Ransomware Research

Wooly Ransomware

Wooly is a malicious ransomware strain that encrypts victim files and demands ransom payment for decryption. First observed in the wild on August 1, 2017, this ransomware has been actively targeting systems worldwide. Security researchers also track this malware under the aliases: WoolyBear.

Quick facts

Ransomware Family
Wooly
First Seen
August 1, 2017
Known Aliases
WoolyBear

How Wooly ransomware works

File encryption patterns

Wooly modifies encrypted files using specific patterns to mark them as encrypted:

Extensions added after encryption
.wooly

Technical indicators

Associated executable files

The following executable files are associated with Wooly ransomware:

About this analysis

This Wooly 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 Wooly.

Last updated: December 30, 2025

Detection coverage

Elastio detects Wooly inside your data and backups.

The Hunt Engine uses Deep File Inspection to identify Wooly 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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