Ransomware Research
Karen Ransomware
Karen is a malicious ransomware strain that encrypts victim files and demands ransom payment for decryption. First observed in the wild on August 1, 2021, this ransomware has been actively targeting systems worldwide.
Quick Facts
- Ransomware Family
- Karen
- First Seen
- August 1, 2021
How Karen Ransomware Works
Targeted Files
written in Go
File Encryption Patterns
Karen modifies encrypted files using specific patterns to mark them as encrypted:
File extensions added after encryption:
..karenRansom Note and Payment Demands
After encrypting files, Karen displays ransom notes demanding payment for file recovery:
README.txtRansom message:
notes/README.txt
Note locations:
EveryFolderElastio Can Help You
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About This Analysis
This Karen 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 Karen.
Last updated: July 30, 2025