_encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
_encrypted virus was detected on October 26th. Usually, ransomware get their names from the appended extensions, such as Alvin, AnonymouS, etc.
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.
Automatic
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Make sure the ransomware behind README_encrypted.txt is gone before you plug in backups: a scan helps check.
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_encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Torrent websites, file sharing platforms, spam email |
|---|---|
| NAME | _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware |
| TYPE | Malware, ransomware, cryptovirus |
| EXTENSION | _encryped |
| FILE NAME | ransomware32.exe, ransomware32.bin.exe |
| RANSOM NOTE | Appears in a newly created file README_encrypted.txt on users' folder; 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 15 more facts
| RANSOM AMOUNT | 1000 USD dollars is the asking price for decryption tool/key |
|---|---|
| CONTACT EMAIL | Contact email isn't provided |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | A ransom note left in folders and a Windows Security "Threats found" notification |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Ransom note | README_encrypted.txt |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 28 October 2020 |
| Microsoft Defender name | Ransom:Win32/FileCoder.AB!MTB |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
_encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware detection names
If Windows Security shows Ransom:Win32/FileCoder.AB!MTB, it has found _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware or a file that belongs to it.
Write the name down before you click Remove: it is the most useful search term later, and you will need it if you report the incident.
A family name in the label is more informative than a heuristic one. Our page on why one threat has many antivirus names lists the common formats and what each part means.
- Note file:
README_encrypted.txt
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware
- Although this malware might be just a sample, it is highly recommended to immediately remove _encrypted virus from your device using or anti-malware software
- Like all malware, this ransomware might have done some damage to users' system files.
- To restore your system to it's normal state use tool
How _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware behaves
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
_encrypted ransomware - cryptovirus with specified ransom amount
_encrypted virus was detected on October 26th.
Usually, ransomware get their names from the appended extensions, such as Alvin, AnonymouS, etc. This particular ransomware doesn't have a specific name that shows that it's an experimental sample.
Furthermore, in the ransom note (README_encrypted.txt), there are no contact details, only a definitive amount ought to be paid - $1,000. The whole ransom note is written in English but is very short and uninformative (see below this paragraph). And the name of the downloadable file isn't cryptic at all - ransomware32.exe, ransomware32.bin.exe.
Although this ransomware might be just a sample of what's to come, it still encrypts user data. After infection, files would be appended with an extension "_encrypted" and would become inaccessible.
All other files are safe, but it's strongly recommended to delete the virus along with all its malicious files immediately before it does any more harm. To completely remove _encrypted virus from your device, use , or any other trustworthy and reliable software like this.
If victims of _encrypted virus didn't keep backups of data in the users' folder, if possible, transfer all the affected files to an empty USB drive and wait for a decoding key to be released by third parties. In the future, remember always to keep backups of all your sensitive information on at least two separate devices.
According to VirusTotal, 40 of 69 antivirus engines have detected the incoming threat and prevented system infection. This emphasizes the importance of trustworthy, powerful anti-malware software. Examples of names _encrypted virus was caught by (as evident, most of security tools detected the sample by using heuristic method, which is not unusual for new malware samples):
Enclosed ransom demand message in the README_encrypted.txt file:
- Trojan.GenericKD.34934946
- W32.Trojan.Gen
- Ransom.MetadataBin
- Ransom:Win32/FileCoder.AB!MTB
- Trojan.Win32.Udochka.ae
- Win32:Malware-gen, etc.
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Malware evasion methods
There are various ways to catch malware on the internet.
The most frequent distribution methods are file-sharing platforms, spam emails, and torrent sites, to name a few. People may never know what other users really uploaded to a torrent site or a file-sharing forum and what their intentions might be, e.g., an infection might start after a download of an innocent-looking game cheat code file or some illegal activation code, popularly knows as "crack".
To avoid becoming victims of cybercrimes, downloads of necessary apps and their updates should only be done via their developer, thus official, websites/apps.
Devices could end up with ransomware after opening malicious files from emails sent by mischievous perpetrators. Email users should always be attentive to emails their opening and what attachments they are downloading. To be safe, it's recommended to scan email attachments prior to downloading/viewing them with a dependable anti-malware software. And remember to always keep backups of essential data in separate devices, servers.
The _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware note
ATTENTION!!! ALL YOUR FILES HAVE BEEN ENCRYPTED
YOU HAVE TO PAY $1000 DOLLARS TO UNLOCK YOUR FILES.
PLEASE CONTACT .onion using Tor Browser.
Make sure to provide the metadata.bin file that you can find in your user folder.
How to remove _encrypted virus, _encrypted 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 _encrypted virus, _encrypted 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
_encrypted virus, _encrypted 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 identify the family
Find the ransom note, usually a
.txt,.htmlor .hta file in every folder or on the desktop, and copy it with one or two encrypted files to a USB stick.From another device, upload them to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note and the file extension. Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note for the report.
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 _encrypted virus, _encrypted 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 _encrypted virus, _encrypted 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 Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Ransomware removal guide
The ransomware removal process should be trusted to professionals as it is proven to be a lengthy and tough task to do manually.
To remove _encoded virus, before it has done more damage, use or . These trustworthy apps will not only eliminate the virus automatically but also prevent your devices from infections in the future by immediately detecting it and isolating the infectious files before they can cause any harm.
Malware such as _encrypted virus is able not only to encrypt the files of your device but also to modify system files. These altercations might cause your computer system to exhibit awkward behavior. To restore your system, use or similar dependable software.
[GI=method-1]You can access Safe Mode with Networking to delete the malware:
You should try third-party recovery solutions when trying to retrieve _encrypted files.
Windows Previous Versions Feature
This method might be used to recover files one-by-one.
ShadowExplorer might be the answer
If ransomware failed to delete Shadow Copies, ShadowExplorer might be your best chances of restoring all your data.
No decryption tool is available
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 ransom notes called README_encrypted.txt in every folder; 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.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware
Should I pay the ransom in README_encrypted.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from README_encrypted.txt and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
When will a decryptor for _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 7 October 2026, no free decryptor is known. Decryptors usually appear after one of three events:
- police seize the attackers' servers and keys
- the authors leak or publish the master keys
- researchers find a mistake in how the ransomware generates keys
Some families got a tool within weeks, others never. Keep the encrypted files and the note on an external drive, check No More Ransom every few months, and follow news about the _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
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.
How did _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware get on my computer?
The way _encrypted virus, _encrypted 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 ransom notes called README_encrypted.txt in every folder, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Did _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by _encrypted virus, _encrypted ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is ransom notes called README_encrypted.txt in every folder, 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 _encrypted virus, _encrypted 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 README_encrypted.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text README_encrypted.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.
What does the name Ransom:Win32/FileCoder.AB!MTB tell me?
Microsoft builds names in a fixed order:
- category
- then platform
- then family
- sometimes followed by a variant letter
- a suffix
The category is the most useful part for you. Trojan, Backdoor and PWS mean real malware that can download more, give remote access or steal passwords. PUA means unwanted software.
Ransom means ransomware. Suffixes such as !ml or !MTB mean the detection came from machine learning or behaviour analysis. Search for the family part of Ransom:Win32/FileCoder.AB!MTB together with the word Microsoft to find its entry in Microsoft's security encyclopedia.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by _encrypted?
You cannot open locked files normally while they stay encrypted, and renaming them will not help. Our earlier report did not record the extension that _encrypted adds, so check one locked file name and the ransom note for it.
No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates. Do not rename the files, change the extension or edit them, because that can make recovery harder. Copy the locked files to an external drive before you clean the system, so a decryptor released later still has them.
Will Fortect remove _encrypted virus, _encrypted 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 _encrypted virus, _encrypted 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
- Tom's Guide: Encryption: What it is and how it works for you (read October 7, 2026)
- Virus Total: 9be3b8dff2d24146e732fa8f81b1a56860b579622e31c991ceaf847ade9717ae (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Heuristic analysis (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)