Chernobyl virus data
File type: Dangerous and malicious file
Files with the .cih file extension were generated in the past by the Chernobyl virus, also known as Spacefiller. They are very dangerous.
File type category:
Dangerous and malicious file
Date updated: October 16, 2026
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The .cih file extension was used by the Chernobyl virus, also known as Spacefiller, which first appeared in 1998. It is not a normal user data format.
The virus has a highly destructive payload. On vulnerable systems, it can overwrite critical information on infected system drives and, in some cases, destroy the system BIOS.
The format is obsolete. Antivirus software for Microsoft Windows, including Avast, AVG, Avira, Panda, Norton, Kaspersky and ESET products, can detect and remove the associated malware. Such files should be purged using antivirus software.
Do not open a .cih file with a standard application. Scan it with antivirus software for Microsoft Windows, such as Avast Antivirus, AVG Antivirus, AVG Internet Security, Avira AntiVir Personal, Panda Antivirus Pro, Norton Antivirus, Norton Internet Security, Kaspersky Anti-Virus or ESET NOD32 Antivirus, and follow the software's instructions to quarantine or remove it.
A .cih file is associated with malware rather than a usable document or media format, so it cannot be meaningfully converted. Remove or quarantine it with antivirus software instead of attempting to export it.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving cih files:
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