Fordan ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Fordan ransomware is known as a family member of Djvu and STOP ransomware viruses. This cyber threat works as a file-locking malware than encrypts data and demands a price of $980 in order to unlock it.
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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Fordan ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Email spam |
|---|---|
| Name | Fordan |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Family | Djvu/STOP |
| Appendix | .fordan |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
| 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
| Price | For the start, it is $980, however, crooks offer a 50% discount if victims contact them in 72 hours of time |
|---|---|
| Contacts | mosteros@firemail.cc and gorentos@bitmessage.ch email addresses, and @datarestore telegram account |
| Decryptor | You can try using this one. |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .fordan |
| 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 | .fordan |
| Attacker contacts | mosteros@firemail.cc |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 22 May 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Names and addresses to look for
- File extension:
.fordan - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
mosteros@firemail.cc
How Fordan ransomware behaves
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Fordan ransomware - a Djvu/STOP-related threat that offers a 50% discount under specific conditions
Fordan ransomware is known as a family member of Djvu and STOP ransomware viruses.
This cyber threat works as a file-locking malware than encrypts data and demands a price of $980 in order to unlock it. Furthermore, the hackers offer a discount to $490 if victims show contact via the given email addresses in the time period of three days.
After successful encryption, all of your files' names are changed by adding the .fordan extension to each of the document. Continuously, Fordan virus produces the _readme.txt ransom message and provides instructions for the ransom payment.
Bad actors who promote Fordan ransomware, provide three ways of contacting them. They give to email addresses: mosteros@firemail.cc and gorentos@bitmessage.ch. Also, they have provided the @datarestore telegram account in the ransom message. These people claim, that if contact is shown in three days, they will decrease the price in half.
However, our suggestion would be to not believe in these hackers as they might appear to be scammers as well. Rather than paying for decryption of .fordan files.
Note that, if you want to succeed in file recovery, you need to remove Fordan ransomware first. You have to get rid of all malicious processes that this malware has been running and eliminate all infected files in your computer system. In order to find these components before removal, use antimalware programs such as and similar.
Fordan ransomware removal cannot be completed manually due to the difficulty of this threat so you will not find any manual removal guide this guide. However, you can take a look at some steps that will allow you to stop malicious activities. These methods are enabling Safe Mode with Networking or the System Restore feature.
Remember that Fordan ransomware will bring you only harm, so the sooner you terminate this dangerous threat, the better. Some of them are even capable of opening paths for other viruses, injecting malicious executables in the system, and running malware-laden processes in the background which trigger your computer work.
Fordan ransomware can be identified with reputable antimalware programs or even by the user himself. If this infection has been spread on a particular computer, the signs of ransomware will be .fordan files and this message:
From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since
Ransomware distribution techniques and prevention measures
According to researches that were made by NoVirus.uk experts, ransomware infections are very dangerous not only for their operating principle but also for their distribution techniques.
Most commonly, these threats spread via email spam. Crooks plant harmful links directly into the message or attach an infected document to the email.
You should always be careful with your email and sort it out every time. If some letters fall to your spam section, better delete them without even reading. However, even if official-looking letters come straightly to the inbox, you still should use a reputable virus scanner to check all attached components and make sure that they are safe to open.
Continuously, all suspicious-looking networks and websites need to be avoided. Prevent yourself from using third-party downloading pages, visiting peer-to-peer sites, and similar content. Furthermore, avoid clicking on hyperlinks and advertisements that create a suspicious look to you.
The Fordan 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-2jkyb95pOj
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" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.
To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
mosteros@firemail.cc
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
gorentos@bitmessage.ch
Our Telegram account:
@datarestore
Your personal ID:
-
How to remove Fordan 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 Fordan 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
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so Fordan cannot reach more files. Pause OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync, because synced folders upload the encrypted copies over the good ones.
Leave the PC on but offline while you read the next steps, since a restart can let the ransomware run again. This applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
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
Your files now end in
.fordanand the instructions are in_readme.txt. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
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
Our last check found that for Fordan, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Look again yourself in the No More Ransom list and the free decryptor pages of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, which add new families every year.
A decryptor needs the ransomware gone first, or it encrypts the files again. Keep at least one copy of the encrypted files on an external drive, even if no tool works yet.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Removing Fordan does not bring the files back, but it has to come first. Start with Defender's Full scan, then the offline scan from the same Scan options page, which checks the disk before Windows loads.
If the scan cannot start, use Safe Mode with Networking. Delete the ransom notes only after you have saved a copy, because removal tools sometimes leave them behind on Windows 11 and 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
Windows keeps shadow copies for restore points and backups, and some ransomware fails to delete them.
vssadmin list shadowsin an administrator Command Prompt tells you at once whether any exist.If they do, right-click the folder that held your files, open Properties > Previous Versions, select a version from before the attack, and click Open to check it before you Restore or copy the files out. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have the tab.
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
A backup made before the attack is the surest way back. Connect it only once the PC is clean, then restore from File History, Windows Backup, OneDrive's Restore your OneDrive or your own external copies.
Without a backup, try file recovery: the originals that Fordan deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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 May 2019 · not reviewed since
Fordan ransomware removal instruction for user guidance
If you have been looking for ways to remove Fordan ransomware, you have come to the right place.
Our cybersecurity experts have provided some steps that will let you enable all malicious activities and also we have displayed some data recovery software and completion guides that can help you with data restoring purposes.
However, note that Fordan ransomware removal is not an easy process to perform. This is the main reason why manual elimination is not possible for this case. By trying to get rid of the cyber threat on your own, you might bring only more errors and problems to your computer system and all related components/software.
Rather than taking such risks, you should download and install a reputable computer scanning tool such as , , or . Once you have this software on your machine, use it to locate Fordan virus and all malware-laden objects. Cleaning all infected directories in your system is very important, otherwise, the ransomware virus might renew its activities within the next computer boot.
[GI=method-1]By activating Safe Mode with Networking, you should be capable of disabling the ransomware virus. For further instructions, look down here:
[GI=method-2]The System Restore feature might also allow you to deactivate all malicious activities on your computer. Turn this function on by following the below-given guide:
By using this tool exactly as displayed in the following instructions, you might have a chance of recovering some of your individual documents and data files.
Windows Previous Versions tool might be capable of restoring your data:
This tool can appear very handy if wanted to recover some corrupted or blocked files. However, in order to work, this method requires the activation of System Restore.
Use Shadow Explorer and recover files:
If Fordan ransomware has touched your files, you can give this tool a try. Make sure that the virus did not eliminate Shadow Copies as this is a condition necessary for data recovery.
Currently, computer experts are working on the official Fordan ransomware decryptor. However, you can try this version of STOP decryption tool.
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.
Backups: the 3-2-1 rule
Keep three copies of files that matter, on two kinds of storage, with one copy offline or off-site.
A disk that stays plugged in is reached by malware like Fordan together with the PC; one you connect only for the backup is not.
On Windows 11, File History keeps versions on an external drive, and OneDrive keeps earlier versions of synced files. Before restoring anything, make sure the PC no longer shows files that end in .fordan and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
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 Fordan ransomware
How do I open .fordan files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .fordan ending shows that Fordan 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 Fordan. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did Fordan get on my computer?
The way Fordan 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 .fordan 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.
Are ransomware recovery services legitimate?
Some are, but read the offer carefully. Genuine data-recovery firms recover deleted originals from disks or rebuild damaged files, and they say so. Others promise to "decrypt any ransomware" for a fixed price, which is impossible without the key; they quietly pay the attackers and keep a margin, sometimes without telling the victim.
Be especially careful with services that contact you after you post about the attack online. Ask for references, a written method and a no-result-no-fee clause, and check the free tools on No More Ransom first.
Is there a free Fordan decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Fordan 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 "Fordan 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.
Did Fordan steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Fordan, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .fordan 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 Fordan 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 .fordan from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .fordan 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 Fordan?
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 Fordan, 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
- CSO online: What is ransomware? How these attacks work and how to recover from them (read October 6, 2026)
- Marketing terms: Email Spam (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)