Doples ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Doples ransomware virus is a cyber threat that makes data useless and then lures people into paying the ransom by offering the discount. This virus is developed by cyber criminals who focus on the encryption process with the purpose of getting payments from victims.
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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Doples ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Spam email attachments |
|---|---|
| Name | Doples ransomware |
| Type | Cryptovirus |
| File extension | .doples |
| Encryption method | RSA and AES |
| Ransom amount | $980 or $490 with the alleged discount |
| 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 15 more facts
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
|---|---|
| Ransomware family | Djvu ransomware |
| Contact email | blower@india.com, blower@firemail.cc |
| Other important features | Blocks access to spyware related websites, delivers Windows update pop-up window during the encryption, installs other malware like data-stealing trojans |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .doples |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| 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 | .doples |
| Attacker contacts | blower@india.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 25 March 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.doples - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
blower@india.com
From our report of Mar 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Doples ransomware
- Use trustworthy anti-malware like for the Doples ransomware elimination or another tool that indicates this virus as dangerous
How Doples ransomware behaves
From our report of Mar 2019 · not reviewed since
Doples ransomware is the virus that belongs to malware family which is known to alter registry entries and block users from accessing cybersecurity sites
Doples ransomware virus is a cyber threat that makes data useless and then lures people into paying the ransom by offering the discount.
This virus is developed by cyber criminals who focus on the encryption process with the purpose of getting payments from victims. The most important encryption process is followed by marking encrypted data when .doples appears at the end of every encoded file.
Then ransom note gets placed on the screen, and _readme.txt delivers the message about $980 payment, but if you contact developers in less than 72 hours, you get 50% off the initial ransom. However, this is not the last ransomware attack step.
This virus is developed to alter registry entries and block the access to spyware related pages - a feature most of the previous versions in Djvu ransomware family has. Also, STOP ransomware and Kropun ransomware virus can be associated with this crypto-extortion based threat. Remember that although Doples ransomware virus creators offer to test decrypt your files, paying is not an option.
Doples ransomware virus belongs to a cryptovirus category and also can be associated with ransomware family called STOP virus or more particularly Djvu ransomware. This malware family is known for distributing AZORult trojan which steals passwords and other information about users.
Additionally, researchers discovered that Doples ransomware changes various system preferences on the targeted device and enters registry keys that make spyware and cybersecurity-related sites inaccessible for the ransomware victims. This means that most of the affected devices cannot show the information about virus removal since this content is blocked.
However, Doples ransomware starts the attack with file encryption during which AES and RSA encryption algorithms get used to encode and lock various files. When the document, photograph or audio file is locked, the file extension .doples gets added to the end of the name. This virus can affect data like:
During the process of encryption, Doples ransomware may deliver a pop-up window stating about Windows update installation to mask the encoding. Then ransom note is opened on the screen and file _readme.txt placed in every folder with encrypted files. The ransom message reads the following:
Doples ransomware creators offer to lower the price and test decrypt a few of your files to create the feeling of trust and lure people into paying the demanded amount. However, this is not advisable by any of the cybersecurity researchers because criminals often ignore their victims when the payment is transferred.
Currently, there is no official tool developed for Doples ransomware decryption, so you need to rely on virus termination and then worry about the file recovery. Unfortunately, the best solution for this type of virus is data backups on external devices or cloud services.
Make sure to remove Doples ransomware using reliable anti-malware, and check the system again to eliminate any virus damage with software like . This way your device can get thoroughly cleaned and all malware terminated before any data restoring attempts.
Doples ransomware removal requires additional help from anti-malware tools because manual ransomware termination is not advisable. Since this virus can alter other parts of the device besides encrypting your personal files, the full system check is crucial.
- photos;
- images;
- music files;
- recordings;
- documents;
- databases;
- archives.
From our report of Mar 2019 · not reviewed since
Spam email containing infected attachments distribute ransomware
Email spam and vulnerability exploitation are the most common cryptovirus distribution techniques.
Criminals who create these threats trick users into opening spam emails and downloading attached files by posing as a well-known company. The email may state about the delivery or payment information and contain a document with financial details or shortened hyperlink.
Unfortunately, once the document is downloaded and opened on the computer, the malicious script gets triggered and launches the ransomware directly or installs other virus spreading malware. Also, there are a few reports that this particular virus attempts to brute force the passwords for the system by breaking through RDP.
To avoid the ransomware infiltration via the email, you should focus on the regular email box cleaning and paying more attention to details on those emails you get on an everyday basis. As many experts note, you should avoid opening file attachments from suspicious emails filled with typos or containing questionable hyperlinks.
The Doples ransomware note
ATTENTION!
Don't worry my friend, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important
are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
hxxps://we.tl/t-ll0rIToOhf
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail "Spam" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.
To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
blower@india.com
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
blower@firemail.cc
Your personal ID:
How to remove Doples 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 Doples 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
Doples 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
_readme.txtand one or two files ending in.doplesto 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 Doples ransomware, 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 Doples 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 Mar 2019 · not reviewed since
Eliminate Doples ransomware as soon as you notice any virus activity
You need to employ reputable anti-malware tools for the proper Doples ransomware removal.
This is crucial and advisable because professional anti-malware programs give the advantage of detecting all related programs and files and removing them all at once. This way your device becomes clean and virus-free.
To remove Doples ransomware safely but surely, get the antivirus program and scan the system fully. We highly recommend getting tools like this from reputable sources, official developers or distributors. Then you can be sure that the program works correctly. We can recommend , , or for this procedure.
Doples ransomware virus alters system settings and other parts of the device, so make sure to eliminate virus damage and clean the system completely. For that, you can use additional tips and solutions listed below.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking to remove Doples ransomware
[GI=method-2]Doples ransomware removal may be easier if you use System Restore feature
Windows Previous Versions feature recovers your important files
Unfortunately, this feature can work when System Restore is enabled first
ShadowExplorer method for file recovery
It is possible to restore data affected by Doples ransomware if Shadow Volume Copies remain untouched
The official encryption tool doesn't exist for Doples ransomware
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 .doples 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.
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 Doples ransomware
How do I open .doples files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .doples ending shows that Doples 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 Doples 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.
Is there a free Doples ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Doples 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 "Doples 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.
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.
How did Doples ransomware get on my computer?
The way Doples 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 .doples 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 Doples ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Doples ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .doples 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 Doples 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 just remove .doples from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .doples 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 _readme.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text _readme.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 Doples 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 Doples 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
- Virustotal: Detection results for Doples executable (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 6, 2026)
- 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)