Curator ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Curator ransomware - a threat that demands money for decryption tool that supposedly should recover affected data. The intruder can affect the performance significantly when it alters more than common files on the computer.
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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Curator ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Malicious files loaded as email attachments or downloaded from hacked pages can trigger the infection. The same can happen when trojans, malware, and other intruder drop the payload of cryptovirus directly on the machine |
|---|---|
| Name | Curator ransomware |
| Encryption method | ChaCha and AES algorithm[2] mix |
| File extension | .CURATOR is the appendix that appears at the end of every affected file. It usually comes after the original name and filetype, without changing anything else |
| Ransom note | !=HOW_TO_DECRYPT_FILES=!; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact information | assistantkeys@rape.lol, mending7788@protonmail.ch |
| 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 13 more facts
| File Recovery | If no backups are available, recovering data is almost impossible. Nonetheless, we suggest you try the alternative methods that could help you in some cases – we list them below |
|---|---|
| Malware removal | Perform a full system scan with anti-malware software or other tools that rely on the AV detection engine and run the Curator ransomware removal |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .curator |
| 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 | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .curator |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 13 October 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.curator - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Curator ransomware
- !=HOW_TO_DECRYPT_FILES=!.txt - a file that contains answers on what happened and what to do next
- Malware can seriously affect Windows systems, cause errors, crashes, and other stability issues.
How Curator ransomware behaves
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Curator ransomware is the new cryptovirus that appends all encoded files with .CURATOR
Curator ransomware - a threat that demands money for decryption tool that supposedly should recover affected data.
The intruder can affect the performance significantly when it alters more than common files on the computer. Even though it focuses mainly on such alterations to images, documents, archives, there are system parts that can get damaged by this virus directly.
Once the process of file-locking is done, threat releases a ransom note file on the machine named !=HOW_TO_DECRYPT_FILES=!.txt. This is the direct message from criminals that includes money demands. Extortionists ask to write an email via assistantkeys@rape.lol, mending7788@protonmail.ch, so the recovery tool can be bought.
However, we do not recommend paying these people anything. There are no guarantees that malicious actors can restore files for you. Especially when .CURATOR ransomware virus is a new one and cannot be associated with other strains that researchers know already.
According to users who suffered from this threat, it can affect networks of devices and create serious damage to the system. You should never consider paying for the decryption tool because cybercriminals are not the ones who can be trusted.
Curator ransomware is the virus that creates issues with the system by corrupting files directly. It manages to create needed changes in the system, so the problem with affected files is not the only issue that cryptovirus creates on the infected machine. The threat directly alters files like:
The purpose of such an infection is to trigger the attack that comes in stages. The first thing that Curator ransomware goes for is the malicious changes to registry keys or shadow volume copies that when damaged, affect the persistence of the virus and file recovery significantly.
The most important thing - remove Curator ransomware properly. That is not easy, but you can employ or and run a full system scan to find all the intruders, associated programs, and files.
This is how you prepare for the file restoring. You might need additional help from features like Safe Mode or System Restore since experts often mention disabled AV tools. Check below for the guide on how to use these functions.
- images;
- documents;
- video files;
- archives;
- database.
The Curator ransomware note
Hello!
All your important data has been encrypted. !
Your files are safe! Only modified(ChaCha+AES)
There is no way to decrypt your files without unique decryption key and special software. Your unique decryption key is CURATORly stored on our server.
HOW TO RECOVER FILES???
Please write us to the e-mail:
assistantkeys[@]rape.lol
If you will get no answer within 24 hours contact us by our alternate emails:
mending7788[@]protonmail.ch
To verify the possibility of the recovery of your files we can decrypted 1-3 file for free.
Attach 1-3 file to the letter (no more than 5Mb). Indicate your personal ID on the letter:
id-RA
* No software available on internet can help you. We are the only ones able to solve your problem.
* Make contact as soon as possible. Your private key (decryption key) is onlystored temporarily.
* Please be sure that we will find common languge. We will restore all the data and give you recommedations how to configure the protection of your server.
How to remove Curator 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 Curator 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 Curator 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
.curatorand the instructions are inthe ransom note. 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 Curator ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 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 Curator 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 Curator 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 Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Paying should be considered as the last option when it comes to .CURATOR file recovery
Various triggers can ensure the difficult Curator ransomware removal process.
Malicious actors alter particular settings, to ensure that users have no other options but to pay the ransom. These demands get listed in the ransom message delivered in the form of !=HOW_TO_DECRYPT_FILES=!.txt that reads the following:
Besides being difficult to remove, Curator virus can damage your data permanently and cause issues with the system when it can run for a longer period on one device. Such issues can be fixed with PC repair tools, optimization, cleaning utilities like . There are many things you need to do before you can recover your files using copies stored in the backup device or the cloud.
Curator ransomware virus has no decryption options, so people who suffered from this malware attack need to rely on their data backups or find a third-party application for such a file restoring purpose. Otherwise, it is a waiting game, and you can store some of the ransomware files,e encrypted data on an external device.
Such a thing would come in handy when researchers release a decryptor or law enforcement leak the database of ransomware creators' information and unique victim IDs. File repair is not easy when it comes to crypto-malware and Curator ransomware encrypted data. This is why you should create backups more frequently.
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Go for a full Curator ransomware virus termination procedure right away
The serious damage that Curator file virus might create can lead to permanent losses.
The loss of data is not the worst, even though you may lose important files, documents, and other belongings. Unfortunately, ransomware payments might be the ones that frustrate victims more.
When you decide to pay the ransom, you expect to get the decryption tool right away, but criminals still do not provide you the option. You are left with affected data and fewer options to recover after infection. The best way to tackle the issue is or - security tools or AV engines.
Remove Curator ransomware from the system and then run a tool like , so the machine gets scanned and checked for altered files, corrupted programs, virus damage. Such repair of the system performance can help with later on procedures of file recovery and improve the time on your PC.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and try to run the anti-malware tool for the Curator ransomware termination
[GI=method-2]System Restore can help with file-virus elimination because this feature allows recovering machine in a previous state before the virus infection
Windows Previous Versions feature provides file restoring feature after Curator ransomware attack
When you enable System Restore, you can rely on Windows Previous Versions later on and repair files individually
ShadowExplorer - the method for data restoring after an attack or file corruption
You can try this method when Shadow `volume Copies are not fully deleted
Decryption options for Curator ransomware are limitted
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
Curator ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .curator 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.
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 Curator ransomware
How do I open .curator files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .curator ending shows that Curator 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 Curator ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Curator ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Curator ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .curator 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.
Are ransomware recovery services legitimate?
Some are, but read the offer carefully. Genuine data-recovery firms recover deleted originals from disks or rebuild damaged files, and they say so. Others promise to "decrypt any ransomware" for a fixed price, which is impossible without the key; they quietly pay the attackers and keep a margin, sometimes without telling the victim.
Be especially careful with services that contact you after you post about the attack online. Ask for references, a written method and a no-result-no-fee clause, and check the free tools on No More Ransom first.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
Is there a free Curator ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Curator 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 "Curator 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.
How did Curator ransomware get on my computer?
The way Curator 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 .curator 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 Curator 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 .curator from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .curator 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.
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.
Will Fortect remove Curator 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 Curator 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
- Reddit: Anybody ran into .CURATOR (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Encryption (read October 7, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)