CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus: what it is and how to remove it
CryLock ransomware is a virus made for money extorsion - it encrypts victims' personal files and demands a ransom for decryption tools. This cryptovirus is a version of Cryakl ransomware that was first detected earlier this year (April of 2020).
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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CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus: summary
| name | CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus |
|---|---|
| type | Ransomware, Cryptoware |
| relations | A new variant of Cryakl cryptovirus |
| appended file extension | There are several variants available, but the virus follows the following pattern to change files: filename.file_extension.[email][random_string].[victim's_ID].random_string. |
| Ransom note | A pop-up window with instructions appears after encryption is completed; the text is quoted in full below |
| Criminal contact details | Several email addresses are provided to establish contact: grand@horsef*er.org, horsef*er@tuta.io, tomascry@protonmail.com, markcry@pm.me, bigbosscry@pm.me, uspex1@cock.li, flydragon@mailfence.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 14 more facts
| Infection Aftermath | All personal data is inaccessible and renamed. A pop-up window with ransom demand emerges |
|---|---|
| malware removal | To remove CryLock ransomware, and any other malware, use a professional anti-malware software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 1 December 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus
- System health check is in order after CryLock ransomware removal.
- Use the to automatically get your device back on its feet
How CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus behaves
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
CryLock ransomware - a new version of the infamous Cryakl cryptovirus
CryLock ransomware is a virus made for money extorsion - it encrypts victims' personal files and demands a ransom for decryption tools.
This cryptovirus is a version of Cryakl ransomware that was first detected earlier this year (April of 2020). Just like its predecessors, the virus encrypts all non-system data, like photos, documents, archives, etc., and appends a three-part extension to that data.
CryLock ransomware assigns extensions and file changes quite a bit differently than other strains - it appends a random three-letter string (although latest variants add no extension at all). The more typical trait is that it also uses a contact email and the user ID. There have been several versions seen in the wild, for example:
A ransom note pop-up window abruptly appears after the encryption process is completed. Within it, developers of the CryLock virus state that only they have the required tool for decryption and that the victims will have to pay them to receive it.
To show proof that such a tool exists, the cybercriminals offer the victims to send them up to three files (no more than 5 MB) for a test decryption. Users should send the files by email to one of the provided addresses (edited due to its vulgar nature): grand@horsef*er.org or horsef*er@tuta.io.
The perpetrators also give a unique ID for all victims. Also, two timers are given: one that indicates the time left to pay the ransom or the payment will be increased; the other shows how much time is left until files are permanently lost.
Additionally, like in Recoverydatas or Pay2Key ransomware, the creators of CryLock cryptovirus are warning their victims not to rename the encrypted files or try using any third-party decrypting software as that may lead to data being undecryptable.
In most cases, the cybercriminals are not lying about one thing - they're the only ones that can unlock encrypted files. But dealing with the criminals is the worst option a victim can do. Numerous reasons not to pay the ransom . Most likely, it will lead to a lose-lose situation where the unfortunate users will not only lose money but never regain access to their data too.
To remove CryLock ransomware with a push of a button, we advise using or . Anti-malware software is a must these days, considering how many different malicious programs are created every day.
When CryLock ransomware removal is completed, users shouldn't forget to do a full system check-up. Experts suggest using the system tune-up tool to find any changes that the file-locking parasite has done to system files and its settings and restore them.
Money extortion message in the ransom note pop-up window:
- file.doc.[darkmask@mailfence.com] .[98252B9E-3FE98E00]
- file.doc.[flydragon@mailfence.com] .
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Places where different types of malware are usually hidden
Malware such as ransomware, trojan horses , and such are spread out through the internet and hidden in many different places.
The most common way to get your computer system infected is by opening spam emails and visiting malicious sites, like torrent file-sharing platforms.
With so-called spam campaigns, cybercriminals send out millions of emails either with infectious email attachments or hyperlinks that redirect unaware users to malicious websites. If any of these options is opened, a payload file is downloaded into the device, and infection starts. Always have an updated anti-malware software watching your back.
Cybercriminals can disguise their created malware as any file type (.exe, .pdf, .jpeg, .txt, and so on). So torrent websites are an ideal place to hide their creations. They can name the files whatever they think will appeal to the soon to be victims and upload them. Users should never download any software, cracks (illegal activation toolkits), or any other suspicious material from these sites.
The CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus ransom note
Price is raised! Your files have been encrypted... Price is raised!Your files will be lost after
What happened?
All your documents, databases, backups and other important files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC. The only way to recover files is to purchase a unique private decryption key. If you want to recover files, write to us by e-mail: grand@horsef***er.org with the following details:
External IP
You unique ID [512064768-1578909375]
The price depends on how fast you write to us, on timers you can see how many time do you have before price increasing. After payment we will send you the tool that will decrypt all your files. In case of no answer in 24 hours write us to this e-mail: horsef***er@tuta.io
Any guarantees?
Before paying you can send us up to 3 files for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 5Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases, backups, large excel sheets, etc.)
Attention!
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.
Use trusted email clients (gmail.com, protonmail.com, aol.com, etc.) for communication; sometimes your letters do not reach us from corporate letters.
Communication with us lasts 2-4 weeks, then we block mail for communication
Your ID [512064768-1578909375] Write to grand@horsef***er.org
How to remove CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus 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 CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus, 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 CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus 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 Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
CryLock ransomware removal instructions and system repair guide
Having your system infected is a nightmare.
The first step victims should do is to delete the malware immediately. Unfortunately, removing the virus won't unlock your infected files (which means that, the file [darkmask@mailfence.com] .[victim's_ID] or [flydragon@mailfence.com] .[victim's_ID] will remain unchanged and still unusable), but it won't delete them also.
If you had backups, don't rush to use them till you're done with the second step (below this paragraph). If you didn't have backups, export all contaminated files to offline storage, like a USB drive, and wait for a public decryption tool to be created.
The second step is to repair your devices corrupted system files and settings. We advise using the system tweaking tool to automatically detect and reverse any changes that the virus has done. Users that neglect the health of their computer systems after CryLock ransomware removal might experience severe lags, overheating, crashing, etc.
[GI=method-1]If you can't delete malware in a regular mode, access Safe Mode with Networking as explained below:
[GI=method-2]If available, System Restore can be used as well:
Make use of Windows Previous Versions
This method might be able to restore files one-by-one, but it only works under certain circumstances.
ShadowExplorer should be able to restore all your files if malware failed to delete Shadow Copies from your device.
No decryption tool is currently available
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
CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (cryLock ransomware, CryLock virus 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.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus
Should I pay the ransom in the ransom note?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
When will a decryptor for CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus 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 CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
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 CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus get on my computer?
The way CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before cryLock ransomware, CryLock virus 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.
Did CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus, but the only confirmed sign is cryLock ransomware, CryLock virus 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 CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Should I open the ransom note?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text the ransom note cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by CryLock?
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 CryLock 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 CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For CryLock ransomware, CryLock virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Infoworld: 4 reasons not to pay up in a ransomware attack (read October 7, 2026)
- Losvirus: Losvirus (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Trojan horse (computing) (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)