Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware is the threat that encodes common files to have a reason for the ransom demand delivered in the _readme.txt immediately after the encryption process. The note from cryptovirus developers includes a typical text used by DJVU ransomware versions for years now and a particular victims' ID, contact information.
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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Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Pirated files, software cracks, licensed tool version keys, infected documents attached to spam emails, other data injected with malicious script distributed on corrupted websites, hacked versions of legitimate services. The main vectors for delivering the ransomware payload used by this family are infected files[1] |
|---|---|
| Name | Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware |
| Type of the malware | Cryptovirus/ File locker |
| Family | STOP/ Djvu ransomware |
| Recent versions of appendixes | .rote, .zobm, .kodg, .mbed, .grod, .peet, .lokf, .toec, .meka, etc. |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt; the text is quoted in full below |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 12 more facts
| Contact emails | datarestorehelp@firemail.cc and datahelp@iran.ir |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | A ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Attacker contacts | Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 27 November 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware
- _readme.txt is the file that delivers all the needed information for the victim.
- There is no debate whether you need Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware removal or not, but the best solution for the infection is the anti-malware program that can detect and eliminate this virus fully
- Encryption affects common types of data, but system folders, directories, and other system preferences get corrupted without your notice.
- To tackle that virus damage, you should run or another system tool on the machine, so files get repaired without the risk
How Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware behaves
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware is the virus that uses the RSA encryption algorithm and demands the victim to contact criminals via the email
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware is the threat that encodes common files to have a reason for the ransom demand delivered in the _readme.txt immediately after the encryption process.
The note from cryptovirus developers includes a typical text used by DJVU ransomware versions for years now and a particular victims' ID, contact information. The datarestorehelp@firemail.cc email is the feature that many victims indicate online mostly. It is believed that these last two versions, including the same email in their contact information section, are more active than other ones released recently.
If you find that your machine got affected by the Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware virus, it resembles Zobm ransomware and Rote virus infections and indicates that your computer needs some serious malware cleaning if you want to get your files back. Unfortunately, solutions don't include decryption for a while because the last two tools capable of file recovery cannot help with versions released after August 25th.
First Djvu virus variants were decryptable with the help of STOPDecrypter after that, Emsisoft released a tool that can decrypt files affected by the 148 versions and some other files encoded using offline keys. However, for others, the best solution remains anti-malware tools and data backups.
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware is the malware that focuses on blackmailing victims because developers are focused on gaining money from users. The attack starts with choosing files for encryption, then the particular algorithm is employed for encoding - the original code of the image, video, audio file or document gets altered and makes the data unopenable.
Encryption is possible due to particular keys that get used by the virus. However, the more recent versions in the same family, including Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware, started to rely on more difficult and unique methods when the connection to the C&C server is included when IDs get generated. This is why decryption is no longer possible for variants released after August of 2019 when these major changes got made.
The file that contains all the contact information and the particular victims' ID is named _readme.txt and gets delivered on the desktop immediately after file-locking. The message remains the same for all the versions and offers the discount as an options for victims. You shouldn't believe a word in the following note:
Since decryption is not an option, you should remove Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware and focus on file recovery after that. Keeping the threat on your machine gives nothing and can give more time for the additional scripts to get loaded. In some cases, AZORult trojan gets released on the already infected machine to collect data and personal or sensitive details from the computer.
You may store encrypted files on external devices with the hope that the decryption tool for the virus will get released later on. However, many researchers speculate that Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware remains persistent until law enforcements get to catch hackers behind it or their databases get leaked, encryption process changes again.
Experts note that you need to go straight to Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware removal after receiving the ransom message because the biggest damage is done, and there are only a few minutes when you still avoid further infections and permanent corruption to the system.
When you get rid of the malware using the proper anti-malware application, you can then focus on recovering files encrypted by the Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware. That might be difficult or barely possible because of the encryption methods and malware persistent.
Additionally, Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware runs other processes in the background and alters parts of the system to keep the machine infected for longer. Shadow Volume Copies get deleted, security functions disabled and Windows Registry entries deleted or changed.
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Cracked software and game cheats lead to legal and PC security issues
The most common technique used by malware providers and developers is relying on gullible people and deceptive methods.
Hacked website, copies of legitimate services, and provider domains spread fileless malware, trojans, cryptocurrency miners, and even the notorious ransomware.
Each team of criminals, virus family has different methods, and go-to techniques, so do this one. Pirated software, video game cheatcodes, software cracks, and other content that can be downloaded from torrent services, networks, and illegal sites come pre-packed with malicious files.
Spam emails often do too, so paying attention to such details can cost you important files or even money. When an infected file ends up on the machine, you as a user only need to trigger the malicious script execution that happens with a few clicks of the mouse: when you install the crack or download the file filled with macros. Keep anti-malware tools that can check such downloads beforehand.
The Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc 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-4NWUGZxdHc
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:
datarestorehelp@firemail.cc
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
datahelp@iran.ir
How to remove Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc 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 Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc 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
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and identify the family
Find the ransom note, usually a
.txt,.htmlor .hta file in every folder or on the desktop, and copy it with one or two encrypted files to a USB stick.From another device, upload them to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note and the file extension. Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note for the report.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc 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 Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware elimination and file recovery options
Since Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware virus is one of 187 variants in the notorious cryptovirus family, you should react as soon as possible and don't even consider paying a penny for those criminals. Fulfilling their wishes gives nothing for you in the long run because the alleged decryption key most likely is not going to reach your device.
As for Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware removal, you need to employ professional anti-malware tool and try to eliminate any malware-related files or applications to ensure that data can be recovered on the safe system. This is best achieved with tools like , or that keep the machine protected from various intruders.
As for your encrypted files and particular damage that the virus left behind, you need to remove Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware itself completely and then try to get the system back to a normal state using a system application like that may find and fix corrupted system files for you. File recovery after encryption takes a bit more effort, some options are listed below.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the system in Safe Mode with Networking and then run the AV tool to remove Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware completely
[GI=method-2]System Restore feature is the method that can be useful for virus termination because you recover the system in a previous state
Windows Previous Versions recovers data affected by the ransomware
When you fight Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware using System Restore, you can recover locked data using Windows Previous Versions feature
Try ShadowExplorer for data recovery
Unfortunately, this method can work for a system infected by Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware when the virus is not affecting Shadow Volume Copies that are needed for the restoring process
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware belongs to Djvu family, so it might be possible to decrypt some files with DJVU decryptor
Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/Djvu virus can be helpful for files encrypted using offline keys
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
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (ransom notes called _readme.txt in every folder) 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.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware
When will a decryptor for Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 7 October 2026, no free decryptor is known. Decryptors usually appear after one of three events:
- police seize the attackers' servers and keys
- the authors leak or publish the master keys
- researchers find a mistake in how the ransomware generates keys
Some families got a tool within weeks, others never. Keep the encrypted files and the note on an external drive, check No More Ransom every few months, and follow news about the Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
Did Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is ransom notes called _readme.txt in every folder, 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 Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware get on my computer?
The way Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc 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 ransom notes called _readme.txt in every folder, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
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 Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc 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.
Can I get my files back without paying after _readme.txt appeared?
Sometimes. Free decryptors exist for a number of families, especially older ones or those with flaws in their encryption. Other routes are copies the ransomware missed:
- OneDrive version history
- File History
- a backup drive that was disconnected
- email attachments
- phone photos
Shadow copies are often deleted, but it is worth checking. Identify the family from _readme.txt first, because that tells you which of these routes is realistic. Keep encrypted files even if nothing works now; decryptors are sometimes released months later.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc?
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 Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc 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 Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc 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 Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc ransomware, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Encryption (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)