encS ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
encS ransomware – cryptovirus that encrypts audio, video files and pictures, documents, or even databases and backups. Threat tries to ensure the complete lockdown of your files, so there are no other options left but to pay the demanded ransom.
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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EncS ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Files with malicious script and purpose of dropping the ransomware payload get added to spam emails as file attachments. Macros[1] get enabled by the user additionally and triggers the malicious script |
|---|---|
| Name | encS ransomware |
| File marker | The family is marking files with .encS or .encL extensions that mark encrypted files indicating affected data from untouched pieces |
| Ransom note | Decrypt instructions.txt; the text of the note is not in our records |
| Contact email | JackieData@cock.li is the email address that criminals prefer to be contacted when the payment can be transferred for the decryption key. This is not recommended because malware creators can install other files on your machine or disappear when you transfer the money |
| Family | DeathHiddenTear ransomware is the initial version of the cryptovirus that was released earlier and can possibly be decrypted if you contact Michael Gillespie. Since this is the updated version of the primary virus, there is no information about possible decryption for files affected by encS files virus |
| 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 11 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Encrypted file extension | .encs |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .encs |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 8 April 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.encs
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on encS ransomware
- Decrypt Instructions.txt is the file that the virus places on the machine in various places, so victims can find instructions and ways to fix the affected files.
- This file contains a brief message about encryption that states that victim needs to write creators to get the opportunity to decrypt files
- encS ransomware removal is the procedure that should involve anti-malware programs that can detect and remove this virus with associated programs and other malware
- AV detection engines can terminate the virus but not the virus damage.
- For such in-depth cleaning and PC repair, get or different system optimizer and recover system functions needed for the data recovery
- All of your files are encrypted, to decrypt them write us to email: JackieData@cock.li
How encS ransomware behaves
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
encS ransomware is the virus that locks files on the computer and demands money from the victim for the alleged data unlocking
encS ransomware – cryptovirus that encrypts audio, video files and pictures, documents, or even databases and backups.
Threat tries to ensure the complete lockdown of your files, so there are no other options left but to pay the demanded ransom. This is the updated version of the DeathHiddenTear ransomware, so the extension that is placed on encrypted files can be either .encS or .encL.
However, the first one is more common and used more often, hence the name of this variant. This appendix comes after the original file name and is placed at the end, after primary file-type extension, so for example, when Picture.jpg gets encrypted, you cannot see the content or even the logo of this file, it becomes blank.
Also, the file name is altered to Picture.jpg.encL or Picture.jpg.encS. Unfortunately, you cannot see what is in the document or video file when the original code is changed, so you cannot know which files are especially valuable.
This is a dangerous type of malware because it involves blackmailing and money transfers. Users may get permanently damaged devices and lose money after payments that still result in no decryption key. So remain calm and try to remove the ransomware without contacting these people.
Even though encS ransomware virus affects common types of files with this encryption process, it manages to alter settings of the system, so you cannot access options for data recovery and features that help with virus removal. When the ransom note file Decrypt instructions.txt is delivered on your screen, it seems that the solution is contacting people behind the virus and paying the asked amount.
However, experts never recommend contacting such criminals since they only focus on getting money and damaging as many systems as possible. You have no idea how big this ransom is. In most cases, these payments are asked in the form of cryptocurrency and can go up to hundreds of dollars or even thousands.
The safest way to deal with such infection is to remove the virus using anti-malware tools and then clean the machine from any traces, encS ransomware virus damage before you fully restore those encoded files. Data backups can help you the most, so storing copies of your files on an external device may be the best habit in such instances.
Unfortunately, not all users tend to back up their files, and when they encounter encS ransomware virus infection there are fewer options for them. Remember to stay away from contacting virus creators and ignore the encouragement to pay that is displayed in the ransom note:
Ignoring this message from encS ransomware creators can ensure that your machine is not affected by additional malware that can be sent by criminals when you write them yourself. Once you wrote the email, you need to pay the demanded amount because criminals only care for your money, there is no time for negotiation.
However, recommendations from security experts include cleaning the system, performing encS ransomware removal, and ignoring these messages. If you go straight for virus termination once you receive the message, you may save some parts of the machine if the virus hasn't started to alter settings and system folders yet.
Your machine can get infected with encS ransomware with help from trojans, worms, and other malware. You may not even notice this payload drop, so the infiltration is happening way before the encryption process and other symptoms. Unfortunately, that means your computer may be altered and damaged significantly before you even get this note on the screen.
You need to remove encS ransomware as soon as possible and use proper anti-malware tools for that, so all the associated programs, malware, and applications get deleted at once without leaving anything behind. There might be additional stages that release other malware on the machine after the ransomware infection, so you definitely need to double-check and use reliable software.
Depending on data recovery before terminating encS ransomware virus itself can be risky and dangerous because your files can get encrypted or otherwise damaged by the malware that runs on your computer. The system needs to be virus-free before you add external devices with data backups or rely on third-party programs.
You can rely on Safe Mode or System Restore features that allow proper encS ransomware elimination. Below the article, we prepared a step by step guide for these functions. Also, we strongly recommend repairing functions of the operating system with and similar system optimization tools. You can check for affected system files, damaged settings, and repair parts of the OS like registry entries to ensure the smooth performance.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Spam campaigns deliver malware-laced files
Trojans, worms, other malware programs can silently infiltrate the machine and run background processes, infect machines with additional threats like ransomware.
Especially ransomware. Such payload drop is silent and can happen directly in the system while the user is unaware.
Also, ransomware itself and these intruders that are designed to spread crypto-malware all can reach your device from malicious emails, pirated software cracks, and game cheats downloaded from torrent sites and services or malicious pages. The most common way to infect safe-looking files is macro viruses that need to be enabled by the user when the "Allow content" form shows up on the document, and the payload is loaded.
You can rely on official sources only, get programs from providers, and reliable sites to avoid these instances. Also, pay closer attention to emails, senders, and files attached to these safe-looking notifications that, in reality, include malware infection-triggering data. Be more suspicious and delete any questionable material from the email box. It is better to be safe than sorry.
The encS ransomware note
The note is called Decrypt instructions.txt.
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove encS 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 encS 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
EncS 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 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 encS 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 encS 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 Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
encS ransomware virus elimination includes the use of professional anti-malware tools
Make sure to remove encS ransomware from the machine completely, so your device is running smooth, and data recovery is not going to end with damaged files.
To achieve these results, go for professional anti-malware tools or security programs like or and run the full system scan, so all the parts of the machine can be thoroughly checked.
After the encS ransomware removal, it is important to ensure that the system you plan adding new files too is safe. Any traces of the cryptovirus can affect the performance or even trigger encryption still. Then fix these issues and safely restore encrypted data using your backups or third-party apps.
[GI=method-1]When the AV tools get disabled by the encS ransomware, you can reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and then freely run the program
[GI=method-2]Go for System Restore feature and recover the machine in a previous state when malware was not active
Windows Previous Versions helps with encoded files
When System Restore gets enabled, you can rely on Windows Previous versions and recover encrypted valuables
ShadowExplorer - a method for encS ransomware encrypted file recovery
When encS ransomware is not affecting Shadow Volume Copies, you can use this alternative
encS ransomware decryption tool is not released yet
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
EncS ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .encs 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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about encS ransomware
How do I open .encs files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .encs has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
When will a decryptor for encS ransomware be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 7 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 encS ransomware 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.
Did encS ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by encS ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .encs 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.
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 encS ransomware get on my computer?
The way encS 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 .encs 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 encS 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.
Will .encs spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .encs. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
If I delete encS ransomware, do my files come back?
Unfortunately not. Deleting the program only ends the attack; every file that already has the .encs ending stays encrypted, because decryption needs a key that only the attackers hold.
That is why this guide separates removal from recovery. First make sure encS ransomware is gone with an offline scan, then work through the recovery list:
- backups
- OneDrive history
- Previous Versions
- copies on other devices and
- if one exists
- a decryptor
Do not rename or edit the encrypted files in the meantime, and keep them even if nothing works today.
Will Fortect remove encS 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 encS 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
- Wikipedia: Macro virus (read October 7, 2026)
- Virustotal: Virus detection rate (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)