Phantom ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Phantom ransomware is the cryptovirus that can also be called the PhantomChina virus because it is focusing on Chinese-language. The threat was spotted at the start of 2020, but more variants with some different features were noticed in May and July yet again.
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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Phantom ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The threat comes from the internet when the person triggers a macro virus unknowingly or receives the payload file from the pirating software package or malicious website. The infection happens silently, so your files get encrypted right away |
|---|---|
| Name | Phantom ransomware |
| Targets | Chinese-speaking and English-speaking users in the world |
| Symptoms | The program affects machine by encoding original files and marking them with .phantom appendix that indicates affected files from safe pieces |
| Ransom note | !How_To_Decrypt_My_File_ 如何 解密 的 的 文件; the text is quoted in full below |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 10 more facts
| Contact | pianist6@protonmail.com |
|---|---|
| Encrypted file extension | .phantom |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .phantom |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 7 August 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.phantom - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Phantom ransomware
- !How_To_Decrypt_My_File_ 如何 解密 的 的 文件.hta - program window that informs about the encryption procedures and provides contact information needed for the alleged decryption
- You should remove Phantom ransomware from the system and clear the machine properly with anti-malware tools.
- There is no better option for such an infection because security tools are designed to find all malicious files and programs automatically
- The system gets affected significantly when files in the system folders get damaged or corrupted.
- Try to run , and repair affected parts of the functioning
How Phantom ransomware behaves
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Phantom virus is the threat that uses AES encryption algorithm and locks various files on the machine before marking them with .phantom
Phantom ransomware is the cryptovirus that can also be called the PhantomChina virus because it is focusing on Chinese-language.
The threat was spotted at the start of 2020, but more variants with some different features were noticed in May and July yet again. Criminals behind the threat aim to affect devices of Chinese-speaking and English-speaking users, so the cryptovirus can be distributed all over the world.
Phantom ransomware or PhantomChina virus demands money for the locked files in the ransom note as a program window named !How_To_Decrypt_My_File_ 如何 解密 的 的 文件.hta. The message from criminals states that you can restore your encrypted files when you write the email for creators and provide your ID from the ransom note and other details needed to identify you. You shouldn't fall for these allegations and avoid getting in contact with these people.
Phantom ransomware is the virus that locks files using the encryption algorithm, so the reason for ransom demand is there. Money is pretty much the main goal of these criminals behind the threat, so you should stay away from keeping contact with virus developers.
There is no way to unlock files affected by Phantom ransomware virus because researchers haven't developed the decryption tool officially. Yet. It is not common nor quick to receive such a tool when the new threat like this comes out.
You shouldn't wait for the program if you want to use the machine again. The best option and the solution is to run the AV tool and clear the system fully.
The message that PhantomChina creators deliver on the screen reads the following(it also comes in Chinese-language):
Phantom ransomware payment that criminals require should be transferred in Bitcoin, but this activity is not safe for the user. Getting involved in any money transfers with criminals or even communication can lead to more significant damage or even installation of malware when you write the email via provided address (pianist6@protonmail.com).
PhantomChina is the ransomware considered as one of the more dangerous computer infections because it can damage the machine since it gets to access the crucial parts of the system and damage those files significantly. This notorious virus can be distributed by hackers directly targeting systems with the aim to extort money from victims.
You need to remove Phantom ransomware instead of considering the payment option as the solution. There is no need to pay no matter how convincing the message sounds or how low the ransom amount is. Criminals are not worthy of your trust, especially such extortionists.
You cannot open those encrypted files, and after the process of Phantom ransomware removal, it is not going to be easier. Anti-malware tools are designed to find and terminate threats, malicious files, and programs, but not repair system files or recover from encryption.
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
PhantomChina virus-fighting options
There are some solutions for such threats that are focused on money extortion and system damage.
Your infected machine needs some serious help when ransomware like Phantom files virus appears on the system. Experts recommend staying away from paying or contacting criminals, but file recovery is needed.
Antivirus tools are the ones that can terminate the malware for you and help to improve the performance after the infection. But you need a tool like that could recover those system functions, tools, and programs corrupted by the ransomware. Remember that Phantom ransomware elimination is the first and the most important step.
You need to run an AV tool, remove the Phantom virus, then recover functions and affected programs with PC repair or optimization programs, and rely on data backups in regards to your encrypted files. You can try third-party programs, system options listed below, but the most reliable solution is file copies stored on the separate archive.
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Terminate Phantom files virus from the system
There are no decryption options when it comes to Phantom ransomware virus because researchers haven't created the tool yet for such an infection.
Anything related to such malware can be damaging because files and programs running int he background can be designed to trigger malicious processes.
You need to properly remove Phantom ransomware by running an anti-malware tool and allowing the program to check all the parts of the system. Tools like or can find programs, files, associated intruders, and eliminate them automatically for you.
Then you only need to perform the second scan after Phantom ransomware removal that ensures the proper system performance. or another PC repair/ system optimization tool can recover system functions and files corrupted by the threat. Then your machine is prepared for the file restoring procedures.
[GI=method-1]Safe Mode can give you the opportunity to remove Phantom ransomware using the AV tool of your own
[GI=method-2]System Restore feature can act as a solution for malware removal
The method for file restoring - data recovery program
You can try this tool for encrypted files or even accidentally deleted data
Windows Previous Versions feature - option for individual files
When your files get encoded by the Phantom ransomware virus and you use System Restore as a method to fight it, you can rely on Windows Previous Versions and recover important files one by one
ShadowExplorer can help with encrypted files
Shadow Volume Copies, when untouched can be restored using ShadowExplorer
Phantom ransomware decryptor tool is not released to the public yet
The Phantom ransomware note
If you want to restore them, write us to the e-mail: pianist6@protonmail.com
Write this Your ID in the body of your message
You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.
Free decryption test as guarantee !
Integrity is our principle!
Before paying you can send us up to 1 file for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 2Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases, backups, large excel sheets, etc.)
Attention !
Do not rename encrypted files !
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss !
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam !
Your ID:
How to remove Phantom 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 Phantom 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
Phantom 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.phantomto 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 Phantom 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 Phantom 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.
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
Phantom ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .phantom 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.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about Phantom ransomware
Should I pay the ransom in the ransom note?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
How do I open .phantom files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .phantom ending shows that Phantom 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 Phantom ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Phantom ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Phantom ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .phantom 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.
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 Phantom ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Phantom 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 "Phantom 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 Phantom ransomware get on my computer?
The way Phantom 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 .phantom and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Is Phantom 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 .phantom from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .phantom 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 the ransom note?
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. the ransom note 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 Phantom 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 Phantom 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
- Wired: The WannaCry Ransomware Hackers Made Some Real Amateur Mistakes (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Encryption (read October 7, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)