Covm ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Covm ransomware - cryptovirus that makes common files unreachable to have a purpose for blackmailing message. This is ransomware that belongs to the DJVU family and is pretty much identical to any of the variants that came out as recently as May 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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Covm ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Pirating services, malicious files attached to emails and hacked or infected sites all can directly trigger the ransomware payload drop, so your device gets affected when you do not pay attention to such details |
|---|---|
| Name | Covm ransomware |
| Family | Stop/Djvu virus |
| File extension | .covm is the appendix that appears added at the end of every file affected by the encryption |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt – a file that is dropped on the Desktop, and in other folders containing encrypted data |
| Ransom amount | Criminals offer the discount of 50% for people who contact them in the first 72 hours, but the amount initially is $980 |
| 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 15 more facts
| Danger | The threat involves blackmailing and direct extortion because criminals care for people's funds and aim to get as many payments from people as possible |
|---|---|
| Additional features | The malware drops additional viruses to exfiltrate sensitive data, hides encryption by showing the Windows Update window, so malicious activities cannot be noticed easily. The threat also modifies some hosts files, so cybersecurity sites cannot be accessed on the machine |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | helpmanager@mail.ch, restoremanager@firemail.cc |
| Encrypted file extension | .covm |
| 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 | 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 | .covm |
| Attacker contacts | helpmanager@mail.ch |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 22 May 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.covm - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
helpmanager@mail.ch
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Covm ransomware
- Covm ransomware removal requires attention and proper tools like anti-malware programs or security software that can detect there's and malicious behavior
- The computer is significantly affected when such threat manages to infect the system, so PC repair tools like are needed for fixing the virus damage properly
The Covm ransomware 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-WJa63R98Ku
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 Covm 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 Covm 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
Covm 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
_readme.txtand one or two files ending in.covmto 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 Covm ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 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 Covm 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 May 2020 · not reviewed since
Covm ransomware is the specific virus that encrypts documents, images, and other files and forces people to pay the ransom to restore them
Covm ransomware - cryptovirus that makes common files unreachable to have a purpose for blackmailing message.
This is ransomware that belongs to the DJVU family and is pretty much identical to any of the variants that came out as recently as May 2020. These particular versions of the family get reported by Michael Gillespie that researchers the behavior and activities of STOP ransomware since the beginning. Unfortunately, the tool that helped tons of victims previously is not supported now.
STOPDecrypter was useful when creators used offline IDs. This feature allowed researchers to recover many filers using the obtained victims' ID. Right now, this option is not used because in the summer of 2019 malware creators updated their coding procedures, started to use powerful encryption algorithms, and turned to online IDs instead of offline keys.
These changes affected the functionality of Covm ransomware virus and left fewer options for the victims. In addition, cybercriminals behind the family are known for releasing versions each week. All these variants are not many changed, so researchers can determine the particular malware pretty quickly. However, there are still no options for proper decryption.
Unless you encounter the version that uses offline keys. In such cases, Emsisoft has a DJV Decryption tool possibly capable of recovering files for some people. If you want to try the tool, you need to know that your ID listed in the ransom note _readme.txt ends wit t1 because that is the sign of an offline ID.
The text file appears on the system when encoding procedures are done. The text in the file is a ransom message which informs victims about possible solutions and lists contact information (helpmanager@mail.ch and restoremanager@firemail.cc), ransom amount ($980 04 $490), and ways to get cryptocurrency since that is the preferred method of receiving money.
However, experts always say that this is not the best solution because ransomware developers aim to get your money, and powerful hackers like members of this group are not concerned about your files and other belongings.
There is little to no possibility that files will get restored once you pay up, so it is more advisable to clear the virus damage, terminate Covm cryptovirus, and then repair the system and replace files using reliable data backups.
Covm ransomware uses the AES-256 encryption algorithm that allows this threat to encrypt specific documents, images, audio, or video files. If that data has no copies on and gets locked the sad reality is that recovery of the encoded data is impossible. Researchers sometimes manage to recover dome of them, but this is too powerful ransomware to get cracked easily.
Covm ransomware mainly runs in online mode, so access to the AES-256 key is gained, and since those IDs are stored on remote servers, criminals need to connect during each encryption process. This is how the offline IDs vs online IDs work. Unfortunately, offline IDs are more promising for victims since the same key gets used for at least a few victims of some variant.
Since Covm ransomware is an updated version of the solution that involves decryption tools is not possible. However, paying the amount that is demanded in the ransom note is also not the best options:
Covm ransomware creators obtain payments and promise to provide decryption tools, keys needed for the processes. But these encouragement messages shouldn't be taken seriously because any contact between you and these extortionists can lead to more damaging malware and permanent losses of money and files.
Covm ransomware removal is the step you need to take as soon as you encounter the message from criminals. The sooner you remove this threat, the better. However, it may be difficult due to all the changes in the system settings and the malware ability to disable some functions. Reboot the machine in safe mode and run the AV tool to gather and remove all malware pieces.
You need to remove Covm ransomware as soon as possible and using proper anti-malware tools because the cryptovirus can infiltrate the machine, encrypt your data and continue running in the background to damage the performance and crucial functions. It enters via email or other methods that allow malicious files, so you cannot be sure that this threat is the only one affecting your device.
Recent reports state that Covm ransomware and other three of this type tend to spread trojans for data tracking, and collecting, so sensitive details about the victim can be used for later scams. Anti-malware tools can check places on the system and find traces, related malware programs, or payload files and backdoors.
This is not the method that could help with Covm ransomware encrypted files and restore encoded data for you. File recovery can happen with data backups and third-party programs designed for such purposes. However, you still need to remember that ransomware can affect files in these folders:
When files in such places and other directories get damaged, changed or affected by Covm ransomware system functions suffer from corruption and some of the OS functions cannot be used for file restoring or security operations.
Then, you can freely choose the method of data recovery, a tool designed to recover files and restore data changed by the Covm ransomware virus. We have a few additional tips and program solutions for you below the article. You can also find more solutions alternative for decryption tools.
- %System%.
- %system32%.
- %Roaming%.
- %Local%
- %AppData%
- %LocalLow%.
- %Temp%.
- %ProgramData%.
- %Windows%.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Primary methods of crypto-malware infiltration
Cyber infections, in most cases, rely on gullible people that do not pay close attention to details and skip through steps or ignores red flags on suspicious online material.
You can receive an email from a suspicious sender and don't ask too many questions before you delete the notification itself. But some users tend to read all these spam emails and download files attached to messages.
Unfortunately, such behavior leads to infections and payload dropper activities. Criminals pretend to send legitimate files, invoices, or other documents, so people click on links or downloads malicious macro-filled MS documents. But the more used methods include even shadier techniques.
People tend to cheat and search for software cracking tools, cheat codes for games, licensed versions of tools for free. This is who torrent pages thrive, and malware can infect machines too.
When you do not trust a sender, the source of the material you install, you should take malware infections into consideration. This virus family can spread threats around as executable or DLL files packed with pirated data. Stay away from anything risky.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Get rid of any traces and damage that Covm files virus caused
Since Covm ransomware virus is the serious threat and the 227th version in the notorious family, based on other versions and victim reports, paying is not the option for you.
If you have encountered this virus on your device, try to reboot the machine into Safe Mode with Networking as soon as possible and download the anti-malware tools on another device.
When you have or added on the external device, you can run the full system scan on the infected machine and perform Covm ransomware removal. This automatic method can find and show all potential intruders and delete them from the machine. You do not need to be tech-savvy at all.
Unfortunately, you can't terminate the virus manually. Or at least it takes to long and can be dangerous if you do not know what to do. Thankfully there are many tools that can remove Covm ransomware and help you tackle the damage of this virus.
Once the system is cleared, run and fix any damaged files or functions on the system. Then you can be safe while recovering data directly on the computer.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode, so the system is fully accessible, and AV tool can run and remove Covm ransomware
[GI=method-2]System Restore is the feature that recovers machine in a previous state when the virus was not active
Accidentally deleted files, data encrypted by Covm ransomware or affected by any other threat can get restored using this program
Windows Previous versions restores data after malware infections, if needed
When System Restore is enabled, Windows Previous Versions can help with encrypted files
ShadowExplorer - for Covm ransomware file damage
When Shadow Volume Copies are not deleted by the virus, files can be restored using ShadowExplorer
Covm ransomware decryption not available yet
You can try this tool that previously worked for other DJVU versions
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
Covm ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .covm 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.
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 Covm ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .covm files?
That depends on the family behind the .covm 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 .covm files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .covm ending shows that Covm 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 Covm ransomware. 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 Covm ransomware get on my computer?
The way Covm 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 .covm 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 Covm ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Covm ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .covm 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 Covm 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.
What does _readme.txt tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name _readme.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.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .covm attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .covm stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
Will Fortect remove Covm 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 Covm 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
- Twitter: New Djvu variant report (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 6, 2026)
- Threatpost: 'Double Extortion' Ransomware Attacks Spike (read October 6, 2026)
- VirusTotal: Malware sample detection rate (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)