Docm ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Docm ransomware appears to be a dangerous malware form related to the Globe Imposter family. There are some user reports released about this cyber threat emerging on their Windows computers and leaving files with the .DOCM appendix added.
Facts checked October 6, 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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Docm ransomware: summary
| Name | Docm |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware |
| Family | Globe Imposter |
| Extension | .DOCM |
| Ransom note | Restore-My-Files.txt |
| Price | No particular details are given |
| 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
| Spreading source | Infectious files and documents, fake updates, spam messages |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .docm |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .docm |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 25 June 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.docm - Note file:
Restore-My-Files.txt
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Docm
- can help you to detect all malicious components
How Docm ransomware behaves
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Docm ransomware - a sibling of the malicious Globe Imposter family
Docm ransomware appears to be a dangerous malware form related to the Globe Imposter family.
There are some user reports released about this cyber threat emerging on their Windows computers and leaving files with the .DOCM appendix added. Furthermore, infected people claim that they have received the Restore-My-Files.txt message with urges to buy the original decrypter for .DOCM files from the cybercriminals directly.
What is even more interested, some people have discovered that .DOCM files virus appeared after downloading a particular update for Microsoft Word documents by pressing the "Update now" button. This seems to have left the victim with encrypted files and sadly, no official decryptor has yet been released.
Docm virus seems to have been troubling numerous Windows users lately. By entering the computer through fake updates, malicious attachments, or spam messages this malware seems to have reached great success throughout its operating history. What makes it even more effective is that there is no original decryption key released for it yet.
As Docm ransomware text message claims, victims can by decryption software for their locked files from the cybercriminals directly but they need to download the Tor browser and follow instructions for payment transferring. However, as you can see from the ransom note, no particular details about the demanded price are provided:
Docm ransomware also appears to offer to send the criminals a file for free decryption just to show evidence of the existing decryption key. However, we suggest not believing in any promises that are provided by these people as all of them often appear to be fake and just one big scam for money swindling purposes.
Nevertheless, Docm ransomware and similar cyber threats might relate to deletion of Shadow Volume Copies, injection of other malware forms, planting malicious executables and other files. Additionally, these infections can run malicious processes in the background and successfully avoid being detected by antivirus programs.
Avoid all possible damage that might be caused by this file-encrypting malware and use a tool such as to remove Docm ransomware from the Windows computer system permanently. Additionally, this software is capable of detecting all other infectious components that might have been planted by the ransomware virus during the attack.
Docm ransomware removal process is a reputable activity to carry out, so you should no try to eliminate the malware on your own. Talking about data recovery purposes, some possibly-successful software has been added at the end of this article. Try out some of these methods as it is definitely better than paying a big amount of many to hackers.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Ransomware and phishing emails are the best combination
Experiencing file encryption and ransom demands is an accurate sign of a ransomware infection.
Have you ever wondering from where do these cyber threats appear? However, mostly crooks use various sneaky techniques to infiltrate malware straight into the victim's computer system which frequently appears to be successful.
Note that ransomware viruses and similar malware have the ability to infiltrate the machine through spam messages. If you ever receive questionable-looking emails that include grammar mistakes, incoherent text, and dubious files attached, this should be a warning to you that such a message should be instantly deleted rather than opened.
Furthermore, there might be other ransomware distribution sources that can carry a malicious payload. For example, many cybercriminals misuse open third-party sources that do not fit security requirements for malware injection into secondary downloading links, pop-up notifications, and other similar directories.
You will not regret purchasing such software if you choose ane expert-tested program and keep it regularly updated. Additionally, you can use the scan feature for checking all received files, documents, and programs.
The Docm ransomware note
All my files are encrypted as .DOCM . A .txt file in every folder as below:
All your files are Encrypted!
For data recovery needs decryptor.
How to buy decryptor:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 1. Download Tor browser - https://www.torproject.org/ and install it.
| 2. Open link in TOR browser - http://decrmbgpvh6kvmti.onion/
| 3. Follow the instructions on this page
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note! This link is available via "Tor Browser" only.
------------------------------------------------------------
Free decryption as guarantee.
Before paying you can send us 1 file for free decryption.
------------------------------------------------------------
alternate address - http://helpinfh6vj47ift.onion/
How to remove Docm 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 Docm 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
Docm 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
Restore-My-Files.txtand one or two files ending in.docmto 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 Docm, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 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 Docm 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 Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
The elimination process of .DOCM files virus
Removing dangerous cyber threats such as DOCM virus requires advanced skills in the threat removal field and if you lack some, the manual elimination technique might not be a good possibility for you. Also, this type of malware might have brought numerous malicious files and components to the targeted computer system which might too hard to detect by the human eye.
First of all, a full system scan is necessary. This type of process can be completed by downloading and installing a tool such as , , or . Performing a complete machine check-up will allow you to detect all possibly-malicious content.
After you remove DOCM ransomware from your Windows operating system and the threat is no longer posing any harm, you can continue with data restoring steps. Choose the right file recovery method and you might have the chance of bringing back some of your documents/files back to their previous states.
According to cybersecurity experts from Virusai.lt, you should be concerned about your data safety in the future. To prevent similar attacks such as DOCM ransomware in the upcoming future, you should find a remote server or device to store your data. You can use portable drives such as USB Flash Drive and similar.
[GI=method-1]Boot your computer to Safe Mode with Networking to deactivate all malicious activities that are ongoing on the system:
[GI=method-2]By activating System Restore on Windows, you might be capable of preventing hazardous activities from continuing:
Use this third-party tool to recover some of your files that have been locked by the ransomware virus.
Windows Previous Versions feature should allow you to restore some documents/files:
Try using this tool to restore some encrypted files. Follow all steps exactly as shown in the instructing guide:
Shadow Explorer software should be helpful for data recovery purposes:/GIS-HEADER]
Using this software might allow you to succeed in some data restoring steps:
No official .DOCM files decrypter has been discovered yet. Experts should release it after the discovery soon.
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 .docm 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.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about Docm ransomware
How do I open .docm files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .docm ending shows that Docm 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 Docm. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did Docm get on my computer?
The way Docm 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 .docm 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 there a free Docm decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Docm 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 "Docm 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.
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.
Did Docm steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Docm, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .docm 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 Docm 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 .docm from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .docm 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 Restore-My-Files.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text Restore-My-Files.txt 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 Docm?
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 Docm, 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
- Emsisoft Support: .DOCM Ransomware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Community: .DOCM Ransomware (read October 6, 2026)
- CSO Online: What is the Tor Browser? How it works and how it can help you protect your identity online (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)