Dis ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Dis ransomware is a computer infection that encrypts all personal data, renames it, and generates ransom notes to demand money for decryption. If your original filenames are appended with id-(user ID).[decrypt@disroot.org].dis extension that means your computer is infected.
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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Dis ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Spam emails, deceptive ads, file-sharing platforms |
|---|---|
| name | Dis ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware, malware |
| Family | Dharma |
| Appended file extension | id-(user ID).[decrypt@disroot.org].dis extension is appended to original filenames |
| Ransom note | Pop-up window and FILES ENCRYPTED.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 13 more facts
| Criminal contact details | decrypt@disroot.org |
|---|---|
| Virus Removal | This task should be entrusted to professional anti-malware software, which can take care of that automatically |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .dis |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Dis 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 | .dis |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 19 January 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.dis - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Dis ransomware
- It's essential that malware victims use system repair apps such as the to restore all corrupted system files and settings
- all your data has been locked us You want to return?
How Dis ransomware behaves
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Dis ransomware – a cryptocurrency extorting cyber infection that locks all personal files
Dis ransomware is a computer infection that encrypts all personal data, renames it, and generates ransom notes to demand money for decryption.
If your original filenames are appended with id-(user ID).[decrypt@disroot.org].dis extension that means your computer is infected. So if your files were affected by this virus, each of them would have this or a similar look:
Another clear indication of Dis virus intrusion is the appearance of the FILES ENCRYPTED.txt text file and a decrypt@disroot.org pop-up window. These are ransom notes containing instructions on establishing contact with the assailants and regain access to your locked files.
If you spotted any of these indications, then you came to the right place. This article provides a detailed summary of the Dis ransomware virus, its spreading techniques, how to avoid them, and, most importantly, how to eliminate it from infected devices automatically.
While there is no working decryption tool for Dharma family variants, there are some alternative methods that could help you to recover your files - check the details below.
Dis virus derives from a well-known ransomware family. Cryptoviruses from it was first spotted in 2016, but the group got really active from the first quarter of 2019. Since then, new variations are introduced each week. Here are a few examples of the latest ones:
All these versions have many similarities. All of them rename the encrypted files with a complex triple extension that consists of a unique appointed user ID, cybercriminals' contact email address, and a few random characters in the end that end up as the name of the ransomware.
Another similarity is that most of the ransom notes are almost identical - only the email address differs. Dis ransomware virus developers send this message in their FILES ENCRYPTED.txt ransom note:
This message is displayed in the ransom pop-up window:
The purpose of these notes is to intimidate victims into complying with the criminals' demands and contacting them immediately. We highly advise against any of these actions. Instead, victims should remove Dis ransomware from their devices and forget about this misfortune.
As a rule, malware infections make alterations to system files and settings, which lead to various system irregularities like crashing, BSOD, freezing, performance loss, and so on. Cybersecurity specialists at SenzaVirus.it recommend using the tune-up tool to repair the system issues.
- picture.jpg.id-C482E416.[decrypt@disroot.org].dis
- 14x ransomware
- Aol ransomware
- Hub ransomware
- yoAD ransomware
The Dis ransomware note
YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED
Don't worry,you can return all your files!
If you want to restore them, follow this link:email decrypt@disroot.org YOUR ID -
If you have not been answered via the link within 12 hours, write to us by e-mail:decrypt@disroot.org
Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
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.
How to remove Dis 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 Dis 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 Dis 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
.disand 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 Dis 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 Dis 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 Dis 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 Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Cautiousness helps prevent malware infections
Cybercriminals are constantly developing new, more improved malware and ways to distribute it.
There are various kinds of malware (Trojans, ransomware, keyloggers, etc.), and it's spread using different techniques (Remote Desktop Protocol attacks, drive-by downloads, deceptive ads, etc.).
Two of the most popular ways to distribute malware are email spam and file-sharing platforms. We've all received spam emails in our lives. Some of it is harmless, while others might contain virus payload files hidden in the email attachments or hyperlinks in the message.
File-sharing platforms, such as the most popular torrent portals, are a hotbed for malware. Cybercriminals exploit the lack of end-to-end security by offering to download their creations camouflaged as game cracks, pirated expensive software, and other eye-catching stuff.
To evade malware and potentially unwanted programs (adware, browser hijackers, scareware, etc.), please don't open any attachments and links in emails that look at least slightly suspicious. Also, please refrain from using torrent sites are they are crawling with all kinds of malware.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Instructions for Dis ransomware removal with anti-malware software
First of all, if you have an anti-malware app but your device got infected, that means you have to replace it with a trustworthy tool like or .
These apps are capable of preventing such attacks in the future and can take on Dis ransomware removal.
Cryptoviruses can disable anti-malware tools. If that happened and the virus can't be deleted, you must try to eliminate it in Safe Mode with Networking. Please see our detailed guide below this chapter and follow the step-by-step instructions if you don't know how to do that.
Once you remove Dis ransomware from an infected device, you should take care of corrupted system files and settings.
[GI=method-1]Removing infections with Safe Mode with Networking
[GI=method-2]System Restore could also be used for virus removal
This app might be able to restore .dis extension files.
Recovering files with Windows Previous Version Feature
If System Restore was enabled, this feature might allow victims to recover .dis extension files.
Using Shadow Explorer for data recovery
If the infection didn't delete Shadow Volume Copies, then Shadow Explorer could be a helpful data recovery tool.
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .dis and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about Dis ransomware
How do I open .dis files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .dis has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
Is there a free Dis ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Dis 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 "Dis 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.
Did Dis ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Dis ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .dis 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.
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 Dis ransomware get on my computer?
The way Dis 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 .dis 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 Dis 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 delete the ransom note?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. the ransom note contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Will .dis spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .dis. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will Fortect remove Dis 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 Dis 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
- Senzavirus: SenzaVirus (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)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)