Animus ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Animus ransomware (also dubbed AnimusLocker) is a dangerous file-encrypting virus which belongs to cryptovirus category. The first version of ransomware is using AES encryption algorithm to encrypt files and then appends .animus extension to each of the files.
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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Animus ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Via spam emails, bundled software, various online sites, third-party sources. |
|---|---|
| Name | Animus |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Danger level | High. Encrypts important data and makes it unusable |
| Extension | .animus, .anonimus.mr@yahoo.com |
| contact email | j0ra@protonmail.com |
| 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 13 more facts
| Ransom note | ANIMUS_RESTORE.txt, ANIMUS_RESTORE2.txt, ANIMUS_RESTORE3.txt; the text is quoted in full below |
|---|---|
| Main purpose | Demands a ransom after the file encryption. Victims are urged to pay a price of $100 in cryptocurrency in order to get a decryption key for their important data that has been locked up |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .animus |
| 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 | .animus |
| Attacker contacts | anonimus.mr@yahoo.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 3 August 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Names and addresses to look for
- File extension:
.animus - Note file:
ANIMUS_RESTORE.txt - Contact:
anonimus.mr@yahoo.com
How Animus ransomware behaves
From our report of Aug 2018 · not reviewed since
Animus ransomware - a file encrypting virus that started using the patterns of Scarab ransomware
Animus ransomware (also dubbed AnimusLocker) is a dangerous file-encrypting virus which belongs to cryptovirus category.
The first version of ransomware is using AES encryption algorithm to encrypt files and then appends .animus extension to each of the files. However, recently security experts noticed yet another version of Animus ransomware that is using Scarab ransomware code and is appending .anonimus.mr@yahoo.com file extension to victim's files.
Soon after that, the encrypted data becomes unreadable and none of the files can be accessed anymore. To regain files held hostage, victims need to obtain a key which only hackers possess. They ask for $100 in Bitcoin cryptocurrency inside the ransom note ANIMUS_RESTORE.txt, ANIMUS_RESTORE2.txt or ANIMUS_RESTORE3.txt which is dropped into each of the affected folders.
Animus Locker virus typically spreads using malicious spam emails. This method is relatively old, as hackers were employing bots to send out malware attached to it for a long time. However, because this distribution method is very effective, it is still the most prevalent. As soon as victims execute the malicious payload on their devices, a picture file prettycat.jpg is turned into prettycat.jpg.animus and becomes unusable.
Next, Animus ransomware distributes a message from cybercrooks so that users would be aware of what happened, and that the only way to recover files is by contacting them via using j0ra@protonmail.com and eventually paying the demanded sum of $100. Ransom note displays the following message:
The list of encrypted files ranges from personal photos to databases used for important tasks. Therefore, it is not surprising that many users rush to pay cybercriminals, as they think that it is the only way to get data back.
Warning: However, be careful and DO NOT pay the demanded ransom .
Users often get scammed and end up with nothing, as hackers simply ignore victims. Due to that, security experts strongly advise users to perform Animus removal by installing professional anti-malware software.
All decryption tools are stored on a remote server and are within reach only for the cybercriminals. There is no way to find out the decryption code and recover files after encryption unless you have them backed up on a cloud service or an external device. Unfortunately, the same key can not be used twice either.
To conclude, you should not contact cybercriminals and remove Animus ransomware from your device. Do not attempt manual elimination as it will only result in a failure and may even damage your system even further. Instead, download , or and perform full system scan.
From our report of Aug 2018 · not reviewed since
Ransomware-type viruses are distributed using various techniques
The most common ransomware distribution method is via the spam emails.
The virus activates as soon as the malicious attachment is opened (beware: these type of files typically ask for a macro function to be enabled) or the suspicious hyperlink is clicked. To avoid dangerous infections, make sure you open only legitimate emails and learn to recognize phishing ones.
Also, if you like visiting online game sites, using P2P networks, watching videos or listening to songs on various questionable websites, the risk of infection also increases. Additionally, websites that are rarely moderated can be hacked and malicious code injected without the authors' knowledge.
To avoid such harmful activity and keep your PC safe, follow these steps:
- If you get a spam email - do not risk opening it. Better send it to the trash section.
- Avoid using third-party sites and installers. Download software only from trusted sites and their original downloading links in order to secure yourself from ransomware.
- If you like playing online games or watching videos online, be sure you do that only on trustworthy websites. Avoid visiting suspicious-looking ones.
- Backup your files - it is the only trusted way to recover your data.
- Install an anti-virus program. It will increase your safety level and help you deal with various infections that can be encountered on the internet (note, real-time protection function is a must).
- Most importantly - always be cautious about everything you do while browsing the Internet. You can avoid a lot of infections this way and keep your computer and important files safe.
The Animus ransomware note
<><><><><><><><><><><><><># animus locker #<><><><><><><><><><><><><>
SORRY! Your files are encrypted.
File contents are encrypted with random key.
Random key is encrypted with RSA public key (2048 bit),
We strongly RECOMMEND you not to use any "decryption tools".
These tools can damage your data, making recover IMPOSSIBLE.
Also we recommend you not to contact data recovery companies.
They will just contact us, buy the key and sell it to you at a higher price,
If you want to decrypt your files, you have to get RSA private key.
In order to get private key, write here:
j0ra@protonmail.com
########
!ATTENTION!
Attach file is 000000000.key from %appdata% to email message,
Without it we will not be able to decrypt your files
########
And pay 100$ on [payment address omitted] wallet
If someone else offers you files restoring, ask him for test decryption,
Only we can successfully decrypt your files; knowing this can protect you from fraud.
You will receive instructions of what to do next.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><># animus locker #<><><><><><><><><><><><><>
How to remove Animus 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 Animus 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
Animus 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
ANIMUS_RESTORE.txtand one or two files ending in.animusto 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 Animus, 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 Animus 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 2018 · not reviewed since
Eliminate Animus ransomware with professional tools
To remove Animus Locker virus, you need to download and install a reliable anti-malware program.
Only professional tools can help you with complete virus elimination.
After Animus removal is complete, you can proceed with the file recovery. If you had a backup on the cloud server or remote device, you could restore data from there (note: DO NOT attempt to recover files before you are sure that the virus is completely gone).
In case you do not have a backup, check out few alternative methods that could help you. Nevertheless, the recovery chance is relatively small, although not impossible.
[GI=method-1]Reboot your computer system to Safe Mode and follow these instructions in order to eliminate the cyberthreat from your PC:
[GI=method-2]Manage using the System Restore feature in order to disable the virus and perform a full system scan:
If you got your files locked up due to the AnimusLocker ransomware virus, fast and professional help is needed which can be provided by this trustworthy file-recovery tool.
Windows Previous Versions feature is useful only if wanting to restore only several important files:
This method will work only if the System Restore function was activated before the ransomware infection. If it was, you could potentially restore some important data with Windows Previous Versions feature.
Consider using ShadowExplorer to recover encrypted data:
If the virus did not remove files' Shadow Volume copies, you should be able to get your data back with the help of this program.
No official decryption tool is yet created for the Animus ransomware virus.
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 .animus 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.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about Animus ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .animus files?
That depends on the family behind the .animus 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.
Should I pay the ransom in ANIMUS_RESTORE.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from ANIMUS_RESTORE.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.
How do I open .animus files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .animus ending shows that Animus 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 Animus. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did Animus get on my computer?
The way Animus 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 .animus 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.
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 Animus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Animus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .animus 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 Animus 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 ANIMUS_RESTORE.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text ANIMUS_RESTORE.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.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .animus attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .animus 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 Animus?
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 Animus, 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
- Tech Target: Ransomware (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)