Kirk ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it
Kirk virus is a Star Trek-themed cyber infection which belongs to the crypto-ransomware category. This essentially means that when this virus infects a computer, it starts scanning it for certain types of files and encrypts them using a complex algorithm.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Kirk ransomware virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | RANSOM_NOTE.txt; the text of the note is not in our records |
| Contact | kirk.help@scryptmail.com, kirk.payments@scryptmail.com |
| Encrypted file extension | .kirked |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Kirk ransomware virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .kirked |
| Attacker contacts | kirk.help@scryptmail.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 17 March 2017 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What to search your PC and browser for
- File extension:
.kirked - Note file:
RANSOM_NOTE.txt - Contact:
kirk.help@scryptmail.com
How Kirk ransomware virus behaves
From our report of Mar 2017 · not reviewed since
Sci-fi geeks try on ransomware -- release the Kirk virus
Kirk virus is a Star Trek-themed cyber infection which belongs to the crypto-ransomware category.
This essentially means that when this virus infects a computer, it starts scanning it for certain types of files and encrypts them using a complex algorithm. Though such encryption principle is typical to most viruses of this particular category, Kirk cannot be regarded as a completely conventional ransomware.
In fact, this malware has hit the internet with a bang as one of the first extortion programs to base its ransom payment system on cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. In particular, Kirk utilizes Monero -- cryptocurrency which has been steadily growing in popularity within the past year and now has a market cap of around 302,294,761 USD .
It is unclear why the hackers have picked this particular currency which stands fourth in the global ranking, but such a choice is simply destined to cause confusion among the victims. Even Bitcoins which are the number one cryptocurrency out there are not the easiest item to get your hands on, especially if you are unfamiliar with such payment system and encounter it for the first time.
So, it might be that by attempting to be original the extortionists have simply undermined themselves. This may also be the reason why this virus is currently plateauing. Although there are no known Kirk ransomware victims so far, you can never know when the malware is going to burst. is one of the reputable software you should try.
The virus draws malware experts' attention for a number of reasons, and the use of Star Trek themes in its ransom note as well as the utilization of Monero cryptocurrency for the ransom payments are just a few of them.
We should point out the fact that the virus disguises itself as Low Orbital Ion Cannons tool and runs on the infected computers as a loic_win32.exe process. It even fakes LOIC's notifications to trick users into thinking that this software is initiating on their computers.
In the meanwhile, virus scans the computer looking for more than 625 types of files and encrypts them with a public AES key . In addition, every encrypted file will be appended with .kirked extensions while the virus will drop a ransom note called RANSOM_NOTE.txt on every affected folder to instruct the victim how to decrypt them.
Of course, the decryption is not possible without the private key. The extortionists deploy an encrypted variant of this key in the file called "pwd" which will be stored on the computer in case the victim decides to pay the ransom.
In such a case, the victim is asked to transfer around 1100 dollars in Monero currency to the criminals' and then send the transaction ID along with the mentioned pwd file to kirk.help@scryptmail.com or kirk.payments@scryptmail.com email address. When these steps are completed, the criminals promise to supply the victim with special decrypter called Spock which will supposedly unlock the private key stored in the pwd file and allow data recovery.
Instead, you can try recovering your files by following free guidelines our experts have provided below the article. If you do not have any important data stored on your computer, simply remove Kirk from your computer and fix this issue.
From our report of Mar 2017 · not reviewed since
Obscure distribution tactics
Since this virus has appeared on the web quite recently, it is still rather early to say what particular practices does this virus choose for the malware distribution.
Since there have been no recorded cases of Kirk attacks, it might be that the virus variant that emerged on the web is just a test version not meant to be widely distributed at all. Nevertheless, our team of experts is keeping a close watch of this virus and will inform you as soon as Kirk distribution takes a more defined form.
The Kirk ransomware virus ransom note
The note is called RANSOM_NOTE.txt.
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove Kirk ransomware virus
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove Kirk ransomware virus and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Kirk ransomware virus encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Copy
RANSOM_NOTE.txtand one or two files ending in.kirkedto a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For Kirk ransomware virus, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while Kirk ransomware virus still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of Mar 2017 · not reviewed since
Kirk removal and PC recovery
Kirk virus is currently undecryptable but this does not mean it has to stay on your computer as for as long as the malware experts are working on the free decrypter. You can backup the encrypted data and clean up your computer from this malware. After you remove Kirk, you will be able to use your computer without a fear of your files being encrypted once again.
Please do not attempt to tackle the virus yourself. Believe us -- it equals jumping empty-handed in front of a furious bull. That's why you should allow specialized software to deal with the Kirk removal. In the guidelines below you will learn how to achieve the best results.
[GI=method-1]If Kirk virus blocks your antivirus in an attempt to prevents its removal, do not hesitate to apply the following instructions to disable this malicious functionality:
[GI=method-2]Kirk ransomware may be slightly different from other viruses for using different payment method, but just like most ransomware, it will try its best to remain on the computer and continue terrorizing the users. To do that, it may block your antivirus, so you have to learn how to bypass this obstacle. Here is how you should do it:
Nevertheless, it is sure worth giving a try.
How can Windows Previous Versions feature be used to recover files encrypted by Kirk:
Windows Previous Versions feature only works in combination with System Restore function.
Recover your files with ShadowExplorer
ShadowExplorer is a software that uses Volume Shadow Copies to recover encrypted files. It is likely that Kirk virus deletes these files from the computer, so it may be impossible to apply this recovery technique. As long as we do not have information that it does so, you may try out these steps:
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .kirked and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about Kirk ransomware virus
Is there a decryptor for .kirked files?
That depends on the family behind the .kirked extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
How do I open .kirked files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .kirked ending shows that Kirk ransomware virus encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for Kirk ransomware virus. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
Did Kirk ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Kirk ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .kirked and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before. Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
How did Kirk ransomware virus get on my computer?
The way Kirk ransomware virus spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .kirked and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Is Kirk ransomware virus the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Should I open RANSOM_NOTE.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text RANSOM_NOTE.txt cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
My files got .kirked overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .kirked extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
Will Fortect remove Kirk ransomware virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Kirk ransomware virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Star Trek (film series) (read October 7, 2026)
- CoinMarketCap: CryptoCurrency market capitalizations (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Low Orbit Ion Cannon description (read October 7, 2026)
- Alperkaratepe blog: Encrypting & decrypting data files by using AES and RSA algorithms (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)