Phobos Ransomware
Phobos is a malicious ransomware strain that encrypts victim files and demands ransom payment for decryption. First observed in the wild on January 1, 2019, this ransomware has been actively targeting systems worldwide. Security researchers also track this malware under the aliases: Phobos 2.0, Phobos NextGen, Phobos NotDharma.
Quick facts
How Phobos ransomware works
File encryption patterns
Phobos modifies encrypted files using specific patterns to mark them as encrypted:
Ransom note and payment demands
After encrypting files, Phobos displays ransom notes demanding payment for file recovery:
notes/Data.hta
notes/Encrypted.txt
notes/encrypted.txt
notes/info.txt
notes/info.hta
Technical indicators
Associated executable files
The following executable files are associated with Phobos ransomware:
- V.zip
- phobos
- file.exe
- myfile.exe
- dexec.exe
- exec.exe
- program.exe
- Absonkaine.exe
- ph_exec.exe
- costelloh.exe
- 2ph_decrypt.exe
- software.exe
- 2ph.exe
- 2ph_exec.exe
- ph_exec.bin
- shaofao.exe
- greencrypt_crypt.exe
- 123.exe
- 0t_2806_ph_exec_1cr13.exe
- 1.exe
- 1ph_exec.exe
- executable.exe
- Pp3
- lsaa.exe
- AppResolver
- rfds354hfg45.exe
- 1H41ZDD3.exe
- phobos.exe
- phobos.bin
- Phobos.exe
- Trojan.Ransom.Phobos.exe
- Microsoft_Office_ExcelUpdate_KB3216755p.msi++
- e.exe
- yIV8ARvwUUZ6.exe
- 1saas.bin
- 1saas.exe
- 1saas.exe12
- antirecuvaanddb.exe
- svhost.bin
- svhost.exe
- AntiRecuvaAndDB_.exe
- zax.exe
- rsfd234df.pe32
- rsfd234df.exe
- testing.exe
- AntiRecuvaAndDB.exe
- svchost.exe
- huntress_eRV6KXMW.dll
- 8KZM4TOR.exe
- rdgf324dgf23.exe
- QHLJG22Z.exe
- E0VKEF63.exe
- 41ZT0QX3.exe
- dedolence.exe
- somnambular.exe
- UTAKGI.exe
- rvckjhg.exe
- XTO4MHH6.exe
- rbvcvbne.exe
- NCXWTUXX.exe
- AntiRecuvaAndDB.ex_
- 5.10.2019Taskmgr.exe
- GASAS
- GASAS.exe
- gasas.pe32
- semimonthly.exe
- portholes.exe
- rsdf54refsd.exe
- 3A6K0YNM.exe
- Fast.exe
- a1.exe
- 1sass.exe1
- 1SASS.EXE.exe
- 1sass.exe
- AntiRecuvaAndDB.bin
- 22.12.19Taskmngr.exe
- test.exe
- 3.2.20TASKMNGR.EXE.exe
- out
- 3.2.20taskmngr.exe1
- 3.2.20taskmngr.exe
- ACMD.exe
- system.exe
- 2.exe.v
- Fast.exeXX.exe
- Fast.exeXX
- exec.exe.bak.exe
- exec.exe.bak
- fast.exe
- cusersnextadminappdatalocalfast.exe
- 2.exe
- 3.exe
- unS.exe
- 626444.dat
- winrar.exe
- 375476.dat
- 262375.dat
- 416121.dat
- 46522.dat
- 378314.dat
- 27098.dat
- 497051.dat
- 834619.dat
- 1001478.dat
- 654949.dat
- 667376.dat
- 344560.dat
- db_exec.exe
- db_exec.exe.old
- ItFoV.exe
- AntiRecuvaAndDB.ex_.exe
- svchostBADSTARTUP.exe
- KryP.exe
- dsern.exe
- 08.12.2019Taskmgr.exe
- ucesal.exe
- csrss.exe
- 10.07.2019taskmgr.exe
- 1500dollarsAntirecucaFullDB.exe
About this analysis
This Phobos 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 Phobos.
Last updated: December 30, 2025
Elastio detects Phobos inside your data and backups.
The Hunt Engine uses Deep File Inspection to identify Phobos 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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