Donald Trump ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it
Donald Trump virus has been spotted several weeks before President Election 2016. The IT world has been expecting this to happen because hackers love to react to the hottest global news.
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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Donald Trump ransomware virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .encrypted |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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 9 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Donald Trump ransomware virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension |
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .encrypted |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 21 November 2016 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.encrypted
From our report of Nov 2016 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Donald Trump ransomware virus
- Hello User all your files have been encrypted by Donald J.
- Trump Pay in Bitcoin to the adress in the textbox to Decrypt your PC, you can Buy Bitcoins on hhtps://localbitcoins.com Now You have 72 Hours left to pay or your Decrypt Key will be Deleted and you Cant get your files Back.
How Donald Trump ransomware virus behaves
From our report of Nov 2016 · not reviewed since
Donald Trump 2 virus: serious threat or another joke?
Recently, malware researchers have discovered a Donald Trump 2 ransomware.
The virus is still under investigation; however, it is already known that hackers are serious this time. Malware encrypts data and appends .*** file extension to all corrupted files. It is still unknown which file types it targets, but it seems that all popular documents, audio, video or image files are not immune to the infection.
After successful encryption, Donald Trump 2 virus locks the screen and delivers a pop-up window saying "You Have Been F*cked Mate." In the ransom demanding message hackers inform about data encryption and the only possibility to decrypt files. Indeed, victims have 72 hours to pay the ransom in Bitcoins:
The size of the ransom may vary; however, usually cyber criminals demand from 1 to 3 BTC. We do not recommend purchasing an alternative currency and transferring the money to the cyber criminals. There are high chances that hackers will disappear after receiving your payment and do not help to recover your files.
If you got infected, remove Donald Trump 2 virus from the computer immediately and try additional data recovery methods presented at the end of the article. Lastly, we want to remind that the new President of the United States is not related to this computer infection. Hackers just took his name in order to get more attention and resonance.
From our report of Nov 2016 · not reviewed since
President Election is over, but Donald Trump virus is still spreading
Donald Trump virus has been spotted several weeks before President Election 2016.
The IT world has been expecting this to happen because hackers love to react to the hottest global news. For more than a month ransomware has been spreading and creating unpleasant surprises for the computer users all around the world. However, as soon as the United States elected a new President, hackers updated and launched a Donald Trump 2 virus.
Well, Trump became one of the most powerful people in the world and probably hackers became inspired by his success. The newest version of the ransomware is still under investigation; however, malware researchers have been certain that malware would not evolve to the huge cyber threat.
However, these predictions may not came true. As soon as the virus has appeared, it seemed that it was more than a joke tan an actual cyber threat. After infiltration, malware encrypts files and opens a pop-up window which has "Unlock Files" button.
Victims just have to click this button, and all files are restored automatically. It's unusual behavior for the ransomware; however, it still is a computer infection that has to be removed immediately. Remove Donald Trump virus with the help of reliable and professional malware removal tools such as or .
This political-themed malware uses the CRPT-TRX.exe file to execute the predetermined commands. It spreads similarly to other ransomware-type viruses, and after infiltration, it scans computer's system looking for the popular file extensions, such as .jpg, .docx, .zip, etc. Once Donald Trump ransomware finds them, it encrypts them using AES cryptography and appends .ENCRYPTED extension.
As we already mentioned, victims can simply restore their files with one click without paying the ransom. After you've done that, you should rush straight to the Donald Trump virus removal. You can't be sure if the virus will not attempt to encrypt your data repeatedly.
Please keep in mind that ransomware can also try to prevent its removal by blocking the antivirus from scanning the computer and locating the virus-affected areas. In such a case, you should check out the instructions at the end of the article.
From our report of Nov 2016 · not reviewed since
How does ransomware spread?
Both version of the Donald Trump virus spread via malicious spam emails.
Email attachments are among the most likely techniques to be used. The cyber criminals usually come up with very convincing ways to trick people into opening attachments with hidden ransomware scripts in them.
So, for the sake of the whole Internet community, we strongly recommend refraining from opening unfamiliar emails and keep away from the "Spam" catalog, where most of the potentially infectious emails usually settle. Additionally, do not participate in random online surveys and do not provide your email or any sensitive information to the unknown third-parties.
How to remove Donald Trump ransomware virus
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 Donald Trump ransomware virus 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
Donald Trump ransomware virus 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 Donald Trump ransomware virus, 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 Donald Trump ransomware virus 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 2016 · not reviewed since
How to eliminate Donald Trump ransomware?
As we have already mentioned Donald Trump ransomware removal and data recovery should not cause difficulties if carried out correctly.
First and foremost, you should prepare your device for the elimination. Obtain a trusted malware removal program (for instance, or ) and set it up so you can get it running at the moments notice. Then, unlock your files by clicking the "Unlock" button and once your data is decrypted, initiate the full system scan.
However, if you have been affected by Donald Trump 2 virus, you should look for additional data recovery methods presented at the end of the article. It is advisable that you disconnect your computer from the network during the system investigation.
This diminishes the chances that the virus will use the strategies to avoid elimination. If, however, the elimination does not go according to plan, check out the tutorial we have prepared below. These instructions should help get your antivirus running and remove Donald Trump virus from your computer.
[GI=method-1]To terminate the Donald Trump ransomware, you should end this process: CRPT-TRX.exe.
Fortunately, this virus can be easily decrypted by clicking the "Unlock" button in the ransomware notification Window. Nevertheless, if you get infected with some improved version of the virus, you can try to recover your data using the methods our experts provide below. Naturally, if you are asked to pay for the data decryption, you should not do it and stick to the safe data recovery techniques.
It can help extract accidentally deleted files and recover ransomware affected files as well. A short guide below shows how to use it:
Recovery using Windows Previous Versions feature:
Windows Previous Versions method is only feasible if the System Restore function was enabled on your device before the virus encryption. If you had it taken care of, you can try out this technique:
Recovery using ShadowExplorer:
If the virus is not malicious like Donald Trump ransomware is, you can try recovering your files from the Volume Shadow Copies. ShadowExplorer is a software which can help you do that. Steps below indicate how such data recovery can be achieved.
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
Donald Trump ransomware virus could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .encrypted and no longer open) showed exactly which ones those were. The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for Windows.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about Donald Trump ransomware virus
How do I open .encrypted files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .encrypted ending shows that Donald Trump ransomware virus 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 Donald Trump ransomware virus. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
When will a decryptor for Donald Trump ransomware virus be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 6 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 Donald Trump ransomware virus family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
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 Donald Trump ransomware virus get on my computer?
The way Donald Trump ransomware virus 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 .encrypted 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 Donald Trump ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Donald Trump ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .encrypted 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 Donald Trump ransomware virus 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 .encrypted from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .encrypted 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.
My files got .encrypted overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .encrypted extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
Will Fortect remove Donald Trump ransomware virus?
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 Donald Trump ransomware virus, 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 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)