Payfast ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Malicious programs are created more rapidly in the past few years, and the illegal business of ransomware has seen an extreme rise. Payfast virus, which belongs to a relatively prominent malware family Zeppelin, is yet another attempt by cybercriminals to monetize victims' misfortune.
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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Payfast ransomware: summary
| Name | Payfast ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware, data locking malware, cryptovirus |
| Malware family | Zeppelin |
| Encryption method | AES + RSA |
| File extension | .payfast[ID] |
| Ransom note | !!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT |
| 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 15 more facts
| Ransom demand | 0.013 BTC |
|---|---|
| File Recovery | If no backups are available, recovering data is almost impossible. We recommend you try alternative methods which we list below |
| Malware removal | Perform a full system scan with powerful security software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | payfast290@mail2tor.com, payfast500@mail2tor.com |
| Encrypted file extension | .payfast |
| 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 |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .payfast |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 23 August 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.payfast
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Payfast ransomware
- Malware can seriously tamper with Windows systems, causing errors, crashes, lag, and other stability issues after it is terminated.
- Free Ransomware Decryptors by Kaspersky
How to remove Payfast 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 Payfast ransomware and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so Payfast ransomware cannot reach more files. Pause OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync, because synced folders upload the encrypted copies over the good ones.
Leave the PC on but offline while you read the next steps, since a restart can let the ransomware run again. This applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and identify the family
The name of the family decides whether a free decryptor can help. Copy the ransom note and two small encrypted files to a USB stick, and check them on another device with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff.
Note the extension added to the files, the contact address and the victim ID shown in the note. Keep the originals on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC untouched.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
Our last check found that for Payfast ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Look again yourself in the No More Ransom list and the free decryptor pages of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, which add new families every year.
A decryptor needs the ransomware gone first, or it encrypts the files again. Keep at least one copy of the encrypted files on an external drive, even if no tool works yet.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Removing Payfast ransomware does not bring the files back, but it has to come first. Start with Defender's Full scan, then the offline scan from the same Scan options page, which checks the disk before Windows loads.
If the scan cannot start, use Safe Mode with Networking. Delete the ransom notes only after you have saved a copy, because removal tools sometimes leave them behind on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Windows keeps shadow copies for restore points and backups, and some ransomware fails to delete them.
vssadmin list shadowsin an administrator Command Prompt tells you at once whether any exist.If they do, right-click the folder that held your files, open Properties > Previous Versions, select a version from before the attack, and click Open to check it before you Restore or copy the files out. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have the tab.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
A backup made before the attack is the surest way back. Connect it only once the PC is clean, then restore from File History, Windows Backup, OneDrive's Restore your OneDrive or your own external copies.
Without a backup, try file recovery: the originals that Payfast ransomware deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Create data backups to avoid file loss in the future
Report the incident to your local authorities
Ransomware is a lucrative, highly illegal business, and authorities are actively targeting ransomware operators. The level of investigation and follow-up depends on the country, the scale of the incident, and whether the attack is linked to known ransomware groups. To increase the likelihood of identifying the culprits, the agencies need information. In many cases, reports are used primarily for intelligence gathering, trend analysis, and victim support rather than immediate identification of attackers.
Therefore, by reporting the crime, you could help stop the cybercriminal activities and catch the threat actors. Reporting does not guarantee investigation or recovery of data, but it contributes to broader efforts to track ransomware campaigns. Make sure you include all the possible details, including how did you notice the attack, when it happened, etc. Relevant details may also include affected systems, ransom demands, cryptocurrency wallet addresses, and any communication with the attackers. Additionally, providing documents such as ransom notes, encrypted files, or malware executables would be beneficial.
Law enforcement agencies typically deal with online fraud and cybercrime, although it depends on where you live. Here is the list of local authority groups that handle incidents like ransomware attacks, sorted by country:
- USA - Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3
- United Kingdom - ActionFraud
- Canada - Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Australia - ScamWatch
- New Zealand - ConsumerProtection
- Germany - Polizei
- France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
If your country is not listed above, you should contact the local police department or communications center.
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
Payfast ransomware is a type of malware that prevents you from accessing your files
Malicious programs are created more rapidly in the past few years, and the illegal business of ransomware has seen an extreme rise.
Payfast virus, which belongs to a relatively prominent malware family Zeppelin, is yet another attempt by cybercriminals to monetize victims' misfortune.
Once installed on the system, it performs severe changes to not only the Windows system but also personals files. In fact, the changes of the former are conducted to ensure that the file encryption is performed without any problems.
Using a combination of sophisticated algorithms AES and RSA, ransomware encrypts documents, pictures, videos, and all other data on the computer. It excludes several locations on the system, allowing it to function (as destroying system files is not the goal of ransomware infections).
During the encryption process, each file is appended with a specific file extension - .payfast . While being a later stage of the infection, this symptom is the main one that makes victims realized that something has happened to their machines.
For example, a file called picture.jpg would be changed into something like picture.jpg.payfast500.XXX-XXX-XXX (the X's are usually replaced with alphanumeric characters - they change from victim to victim). Also, .payfast290.XXX-XXX-XXX extensions were recently spotted as well. This tendency will likely continue in the future.
Soon after the data locking process, it delivers a ransom note titled !!! ALL YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED !!!.TXT. Within the note, cybercriminals explain that users have to pay 0.013 BTC (although this sum is to double within a day) to retrieve a decryption tool that allegedly would restore all the files.
Crooks also offer to send a file via payfast290@mail2tor.com or payfast500@mail2tor.com for test decryption - it should hold no important information.
However, security experts do not recommend contacting criminals as they are not obligated to send the decryptor for you.
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
Zeppelin ransomware is not new in the cybersecurity world
While it can be easily said that Djvu is the most prominent ransomware family which targets home users, there are plenty of other strains that also want to benefit from the illegal activity of money extortion. First seen in November 2019, this malware has seen steady growth over the years, and new variants keep emerging regularly. The lineage comes from other ransomware strains, including VegaLocker and Buran.
The virus mainly spreads via contaminated email attachments or links - malspam remains the most popular malware delivery technique to this day. In order to protect yourself from malware infections, you should always be careful when opening new emails, especially if they include an MS Office file.
Never allow macros from these documents to be run on your PC; otherwise, the infection of the system might start immediately. As evident, running a powerful security application at all times should always be something you do.
Variants of this ransomware family are known to target high-profile organizations such as hospitals, although small businesses and regular users can also be infected due to the nature of the attack vector. Cybercriminals also choose targets by exploiting vulnerabilities in corporate network software such as ConnectWise Control.
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
What to do after you get infected with Payfast ransomware?
First of all, you should not panic.
While ransomware is indeed the most devastating infection to home users and corporations, the best thing to do now is to focus on Payfast removal and file recovery. However, it is important to do this correctly, as bad actions can result in personal files being permanently corrupted.
As malware can affect Windows in numerous ways, it might prevent you from removing it. Therefore, you should access Safe Mode with Networking in order to temporarily disable its functions:
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
Once in Safe Mode, you should remove the Payfast virus with the help of anti-malware software such as or . Security software should be able to find all the malicious files and entries and remove them automatically for you. Doing this manually should not even be considered. Once malware is deleted, you can proceed with the alternative data recovery methods we provide below.
- 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.
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Click Restart.
- Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
Next step: what to do with the files
File encryption is the feature of ransomware that makes it so terrible.
Many users believe that they will restore their data as soon as they scan their systems with anti-virus software. However, it is not designed for such a purpose and will not restore your files.
The best thing to do would be to recover your files via backups. Your situation is quite a bit more complicated if you have no such backups ready.
However, not everything is lost, and you should definitely not rush and pay criminals. They might never send you the decryption tool, or it might simply not work. You will end up losing your money along with your data.
Instead, you should try using recovery software. Before you proceed, however, you should copy the encrypted files onto a separate medium, such as a USB flash drive or SSD, and then disconnect them from your computer. Encrypted data does not hold any malicious code, so it is safe to transfer to other devices.
Once that is done, proceed with using recovery software:
Security researchers are constantly working on battling malicious actors and helping victims by creating free decryptors. Unfortunately, such a tool is not yet developed for this malware family. There are several places where you could look for decryptors in the future:
- Download .
- Double-click the installer to launch it.
- Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
- As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
- Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
- Press Next.
- At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
- Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
- You can now pick which folders/files to recover - don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
- Press Recover to retrieve your files.
- No More Ransom Project
- Free Ransomware Decryption Tools from Emsisoft
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
Remediate your Windows after malware elimination
In order for Payfast ransomware to be successful, it needs to beat all the obstacles that stand in front of it.
First of all, the malware checks the default language of the system and exits without infecting anything when it is set to the following languages:
This tactic is not new and is commonly used by eastern criminals to avoid attention from local authorities. Only if the victim does not come from the aforementioned countries, the infection is immediately initiated.
This then prompts malware to perform multiple malicious tasks, including deleting Shadow Volume Copies to prevent easy data recovery, altering Windows registry for automatic startup, settings itself to be run with elevated permissions, disabling security software of the most popular anti-malware tools, and much more.
Changes to the system can seriously damage it, resulting in crashes, errors, and other malfunctions after malware elimination.
By employing this tool, you would not have to worry about future computer issues, as most of them could be fixed quickly by performing a full system scan at any time. Most importantly, you could avoid the tedious process of Windows reinstallation in case things go very wrong due to one reason or another.
Below you will also find several tips that should help you improve your online security and make data backups to avoid its loss in the future.
- Russia
- Belarus
- Ukraine
- Kazakhstan
- Download
- Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
- If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
- Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
- The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
- Once complete, check the results - they will be listed in the Summary
- You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
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 .payfast 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.
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 Payfast ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .payfast files?
That depends on the family behind the .payfast extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
How do I open .payfast files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .payfast ending shows that Payfast 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 Payfast 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.
How did Payfast ransomware get on my computer?
The way Payfast 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 .payfast 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 Payfast ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Payfast ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .payfast 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 Payfast 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.
Will .payfast spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .payfast. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will removing Payfast ransomware unlock my .payfast files?
No. Removing Payfast ransomware stops it from encrypting more files and from starting again, but it does not decrypt the files that already end in .payfast. The scanner does not have the attackers' key.
Files come back only from a backup, from copies the ransomware did not reach, such as OneDrive version history, Previous Versions, e-mail attachments or a phone, or with a working decryptor if one exists.
Remove the ransomware first anyway: if you restore files while it is still active, it can encrypt them again. Keep the encrypted files; a decryptor may be published later.
Will Fortect remove Payfast 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 Payfast 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
- Malwarebytes Labs: Malspam (read October 6, 2026)
- Scientific American: What Are Software Vulnerabilities, and Why Are There So Many of Them? (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Windows registry (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)