Boop virus: what it is and how to remove it
Boop ransomware - the cryptovirus that runs on the system and makes files useless before marking them with .boop extension. This threat is a silent infection that manages to get on the system and starts encrypting files right away.
Facts checked October 6, 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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Boop virus: summary
| Distribution | The threat family is known for relying on malicious files as the main distribution method. This is how versions manage to spread. The script is injected on the machine from spam email attachments and from pirated software files and during such processes that involve unreliable sources |
|---|---|
| Name | Boop virus |
| Type | Ransomware/ Cryptovirus |
| Family | STOP ransomware virus is the initial threat that released Djvu as a version back in 2016. From there criminals focused on spreading new threats weekly or more often than that |
| File appendix | .boop is the extension that gets added at the end of every affected file |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt – the file containing a message from criminals with the money demand and more information |
| 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 12 more facts
| Contact information | helpmanager@mail.ch and restoremanager@airmail.cc |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .boop |
| 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 | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .boop |
| Attacker contacts | helpmanager@mail.ch |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 26 August 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.boop - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
helpmanager@mail.ch
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Boop ransomware is the threat that is designed with the purpose of encrypting files and getting money from victims directly
Boop ransomware - the cryptovirus that runs on the system and makes files useless before marking them with .boop extension.
This threat is a silent infection that manages to get on the system and starts encrypting files right away. Then the computer runs slow and users are informed about the opportunity to pay for the alleged encryption tool. This is the version of Djvu ransomware that is known for a while as one of the most dangerous and widely spread infections.
There are no good reasons that should encourage you to pay for the creators of this notorious Boop ransomware virus because criminals behind the threat focus on manipulations and deceptiveness.
This is the latest version reported by victims online , but it is the identical virus based on year-old functionality. Files virus works and displays the same features, functions, and symptoms as the previous variants released in the month of August 2020 - Vari and Oonn.
Boop files virus is not decryptable at the moment. Even though some files might get repaired using the decryption tool or media file recovery program , the initial version uses online IDs - the unique keys formed for each victim separately. There are not many solutions for such infections, so the sooner you get rid of it the better. Then the option of file backups can be helpful.
Boop ransomware is not the program that could be easily removed from the machine because it is not an application this is a dangerous infection. The purpose of the threat is to infect machines and encrypt files with the aim to get direct payments of the cryptocurrency. Money is the goal of criminals behind the ransomware.
Once files get encrypted by the Boop ransomware virus those documents, images, archive files, and even databases get .boop appendix after the original name and filetype-indicating extension. Once files get locked and _readme.txt file loaded on the desktop, in other folders, you can be sure that the encryption procedure is done.
This message from developers of the virus indicates that the only option to get your files back os to pay for the decryption tool. But this is not the recommended method when you need to recover Boop ransomware encrypted files. There are many risks that come after the contact between you as a victim and criminals as extortionists.
The message indicates what happened and what options you have. Also, the particular ransom amount is displayed there:
You need to ignore the demand for payment from these Boop ransomware creators. There are no better options than to remove the virus and replace files affected by the malware. Paying is not recommended by experts because money can be lost alongside your files when the demanded amount is transferred but decryption tools not provided.
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Boop virus
- Boop ransomware removal procedures involve anti-malware tools and file recovery programs once the machine is fully cleared from malware
- You should recover the system and files damaged by the threat before you do anything else.
- You can achieve that with proper repair tools that can find and fix corrupted parts for you.
How Boop virus behaves
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Process of Boop virus encryption: difference in online and offline IDs
There are many versions in the family of STOP ransomware virus.
This one carrying the .boop file appendix is 247th on the list of different variants. It comes a year after the last decryptable versions that came out before August 2019. After that, the previously used STOPDecrypter became useless and no longer supported.
The tool worked on the basis of offline victim IDs. This function allowed researchers to recover many files encoded by the same version by using one of the keys associated with the variant.
It worked for many users and victims got their files recovered. However, cybercriminals renewed the coding and added new more powerful features. Boop ransomware virus is one of the more advanced versions.
.boop files virus uses online IDs, so each victim gets a unique key that is needed for decryption. It is formed by connecting to the server online that determines a particular identification key. This is sad news for victims, because the only option for file recovery - data backups are not up to date, in most of the cases.
You need to remove .boop files virus as soon as you get the ransom note delivered to your screen. You need proper anti-malware tools or security programs like or , so your system is checked and all the traces of malware detected, fully eliminated.
Boop ransomware removal solutions and methods are closely related to the distribution of this threat. There are various methods involving malicious files that get used to spreading the threat, but the main technique involves pirating software and insecure online sources.
You may have less opportunity to remove Boop ransomware completely from the machine when the threat manages to alter settings, add other programs or damage files on the computer.
The Boop virus ransom note
ATTENTION!
Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
https://we.tl/t-gSEEREZ5tS
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.
To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
helpmanager@mail.ch
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
restoremanager@firemail.cc
Your personal ID:
How to remove Boop virus
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove Boop virus and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so Boop virus cannot reach more files. Pause OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync, because synced folders upload the encrypted copies over the good ones.
Leave the PC on but offline while you read the next steps, since a restart can let the ransomware run again. This applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
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
Your files now end in
.boopand the instructions are in_readme.txt. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
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
Our last check found that for Boop virus, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Look again yourself in the No More Ransom list and the free decryptor pages of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, which add new families every year.
A decryptor needs the ransomware gone first, or it encrypts the files again. Keep at least one copy of the encrypted files on an external drive, even if no tool works yet.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Removing Boop virus does not bring the files back, but it has to come first. Start with Defender's Full scan, then the offline scan from the same Scan options page, which checks the disk before Windows loads.
If the scan cannot start, use Safe Mode with Networking. Delete the ransom notes only after you have saved a copy, because removal tools sometimes leave them behind on Windows 11 and 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
Windows keeps shadow copies for restore points and backups, and some ransomware fails to delete them.
vssadmin list shadowsin an administrator Command Prompt tells you at once whether any exist.If they do, right-click the folder that held your files, open Properties > Previous Versions, select a version from before the attack, and click Open to check it before you Restore or copy the files out. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have the tab.
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
A backup made before the attack is the surest way back. Connect it only once the PC is clean, then restore from File History, Windows Backup, OneDrive's Restore your OneDrive or your own external copies.
Without a backup, try file recovery: the originals that Boop virus deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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
Boop ransomware removal is not the same as .boop file recovery
Even though it might be possible to restore files after the Boop ransomware attack with your file backups or decryption tool when your versions are based on offline IDs, data can get damaged permanently. The best solution for infection like this is data backups on external devices or cloud services. Third-party options might also work.
However, you need to remove Boop virus completely off of the system before you start anything like that. You risk getting your existing files encrypted another time, which makes them useless forever. And ransomware can encrypt recovered files or replaced data from scratch.
Make the system virus-free again and only then rely on file recovery options. Do not allow the threat to affect the system further. Boop ransomware file recovery options might consist of some Windows OS features, third-party recovery applications previously developed decryption tools. Some of them are listed below.
From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since
Make sure to eliminate traces of the Boop ransomware virus and get rid of the virus fully before focusing on data
The proper system scan is needed for the best results of the Boop ransomware removal.
Anti-malware tools or security software like or can fully check the machine, locate malware traces, programs associated with the virus, and remove them once and for all. This is the best option for the cryptovirus like that.
Boop ransomware virus is a persistent threat and can make this termination procedure more difficult by adding other processes, files, or malicious programs on the system. If that happens, you need more help to recover from such an infection. Especially, when your data gets affected.
No matter what cryptovirus you get on the PC, you need to delete it. So remove Boop ransomware from the machine using AV tool, then rely on PC repair applications like and repair the damaged files, corrupted system functions.
Once these two steps are done, you can focus on file recovery. Encrypted data can be damaged permanently, but there are some options below. Paying is not one of them.
[GI=method-1]The system can be cleared from the malware like Boop ransomware virus if you rely on Safe Mode with Netwoking
[GI=method-2]System Restore can properly recover the machine in a state when the virus was not active
Windows Previous Versions feature is the solution for encrypted data
When you deal with encoded files, you need a proper solution for the file recovery. Using system restore enables this Windows Previous Versions functionality
Rely on ShadowExplorer and restore encoded data yourself
When shadow Volume Copies are left untouched, you can restore files by using ShadowExplorer
Try the Djvu decryptor as a possible solution
Boop virus is one of the more recent versions that have no decryption options, but you can rely on the tool designed for other Djvu versions and check if the decryption is possible
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 .boop 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 Boop virus
Is there a decryptor for .boop files?
That depends on the family behind the .boop 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 .boop files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .boop ending shows that Boop virus encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for Boop virus. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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.
How did Boop virus get on my computer?
The way Boop virus spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .boop 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 Boop virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Boop virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .boop 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 Boop virus the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Should I open _readme.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text _readme.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.
Will .boop spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .boop. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will Fortect remove Boop virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Boop virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Reddit: .boop extension decryption key (read October 6, 2026)
- Disktuna: Media-Repair. Small repair tool for MP3 and WAV files affected by STOP/DJVU (read October 6, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 6, 2026)
- VirusTotal: Boop virus detection rate (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)