ZoNiSoNaL ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware - cryptovirus that marks files with this random .ZoNiSoNaL file extension and claims to have a tool supposedly recovering all those encoded files for the payment. Money demands are the way that criminals behind the threat can make a profit, so blackmailing message in the form of a HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt appears once the encryption is done.
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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ZoNiSoNaL ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Files attached to emails with malicious scripts, torrent sites where malware hides the payload as a common file in the bundled with cheatcodes or licensed software versions |
|---|---|
| Name | ZoNiSoNaL ransomware |
| Family | Xorist ransomware |
| File marker | .ZoNiSoNaL |
| Ransom note | HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt; the text is quoted in full below |
| Amount demanded | 0.14 Bitcoin |
| 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
| Danger | The threat involves blackmailing and demands for money, so there is a risk of getting your files damaged permanently if the ransom is paid, but files remain encrypted. Also, malware of various types can get injected during the installation of ransomware |
|---|---|
| Contact information | zonis@gmx.com |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .zonisonal |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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 | .zonisonal |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 19 May 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.zonisonal - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on ZoNiSoNaL ransomware
- To remove ZoNiSoNaL ransomware, you should get a proper anti-malware tool and run the full system check with it, so all threats and associated files get deleted automatically
- The system needs additional attention after the termination because background malware activities can cause issues with the performance due to registry corruption or affected files.
- Run in addition to AV tools and repair files and functions
The ZoNiSoNaL ransomware note
ATENTION!!!
I am truly sorry to inform you that all your important files are crypted.
Atention! I do not offer for free the decrypt key's, for that you have to pay 0.14 BITCOIN.
You can get bitcoin very easy on this site: www.localbitcoins.com
You have to create an account and to buy 0.14 BITCOIN from a seller located in your city.
Then you have to send the amount at this BTC adress: [payment address omitted]
After that, contact me at this email adress: zonis@gmx.com
With this subject: KEYSIDFOR-NB0T******
After the payment you will receive the key's to decrypt your files and a tutorial
Here is another list where you can buy bitcoin:
hxxps://bitcoin.org/en/exchanges
How to remove ZoNiSoNaL 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 ZoNiSoNaL 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
ZoNiSoNaL 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
the ransom noteand one or two files ending in.zonisonalto 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 ZoNiSoNaL 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 ZoNiSoNaL 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.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware is the threat that demands at least 0.14 Bitcoin for the alleged file decryption
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware - cryptovirus that marks files with this random .ZoNiSoNaL file extension and claims to have a tool supposedly recovering all those encoded files for the payment.
Money demands are the way that criminals behind the threat can make a profit, so blackmailing message in the form of a HOW TO DECRYPT FILES.txt appears once the encryption is done. This process relies on army-grade algorithms that allow locking files by changing the original coding.
This way data like images, documents, archives, databases, audio, and video files get unopenable. Victims think that the only solution for this is the decryption tool that criminals claim to have. However, there is no need to trust criminals, especially the ones who aim to get cryptocurrency from people all over the world.
This ZoNiSoNaL ransomware virus is a version of the shady Xorist ransomware threat that has a family of crypto-malware programs build on a powerful base borrowed from other threat actors. It is common for the family to use randomized file appendixes and rely on Xor or Team cryptography methods, demand amounts that go from 0.3 to 2 Bitcoin per victim.
Based on previous versions, this last one that came out in May 2020 shouldn't be the last one, and decryption tools less likely will get made in the near future. It is a powerful malware, and researchers should get decryption IDs, or obtain all the coding, terminate the activities of this ransomware in general.
You can expect to get the tool developed and store some of the encrypted files, other data related to this threat on an external device before it gets released. But you still need to fully remove the virus from your system if you want to use this machine again. It is not possible while the ZoNiSoNaL ransomware malware runs in the background and affects every function of the operating system.
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware is the type of virus that encrypts files once it manages to gain access to the targeted machine. Then it appends all the data using the .ZoNiSoNaL as typical ransomware, so people can see encrypted files and not affected data.
Such a type of malware is not encoding system files, but folders in the system get damaged and affected when malware runs other processes on the machine. Typically, in the background ransomware triggers alterations in the registry folders.
Also, since ZoNiSoNaL ransomware is affecting files various functions that could be used to terminate malware or restore data get disabled or damaged. This is why victims have fewer options for file restoring and falls for the claims that paying is the only solution. Unfortunately, criminals cannot be trusted, no matter how convincing the ransom message is:
This short message from ZoNiSoNaL ransomware creators states about the solution option that includes contacting them and paying the particular Bitcoin amount. However, even writing the email via zonis@gmx.com can lead to system issues or further malware infiltration when instead of the decryption tool you will get the script of trojan or keystroke logger.
It is common that ransomware runs a secondary infiltration and uses trojans to gather some data, logins, passwords, or sensitive information from the computer directly. ZoNiSoNaL ransomware may want to blackmail directly you for bigger payments and other gains.
You need to remove ZoNiSoNaL ransomware as soon as possible, to avoid any further damage that may await in the future. The sooner you do this, the better because ransomware may focus on encryption first, and system folders remain untouched when you terminate the threat completely yourself.
However, it is not that easy to spot the infection when ZoNiSoNaL ransomware main infects the machine silently and only displays the ransom note on your screen.
The amount of demanded cryptocurrency can go up or down depending on the value of encoded data and the number of particular files, so once you write these criminals they can ask for more. Do not fall for these claims and recover the security of your device as soon as possible with proper AV tools.
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware also shows the pop-up window that looks like an error and delivers a similar message to the ransom note file with all the indications about encryption and asks for the cryptocurrency transfer. This message is a one-time thing, but the text file is placed all over the machine and gets copied in various folders with encrypted data.
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware removal should be quickly launched, so you need to decide what option you going to use for file restoring. When cryptovirus is removed, those files that can be used for decryption get deleted or damaged. You need to collect as much of that data on an external device and store that until the official decryption tools get released.
We have a few alternatives below the article that you can use, and there are tools listed as file restoring applications. Third-party data recovery programs can help you and
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware launches additional programs and disables functions on the system that can affect either file restoring or malware termination processes. Ransomware is known for evading detections and achieving persistence once on the machine. Reboot the PC in Safe Mode and then run the AV tool, so your system can be thoroughly checked.
This app can find, indicate, and sometimes even fix issues with files, corrupted software, or affected Windows Registry entries.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Beware of malicious file attachments
Ransomware threats spread using payload droppers that initiate malicious file injections on targeted devices and direct malware attacks.
This file can come in a commonly found format when the user installs questionable software cracks or pirated programs, cheats for various games.
Also, malicious macro viruses trigger the content that can install either the trojan or worm that later installs cryptovirus or the ransomware itself directly. These scripts get injected on Microsft files like word documents disguised as financial documents, order information, invoice details, and attached to emails with well-known company names that trick people into believing that notification is from them directly.
Once any of these techniques get used and triggers the drop of the ransomware payload, the machine is infected immediately, so when you cannot notice or stop the infection the only thing that is going to be noticed - ransom demands after the encryption.
Make sure to keep your device up-to-date and use reliable anti-malware tools to detect the malware at the earlier stages and avoid any questionable emails with links or file attachments, as experts always note.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Make sure to delete all files associated with ZoNiSoNaL ransomware virus
Since there are not many options for ZoNiSoNaL ransomware removal, you should take all the functions and possible risks associated with this threat into consideration while choosing the method.
Of course, manually finding all the traces and files of the malware is too difficult, even for tech-savvy people.
The best way to remove ZoNiSoNaL ransomware is anti-malware tools, security programs, or applications based on good AV detection engine. or can help you with cleaning the machine. Run your AV program and make sure to set it for the full system scan, so all hidden parts get deleted.
After this procedure, you should see the list with all the possible threats and malware-related programs or files. Then there are only a few steps until you completely forget about ZoNiSoNaL ransomware virus.
Double-checking after the malware cleaning is a good tip, as well as the file repair. Use when you are sure that the threat is no longer active and recover system functions that may help with the file recovery later on.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking before you attempt to remove ZoNiSoNaL ransomware from the system
[GI=method-2]System Restore is the feature that offers the ability to restore the machine to the previous state
Recover data using this program and get files back from ZoNiSoNaL ransomware
Windows Previous Versions helps with damaged files on the machine
When System Restore is enabled, you can rely on Windows Previous Versions function for file restoring
ShadowExplorer is restoring your files after encryption
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware can affect Shadow Volume Copies, so only when those are not affected, you can rely on ShadowExplorer
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware decryption tool is not 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
ZoNiSoNaL ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .zonisonal 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.
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 ZoNiSoNaL ransomware
How do I open .zonisonal files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .zonisonal 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.
Did ZoNiSoNaL ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by ZoNiSoNaL ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .zonisonal 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.
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.
Is there a free ZoNiSoNaL ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for ZoNiSoNaL 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 "ZoNiSoNaL 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.
How did ZoNiSoNaL ransomware get on my computer?
The way ZoNiSoNaL 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 .zonisonal 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 ZoNiSoNaL 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.
What does the ransom note tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name the ransom note, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
Will .zonisonal 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 .zonisonal. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will Fortect remove ZoNiSoNaL 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 ZoNiSoNaL 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: Encryption (read October 7, 2026)
- ZDNet: Shade (Troldesh) ransomware shuts down and releases decryption keys (read October 7, 2026)
- 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)