Ransomware Research
Gotcha Ransomware
Gotcha is a malicious ransomware strain that encrypts victim files and demands ransom payment for decryption. First observed in the wild on April 1, 2019, this ransomware has been actively targeting systems worldwide.
Quick Facts
- Ransomware Family
 - Gotcha
 - First Seen
 - April 1, 2019
 
How Gotcha Ransomware Works
File Encryption Patterns
Gotcha modifies encrypted files using specific patterns to mark them as encrypted:
File extensions added after encryption:
..gotchaRansom Note and Payment Demands
After encrypting files, Gotcha displays ransom notes demanding payment for file recovery:
!GOTCHA!.txtRansom message:
notes/!GOTCHA!.txt
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About This Analysis
This Gotcha ransomware analysis is part of Elastio's comprehensive ransomware detection database. Elastio provides advanced ransomware protection and recovery solutions, helping organizations defend against and recover from ransomware attacks like Gotcha.
Last updated: October 30, 2025
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