Cov19 ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Cov19 ransomware is a dangerous file-encrypting cyber infection that is currently under an active contagion phase. Its developers misuse the name of the COVID-19 pandemic that has resonated around the world in early 2020.
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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Cov19 ransomware: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | RECOVER.TXT |
| Contact | FushenKingdee@protonmail.com |
| Encrypted file extension | .cov19 |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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 10 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Cov19 ransomware |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| 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 | .cov19 |
| Attacker contacts | FushenKingdee@protonmail.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 22 May 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.cov19 - Note file:
RECOVER.TXT - Contact:
FushenKingdee@protonmail.com
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Cov19 ransomware is a dangerous threat that can lock personal files and cause its victims significant financial losses
Cov19 ransomware is a dangerous file-encrypting cyber infection that is currently under an active contagion phase.
Its developers misuse the name of the COVID-19 pandemic that has resonated around the world in early 2020. The attackers trick people into downloading a malicious svchoster.exe file that serves as a downloader of the virus by with the help of phishing emails allegedly coming from WHO (World Health Organization) or CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the COVID-19 Pandemic email and The Red Cross email.
This encryption-based virus stems from the infamous Scarab ransomware family, which is very rich in the number of its members. The ransomware seeks to gain financial profit by encrypting the most popular file types (images, videos, photos, Microsoft Office documents, etc.) with a sophisticated encryption algorithm. The most obvious symptoms of this encryption-based malware are .cov19 extension appended to corrupted files and the TO RECOVER.TXT note positioned on Windows desktop.
Cov19 ransomware dropper is typically dispersed within malicious email spams that contain allegedly legitimate documents that are supposedly sent by the RedCross or governmental institutions providing instructions on how to behave during the Coronavirus pandemic to prevent infection.
The obfuscated attachments are bundled with a malicious svchoster.exe file, which impersonates a legitimate Windows svchost.exe file. However, this file automatically downloads a ransomware payload and carries out activities (changes of the boot sequence, registry alterations, removal of core files, etc.) allowing a virus to root into the system.
According to researchers from NoVirus.uk , this mid-May 2020 Scarab ransomware campaign uses the .cov19 file marker and load the ransom note on the victim's Desktop. TO RECOVER.TXT file contains an overview of the attack, warnings related to the usage of security tools and recovery software, and asks victims to contact the specified e-mail address (FushenKingdee@protonmail.com).
The ransom message seems to be generated as a typical note used by its predecessors, so don't trust a word written on it and react immediately and remove Cov19 ransomware virus from your computer. Paying criminals is not a hundred-percent guarantee that the encrypted files will be restored. Even more, ransom payment definitely won't fix the damage that the virus initiated on the system.
Anyway, before file recovery and system optimization processes, it's crucial to ensure a full Cov19 ransomware removal. In case of any malicious entries are left undelete, the virus may reappear and lock files again. According to the Virus Total analysis, 50 AV programs out of 72 are capable of recognizing and decontamination the malicious files belonging to this ransomware. Typically, it is detected as:
The problem is that the malicious Cov19 virus downloader is not the only entry that has to be removed. This infection runs a whole package of malicious processes and is usually protected by helper objects. Not only they help the virus remain persistent but also block AV programs from running.
In this case, the Cov19 ransomware removal can become a tough nut to crack. To solve this problem, try restarting Windows into Safe Mode (if you don't know how to do that, please find instructions at the end of this post). Then initiate a deep system scan with reputable AV programs, for example, or .
- Trojan/Win32.Ransom.C2445643
- Win32:Trojan-gen
- TR/Downloader.Gen
- DeepScan:Generic.Ransom.Amnesia.318762
- Trojan.TR/Downloader.Gen
- HEUR:Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Generic
- DeepScan:Generic.Ransom.Amnesia.31876
- A Variant Of Win32/Filecoder.FS
- Ransom-Scarab!AA87BE1B17D8, etc.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Cov19 ransomware
- This ransomware is a member of the infamous Scarab ransomware
- The primary source for this virus is malicious PDF, ZIP, DOC, DOCX, attachments of spam email messages impersonating organizations like WHO, RedCross, or Disease Control.
- Additionally, it may be disseminated via open RDPs, or launched as a secondary payload of trojans like Remcos, Orcus, or Gh0st.
- Most of the non-system files corrupted.
- All icons get the homogenous shape and the file marked .cov19.
- The ransom note is presented on the desktop.
- Task Manager runs the svchoster.exe process.
- "Svchoster.exe application error" may pop-up randomly The system becomes sluggish, unresponsive, and may restart out of nowhere, etc.
- A powerful AV tool is required.
- Windows Safe Mode with Networking has to be enabled for the scan
- Missing Registry entries, files, and processes.
- Consequences - errors, BSODs, crashes, etc.
How Cov19 ransomware behaves
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Sophisticated email messages with malicious attachments remain the main trickery used against unsuspecting users
Scamming campaigns are extremely actively used by hackers to initiate ransomware attacks.
Legitimate looking email messages with subject lines about financial information, order confirmations, order tracking information, Coronavirus management methods, etc. spread with malicious attachments (macros) that drop ransomware downloader once opened.
Such and similar emails typically are well-crafted. Full content, e-mail signatures, subject line, reliable sender, in general, all reliable look makes thousands of people fall victims of file-encrypting viruses.
To protect your PC from being attacked by hackers, be very cautious when checking the email inbox. If you did not order anything, there's no need to open a message that claims to contain order confirmation or tracking number.
In general, skip all emails that are not related to your activities, but if you see the need to check the received content, use a professional AV tool to scan the attachment.
The Cov19 ransomware note
Hello.
Many vulnerabilities detected on your server.
Because of this, all your files have been encrypted with the strongest encryption.
All attempts to decrypt files on their own will lead to data corruption.
Antivirus operation can permanently damage files.
Gather information about identifiers and send it by mail.
Remember that your keys are not stored for long and can be automatically deleted.
No data recovery company can recover it. Recovery company will be contacted by we on the indicated mail.
For information on decoding, please write to the e-mail FushenKingdee@protonmail.com
Your files are now encrypted!
How to remove Cov19 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 Cov19 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
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so Cov19 ransomware 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
.cov19and the instructions are inRECOVER.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 Cov19 ransomware, 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 Cov19 ransomware 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 Cov19 ransomware 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 May 2020 · not reviewed since
Eliminate Cov19 ransomware using professional AV programs and ensure full system's repair afterward
Manual Cov19 ransomware removal is not possible due to many reasons.
For example, it is not possible to know which processes running on the system are malicious because encryption-based viruses can replace legitimate system files and mimic their behavior. Besides, there may be tens of interconnected files and processes, which protect each other from removal.
To fully eliminate a virus such as Cov19 ransomware, it is important to understand the risks that it causes. Not only it can lead to permanent file loss, but it also causes a complete system's crash if it is not cured properly upon the removal of crypto-extortionist. A full recovery of Windows Registries is crucial and we strongly recommend taking advantage of the tool for that.
The best tool for you that we can recommend for Cov19 ransomware removal is a professional anti-malware software. In other words, a full package of the antivirus solution that exhibits a high detection rate. Unfortunately, removing the virus will not solve the problem with encrypted files. Thus, if you have fallen victim, here's what steps you should initiate:
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking to get rid of Cov19 ransomware virus completely
[GI=method-2]System Restore is the feature that people can take advantage of after the system's crash or virus infection
Make sure that the ransomware is fully removed before running a scan with it.
Windows Previous Version is useful in retrieving individual files
Although the recovery of all files damaged by Cov19 ransomware can be a tiresome process, it can be helpful in recovering the most valuable data.
ShadowExplorer is the feature helpful for encoded files
Volume Shadow copies could be a perfect way out. However, most of the ransomware viruses enable a command that deletes these copies right after infiltration.
Unfortunately, there is no official Cov-19 decryption software
- First of all, rely on tools like or to get rid of the ransomware;
- Initiate a full scan with or similar tool to repair the needed parts of your PC;
- Use data backups of third-party data recovery software to encrypt files.
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 .cov19 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 Cov19 ransomware
How do I open .cov19 files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .cov19 ending shows that Cov19 ransomware 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 Cov19 ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Cov19 ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Cov19 ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .cov19 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.
How did Cov19 ransomware get on my computer?
The way Cov19 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 .cov19 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.
Is there a free Cov19 ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Cov19 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 "Cov19 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.
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.
Is Cov19 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 just remove .cov19 from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .cov19 extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
What does RECOVER.TXT tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name RECOVER.TXT, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
Will Fortect remove Cov19 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 Cov19 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
- VirusTotal: svchoster.exe analysis (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)