Torchwood ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Torchwood ransomware is one of the oldest file-encrypting cyber threats which started its activity in 2013. This dangerous virus manages to infect computer systems which are not protected appropriately.
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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Torchwood ransomware: summary
| Name | Torchwood |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware |
| Active since | 2013 |
| Extensions | TRCHWD, .TORCHWOOD, .torchwood |
| torchwood0000@yandex.com | |
| Dangers | Encrypts important documents, might make the system more vulnerable for other infections |
| 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 14 more facts
| Cipher used | AES |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Ransom note | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Contact | torchwood0000@yandex.com, torchwood@66.ru |
| Encrypted file extension | .torchwood |
| 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 |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .torchwood |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 23 August 2018 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.torchwood
From our report of Aug 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Torchwood
- If you read this message, then you already guessed that there is something wrong with the computer.
- We are obliged to inform you about not the most pleasant news: All your information (documents, databases, backups and other files) on this computer has been encrypted.
- All encrypted files have the extension .TORCHWOOD This encoder is completely crack-resistant, so you can restore files only by having a unique decoder for your PC.
- Changing the operating system, installing antivirus software and contacting decryption specialists will only take your time.
- Without a decoder this problem will not be solved by any system administrator in the world.
- Just in case, we warn: Do not change files and do not use other decoders, otherwise, you can lose your data forever.
- If you still want to try to solve the problem yourself, then do it on a copy so that later there are no claims to us.
- To find out how to get the decoder, write us an email to torchwood0000@yandex.com Please duplicate all your emails to the address - torchwood@66.ru If we did not respond within 6 hours, please resend the email.
- In the letter, enter the number - or paste the text from the file INSTRUCTION_PROFILING_FILE.txt In the reply email, you will receive all instructions.'
How Torchwood ransomware behaves
From our report of Aug 2018 · not reviewed since
Torchwood ransomware - an old file-encrypting virus which has been active since 2013
Torchwood ransomware is one of the oldest file-encrypting cyber threats which started its activity in 2013.
This dangerous virus manages to infect computer systems which are not protected appropriately. Additionally, cybercrooks modify various system settings manually, and, when the process is completed, the Torchwood virus drops its hazardous payload and starts the encryption.
Files are locked with the .TRCHWD, .torchwood, or .TORCHWOOD extensions by using an AES cipher . After that, crooks display a ransom note which urges victims to show contact via torchwood0000@yandex.com email address and pay the demanded ransom to receive a decryption code for blocked documents.
Torchwood ransomware encrypts files such as:
Once such data is locked, users are not able to access it as Torchwood ransomware changes its structure by using a unique code. Both decryption and encryption keys are stored on external servers and kept out of reach for anyone except the criminals themselves. Without having decryption keys, the recovery process is almost impossible to even for highly-experienced IT specialists.
However, we do not recommend contacting the crooks or paying the demanded price. No matter it might seem like the easiest way to get your files back, malware researchers have warned victims that they can be left scammed and face financial losses.
If you happen to spot encrypted files with the beforementioned appendixes, you need to remove Torchwood virus from your computer system at first. For such purpose, we advise installing anti-malware help such as or any other trustworthy computer fixing program.
Dealing with ransomware threats is never a good idea as some ransomware-type viruses can also decrease system protection or even disable the antivirus program. Beware that such processes can increase the risk of various computer infections. If you want to avoid such damaging consequences, you need to perform the Torchwood ransomware removal as soon as you spot the first symptoms.
Taking into account the ransom fee, note that it can differ each time for every victim. However, it is known that cybercrooks are very likely to use cryptocurrency, e.g., Bitcoin, Monero, Dash.
Here is the extraction for the Torchwood virus ransom message:
- Audio;
- Video;
- Image;
- PDFs;
- Databases;
- Spreadsheets;
- etc.
From our report of Aug 2018 · not reviewed since
Ransomware distributes through phishing emails
If you have a ransomware infection in your computer, there is a big chance that it might have come from a spam email that you have opened recently and managed to launch an attachment that was clipped to it.
You need to be careful with such phishing messages as they might come legitimate-looking. However, if you ever receive spam and you are not expecting anything important at the moment, get rid of all questionable emails permanently.
Additionally, we advise increasing your computer system protection automatically. What you need to do is download and install antivirus protection on your PC. Make sure you chose an expert-tested and trustworthy program to achieve best results.
Once you install the antivirus, check it regularly and ensure that all required updates are performed from time to time. If taken care of properly, this security tool will let you avoid various dangerous malware infections that can enter computer systems unnoticed.
How to remove Torchwood 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 Torchwood 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
Torchwood 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 identify the family
Find the ransom note, usually a
.txt,.htmlor .hta file in every folder or on the desktop, and copy it with one or two encrypted files to a USB stick.From another device, upload them to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note and the file extension. Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note for the report.
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 Torchwood, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 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 Torchwood 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.
From our report of Aug 2018 · not reviewed since
Get rid of Torchwood ransomware
If you want to remove Torchwood ransomware from your affected computer system, you need to make sure that you pick the right elimination tool for this purpose.
We suggest using , , or . However, you can feel free to use any tools that you have on your computer as long as they function properly and are tested by IT experts.
There is no possibility to perform the Torchwood ransomware removal manually if you do not have enough experience in such a sphere. Better chose to do it with the help of a trustworthy tool, the process will be completed safely and will not require much of the user's effort. Once its done, make sure you carry out some system backups to check if all virus-related components have been removed successfully.
[GI=method-1]Reboot your PC to Safe Mode with Networking by performing this guide:
[GI=method-2]Activate the System Restore function to disable the virus. These guiding steps might be helpful for such case:
If you perform each step as required, this method might help you restore various documents that were corrupted by the ransomware-type virus or destroyed in other ways.
Use the Windows Previous Versions method for data recovery:
Read the instructions and perform the given steps. However, you need to know that such technology will work only if you had enabled the System Restore feature before the ransomware infection managed to affect your computer system and files.
Use Shadow Explorer to get important documents back:
Notice that this method will work only if Torchwood ransomware did not permanently delete Shadow Volume Copies of corrupted files.
Sadly, malware experts have not discovered the official Torchwood virus decryptor 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
Torchwood could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .torchwood 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 Torchwood ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .torchwood files?
That depends on the family behind the .torchwood 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.
How do I open .torchwood files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .torchwood ending shows that Torchwood 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 Torchwood. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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 Torchwood get on my computer?
The way Torchwood 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 .torchwood 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 Torchwood steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Torchwood, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .torchwood 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 Torchwood 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.
Will .torchwood 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 .torchwood. 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.
If I delete Torchwood, do my files come back?
Unfortunately not. Deleting the program only ends the attack; every file that already has the .torchwood ending stays encrypted, because decryption needs a key that only the attackers hold.
That is why this guide separates removal from recovery. First make sure Torchwood is gone with an offline scan, then work through the recovery list:
- backups
- OneDrive history
- Previous Versions
- copies on other devices and
- if one exists
- a decryptor
Do not rename or edit the encrypted files in the meantime, and keep them even if nothing works today.
Will Fortect remove Torchwood?
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 Torchwood, 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
- Search Security: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) (read October 6, 2026)
- SemVirus: SemVirus (read October 6, 2026)
- Trend Micro: Ransomware (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)