Shasha ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Shasha is a malicious virus that belongs to the ransomware category. This malware type can be particularly damaging, as its impact on personal files might be forever-lasting.
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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Shasha ransomware: summary
| Name | Shasha |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware, file-locking virus |
| File extension | Each of the personal files receives a .shasha extension |
| Ransom note | READ_ME.txt, changed desktop background |
| Contact | No contact email or other communication methods provided |
| Ransom size | $50 or 0.0012 BTC |
| 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 12 more facts
| File Recovery | If no backups are available, recovering data is almost impossible. Nonetheless, we suggest you try the alternative methods that could help you in some cases – we list them below |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .shasha |
| 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 and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .shasha |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 8 October 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.shasha - Note file:
READ_ME.txt
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Shasha
- You can remove malware and all its malicious components with powerful security software
- Malware can seriously tamper with Windows systems, causing errors, crashes, lag, and other stability issues after it is terminated.
- Free Ransomware Decryptors by Kaspersky
The Shasha ransomware note
All of your files have been encrypted!
Your computer was infected with a ransomware virus. Your files have been encrypted and you won't
be able to decrypt them without our help.What can I do to get my files back?You can buy our special
decryption software, this software will allow you to recover all of your data and remove the
ransomware from your computer.The price for the software is $50. Payment can be made in Bitcoin only.
How do I pay, where do I get Bitcoin?
Purchasing Bitcoin varies from country to country, you are best advised to do a quick google search
yourself to find out how to buy Bitcoin.
Many of our customers have reported these sites to be fast and reliable:
Coinmama - hxxps://www.coinmama.com Bitpanda - hxxps://www.bitpanda.com
Payment informationAmount: 0,0012 BTC
Bitcoin Address: [payment address omitted]
How to remove Shasha 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 Shasha 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 Shasha 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 confirm the family
Your files now end in
.shashaand the instructions are inREAD_ME.txt. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
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 Shasha, 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 Shasha 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 Shasha 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.
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 Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
Shasha ransomware is a dangerous computer infection that asks users to pay $50 for file decryption
Shasha is a malicious virus that belongs to the ransomware category.
This malware type can be particularly damaging, as its impact on personal files might be forever-lasting. It locks all documents, pictures, databases, videos, and other files located on a Windows system with the help of a sophisticated encryption algorithm, adding a .shasha extension in the process.
Suchlike modified files can no longer be accessed or altered in any way - they would not open, regardless of which program is used for that.
While blank file icons and the inability to open them are one of the first signs of a ransomware infection, there is a lot going on in the background. Before locking data, the Shasha virus first shuts down various processes and imports its own files, infecting the Windows system.
If connected to a network, it could potentially spread even further and encrypt files on every other computer connected to it. This is why it is important to disconnect your PC from the internet as soon as a malware infection is spotted.
After file encryption, the virus sends a request to a remote server to retrieve a unique user ID, which is (usually) later used by attackers to recognize each of the victims. The encryption key is then sent to cybercriminals' C&C server, which it remains; in order to recover data, users would need this key, although, evidently, the hackers are not willing to give it up for free.
As soon as malware is done with file encryption, it changes the desktop wallpaper, which portrays a skull in a black background. This is probably the first significant sign that users see right after the data locking process. Additionally, the READ_ME.txt file is placed on the desktop, where users can read the message left by the attackers.
In this file, victims are explained that their data is locked and they need a decryptor that only crooks can provide. In exchange for it, users are asked to pay $50 in Bitcoin into a provided Bitcoin address. There is no guarantee that a decryption key will be forwarded to you, so paying might be risky - you might get scammed and lose your money as well.
If you have been infected with ransomware, you should not panic and perform the removal and recovery process correctly.
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
How does ransomware work?
Since the start of the pandemic, there has been an increase of new ransomware attacks overall - this is not surprising due to the fact that other malware families, such as Djvu, have reached immense success, with their authors earning millions from ransom payments. Attacks on corporations also increased drastically; it all points at ransomware being an extremely lucrative but illegal business.
Shasha is a relatively new strain that was first spotted in October 2021. It is yet unknown who is behind it; ransomware is commonly produced by already active actors, although new ones emerge as well, all while trying to earn a quick buck from innocent users. And, unfortunately, they are often successful.
When looking at the ransom note, we couldn't spot anything out of the ordinary. The message is not exceptional in any way, it just tells victims about what happened to their files and what they should do next:
In comparison to Tisc, Efdc, or similar threats, these perpetrators don't seem to be asking much. Although, $50 can be a large sum of money, depending on the victim's country of residence. Paying the attackers is not recommended by various law authorities and security experts.
By doing so, victims only encourage crooks to infect more people and prove that the illegal business model works. Unfortunately, some users have little choice, as files are just way too important for them.
It is very common for ransomware authors to ask for Bitcoin; in fact, 98% of payments are done in precisely this cryptocurrency. It grants anonymity to hackers and also makes the transactions instantaneous.
Since Shasha ransomware is a strain, there is little proof that the group behind it even has a working decryption tool. Instead of paying, remove malware from your system and use alternative methods for data recovery.
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
Use anti-malware software to get rid of ransomware
In some cases, ransomware self-deletes after it finishes its task for data encryption.
According to the ransom note, cybercriminals are promising to remove malware from the system as soon as the payment is made. It goes without saying that you should not rely on whatever crooks tell you in the note because it is not necessarily true. It likely means that this virus does not terminate and continues to run in the background.
Instead, you should perform Shasha virus removal yourself - use powerful or anti-malware software. Malware might interfere with the operation of these tools, so you should access Safe Mode and run the scan from there in such a case:
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing the 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 the 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 Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
Repair damaged system files
Before you try file recovery, you should also take care of your system health.
Once malware gains access to your PC, it alters various settings, imports its own files, and launches new processes. At some point during the infection, the virus might damage vital Windows components, making the system unstable. This is especially true for newer ransomware variants, as they are more likely to have bugs in the code.
Unfortunately, security software is unable to fix these damaged files. For this purpose, we highly recommend you use a dedicated repair application instead:
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.
- 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
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
Methods to recover .Shasha files without paying
Most of the people who get infected with ransomware have never heard of it before, and the only thing they see is that they can't open any files.
Due to this, there are many misconceptions about what file encryption is - some victims think that their files were permanently damaged or that they return back to normal after a full system scan with anti-malware is performed. None of these statements are true.
If ransomware works as intended, it won't corrupt your files but simply lock them under a unique key, accessible only to cybercriminals. That being said, some new ransomware strains are known to be buggy, hence it might corrupt data by accident. Also, antivirus software is ineffective when it comes to data recovery, as it is designed to remove malicious files and stop malware from running and performing its operations.
Paying criminals can be an option, but it's a risky one. As we already mentioned, security experts recommend avoiding it at all costs. Instead, there are several alternative methods you could try.
1. Recovery software
You won't know whether or not recovery software will work for the locked files - it depends on many aspects.
Warning! Before you proceed with this step, use a USB drive or another storage device to make a backup of the locked files. Otherwise, the data could be damaged permanently
2. Decryption tools
Many high-profile ransomware strains work as intended, which means that their encryption is secure and can't be broken. However, Novice malware developers commonly many mistakes, which allows security researchers to bypass the encryption and create a free, working decryptor. This might take some time, however. Check the following links:
- 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
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Backups: the 3-2-1 rule
Keep three copies of files that matter, on two kinds of storage, with one copy offline or off-site.
A disk that stays plugged in is reached by malware like Shasha together with the PC; one you connect only for the backup is not.
On Windows 11, File History keeps versions on an external drive, and OneDrive keeps earlier versions of synced files. Before restoring anything, make sure the PC no longer shows files that end in .shasha and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about Shasha ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .shasha files?
That depends on the family behind the .shasha 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.
Should I pay the ransom in READ_ME.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from READ_ME.txt 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 .shasha files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .shasha ending shows that Shasha 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 Shasha. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Are ransomware recovery services legitimate?
Some are, but read the offer carefully. Genuine data-recovery firms recover deleted originals from disks or rebuild damaged files, and they say so. Others promise to "decrypt any ransomware" for a fixed price, which is impossible without the key; they quietly pay the attackers and keep a margin, sometimes without telling the victim.
Be especially careful with services that contact you after you post about the attack online. Ask for references, a written method and a no-result-no-fee clause, and check the free tools on No More Ransom first.
How did Shasha get on my computer?
The way Shasha 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 .shasha 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 Shasha steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Shasha, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .shasha 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 Shasha 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.
Should I open READ_ME.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text READ_ME.txt cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
Will .shasha 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 .shasha. 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 Fortect remove Shasha?
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 Shasha, 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
- Varonis: What is C2? Command and Control Infrastructure Explained (read October 6, 2026)
- Marsh: Ransomware: Paying Cyber Extortion Demands in Cryptocurrency (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Software bug (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)