Brick ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Brick ransomware – a malware that demands 400 dollars from victims in Monero cryptocurrency. It uses the powerful army-grade algorithm and encrypts files, making them unusable for further use and unreadable, so people cannot even tell what is in the document, video, image, or archive.
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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Brick ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Developers of the threat use common methods like infected files sent via safe-looking emails and, hacking through insecure RDPs and other malware like exploits,[2] botnets or trojans for the cryptovirus distribution |
|---|---|
| Name | Brick ransomware |
| Symptoms | File get locked and marked with the particular appendix, pop-up windows get opened on the screen with particular messages stating that your machine got encrypted and locked, so you should pay up to get those files recovered |
| File marker | .brick is the extension that gets on the end of encoded files alongside the random chain of characters for particular victims' ID indication |
| Ransom note | The lock screen pop-up or program windows deliver instructions and additional information ; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contacts | entercritical@prolonmail.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 12 more facts
| Ransom amount | $400 in Monero cryptocurrency |
|---|---|
| Encryption methods | AES-256[1] |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .brick |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .brick |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 24 February 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.brick - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Brick ransomware
- These windows get named with the same ransom numbers and letters indicating the particular ID of the unique victim.
- Also, the text file ID_GENERATE.txt appears on the desktop and in additional folders on the machine with your unique victims' ID and a Monero wallet address that is needed for the money transfers
- Brick ransomware removal is the process that should be taken seriously, especially when other malware and malicious processes can be involved in delivering and activating this malicious threat.
- Get an anti-malware program and run the tool on the system for a thorough check that reveals all the possible intruders and can remove them
- You should follow the virus termination with a PC repair procedure using something like .
- System optimizers or cleaners can find and fix affected files, entries and other parts of the OS that malware managed to damage
How Brick ransomware behaves
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Brick ransomware is the cryptovirus that runs on Windows devices and uses the AES encryption algorithm to lock files as the reason for a ransom demand
Brick ransomware – a malware that demands 400 dollars from victims in Monero cryptocurrency.
It uses the powerful army-grade algorithm and encrypts files, making them unusable for further use and unreadable, so people cannot even tell what is in the document, video, image, or archive.
This threat affects commonly sued data directly, but can also delete shadow volume copies of files, and particular system restore points, so data recovery gets even more complicated. To interfere with recovery processes and virus removal even further, the threat can disable features, programs, and functions of the already infected computer.
As long as Brick ransomware virus is on the computer, it can affect many parts of the device and run in the background until you fully get rid of it. When you see that your files got locked and marked using .brick appendix, you can already know that there is malware on the machine.
When you receive the ID_GENERATE.txt and additional pop-ups with messages from virus developers, you should react as soon as possible, because time is not in your favor when it comes to ransomware threats.
Paying is not the best option because there is no guarantee that virus creators will send you the alleged BrickDecrypt tool. Even contacting them via the provided entercritical@prolonmail.com email address is not advisable because criminals can be unpredictable and spread more malware for their victims or ask for bigger amounts than the initial $400.
Brick ransomware is the threat focused on file-locking and encryption process, so it starts the attack with finding particular documents, photos, images, archives, and even databases that can get encrypted and potentially create a good reason for the ransom demand.
The message that directly asks for the payment appears once the file-locking is done. Brick ransomware developers can inform their victims about the processes and consequences or give instructions for further actions. The initial ransom note gets shown in the program window that locks your screen to deliver the information about the encryption process that has happened.
Brick ransomware generates the pop-up and names the window with random characters, possibly related to victims' ID and other identifications that help to differentiate between all the victims. The additional text file named ID_GENERATE.txt also gets placed on the desktop and in other folders that contain encrypted files.
Brick ransomware ransom-demanding message states the following :
Brick ransomware aims at English-speaking users, and the initial file of the ransomware was created back in summer 2019, but the sample was discovered in February 2020. This fact can mean that malware was perfected and released without any flaws.
It makes the threat even more dangerous because of this because developers made sure that there are no issues with the code that may be used by researchers for termination or decryption tool generation.
That said, the sooner you decide to remove Brick ransomware the better because you can avoid further damage on the machine while the virus is freshly dropped on the machine. If you don't remove all parts of the virus and load files on the machine, your data can get encrypted again or permanently damaged.
If you decide to pay and files remain locked, you lose your money and files at the same time. Note that Brick ransomware removal gets affected by the threat because it manages to alter process, functions, and features of the device.
When this virus runs it delivers the error message to mask the processes. It may not appear on the real computer, but it shows up on ANY.RUN service during the malware check.
Criminals created Brick ransomware to lock files and demand a ransom of $400 that should get paid via QR Monero. Such transfers of cryptocurrency are almost impossible to track, so ransomware creators, in most cases, choose such payment methods instead of real dollar transfers.
Experts strongly discourage people to stay away from any cybercriminals, especially people like these Brick ransomware virus developers. You cannot trust them because the initial aim and goal of these people is gaining money from victims.
The better option is to terminate Brick ransomware by running an anti-malware tool that can check and detect these viruses running in the machine. Antivirus programs are the best for this because the malicious purpose of files and programs can be indicated for you. These detection names differ and show the particular payload dropper that caused the infection.
Focus on the cleaning and then rely on a program like that can find and fix virus damage. Since the threat affects processes and other features that can help to fight Brick ransomware, you need to repair them and fix the affected parts before adding files on the machine.
Traces of the virus or affected functions can interfere with recovery or affect recovered data. For some additional restoring tips - check below.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Malicious files attached to spam emails and pirated software packages
Ransomware is one of many more stealthily threats that rely on silent techniques that allow the infiltration to happen in the background.
The received malicious file can trigger the ransomware attack pretty quickly and you cannot notice neither the payload drop nor the file locking.
Spam emails that have malicious macro-filled documents can pose as legitimate notifications from companies like DHL, eBay, Amazon or different online shopping platforms. These types are chosen because order information, invoices, and other files related to financial details are commonly sent by such companies.
However, these files and data send out during pirated program installations can trigger the infiltration of direct cryptovirus or the malware that is designed to drop the ransomware executable file. Take this into consideration, stay away from pirating or torrent sites and delete any suspicious emails once you receive them.
The Brick ransomware note
Your files got bricked forever!
To have them back, you will need to pay a price. Don't try to decrypt your files by using stuff like Recuva or System Restore, nothing will work. AES-256 was used, and the encryption key was erased from memory; now, is an ID, that you can use for decryption.
Send 400 USD to the QR Monero code. And, send a mail to the following address ( entercritical@prolonmail.com ); use as subject " BrickDecrypt " and embed in the body both the "ID_GENERATE.TXT" file; and the payment \ transaction ID code. You will get in> 24h an decryption software (EXE format); run it and you will be fine.
QR code for decryption. Use an Android device to use it. Or, use the following public key address:
[payment address omitted]
Is present in the File.ItX.TX if youTOP.IDT.TX.It presentToFile
Good luck.
How to remove Brick 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 Brick 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
Brick 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.brickto 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 Brick 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 Brick 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 Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Brick ransomware elimination requires attention and help from the proper system tools
Since Brick ransomware virus is a serious infection, you need professional anti-malware tools to fight the malware fully.
The automatic method involving anti-malware programs saves you time because the tool during a full system scan finds all possibly associated and malicious files, programs, and potential intruders.
You need to go for this method of Brick ransomware removal because tools like or can find security issues and cyber threats, intruders that affect your time on the computer. You can enter the Safe Mode with Networking before scanning the machine with an AV tool to ensure the best results too. Below is the guide that shows how to do that.
When you remove Brick ransomware, you should be sure that there is no traces of malware before you go for file recovery. Anything left that is related to the virus can affect the performance and even trigger secondary encryption. You need to repair virus damage immediately after the termination.
[GI=method-1]Get rid of Brick ransomware virus by rebooting the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and then run the AV tool
[GI=method-2]Using System Restore can help because this feature allows recovering the machine in a previous state
Windows Previous Versions feature for the rescue after encryption
The Windows Previous Versions can be useful when System Restore gets enabled in advance
ShadowExplorer restores data that Brick ransomware manages to damage
However, when Brick ransomware deletes Shadow Volume Copies, the feature is not helpful
Brick ransomware decryption tool is not released yet
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.
Make the next attack harmless
Brick ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .brick and no longer open) showed exactly which ones those were.
The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for 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 Brick ransomware
How do I open .brick files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .brick has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
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.
Is there a free Brick ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Brick ransomware no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "Brick ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
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 Brick ransomware get on my computer?
The way Brick 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 .brick 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 Brick ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Brick ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .brick 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 Brick 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.
Will .brick 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 .brick. 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 Brick 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 Brick 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: Exploit kit (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 7, 2026)
- VirusTotal: Brick virus detection rate (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)