DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
DMR ransomware, also known as DMR64 ransomware, is a newly-released malware that provides all information about the ransom demands in the !!! READ THIS !!!.hta message that is displayed in the HTML format.
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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DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The most common distribution places of ransomware viruses are email spam, software cracks, malvertising, infectious hyperlinks, and malicious software updates |
|---|---|
| Name | DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware virus/ransom-demanding threat/file-locking malware |
| Extension | Once the ransomware runs the encryption module on all files found, it appends the .DMR64 extension to each filename |
| Note | All information about the ransom demands and conditions are written in the !!! READ THIS !!!.hta message that comes in the format of an HTML file |
| Ransom sum | Crooks do not provide an accurate sum of money that needs to be transferred in order to receive the decryption tool. However, these people demand Bitcoin cryptocurrency |
| 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
| Email(s) | The criminals provide Agent.DMR@protonmail.com and Agent.DMR@aol.com email addresses as a way to make contact. The first email address is the primary one while the second email is given if the crooks do not respond within 48 hours via the first one |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Agent.DMR@protonmail.com, Agent.DMR@aol.com |
| Encrypted file extension | .dmr64 |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Ransom note | A message left on the computer; the text is quoted in full below |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .dmr64 |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 27 October 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.dmr64 - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware
- You should choose the automatical elimination option for DMR ransomware.
- Antimalware software is capable of spotting all infected locations and deleting all suspicious/malicious components from the system
- If you have discovered any damaged components on your computer system, you can try fixing your machine with the help of software
How DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware behaves
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
DMR ransomware - a file-locking parasite that has been detected by 48 AV engines
DMR ransomware, also known as DMR64 ransomware, is a newly-released malware that provides all information about the ransom demands in the !!!
READ THIS !!!.hta message that is displayed in the HTML format. Here crooks urge for a Bitcoin ransom (the accurate sum is not described) in exchange for the decryption key for .DMR64 files.
Agent.DMR@protonmail.com and Agent.DMR@aol.com are the crooks' email addresses where the second email is an alternative one if the hackers do not respond within 2 days via the first email address. We suggest not following the provided ransom demands as you might get lured into a scam and spend your money on receiving nothing instead of the key.
DMR ransomware offers to send the criminals one small file that does not include any important information such as big excel documents, backups, or various databases for free decryption as evidence of the decryption software's existence.
However, even if the cybercriminals have the decryption tool, that does not mean that these people will hand it over to you after the payment process. Regarding this, you should avoid paying any demanded ransom that comes from DMR64 ransomware as you might easily get scammed and left with no key at all.
Besides, you can see that DMR64 ransomware developers urge victims to purchase Bitcoin as these transfers are the only ones the crooks accept. Cryptocurrency transfers do not require any personally-identifiable information and this way the criminals can stay anonymous and the entire payment process remains safe and untracked.
If DMR ransomware has a more advanced module, it might be able to delete Shadow Volume Copies of encrypted data by executing specific commands via PowerShell. This way the malicious actors seek to harden the decryption process by using third-party tools. Additionally, the crooks threaten that other software would not work:
DMR ransomware might also inject specific tasks that allow scanning the computer for encryptable files once in a while. So, if you are infected with this malware, DO NOT load any new files on the system as they will also get encrypted. Another thing that the virus might ensure is its automatical startup process whenever the computer is booted.
However, these are just a few features that DMR64 ransomware can be capable of. Threats like this can also modify the Windows hosts file to prevent the user from visiting security-related networks and collecting valuable information regarding the parasite's removal process and alternative data recovery solutions.
Continuously, DMR ransomware can bring other malicious programs to your computer. These can turn out to be anything - trojans, worms, cryptocurrency miners, etc. Where is one virus, there will usually appear another cyber threat.
Regarding this fact, you should not postpone DMR ransomware removal. Once you see the first signs of the infection (the ransom note and the .DMR64 encryption appendix), you have to take immediate action. Install a trustworthy and strong antimalware program that will be able to detect and eliminate the malware properly.
When you remove DMR ransomware, there might remain some damaged components on your Windows computer system. If this happens, you should perform a fixing process on your machine. Our recommendation would be to try as it might help you with the repair task.
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Experts discovered that ransomware is most likely to get distributed via email spam
Security specialists from Virusai.lt have made an investigation on the most popular ransomware distribution sources and the results showed that these parasites are most likely to distribute via email spam messages. Criminals pretend to come from reliable shipping organizations such as FedEx, healthcare, or banking firms and deliver random victims letters that include infectious hyperlinks or malicious attachments clipped directly to the message itself.
When opening email messages, always identify the sender, read throughout the content carefully and search for possible grammar/style mistakes. Continuously, do not click on any suspicious hyperlinks that are included in a message you were not expecting to receive and do not open any clipped attachments without scanning them with antimalware as there might be malicious strings secretly hidden and waiting for a user to step on them.
However, email spam is not the only ransomware distribution source. These virtual parasites can get delivered through software cracks that are illegitimately put up on peer-to-peer networks such as The Pirate Bay, BitTorrent, and eMule. A piece of advice would be to download and install all of your preferred products and services from original sources only. This way you can avoid unexpected infiltration of malicious programs.
Furthermore, ransomware can get spread via malvertising, malicious software updates, and infectious links that are posted on third-party networks. Secondary websites always carry the risk of secret malware infections as they do not include required protection.
What you should do is make sure that your computer is secured at a higher level. For this purpose, install reliable antimalware protection and make sure once in a while that the program is operating properly.
The DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware note
All your files have been encrypted!
Your documents, photos, databases and other important files have been encrypted with strongest encryption. you can return all your files if you want to restore files, write us to the e-mail: Agent.DMR@protonmail.com
Write this ID in the subject e-mail:1E857D00
Only in case you do not receive a response from the first email address withit 48 hours, please use this alternative email adress: Agent.DMR@aol.com
It is in your interest to respond as soon as possible to ensure the restoration of your files, because we wont keep your decryption keys at our server more than one week. The price depends on how fast you write to us.
Free decryption as guarantee
Before paying you can send us up to 1 file for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 1Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)
How to obtain Bitcoins
You can buy bitcoin from here:
https:localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:
http:www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins/
Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
Using another tools could corrupt your files, in case of using third party software we don't give guarantees that full recovery is possible so use it on your own risk.
How to remove DMR ransomware/DMR64 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 DMR ransomware/DMR64 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
DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Copy
the ransom noteand one or two files ending in.dmr64to a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For DMR ransomware/DMR64 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 DMR ransomware/DMR64 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 Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
DMR ransomware elimination guide + data recovery solutions
DMR ransomware removal is a thorough process that needs to be completed carefully and by paying a lot of attention.
Regarding this fact, you should employ reliable software that will carry out the task for you. Manual elimination might bring only more damage if you are not a highly-experienced user. Besides, no person has the type of efficient and safe skills as antimalware software holds. This makes antivirus programs more capable of handling the removal process.
Continuously, after you remove DMR ransomware, you should check if there are some damaged system locations in your Windows computer. For this purpose, employ software such as or and perform a full computer checkup process.
When DMR64 ransomware has been successfully removed and all damage is repaired, you can start thinking about data recovery solutions. Keep in mind that it is not worth paying the demanded ransom price as you will face a big risk of getting scammed and left with no decryption tool at all.
Rather than taking such risk, you should check the below-provided data recovery solutions some of which might appear helpful if completed as required.
[GI=method-1]To disable malicious activities on your Windows computer system, you need to boot your machine in Safe Mode with Networking. This mode can be accessed by completing the below-provided guiding steps:
[GI=method-2]To deactivate all malware-laden objects on your machine, you should opt for System Restore. You can activate the function by performing these instructions:
If the ransomware virus has locked some of your files, you have a chance of recovering them by employing this software.
Activate Windows Previous Previous Versions feature for data recovery:
You can try using this software for restoring some of your files. However, note that this method might not work properly if you have not activated System Restore in the past.
Shadow Explorer might be helpful with data restoring tasks:
If the ransomware virus did not eliminate the Shadow Volume Copies of your encrypted data, you can give this third-party tool a try.
Currently, cybersecurity experts are working on the DMR ransomware decryption key.
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 .dmr64 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 DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .dmr64 files?
That depends on the family behind the .dmr64 extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
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.
How do I open .dmr64 files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .dmr64 ending shows that DMR ransomware/DMR64 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 DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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 DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware get on my computer?
The way DMR ransomware/DMR64 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 .dmr64 and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Did DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by DMR ransomware/DMR64 ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .dmr64 and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before. Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Is DMR ransomware/DMR64 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.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .dmr64 attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .dmr64 stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
Will Fortect remove DMR ransomware/DMR64 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 DMR ransomware/DMR64 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
- 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)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)