SUSPENDED ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
SUSPENDED is a file-encrypting virus which uses RSA-1024 algorithm to encode important data on the victim's computer. Following the encryption, users are no longer able to access files marked with .SUSPENDED extension at the end and informed about the attack in !!!RestoreProcess!!!.txt file.
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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SUSPENDED ransomware: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | RestoreProcess!!!.txt; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact | suspendedfiles@bitmessage.ch, suspendedfiles@india.com |
| Encrypted file extension | .suspended |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | SUSPENDED ransomware |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| 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 | .suspended |
| Attacker contacts | suspendedfiles@bitmessage.ch |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 27 February 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Names and addresses to look for
- File extension:
.suspended - Note file:
RestoreProcess!!!.txt - Contact:
suspendedfiles@bitmessage.ch
How SUSPENDED ransomware behaves
From our report of Feb 2018 · not reviewed since
Cyber community should be aware of new SUSPENDED ransomware
SUSPENDED is a file-encrypting virus which uses RSA-1024 algorithm to encode important data on the victim's computer.
Following the encryption, users are no longer able to access files marked with .SUSPENDED extension at the end and informed about the attack in !!!RestoreProcess!!!.txt file. The ransom note states that victims can recover their files if they contact the criminals via suspendedfiles@bitmessage.ch or suspendedfiles@india.com and agree to pay $600.
Afters SUSPENDED virus has reached the targeted system, people have 72 hours to make the payment, or it might increase. This is a common tactic employed by criminals to intimidate their victims and lure to make irrational decisions.
Usually, the given price of the decryption software is never the same — hackers continue to blackmail their victims once they contact them. Keep in mind that this is a version of STOP ransomware indicating that criminals are not likely to stop their malicious activity.
Here is the ransom note of SUSPENDED ransomware:
Additionally, cybercriminals offer free SUSPENDED decryptor for 1-3 files. This is another attempt to gain people's trust and make the payment for the crooks. Note that by paying the ransom you support this illegal activity and motivate them to continue creating such dangerous infections for blackmail. Be aware that there are alternative ways how you can get back your data without making the transaction.
For this reason, we strongly suggest you remove SUSPENDED from your system. Since it is a sophisticated cyber threat, it might protect itself from the elimination. However, you can learn how to disable the virus by following the instructions given below.
Note that SUSPENDED removal is a complicated procedure which requires assistance from the professional. For that, we suggest using .
After you get rid of SUSPENDED ransomware, carefully read methods provided at the end of this article to regain your corrupted files. We strongly suggest you try all the given techniques since this is the best way to get back all compromised documents.
From our report of Feb 2018 · not reviewed since
People should be careful online if they want to avoid ransomware attacks
Despite how many users believe that file-encrypting viruses are remotely infused to their computers, in reality, people manually install them without noticing.
Unfortunately, criminals have developed deceptive techniques allowing to trick inexperienced computer users — the most widely used ransomware distribution way is malicious spam emails .
Crooks create email letters which impersonate famous brands and companies like Apple or Microsoft, etc. They contact people with a fake problem and encourage to open an attachment for further details. Sadly, the attached file usually holds the executable of the ransomware and infiltrate it on your computer.
Therefore, you should neither open spam emails nor click on hyperlinks in the letters. Also, be careful with advertising content online since it might also be malware-laden. In other terms, clicking on ads can redirect you to highly suspicious websites or automatically trigger the installation of a virus.
From our report of Feb 2018 · not reviewed since
Terminate SUSPENDED virus right now
As we have already mentioned, SUSPENDED removal cannot be completed without any assistance of the professional.
However, you can always ensure it to a robust antivirus software. Our top choices would be , , and .
However, NoVirus.uk experts warn that you might need to deactivate the virus first. Rebooting your computer into Safe Mode is an option. Thus, you can follow the guide below and learn how to do it properly. Later, install the security software and let it remove SUSPENDED for you.
[GI=method-1]SUSPENDED ransomware removal should be started from the deactivation of the virus. For that, boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking as shown below.
Despite the fact that this tool is designed to help people after system crash, it might be useful if you are the victim of ransomware as well.
Try out Windows Previous Versions feature
Windows users can easily try to go back to the previous versions of their files with this in-built feature and restore them. However, this method is only effective if you have enabled System Restore function before the ransomware attack.
Get ShadowExplorer to recover your data
Another great way to get back files encrypted by SUSPENDED ransomware is to use Shadow Volume Copies and this tool. Unfortunately, if the virus has deleted or damaged them, this software is no longer effective.
Experts are currently working on SUSPENDED decryptor and we hope to receive it soon.
The SUSPENDED ransomware note
All your important files were encrypted on this PC.
All files with .SUSPENDED extension are encrypted.
Encryption was produced using unique private key RSA-1024 generated for this computer.
To decrypt your files, you need to obtain private key + decrypt software.
To retrieve the private key and decrypt software, you need to contact us by email suspendedfiles@bitmessage.ch send us an email your !!!RestoreProcess!!!.txt file and wait for further instructions.
For you to be sure, that we can decrypt your files - you can send us a 1-3 any not very big encrypted files and we will send you back it in a original form FREE.
Price for decryption $600 if you contact us first 72 hours.
Your personal id:
-
E-mail address to contact us:
suspendedfiles@bitmessage.ch
Reserve email address to contact us:
suspendedfiles@india.com
How to remove SUSPENDED 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 SUSPENDED 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
SUSPENDED 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
RestoreProcess!!!.txtand one or two files ending in.suspendedto 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 SUSPENDED 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 SUSPENDED 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.
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 SUSPENDED ransomware 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 .suspended and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
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 SUSPENDED ransomware
How do I open .suspended files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .suspended has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
Should I pay the ransom in RestoreProcess!!!.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from RestoreProcess!!!.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 did SUSPENDED ransomware get on my computer?
The way SUSPENDED 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 .suspended 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 there a free SUSPENDED ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for SUSPENDED 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 "SUSPENDED 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.
Did SUSPENDED ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by SUSPENDED ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .suspended 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 SUSPENDED 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 delete RestoreProcess!!!.txt?
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. RestoreProcess!!!.txt 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.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .suspended attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .suspended stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
Will Fortect remove SUSPENDED 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 SUSPENDED 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
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)