Kelly Ransomware
Kelly is a malicious ransomware strain that encrypts victim files and demands ransom payment for decryption. First observed in the wild on September 1, 2020, this ransomware has been actively targeting systems worldwide. Security researchers also track this malware under the aliases: Kelly ChineseLocker.
Quick facts
How Kelly ransomware works
File encryption patterns
Kelly modifies encrypted files using specific patterns to mark them as encrypted:
Ransom note and payment demands
After encrypting files, Kelly displays ransom notes demanding payment for file recovery:
notes/note.txt
Technical indicators
Associated executable files
The following executable files are associated with Kelly ransomware:
- executable.exe
- Leen.exe
- file.exe
About this analysis
This Kelly ransomware analysis is part of Elastio's comprehensive ransomware detection database. Elastio provides advanced ransomware protection and recovery, helping organizations defend against and recover from ransomware attacks like Kelly.
Last updated: December 30, 2025
Elastio detects Kelly inside your data and backups.
The Hunt Engine uses Deep File Inspection to identify Kelly across live data, replicated data, and backups. If this family is in your environment, Elastio finds it before encryption completes. Run a scan against your recovery points to confirm.
Recent ransomware
Explore other threats in our database