SNAKE ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
SNAKE ransomware is data locking malware that has been infecting various enterprises and encrypting valuable files on servers and networks. First discovered by MalwareHunterTeam in January 2020, operations of malware seized for several months, until May, when researchers noticed a large spike of infections globally.
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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SNAKE ransomware: summary
| Name | SNAKE ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware virus/malware |
| Founder | Michael Gillespie |
| Target | This dangerous parasite has been targetting various worldwide businesses and their computer networks |
| Algorithms | For the encryption process, the ransomware employs encryption algorithms such as AES-256 and RSA-2048 |
| Appendix/file marker | When the files are locked by using the encryption ciphers, all of them end up with a random appendix that contains 5 characters and also a file marker EKANS |
| 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 note | The cybercriminals provide all of the ransom demands and offers in the Fix-Your-Files; the text is quoted in full below |
|---|---|
| Email address | The crooks give the bapcocrypt@ctemplar.com email address as a way to contact them and discuss all the terms regarding the ransom price |
| Removal process | You should get rid of the dangerous malware by employing strong and reliable antimalware software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | bapcocrypt@ctemplar.com |
| Encrypted file extension | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| 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 | A Windows Security "Threats found" notification and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 7 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 7 May 2020 |
| Microsoft Defender name | Ransom:Win32/Killpror!MSR |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Which name will your scanner show?
Microsoft's name for SNAKE ransomware is Ransom:Win32/Killpror!MSR.
Defender sorts threats by category first, so the word before the colon tells you what kind of program was found, even if the family name means nothing to you.
Do not search for a removal tool by the detection name alone; fake "removal tools" use the same keywords. How the naming works is explained in our guide to antivirus detection names.
- Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on SNAKE ransomware
- Try using software such as to fix corrupted system files in your computer
How SNAKE ransomware behaves
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
SNAKE ransomware - file locking malware that targets organizations and businesses worldwide
SNAKE ransomware is data locking malware that has been infecting various enterprises and encrypting valuable files on servers and networks.
First discovered by MalwareHunterTeam in January 2020, operations of malware seized for several months, until May, when researchers noticed a large spike of infections globally. Among the victims - Europe's largest private hospital Fresenius. Threat actors also claim that they managed to copy valuable files and will most likely use it as another extortion point.
The malware is written in Golang and includes a complex activity module comparing with other infections of this kind. The malware disables tasks that are related to SCADA systems, remote software, virtual devices, etc. Afterward, SNAKE ransomware executes the encryption process by using the AES-256 and RSA-2048 algorithms and adding a random 5 symbol appendix to each filename.
Additionally, every encrypted component acquires an EKANS file marker (which is "SNAKE" backward). Then, ransomware places the Fix-Your-Files.txt ransom message in the C:\Users\Public\Desktop directory and offers to purchase the decryption software by contacting the cybercriminals via bapcocrypt@ctemplar.com email address.
SNAKE ransomware is capable of deleting the Shadow Volume Copies of encrypted files by executing specific PowerShell commands. This way the developers seak to harden the recovery process of all locked files and documents.
Another thing that the malware might do is permanently damage the Windows hosts file in order to prevent users from visiting security sources. So, once you are completing SNAKE ransomware removal, do not forget to eliminate the hosts file.
SNAKE ransomware does not include any particular ransom price via the text message it provides. However, the criminals are likely to urge for a cryptocurrency transfer such as Bitcoin in order to remain safe and untrackable. Take a look at how the entire Fix-Your-Files.txt ransom message looks like:
SNAKE ransomware might also be capable of avoiding antimalware detection of some particular software. For this purpose, the malware might run specific tasks in the Task Manager location or insert particular keys in the Windows Registry section. However, according to VirusTotal information, the malicious update.exe file has been detected by 46 AV tools from the total 69. Some of the detection names include Gen:Win32.AV-Killer.ItW@aei5Gqj, Trojan.Win32.Antavmu.asdd, Trojan-Ransom.b, Ransom:Win32/Killpror!MSR, etc.
SNAKE ransomware stores both encryption and decryption tools on remote servers and keeps then unreachable for other people except the cybercriminals themselves. This malicious string aims to lock all types of files and documents that are found on the infected Windows computer system except folders such as windir, SystemDrive, :\$Recycle.Bin, :\ProgramData, :\Users\All Users, :\Program Files, :\Local Settings, :\Boot, :\System Volume Information, :\Recovery, \AppData\.
Continuously, SNAKE virus can bring numerous losses to big companies and businesses as it is known to be targetting various networks and their computers worldwide. However, this is not the only ransomware virus who gets involved in such types of activities. Other malware forms such as Ryuk ransomware, BitPaymer ransomware, Sodinokibi ransomware, Maze ransomware have also been infecting big companies and demanding inadequate ransom payments.
In addition, SNAKE ransomware might deliver other infectious strains to the Windows computer system such as Trojan viruses, worms, spyware, cryptocurrency miners, etc. These types of parasites might relate in the theft of personal information, credentials and money from your bank account, the installation of other malicious software, program and service corruption, system freezes and crashes, severe computer and file damage, CPU overusing.
You should remove SNAKE ransomware from the infected Windows computer to avoid these types of risks and be able to recover encrypted data. Download reliable automatic software and complete the entire process with it.
Also, use a tool such as that might help you fix some malware-corrupted system settings/files. Afterward, go to the end of this article and try some data recovery steps that are definitely better than paying the demanded ransom price and risking to get scammed.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Find out about ransomware distribution
Security experts from Virusai.lt claim that ransomware is spread by using stealth and deceptive techniques.
The hackers often look for multiple sources available so that they could distribute their malware to a wider range of users. However, the most popular ransomware distribution places include:
What you have to do is always be careful while viewing your email messages. Do not enter any suspicious hyperlinks added and do not download any attachments without scanning them with antimalware software. Continuously, download all of your products and services only from reliable sources and their original developers.
In addition, you should always secure your RDP configuration with strong and reliable passwords that contain letters, numbers, and some symbols. Last but not least, ensure that you have trustworthy and strong antivirus protection running on your Windows computer. This tool will inform you if something malicious is trying to escape.
- Email spam. Malware often is distributed through phishing email messages and their infectious attachments. The criminals often pretend to be a reliable shipping organization such as FedEx or DHL and deliver a notification including order confirmation in the attached file that is truly the malicious payload.
- Software cracks. The criminals often plant the malicious payload into cracked software that is placed on peer-to-peer networks such as The Pirate Bay, BitTorrent, and eMule.
- Unsecured RDP. If the RDP includes weak protection or has none at all, the hackers can easily manipulate the settings and remotely connect to the targeted Windows computer system.
The SNAKE ransomware note
| What happened to your files?
---------------
We breached your corporate network and encrypted the data on your computers. The encrypted data includes documents, databases, photos and more -
all were encrypted using a military grade encryption algorithms (AES-256 and RSA-2048). You cannot access those files right now. But dont worry!
You can still get those files back and be up and running again in no time.
---------------
| How to contact us to get your files back?
---------------
The only way to restore your files is by purchasing a decryption tool loaded with a private key we created specifically for your network.
Once run on an effected computer, the tool will decrypt all encrypted files - and you can resume day-to-day operations, preferably with
better cyber security in mind. If you are interested in purchasing the decryption tool contact us at bapcocrypt@ctemplar.com
---------------
| How can you be certain we have the decryption tool?
---------------
In your mail to us attach up to 3 files (up to 3MB, no databases or spreadsheets).
We will send them back to you decrypted.
How to remove SNAKE 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 SNAKE 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 SNAKE 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 SNAKE ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 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 SNAKE 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 SNAKE 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 May 2020 · not reviewed since
SNAKE ransomware removal possibilities
SNAKE ransomware removal should be completed as soon as you spot the cyber threat lurking on your Windows computer system.
This process requires a safe and full elimination process, otherwise, if there are some malicious components left, the ransomware virus might return within the next computer boot up and bring back its malicious tasks.
Regarding this fact, you should employ automatic software for elimination as the manual technique might not be the best possibility for you and pose a risk of system damage. If you are having trouble to remove SNAKE ransomware from your Windows machine, you should boot up in Safe Mode with Networking or activate System Restore.
When SNAKE ransomware is gone, you should try searching for potential damage with the help of software such as or . If these products detect any system compromisation, try fixing things with . Afterward, continue to the end of this page and try some of the data recovery techniques that might help you to restore individual files.
[GI=method-1]To disable malicious processes on your infected Windows computer system and deactivate the ransomware virus, boot your machine in Safe Mode with Networking.
[GI=method-2]To get rid of misleading tasks and disable the virtual parasite, you should opt for System Restore on your Windows computer.
If your files and documents got encrypted by the ransomware virus, you can try recovering your data with the help of this software. Make sure that you complete all the steps as required in the instructions in order to succeed with this method.
Activate Windows Previous Versions feature and recover some of your files and documents.
If you are looking for a piece of software that might help you with data recovery techniques, you can try out this method. However, note that this tool might not work properly if you have not booted your Windows computer via System Restore.
Shadow Explorer can be helpful with file recovering tasks.
This software might help you with file recovery techniques if the ransomware virus has encrypted some of your components. Note that this method might not work if the ransomware virus eliminated or completely destroyed the Shadow Volume Copies of all encrypted files and documents.
Currently, there is no official decryption tool available for Snake ransomware.
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 the Windows Security detection Ransom:Win32/Killpror!MSR; 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.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about SNAKE ransomware
Is there a free SNAKE ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for SNAKE 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 "SNAKE ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
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 SNAKE ransomware get on my computer?
The way SNAKE 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 the Windows Security detection Ransom:Win32/Killpror!MSR, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Did SNAKE ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by SNAKE ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is the Windows Security detection Ransom:Win32/Killpror!MSR, 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 SNAKE 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.
Is Ransom:Win32/Killpror!MSR a false positive?
Sometimes. Names ending in !ml or describing behaviour are generated by machine learning and occasionally flag cracked tools, game mods or small unsigned utilities. A false positive is likely only when the file is a program you installed from its official developer, it is signed by that developer and other scanners do not flag it.
Files from cracks, cheats, fake updates or unknown downloads are rarely false positives, whatever the detection name. If you are sure the file is genuine, you can report it to Microsoft as a false positive; never add an exclusion for Ransom:Win32/Killpror!MSR just to make the alert stop.
Should I open the ransom note?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text the ransom note 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.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by SNAKE?
You cannot open locked files normally while they stay encrypted, and renaming them will not help. Our earlier report did not record the extension that SNAKE adds, so check one locked file name and the ransom note for it.
No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates. Do not rename the files, change the extension or edit them, because that can make recovery harder. Copy the locked files to an external drive before you clean the system, so a decryptor released later still has them.
Will Fortect remove SNAKE 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 SNAKE 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
- Twitter: Tweets (read October 7, 2026)
- Krebs on Security: Europe's Largest Private Hospital Operator Fresenius Hit by Ransomware (read October 7, 2026)
- Security Affairs: SNAKE Ransomware is targeting business networks (read October 7, 2026)
- VirusTotal: 46 engines detected this file (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 7, 2026)