REDKAW Ransomware: Analysis and Removal Guide

REDKAW ransomware is a malicious file-encrypting virus designed to lock victims’ data and demand a ransom payment in exchange for decryption. It appends the “.redkaw” extension to encrypted files, making them inaccessible. Additionally, it drops a ransom note titled “HOW-TO-FIX.txt”, instructing victims to pay $50 via cryptocurrency within 24 hours to prevent their stolen data from being leaked online.

Ransomware attacks like REDKAW can lead to financial losses, data breaches, and system damage. In this guide, we will cover REDKAW’s characteristics, how it spreads, how to remove it with SpyHunter, and methods to prevent future infections.

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Threat Summary

Feature	Details
Name	REDKAW Ransomware
Threat Type	Ransomware, Crypto Virus, File Locker
Encrypted File Extension	.redkaw
Ransom Note	HOW-TO-FIX.txt
Ransom Amount	$50
Payment Deadline	24 Hours
Contact Email	gniomhara@proton.me
Crypto Wallets	– Bitcoin: 3MEi6jfVxHuTVSAs8EcmCvSt46b3Yyj4Cd – Ethereum: 0x5546a6c439Cb82aBe7C4F168532c46FDA1CF56fF – Litecoin: MC2mAUyTpvN59CdjNwLFfXgXReonMqgykE – USDC: 0x3f0B164163Ca4ca34ccd629083a6854B5d63Eee8 – USDT: 0xA405f18958C9761234856611b680410b0B7c2d16
Detection Names	Avast (FileRepMalware [Misc]), CTX (Exe.trojan.redcap), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Generik.HRDOOOY), Kaspersky (UDS:DangerousObject.Multi.Generic), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Leonem)
Symptoms of Infection	– Files renamed with “.redkaw” extension – Ransom note appears in affected folders – Files cannot be opened – System performance issues – Internet connection instability
Distribution Methods	– Phishing emails with infected attachments – Malicious ads – Compromised software downloads – Drive-by downloads – Exploited software vulnerabilities
Damage Caused	– Data encryption – Possible data theft – System compromise – Financial loss if ransom is paid
Danger Level	High – Encrypts files and threatens to leak stolen data

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REDKAW Ransom Note Content

Below is the full text of the ransom note found in HOW-TO-FIX.txt:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                          R E D K A W
                     YOUR SYSTEM HAS BEEN COMPROMISED!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your files have been encrypted and all your private information has been stolen. If you don't take action now, your entire digital world will be destroyed.
-----------------------------------------
Ransomware ID: REDKAW-2024-USS33993FW0
-----------------------------------------
--- What has happened:
- All your documents, photos, databases, and files have been encrypted with an unbreakable encryption algorithm.
- Sensitive information, such as passwords, browsing history, private data, and any other relevant content, has been extracted and stored on a secure server.
--- What you need to do:
To recover your data and avoid the massive leak of your information, you must pay a ransom of **$50 USD** to one of the following cryptocurrency wallets:
Bitcoin Wallet:\n3MEi6jfVxHuTVSAs8EcmCvSt46b3Yyj4Cd
Ethereum Wallet:\n0x5546a6c439Cb82aBe7C4F168532c46FDA1CF56fF
Ltc:
MC2mAUyTpvN59CdjNwLFfXgXReonMqgykE
USDC:\n0x3f0B164163Ca4ca34ccd629083a6854B5d63Eee8
USDT:\n0xA405f18958C9761234856611b680410b0B7c2d16
You have **24 hours** to complete the payment. If time runs out, your data will be published on dark web forums, leading to public exposure of your activity and digital life.
--- Why you can trust us:
- Reputation: Our credibility is our highest priority. If we don’t provide the decryption key after payment, no one will trust us again. We have attacked multiple systems and no victim has been dissatisfied after paying.
- Guarantee: If you pay, you will immediately receive the instructions and the key to decrypt your files.
--- How to contact:
Send a email to:
* gniomhara@proton.me
After the payment

--- Warning:
* Do not attempt to delete the ransomware or modify the encrypted files; any attempt to do so will result in permanent data loss.
* If you choose to ignore this message, our backdoors will allow us to return and repeat the attack. Do not underestimate our control over your network.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember: This is your only warning. Pay the ransom and save your information.
Time is running out. Don't play with fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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How to Remove REDKAW Ransomware and Restore Your Files

Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet

Unplug your device from the network to prevent further data exfiltration and additional encryption.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

1. Restart your computer.
2. Press F8 (or Shift + F8) before Windows loads.
3. Select Safe Mode with Networking.

Step 3: Remove REDKAW with SpyHunter

SpyHunter is a trusted anti-malware tool capable of detecting and removing ransomware threats.

1. Download SpyHunter.
2. Run the installer and follow on-screen instructions.
3. Perform a full system scan to detect REDKAW.
4. Remove all detected threats and reboot your PC.

Step 4: Restore Your Files

If you have backups, restore them after completely removing REDKAW. Otherwise, check for third-party decryption tools.

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How to Prevent Future Ransomware Attacks

Keep Software Updated

Regularly update Windows and all installed applications to patch vulnerabilities.

Use Strong Security Software

Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware tools like SpyHunter.

Backup Important Data

Maintain offline and cloud backups of critical files.

Avoid Suspicious Downloads

Do not download files from unknown sources or peer-to-peer networks.

Be Cautious with Emails

Avoid opening attachments or links from unknown senders.

Enable Ransomware Protection

Use built-in ransomware protection tools such as Windows Defender Controlled Folder Access.

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Conclusion

REDKAW ransomware is a serious cybersecurity threat that encrypts files and demands payment in cryptocurrency. The best defense is a proactive one—keep backups, maintain security software, and follow safe browsing habits. If infected, removing the ransomware with SpyHunter and restoring files from a secure backup is the most effective course of action.