Coronavirus ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Coronavirus ransomware is the cryptovirus that spreads a malware cocktail with ransomware and info-stealing trojan and uses the pandemic situation to mock people. Attackers build a campaign that uses a fake website impersonating the legitimate Windows system utility site wisecleaner.com.
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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Coronavirus ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The pack with malicious files gets downloaded from the fake site pretending to be the Windows software and optimization tool distribution source wisecleaner.com |
|---|---|
| Name | Coronavirus ransomware |
| Included in | Malware cocktail with Kpot info-stealer trojan |
| Filename changes | Ransomware renames files completely with the criminals' email address and adds the email a few times on the file name. The example: coronaVi2022@protonmail.ch___1.jpg |
| Ransom note | CoronaVirus; the text of the note is not in our records |
| Ransom amount | 0,008 in Bitcoin |
| 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
| Tactics | To pose as a legitimate website providing applications, so people download the package, files without paying much attention. Downloads of the particular utilities deliver an executable file that acts as a downloader of both payloads of cryptovirus and a password-stealer Kpot trojan |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | coronaVi2022@protonmail.ch |
| 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 |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 16 March 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Coronavirus ransomware
- CoronaVirus.txt gets loaded on the desktop and in folders with encrypted files.
- It contains instructions and details needed for the payment like ransom amount and wallet address
- Coronavirus ransomware removal should definitely be performed using anti-malware tools capable of detecting various malware, so all the associated threats get deleted completely
How Coronavirus ransomware behaves
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Coronavirus ransomware is the threat distributed through fake site promoting optimization software from WiseCleaner
Coronavirus ransomware is the cryptovirus that spreads a malware cocktail with ransomware and info-stealing trojan and uses the pandemic situation to mock people.
Attackers build a campaign that uses a fake website impersonating the legitimate Windows system utility site wisecleaner.com. The downloads distributed WSHSetup.exe file that acts as a downloader of CoronaVirus ransomware and Kpot trojan which is set to steal data like passwords and logins. The file gets executed and various files get downloaded from a remote server that criminals are monitoring.
The encryption-based malware targets files in common tyes like images, documents, video, audio files and other data like archives or databases. Once that is done, files get renamed and marked the same because data receives a new name that is attackers' email address. In some cases, samples showed that the email address got added to the name a few times.
Coronavirus ransomware virus also places a ransom note file on many folders with the affected files. CoronaVirus.txt contains instructions and money demand.
Amount asked from victims can differ, but the known amount in this campaign is 0,008 in Bitcoin. The analysis of the provided Bitcoin wallet shows that victims haven't paid these attackers yet. The virus also renames the C:
- drive to CoronaVirus
- even though it does nothing besides scaring victims
- making fun of them
The threat also shows the same message when the machine is rebooted as a lock screen and you cannot get back to the system. It is possible that the ransomware part of the cocktail is used as a cover for the Kpot trojan, but further analysis is in the process.
Coronavirus ransomware is the self-named threat that enters the machine alongside other malware and affects files directly by encrypting them directly. In the meantime, trojan steals passwords, logins and other data needed for the attackers and criminal activities.
Coronavirus ransomware is loaded on the machine from the promotional site that should distribute software from WiseCleaner. Attackers use the sensitive time when people fear and get anxious more and more about possible risks and dangers of the COVID-19 outbreak. This particular cryptovirus was discovered by researchers who started to analyze the source of the site and downloaded files deeper.
Coronavirus ransomware may be a wiper and only there to hide the activity of info-stealer trojan. The attack starts with the impersonated site that downloads the WSHSetup.exe instead of the wanted or needed tool and downloads both malware payloads. Once the file gets executed it installs a handful of different files from a remote server. One of them is a direct ransomware installer and another - drops the trojan.
Coronavirus ransomware removal is especially needed because of the fact that additional malware gets dropped alongside it. Once the trojan gets launched it steals cookies, login credentials from your web browsers, messaging application, email accounts, gaming sites, and other services. Kpot is capable of taking screenshots of the desktop when it is active and can steal cryptocurrency wallet information or credentials for other payment platforms.
Coronavirus cryptovirus affects files stored on the machine, but the infected computer can get corrupted by the attackers later on when the stolen information is used because all the details get stored in the remote server operated by the criminals. This one attack can lead to more targeted scams or blackmail campaigns, so try to remove the malware as soon as possible.
Coronavirus ransomware starts the infection with a payload drop and immediately goes for common files that can be encrypted and affected by the threat. When this is done, typical ransomware adds the particular file marker - an extension that indicates data already encrypted and often contains the name of the infection.
In this case, attackers change the initial filename completely to their email address. Some samples showed that files received the email address a few times, so victims know that the email(coronaVi2022@protonmail.ch) is a preferred option for communication. However, expersts don't recommend contacting them at all.
Coronavirus ransomware states all the actions that the victim needs to take in the ransom note file CoronaVirus.txt that gets added in various folders with encrypted files and on the desktop.
It includes the wallet address that should receive the payments from affected people, but at the time of writing there were no transfers sent tot he address in particular. The same message appears on the boot screen when you try to reboot the computer, unfortunately.
Malware also mocks people and tries to scare them even more by changing the name of C: drive into the CoronaVirus. It changes nothing, so it is there to troll victims of the encrypting Coronavirus ransomware. It modifies registry keys, launched executables and adds different files that block or load service on boot and on the machine when needed.
Coronavirus ransomware disrupts these reboot services, but eventually, it shows the text file again and runs in the background. There might be some vulnerabilities in coding or flaws that researchers may use in their favor, so analysis of samples are especially needed.
However, based on a political message, low ransom amount and bitcoin address that is static, researchers think that this virus may be created to cover up the Kpot trojan informationžstelaing activities.
Coronavirus ransomware termination should be launched as soon as possible, so all the background activities and processes may have not been triggered yet. The machine can get compromised from the processes, applications and files installed and launched without your permission.
You need professional anti-malware tools for cryptovirus elimination, so choose official sources and don't fall for another fake site. To fix this additional virus damage and other payloads possibly loaded as the secondary stage, run or a different system tool, so files can get repaired completely.
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Attackers created the impersonating website to spread malware cocktail
The most common way to spread ransomware threats is malicious files.
These files can be documents, executables, system files or program launchers and get distributed with the help of other threats, websites and email spam campaigns. This particular attack relies on the legitimate Windows system utility site wisecleaner.com that gets impersonated and delivers malware downloaders.
Tool downloads on the site are not working, they drop the malware instead and installs the WSHSetup.exe file that when triggered and executed installs a handful of additional malicious files. Some of them drop the direct ransomware payload and trojan infection.
Installers attempt to steal data and make changes as soon as possible and the one that contains ransomware payload triggers file-encryption as soon as it lands on the computer network. Once the encryption is done, you will receive the note and notice all the symptoms.
The Coronavirus ransomware note
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove Coronavirus 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 Coronavirus 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
Coronavirus 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 Coronavirus 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 Coronavirus 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 Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Clean the machine fully by eliminating Coronavirus malware alongside other threats
Coronavirus ransomware virus, unfortunately, is the threat that spreads around with the trojan and possibly can run other processes in the background of your device, so you cannot recover files, detect malware and use the computer at all. Time, in this case, is especially important because the more time a virus has on your device the more damage it makes on there.
To avoid changes and serious damage to your crucial system parts, you need to remove Coronavirus ransomware as soon as possible. The best time is to treat the virus as soon as you get the ransom note displayed before you. As for the options of the cleaning processes, you should rely on the best method - AV engines and virus detection tools.
Coronavirus ransomware removal gives the best results when you rely on professional and powerful anti-malware programs like or and clean the machine from any possible intruders. Also, tools like can further help with files affected by the virus and damaged system functions or registry entries.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking, so you can eliminate Coronavirus ransomware
[GI=method-2]System Restore feature can be helpful for data affected by the virus because it allows recovering machine in a previous state before the attack
Windows Previous Versions is the feature of Windows devices that allows file recovery of the individual data
When System Restore gets enabled, you can rely on Windows Previous Versions and recover affected data this way
ShadowExplorer is the alternate way for file restoring
You can recover files using Shadow Volume Copies when Coronavirus ransomware is not affecting them
Decryption is not possible 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
Coronavirus ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (coronavirus ransomware in the list of installed apps) 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.
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 Coronavirus ransomware
When will a decryptor for Coronavirus 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 Coronavirus ransomware family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
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.
How did Coronavirus ransomware get on my computer?
The way Coronavirus 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 coronavirus ransomware in the list of installed apps, 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 Coronavirus ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Coronavirus ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is coronavirus ransomware in the list of installed apps, 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 Coronavirus 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 Coronavirus ransomware spread to other computers or OneDrive?
Coronavirus ransomware encrypts the files that the infected PC can reach:
- its own drives
- USB disks
- mapped network drives
- shared folders
Synced folders such as OneDrive then upload the encrypted versions, which is why you should pause syncing straight away. Most consumer ransomware does not jump to other computers by itself, but business families are deployed on many machines by attackers who control the network.
Disconnect the PC, check other PCs and the NAS for the same file ending, and use OneDrive's version history to restore synced files once the PC is clean.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by Coronavirus?
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 Coronavirus 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 Coronavirus 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 Coronavirus 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: Trojan horse virus (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (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)