PhantomChina Ransomware
PhantomChina is a malicious ransomware strain that encrypts victim files and demands ransom payment for decryption. First observed in the wild on February 1, 2020, this ransomware has been actively targeting systems worldwide. Security researchers also track this malware under the aliases: Phantom.
Quick facts
How PhantomChina ransomware works
File encryption patterns
PhantomChina modifies encrypted files using specific patterns to mark them as encrypted:
Ransom note and payment demands
After encrypting files, PhantomChina displays ransom notes demanding payment for file recovery:
About this analysis
This PhantomChina 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 PhantomChina.
Last updated: December 30, 2025
Elastio detects PhantomChina inside your data and backups.
The Hunt Engine uses Deep File Inspection to identify PhantomChina 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.
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