2spyware ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
2spyware ransomware is a malicious program that is based on the open-source HiddenTear code and was first spotted in mid-August 2020 when a sample has been uploaded for analysis. Malware is spread via the executable known as 2-spyware.com.exe, although other names are not exempt.
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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2spyware ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Spam emails, exploits, fake updates, repacked installers, software cracks, etc. |
|---|---|
| Name | 2spyware ransomware |
| Type | Crypto-virus, file locking malware |
| Based on | HiddenTear |
| Executable | spyware.com.exe |
| Ransom note | READ_IT.txt; the text is quoted in full below |
| 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 14 more facts
| File extension | Each of the files is appended with .2spyware extension. Example of an encrypted file: "picture.jpg.2spyware" |
|---|---|
| File recovery | Some HiddenTear variants can be recovered with the help of special decryption tools developed by security researchers – these can be found on No More Ransom project's website |
| Malware removal | Download and install powerful anti-malware, then perform a full system scan |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .2spyware |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .2spyware |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 17 August 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Names and addresses to look for
- File extension:
.2spyware - Note file:
READ_IT.txt
How 2spyware ransomware behaves
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
2spyware ransomware - crypto-malware that uses legitimate site name in order to destroy its reputation
2spyware ransomware is a malicious program that is based on the open-source HiddenTear code and was first spotted in mid-August 2020 when a sample has been uploaded for analysis.
Malware is spread via the executable known as 2-spyware.com.exe, although other names are not exempt.
Once on the system, 2spyware ransomware begins the encryption process that locks all personal files on the system, appending the .2spyware extension to it. Suchlike data can no longer be accessible, as a sophisticated encryption algorithm was applied to lock it. Besides, the desktop background is changed, and the READ_IT.txt ransom note is dropped - it serves as a message from the attackers.
Cybercriminals who designed the threat deliberately used the name of 2-spyware in order to destroy the reputation of a legitimate company. While it is unknown who behind the infection is, CyberWare and "Project Zorgo Leader" criminal gangs were actively trying to put the website in a negative light for a few months now, so there is a possibility that the 2spyware ransomware is a creation of precisely these groups.
HiddenTear is a relatively old malware that was originally released as a project to educate people about ransomware. Unfortunately, the code has was actively abused by various cybercriminals since mid-2016 in order to infect innocent users and extort money from them.
Since malware can be modified, it resulted in the release of multiple variants, such as EDA2 or Epoblockl. Since the code is publicly available on the GitHub platform, anyone can use it for malicious purposes, even those with little coding or malware development experience.
2spyware ransomware was created with the help of the open-source code, so there might be various ways that the malware could be distributed (depending on cybercriminals' preferences and capabilities). Some examples include:
While most of the ransomware is developed with the intention to extort money from users, some are created for completely different reasons. While the 2spyware file virus uses powerful encryption to lock data and append the .2spyware file extension, it does not ask for a ransom, unlike most of the other malware of such type.
2spyware ransomware was developed as an act of some type of revenge by criminals that spread fake conversations between imaginary individuals, create frame videos, threaten with DDoS attacks, and try to deliberately ruin the reputation of the site. This ransomware virus simply another attempt by the attackers to scam users into believing, that malware is somehow related to 2-spyware.com.
Another sign that the motive of 2spyware ransomware developers is to spread false information is the ransom note, which sounds particularly vulgar and, to some degree, ridiculous:
Unfortunately, all the files that get encrypted by ransomware can no longer be accessed by victims - all the files also are marked with .2spyware extension. Here are a few examples of the locked files:
While the goals of cybercriminals are clear, those infected with 2spyware ransomware can suffer from significant losses, as there might be no way to decrypt the locked files in most cases.
Those who would like to recover files by paying criminals would not be able to, as they are not providing any contact email or similar communication methods. As for now, you should focus on 2spyware ransomware virus removal - it can usually be easily performed with powerful anti-malware software.
To remove 2spyware ransomware, you should employ powerful security software that can detect this variant of HiddenTear. Only after you perform this process, you can then worry about data recovery. There are several HiddenTear decryptors available from security vendors, although there is no evidence that they would work for this particular virus variant.
- Spam email attachments and embedded hyperlinks;
- Fake update prompts (Flash, Java, browsers, fonts, etc.)
- Software cracks and pirated program installers;
- Botnets and backdoors, etc,
- document.doc.2spyware
- video.mp4.2spyware
- picture.jpg.2spyware, etc.
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Ransomware developers can create malware for multiple reasons
The main motivator of ransomware developers is, without a doubt, money.
They typically attempt to encrypt as many computers as possible in order to maximize the number of victims who will pay the ransom, profiting malware authors in the long run. However, some ransomware developers have completely different goals in mind - jokes, scams, acts of revenge, and "for the lulz" reasons are common.
For example, Pewcrypt ransomware asked users to subscribe to the famous YouTuber's channel, while CSGO ransomware claimed users need to play five hours of CounterStrike: Global Offensive video game to recover their files.
Some ransomware, called wipers, are developed in a way to destroy data forever and sometimes even corrupt the operation of a Windows machine (in case you come across such an infection, you do not have to reinstall Windows right away - try using to recover from the virus).
Cybercriminals who create ransomware as an act of revenge or as an attempt to destroy the reputation of a company are common.
Despite this, users who get infected with these viruses might lose access to their files forever. Therefore, it is important to take precautionary steps in order to prevent crypto-malware from accessing the computer in the first place. Security researchers from novirus.uk advise users to backup their files regularly, install powerful security software, and extremely careful when browsing the web.
The 2spyware ransomware note
I'm Julie Splinters, i have my most full of shit.
Sometimes i grow it on our website 2-spyware.com!
If you don't pay me 10 billion dollars in 72 hours, i will throw shit on your face. contact me via our website 2-spyware.com, By the way, Ugnius is amnominus hacker team leader Don't try to use REIMAGE, It wont decrypt this. nothing can decrypt this. its made by linas secret scriptcode LINASCODE.
And also, kigguolis7code
How to remove 2spyware ransomware
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 2spyware ransomware 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
2spyware ransomware 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
READ_IT.txtand one or two files ending in.2spywareto 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 2spyware ransomware, 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 2spyware ransomware 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 Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
2spyware ransomware removal guide and file recovery options
It is important to perform 2spyware ransomware removal as soon as possible, otherwise, the incoming files might continue to be encrypted.
Once you remove 2spyware ransomware, you can attempt to recover your data - there are several methods you should try. For example, there several HiddenTear decryptors that might or might not work for you - check the bottom section of this article for more details.
Once again, we would like to declare that 2spyware.com has nothing to do with any type of malware, and threat actors are using the name of the site in order to spread rumors about it.
[GI=method-1]In case you can not perform a full system scan with anti-malware software, you can access Safe Mode with Networking:
[GI=method-2]System Restore might also work when trying to remove 2spyware file virus:
Windows Previous Versions Feature might be of use:
ShadowExplorer might sometimes help you restore all files
In case malware failed to remove Shadow Volume Copies from your machine, use ShadowExplorer to recover all your data automatically.
Use HiddenTear decryptors
There are few decryption tools that you could use after being infected with a variant of HiddenTear. You can find the tools on the No More Ransom project website.
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 .2spyware 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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about 2spyware ransomware
How do I open .2spyware files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .2spyware has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
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.
Is there a free 2spyware ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for 2spyware ransomware no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "2spyware ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
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 2spyware ransomware get on my computer?
The way 2spyware ransomware 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 .2spyware 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.
Did 2spyware ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by 2spyware ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .2spyware 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.
Is 2spyware ransomware 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 READ_IT.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text READ_IT.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 .2spyware 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 .2spyware 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 2spyware ransomware?
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 2spyware ransomware, 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
- Trend Micro: Ransomware Recap: Threats from Open Source Code on the Rise (read October 7, 2026)
- BankInfoSecurity: 'Wiper' Malware: What You Need to Know (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)