SlankCryptor ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
SlankCryptor ransomware is a form of dangerous malware that requires a payment to the "Slank Band" participants for file release. The criminals aim to come from Indonesia and pretend to be some type of band that even has its official web page slank.com.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
Make sure nothing will rename more files to .slank: an automatic scan checks the PC first.
Do it yourself · free Remove SlankCryptor ransomware yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
SlankCryptor ransomware: summary
| Name | SlankCryptor ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware virus/malware |
| Discoverer | MalwareHunterTeam |
| Extension/cipher | Once the ransomware virus arrives to a Windows computer system, it starts locking all files and documents with an encryption cipher such as AES or RSA. Afterward, all filenames end up with the .slanl extension added |
| Ransom note | The criminals provide a ransom note that urges to pay money to the "Slank Band" participants in order to receive the decryption software. These hackers threaten the victims that it is the only way to safely recover data |
| Spreading | The most popular ransomware distribution places cover phishing email messages and their malicious attachments, infected hyperlinks and advertisements, unprotected RDP configuration, potentially unwanted programs, exploit kits, and cracked software |
| 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 13 more facts
| Data restoring | Instead of paying the criminals the demanded price and risking to get scammed, there are some data recovery alternatives waiting for you at the end of this article |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .slank |
| 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 | .slank |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 6 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.slank - Note file:
informasi.html
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on SlankCryptor ransomware
- The ransomware virus can be successfully removed by employing reliable antimalware software.
- You should not try to eliminate the malware on your own as you might cause a lot of damage to your computer system or skip some crucial steps
- If you have found some damaged locations and objects on your Windows computer system after the ransomware attack, you can try repairing things with
The SlankCryptor ransomware note
Your Computer will reboot at:
20:59:39
And All your Hard Drives will formatted!
How to save my PC and Get back my data? This is pretty easy. You can give your money to Slank Band paritcipants and we will give you decryptor then you can able to save your PC and Data.
Our Help Site: http://www.slank.tk/informasi.html
Our Official Site: http://www.slank.com
BY: BIMO SETIAWAN ALMACHZUMI (BIMBIM)
WARNING
DON'T TRY TO SHUT DOWN OR REBOOT YOUR PC BECAUSE YOUR PC WILL GET WEIRD THINGS AND WILL BLOCKED TOTALLY. YOU WILL GET WHAT WE SAY YOU CANNOT RECOVER ANY DATA FROM ANOTHER DEVICES.
OK. I'll Give my money now!
How to remove SlankCryptor 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 SlankCryptor 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 SlankCryptor 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 confirm the family
Your files now end in
.slankand the instructions are ininformasi.html. 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 SlankCryptor 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 SlankCryptor 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 SlankCryptor 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.
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 Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
SlankCryptor ransomware - malware that urges delivering money to the "Slank Band" to recover the encrypted files
SlankCryptor ransomware is a form of dangerous malware that requires a payment to the "Slank Band" participants for file release.
The criminals aim to come from Indonesia and pretend to be some type of band that even has its official web page slank.com. The main goal of this virus is to employ ciphers such as AES and RSA and lock all image, audio, video, data, word, and other files that are located on the infected Windows computer.
After that, SlankCryptor ransomware displays a ransom message that has a photography of the mentioned Slank Band and gives the victim 24 hours to transfer the money until the computer will be booted and hard drives corrupted.
However, this is just a fake threat as the other ones that you have a chance of recovering data only by purchasing the tool from the cybercriminals, rebooting the machine is forbidden, etc. .slank files virus tries to receive as many payments as possible and as fast as possible. The hackers that are standing behind this malware might try to scam you and run off with your money.
SlankCryptor ransomware is a cyber threat that has been already marked as malicious by various security websites and vendors. This dangerous virus has been first released on December 26, 2019. Cybersecurity researchers have also been discussing its appearance on Twitter. One of the first experts to discover this ransomware were the MalwareHunterTeam.
SlankCryptor ransomware does not provide any particular information about the ransom demands but they are likely to urge for an inadequate amount of money later on. A piece of advice would be to stay away from contacting these people and try alternative data recovery techniques that are provided at the end of this article. Also, be careful and do not fall for all of these threatenings:
SlankCryptor ransomware is a notorious parasite that can launch malicious processes on your Windows computer system. the tasks will be included in the Task Manager and can be disguised as the names of legitimate executables. The malware might be capable of booting itself within every computer startup process and avoiding antimalware detection.
Other features in the module of SlankCryptor ransomware might include damaging the Windows hosts file for preventing the victims from visiting security-related websites. These changes can only be reversed if you delete the hosts file while eliminating the ransomware virus. However, the malware might be capable of other functions too.
SlankCryptor ransomware might damage or permanently remove the Shadow Volume Copies of encrypted files to prevent users from recovering their data with the help of some third-party programs. Also, the malware might launch a specific command that allows scanning the entire PC once in a while for decryptable components.
Continuously, SlankCryptor ransomware can bring additional parasites to your Windows computer system. It might include trojans into your machine that can bring big damage and losses. These malicious programs are capable of damaging software and various system components, stealing money and private data, mining cryptocurrency.
Even though SlankCryptor ransomware uses RSA and AES ciphers to lock your data that come unique for every victim, you still have a chance of recovering your files on your own. However, the criminals keep both encryption and decryption keys on remote servers that are unreachable for anyone else except the owners themselves.
Talking about the ransom price, SlankCryptor virus does not provide any accurate numbers, however, that does not mean that the cost will be low. Usually, the criminals urge a price between $100 and $1000 but it can also come bigger. Also, hackers ask for Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency in order to keep the entire payment process secret.
Instead of following the ransom demands and putting yourself in fear, you should remove SlankCryptor ransomware from your Windows computer system as soon as you see files with the .slank appendix. For this purpose, use only automatical software that will ensure that all malicious components have been discovered and successfully eliminated.
After SlankCryptor ransomware removal is complete, you should check your system for damage that might have been caused by the malware. Run automatical software and perform a full system scan. If the results show you some corrupted areas, you can try fixing your computer system with a repair program such as .
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
The most common ways used by hackers to spread ransomware
Email spam is one of the most popular techniques of how ransomware viruses are spread on Windows machines.
The criminals pretend to be from reliable shipping companies such as FedEx and DHL or various banking, healthcare organizations in order to create a look of legitimacy and reliability.
Afterward, the crooks drop the message to random victims and hope that they will believe in it and open the attached malicious file or hyperlink included. According to NoVirus.uk experts, you should never open any email attachments that look suspicious to you without scanning them with antimalware. Bogus hyperlinks also should be avoided.
Another way to receive ransomware on your computer system is to get it delivered through an unsecured RDP. If you have not protected the RDP with a strong password, the crooks can easily hack it and connect to your machine remotely.
Additionally, such malware has more than one or two distribution sources. Even though we have mentioned the most popular ones, these types of cyber threats can also be spread by cybercriminals through such sources:
You always have to stay focused while browsing the Internet sphere, pay attention to what you are doing, and be careful while dealing with suspicious or malicious objects. Also, it is always recommendable to install a reliable antimalware program that will protect your from the incoming threats, provide regular system scans, and alert if something wrong has been going on lately.
- Software cracks that appear on p2p networks.
- Exploit kits.
- Malvertising.
- Potentially unwanted programs.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
About SlankCryptor ransomware removal
SlankCryptor ransomware removal can be successfully performed with the help of antimalware software.
Choose the right product and leave the entire task for it. The antivirus program will scan your entire computer system, detect all of the malicious strings and remove them. Also, for finding damage try using and .
When you remove SlankCryptor ransomware from your Windows computer, it is time to fix all the possibly damaged components. For this purpose, try using software such as . When everything is finished, you can start thinking about data recovery techniques.
Rather than paying the demanded price and risking to get scammed, you can try other file restoring alternatives. Take a look down below where we have provided some tips on how to restore your files.
[GI=method-1]To disable all malicious changes and processes on your Windows computer system, you should reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking. Use the below-provided steps to succeed in the entire process:
[GI=method-2]You can try deactivating the ransomware virus and all of its malicious tasks by opting for System Restore. You can learn how to turn this feature own by completing the following:
Use this type of software if the ransomware virus has applied an extension to your files and documents. Be careful and complete all the steps as shown to reach the best results possible.
Use Windows Previous Versions feature for data restoring.
If you have enabled the System Restore feature in the past, this technique might allow you to restore some of your files back to their previous positions.
Shadow Explorer can be helpful for file recovery.
This method might allow you to restore some of your individual files. However, keep in mind, that this method might not work if the ransomware virus has already permanently destroyed or erased the Shadow Volume Copies of your encrypted data.
Sadly, no official .slank files decryptor has been released yet.
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
SlankCryptor ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .slank 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.
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 SlankCryptor ransomware
Should I pay the ransom in informasi.html?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from informasi.html 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 .slank files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .slank ending shows that SlankCryptor 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 SlankCryptor ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Is there a free SlankCryptor ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for SlankCryptor 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 "SlankCryptor 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.
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 SlankCryptor ransomware get on my computer?
The way SlankCryptor 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 .slank 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 SlankCryptor ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by SlankCryptor ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .slank 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 SlankCryptor 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 .slank from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .slank 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.
Should I open informasi.html?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text informasi.html 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 Fortect remove SlankCryptor 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 SlankCryptor 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
- Wikipedia: RSA (cryptosystem) (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)