jan 2018 · not reviewed since
Fake KillDisk ransomware targets Latin America
Experts have recently spotted new KillDisk malware attacks.
Even though the disk-wiping functions and the ransom note are still there, criminals have switched their targets from Ukraine to Latin America. Their primary goals continue to stay big financial corporations which are demanded to pay 222 BTC ransom.
This fake KillDisk ransomware delivers the ransom note only to trick people believing that they were hit by the file-encrypting virus while it wipes out the disk and leaves no traces. Experts say that the malware is not directly installed on the computer rather than delivered by another cyber threat.
According to the analysis, the variant of KillDisk is capable of hiding itself as well — it enters the system, copies itself to the memory, deletes the load from the disk and changes its name. Later, it randomly renames the filenames before removing them. The only files that are left are the ones vital for the operating system:
Afterwards, KillDisk fake ransomware tries to wipe out the disk by overwriting the first 0x20 sectors with 0x00 by reading the Master Boot Record (MBR) which is also used to do further damage to the system. Following such actions, it waits 15 minutes before shutting down the computer by terminating these processes:
KillDisk uses ExitWindowsEx function to force the restart of the computer while disrupting csrss.exe and wininit.exe processes will deliver the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Likewise, the machine will be forced to reboot with or without user's permission.
After the restart, computer's owner will no longer be able to use his/her device unless the damaged MBR records are repaired. Once the system is examined by the IT technician, he/she will probably find only the ransom note and believe that it was attacked by the ransomware.
- Program Files;
- Program Files (x86);
- ProgramData;
- PerfLogs;
- Windows;
- WINNT;
- Users;
- $Recycle.Bin;
- Recovery (case-sensitive check);
- System Volume Information;
- old.
- Windows Start-Up Application (wininit.exe);
- Windows Logon Application (winlogon.exe);
- Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (lsass.exe);
- Client/server run-time subsystem (csrss.exe).
From our report of Jan 2018 · not reviewed since
Previous modifications made to the disk-wiping malware
KillDisk wiper malware was previously modified into the ransomware.
However, criminals decided to upgrade it and make it suitable for Linux operating systems. There are several alterations made which differ from the Windows OS version and are worth mentioning.
In comparison with the version devised for Windows OS, its encryption methods differ from the former version. Specifically, the ransomware employs Triple-DES algorithm which runs 4096-byte cipher blocks to generate a unique decryption key. In addition, it targets a wide range, specifically, 17 subfolders to encode files.
Killdisk malware, designed for Linux, appends "DoN0t0uch7h!$CrYpteDfilE" extension. However, the improvements do not only encompass modifications regarding encryption methods. The cyber infection modifies boot settings. It results in the ransom message being displayed as a start-up window.
It contains the exact information as provided in the malware designed for Windows. Victims are supposed to purchase 222 Bitcoins and then transfer them to the indicated address. In addition, the hackers give an email address for contact purposes– vuyrk568gou@lelantos.org.
However, do not follow the hackers' scenario but, instead, opt for the alternative solutions. Remember, you can find ways how to recover corrupted data at the end of this article. Note that some of them might only recover individual files. Likewise, try all provided techniques for the best result.
From our report of Jan 2018 · not reviewed since
Protect your computer by terminating KillDisk virus
We would like to ask you not to try to remove KillDisk virus by yourself.
This is a highly sophisticated and complex malware which is able to not only hide its traces but also impersonate legitimate computer processes. Therefore, there is a high risk of terminating crucial OS executables instead of the malware.
However, you can get a professional antivirus software to help you with KillDisk removal. You can use , , or . They are tested and recommended by our IT experts.
In case you already have a security tool, feel free to use it as well. Others might need to reboot their computers into Safe Mode before the installation of the antivirus.
If you are not aware how to boot your system into Safe Mode, you can follow the guide below. Later, download the security software and let it scan your files thoroughly. Shortly after, it will uninstall KillDisk, and you will be able to recover your files using alternative methods which are also provided below.
[GI=method-1]In case the ransomware has infiltrated your Windows system, follow the guidelines to reboot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking.
[GI=method-2]Another way to disable the virus is to boot your system into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
This is a professional tool designed to not only help people if they have accidentally deleted important files but also if they are attacked by the ransomware.
Try Windows Previous Versions feature
This is a useful feature if you have previously enabled System Restore function. However, note that it recovers only individual files.
ShadowExplorer can help you
This software uses Shadow Volume Copies to help people recover files after ransomware attacks.
Unfortunately, experts have not developed KillDisk decryptor just yet
From our report of Jan 2018 · not reviewed since
Most common ways how malware infiltrates the targeted system
Just as any other dangerous cyber threat, this disk-wiping malware attacks its targets via malicious spam emails.
Such malspam campaigns usually take advantage of naive computer users and deliver letters which disguise as well-known companies.
Experts from BedyNet.ru report that some of the emails may look like as the messages sent from the OPM (Office of the Personnel Management). Note that the letters are genuine-looking and can easily trick to open the malicious attachment appended to it. Unfortunately, if you click on it, your computer will be infected with the original KillDisk malware or one of its versions.
Luckily, you may suspect a spam email possessing a virus. Such messages contain typing or spelling mistakes. Also, you should boost up the overall protection of the device by combing an anti-virus and anti-spyware utility. It will help you not only to get rid of KillDisk but also protect your computer from cyber infections in the future.
The Killdisk ransomware virus ransom note
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove Killdisk ransomware virus
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 Killdisk ransomware virus 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
Killdisk ransomware virus 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 Killdisk ransomware virus, 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 Killdisk ransomware virus 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.
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 killdisk ransomware virus in the list of installed apps; 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.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about Killdisk ransomware virus
When will a decryptor for Killdisk ransomware virus 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 Killdisk ransomware virus family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
Did Killdisk ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Killdisk ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is killdisk ransomware virus in the list of installed apps, 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 Killdisk ransomware virus get on my computer?
The way Killdisk ransomware virus 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 killdisk ransomware virus in the list of installed apps, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
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 Killdisk ransomware virus 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.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by Killdisk?
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 Killdisk 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.
How can I protect my files from Killdisk and similar ransomware?
Keep tested backups, update the system and treat unexpected attachments as unsafe. Keep at least one backup copy offline, because ransomware also encrypts drives that stay connected. Install system and browser updates soon after they appear, and turn off remote desktop if you do not use it.
Do not open attachments or links from senders you did not expect, even when the message looks urgent. Use a standard user account for daily work instead of an administrator account. Restore a few files from your backup now and then to prove that it works.
Will Fortect remove Killdisk ransomware virus?
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 Killdisk ransomware virus, 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
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)
