M0rphine ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
M0rphine ransomware is a cryptovirus that was first spotted by security researcher dnwls0719 in May 2020. Just like other members of Satan ransomware, it uses the AES encryption algorithm to lock pictures, videos, music, documents, databases, and other data held on the target computer.
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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M0rphine ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Malicious actors can use a variety of methods |
|---|---|
| Name | M0rphine ransomware |
| Type | File locking virus, crypto-malware |
| Family | This malware is a variant of Satan ransomware, otherwise known as SatanCryptor |
| Encryption algorithms | All non-system and non-executable files are locked with the help of AES cipher |
| File extension | Every file is appended with .M0rphine extension, although there are also other entries affixed to the file name. An example of an encrypted file: Data2020.xlsm.[ID-284BB0AB4C776DBFD4A26D872719F]-[EMAIL-M0rphine@cock.lt].M0rphine |
| 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
| Ransom note | # M0rphine Help #.hta is a file placed on victims' desktop; the text is quoted in full below |
|---|---|
| Contact | Users are asked to write an email to M0rphine@cock.li to negotiate the price for the M0rphine Decryptor |
| File recovery | Without backups, there is no secure way of recovering files safely. However, there is a possibility that security experts will find bugs within malware and manage to break its code, which will allow them to create a free decryptor. This does not happen all the time, however; you can try using third-party tools in the meantime instead – we provide the download links and instructions in the recovery section below |
| Malware removal | To eliminate the infection safely, make sure you are using comprehensive anti-malware programs. In case the malware is tampering with the process, utilize Safe Mode with Networking for the job – we explain how below |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .m0rphine |
| 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 | .m0rphine |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 11 May 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Names and addresses to look for
- File extension:
.m0rphine - Note file:
the ransom note
How M0rphine ransomware behaves
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Ways to avoid ransomware infections
Ransomware-as-a-service operators hire multiple different groups to assist the delivery to users.
For this reason, there might be several different methods the attackers use to spread the virus. However, one of the most known tactics that are used by many different actors is spam emails, otherwise known as malspam.
Initially, the phishing emails are created by the attackers and then sent out to thousands of users using botnets or other tools. While some scam emails might look fake and have multiple grammar mistakes (which hints to deception), some emails are compiled exceptionally well, and it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between a legitimate message and a fake one.
In many cases, cybercriminals employ familiar logos, hyperlinks, buttons, and other attributes to make the email believable. Also, they usually use an email address that resembles a legitimate one, so victims would not notice it. For that reason, you should always analyze the sending address, and ensure it is legitimate before performing any other actions.
The payload is usually carried out within the attachment, which can be in different file types. For example, macro-laced MS Office documents are often employed in order to trigger the infection routine. Thus, be very careful when opening email attachments, they typically serve as the main attack vector. If you are in doubt, employ tools like Virus Total or anti-malware software to scan the document.
Also, it is important to protect your machine with a reputable anti-malware, backup all your files on a regular data, and practice safe browsing habits.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
M0rphine ransomware - a dangerous file encrypting malware that will attempt to extort money from you
M0rphine ransomware is a cryptovirus that was first spotted by security researcher dnwls0719 in May 2020.
Just like other members of Satan ransomware, it uses the AES encryption algorithm to lock pictures, videos, music, documents, databases, and other data held on the target computer.
The modified files are not corrupted, but rather locked - they require a unique set of keys to be functional again. Unfortunately, only M0rphine virus authors have access to the decryption tool, but they are not willing to provide it for free, of course.
Cybercriminals ensure that users are aware of the M0rphine ransomware infection, as they make malware drop a ransom note # M0rphine Help #.hta, which can be opened as a pop-up window.
Another sign of ransomware infection is the markings that are appended on the encrypted files - each of them receives a .M0rphine file extension, although the full name modification includes contact email [EMAIL-M0rphine@cock.li] and a lengthy ID number. Suchlike modified files may seem unrecognizable and clunky and have their icons missing.
SatanCryptor was first released back in 2017 as a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), which meant that its developers are not participating in the distribution process.
Instead, they offer to borrow the malicious code to everybody willing on underground hacking forums (which means that distributors don't have to be sophisticated hackers), in exchange for some profits gained from ransom payments. This technique is very common, and many ransomware strains, including the M0rphine virus, are using it.
There are several methods that the attackers can use to deliver M0rphine ransomware to your computer. Since the family that this malware belongs to is operated as a service, multiple criminal groups can employ different methods for its distribution, for example:
M0rphine ransomware belongs to the version of the initial malware, which showed up in early 2020. It uses AES to encrypt data (instead of AES + RSA) like its predecessors and modifies files in the following way: . . .[EMAIL-M0rphine@cock.lt].M0rphine. Suchlike files can no longer be opened, as they require a special key that is held hostage by cybercriminals.
However, file encryption is just one of the few tasks that the M0rphine file virus performs, as it also modifies the Windows system significantly, e.g., changes the registry database entries, deletes Shadow Volume Copies, creates new processes, drops many malicious files, etc. Note that these modifications might not go away with M0rphine ransomware removal - you should employ special repair tools like for the job.
Once the infection of M0rphine virus is settled, it drops the following ransom note:
Naturally, many users are quite shocked when they see ransomware infection for the first time. Suddenly, none of their files can be opened, and they can also see a weird message talking about this unfamiliar topic. While it is understandable that M0rphine ransomware infection might seem like a disaster, there is no need to panic, as the situation will not change by doing so.
What you need to do right now is to figure out how to remove M0rphine ransomware safely, restore your Windows machine to normal, and only then ponder about data recovery. Note that none of these actions will recover M0rphine ransomware encrypted files, however.
- Spam email attachments or embedded links
- Software vulnerabilities and exploit kits
- Pirated software installers and software cracks
- Fake Flash Player (or other) updates or repacked programs
- Weakly protected Remote Desktop connections, etc.
The M0rphine ransomware note
Attention!
Your documents, photos, databases and important files have been encrypted cryptographically strong, without the cipher key recovery is impossible!
To decrypt your files you need to buy the special software - M0rphine Decryptor and your Private Decryption Key.
Using another tools could corrupt your files, in case of using third party software we dont give guarantees that full recovery is possible so use it on your own risk.
If you want to restore files, write us to the our e-mail: M0rphine@cock.li
Please write your Personal Identification Code in body of your message.
Also attach to email 3 encrypted files for free decryption test. (each file have to be less than 1 MB size and not have valuable content)
It is in your interest to respond as soon as possible to ensure the restoration your files!
Your personal Identification Code:
How to remove M0rphine 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 M0rphine 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
M0rphine 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
the ransom noteand one or two files ending in.m0rphineto 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 M0rphine ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while M0rphine 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 May 2020 · not reviewed since
M0rphine ransomware elimination
As previously mentioned, M0rphine ransomware removal will not return your files into their working state.
Nevertheless, the process is mandatory, as malware will keep corrupting the incoming files until it is terminated from the PC. If the M0rphine virus is tampering with your security software, you should access Safe Mode with Networking and perform a scan from there.
Once you remove M0rphine ransomware, you can begin to think about data recovery methods. Unfortunately, there is no known secure and 100% working method to recover the encrypted files if no backups were retained.
While paying cybercriminals might seem like an option, keep in mind that they might simply keep the money and never message you back - you will end up losing your data and the payment, receiving nothing in return.
While chances are low, it is possible that you will be able to recover at least some of your files.
[GI=method-1]If M0rphine ransomware cannot be removed in a regular way, you can access Safe Mode with Networking as explained below:
[GI=method-2]System Restore is another way you could get rid of the malware:
This tool might recover at least some of your data if you have not been using your computer a lot after the infection.
Windows Previous Version Feature might work for individual files
This method can be employed if the virus failed to eliminate Shadow Volume Copies from the system.
ShadowExplorer might be useful
This software is an excellent choice for data recovery, and might work for some users.
No decryption tool has yet been created
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.
Make the next attack harmless
M0rphine ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .m0rphine and no longer open) showed exactly which ones those were.
The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for 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 M0rphine ransomware
How do I open .m0rphine files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .m0rphine 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.
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 M0rphine ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for M0rphine 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 "M0rphine 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.
How did M0rphine ransomware get on my computer?
The way M0rphine 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 .m0rphine 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 M0rphine ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by M0rphine ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .m0rphine 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 M0rphine 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.
What does the ransom note tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name the ransom note, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
My files got .m0rphine 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 .m0rphine 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 M0rphine 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 M0rphine 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
- IT Pro: What is AES encryption? (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Exploit kit (read October 7, 2026)
- 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)