Chip ransomware-affected file
File type: Ransomware encrypted file
Files with the .dale file extension are user files encrypted by the Chip ransomware, which was inspired by the Chipmunks cartoon.
File type category:
Ransomware encrypted file
Date updated: October 12, 2026
The .dale file extension seems to have been used by the Chip ransomware since December 2016. The malware was clearly inspired by the Chipmunks cartoon.
Chip ransomware encrypts users' files and attempts to ransom the decryption key. It saves its ransom note in a file named DALE_FILES.TXT.
A .dale file cannot be opened as a normal document or media file because it contains data encrypted by the Chip ransomware. It requires a decryptor made for this ransomware, if one is available.
If no suitable decryptor exists, restore the original files from a clean backup instead.
There is no normal conversion method for a .dale file. The files must first be decrypted with a compatible Chip ransomware decryptor or restored from a backup.
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