20dfs ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
20dfs ransomware - the cryptovirus that demands a payment of $500 for the alleged file unlocking. Files get encrypted as soon as this threat lands on the system because money is the main focus of these cybercriminals.
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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20dfs ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The ransomware is spreading around with the help of malicious files, links that trigger downloads of payload or MS documents that get attached to spam emails |
|---|---|
| Name | 20dfs ransomware |
| Type | Cryptovirus[1] |
| File appendix | .20dfs is the marker that gets at the end of every encrypted file |
| Ransom note | DECODING_FILES; the text is quoted in full below |
| Amount of ransom | $500 in Monero[2] cryptocurrency |
| 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 11 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Contact | 20dfs@keemail.me |
| Encrypted file extension | .20dfs |
| 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 | .20dfs |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 23 June 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.20dfs - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on 20dfs ransomware
- DECODING_FILES.txt contains the ransom demanding message and contact information, a particular amount of money demanded form victims
- 20dfs ransomware removal procedure requires professional anti-malware programs that can detect and delete those malicious programs and terminate this virus fully for you
How 20dfs ransomware behaves
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
20dfs ransomware is the virus that locks files on the system to have a reason for money demands
20dfs ransomware - the cryptovirus that demands a payment of $500 for the alleged file unlocking.
Files get encrypted as soon as this threat lands on the system because money is the main focus of these cybercriminals. The main process of the encoding ends with file locking and marking. During the latter, .20dfs file appendix gets added at the end of every file name. So once your files get encrypted the name consists of all the original information and the appendix at the end.
You can't open any of these affected files because army-grade encryption algorithms make files useless until decryption tools change them back to normal. Unfortunately, this virus is not decryptable right now, so there are fewer options for you, but paying the ransom shouldn't be one of them. Criminals only care about their own gains, so your files and belongings are not the first priority.
20dfs ransomware virus is the cryptocurrency-extortion based threat, so blackmail should immediately indicate that there is no reason to trust these malicious actors. You should ignore the ransom note that comes in DECODING_FILES.txt file, rely on AV tools, and remove the virus instead of considering the payment transfer or other options.
This virus removal method is not recovering your encoded files, but you need to fully clean the system before you can load data backups and replace affected files with safe copies.
20dfs ransomware spreads the infection quickly and affects the performance of the computer significantly because it manages to change settings, add or disable functions, install or delete programs, files in system folders. The threat is focused on data alterations, so various file recovery functions get disabled on purpose.
When the threat changes some of the settings, deletes files, you cannot easily remove 20dfs ransomware from the computer. It is not possible due to alterations or full lockdown of the machine.
You may need to enter the Safe Mode first, so you can run the anti-malware tool then and find all programs that pose the danger on your system. Repair those affected system files with when you are done terminating the threat.
The process of 20dfs ransomware removal gets difficult, so you should rely on tips below and follow the guide for better results. Also, rely on anti-malware tools that can be trusted. Running an AV engine can determine how affected your computer is.
You may need to try a few tools when you find the one that can detect the particular ransomware. It is common because different databases are used by different AV engines. This is not a widely spread threat, and there are not many samples of it.
No matter how many tools you need to try, do so. It is extremely important to fully delete all files associated with 20dfs ransomware before you repair the damage and replace files with safe copies from your backups.
This is the best option for encrypted files because you truly can know that those files from the cloud archive or the external backup are safe and can be used later on. .20dfs virus can alter files in software folders, functions of the machine, and even add other programs to ensure that needed processes are launched and other functions get disabled.
BUT. These background processes only are secondary. The main issue is encryption. After which you receive the following message:
This message should be ignored because paying the attackers is not the best option that could help to deal with 20dfs ransomware infection. Anti-malware tools can remove the virus, but remember that this process is not going to repair your encoded files. It is not happening automatically too though. You need data recovery options, choose something below.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Rely on trustworthy sources and pay attention to red flags to avoid cyber infections
Malicious files are the main vectors that ransomware developers use for the distribution because users can skip through checking the email notification sender, scanning the file for malware traces.
When the macro virus-filled document gets opened, you get the infection automatically launched on the computer.
Once the malicious code gets injected on the machine, your files get automatically altered and encrypted, so you experience all the issues at once. You cannot avoid this because files get triggered automatically the second you open the link or a document on the machine. If you pay attention to suspicious senders, social media accounts, and shady links on such notification, email messages, you can avoid the infiltration fully.
The 20dfs ransomware note
20dfs@keemail.me
To regain control of your files.
Make the payment 500$. Payments are made in Monero. This is a crypto-currency, like bitcoin.
Payment Address (Monero Wallet): 85Ch2UmEwtTRYCVgQyTLJd18Nrgh8Vp6YUN6LC6RAcFKAxSDASgxv69jA62hDRnLio2U2zNwXrPJpXScBRGaX6QZSJViRrW
Farther you should send your ip address to email address: 20dfs@keemail.me
How to remove 20dfs 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 20dfs 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
20dfs 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
the ransom noteand one or two files ending in.20dfsto 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 20dfs 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 20dfs 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 Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Get rid of the 20dfs ransomware virus properly
You can remove 20dfs ransomware easily if you choose proper anti-malware tool and run the full system scan on the computer.
This is required because malware can renew its processes when some files are left behind in the system. Run a proper security tool like or and clear the threat off of your device.
After such a 20dfs ransomware removal procedure, you need to double-check for traces. Do not forget to do so because once you add recovered files on the computer threat can trigger second round of encryption.
Also, to make your life easier, run and repair system files that get corrupted during the malicious processes. This is the helper before you try to recover files because some of the functions get repaired, and you have more solutions.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in a Safe Mode with Networking and then remove 20dfs ransomware fully using the AV tool
[GI=method-2]System Restore feature can help you with the ransomware termination
When you accidentally delete files or ransomware-type threat encodes them, you need to restore documents, photos, other files that are important to you
Windows Previous Versions feature for the file recovery
If you enabled System Restore before, you can rely on Windows Previous Versions feature
Rely on ShadowExplorer and restore files after encryption
When Shadow Volume Copies are not affected, you can use this method and restore files encoded by 20dfs ransomware virus
20dfs ransomware is not decryptable
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 .20dfs 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 20dfs ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .20dfs files?
That depends on the family behind the .20dfs 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 .20dfs files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .20dfs ending shows that 20dfs ransomware 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 20dfs ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did 20dfs ransomware get on my computer?
The way 20dfs 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 .20dfs 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.
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.
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 20dfs ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by 20dfs ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .20dfs 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 20dfs 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.
Can I delete the ransom note?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. the ransom note contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .20dfs attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .20dfs stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
Will Fortect remove 20dfs 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 20dfs 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
- Wikipedia: Cryptovirology (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)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)