HR ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
HR ransomware is malware that was first identified by a security researcher Amigo-A in early March 2020. While its main goal exactly the same as other file locking viruses - to make victims pay for the decryption tool, this ransomware's operation principle is a bit different - it only targets NAS (Network-attached storage) devices - so far, only Zyxel Nas326 model was seen being infected in the wild.
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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HR ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Malicious actors spread the infection via NAS device' Zyxel firmware vulnerability – escalate privileges and then plant the malware |
|---|---|
| Name | HR ransomware |
| Type | Data wiper, ransomware |
| File extension | All data located on the NAS storage is appended with .HR or .hr.hr.hr file extension |
| Ransom note | RANSOM_NOTE.txt is left behind after file "encryption" process |
| Contact | Crooks ask victims to contact them via the letsgetyourfileback@protonmail.com after the payment is made |
| 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 size | 0.113 BTC |
|---|---|
| Bitcoin wallet | 3MAqy8bi5SGrfYAzhavTjZWRNBsLvgZ8sX |
| File recovery | HR ransomware corrupts data, resizing each file to 77kb, so recovery software will not work. Even the attackers themselves may not have the working copies of files, so paying ransom is highly discouraged |
| Malware removal | Removing malware from NAS device is crucial in order to prevent it from encrypting the incoming files. For that, use anti-malware software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .dat |
| 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 | .dat |
| Attacker contacts | letgetyourfileback@protonmail.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 6 March 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.dat - Note file:
RANSOM_NOTE.txt - Contact:
letgetyourfileback@protonmail.com
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on HR ransomware
- If your system malfunctions after malware termination, scan it with
How HR ransomware behaves
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
HR ransomware is a data locker that attacks Network-attached storage (NAS) devices via firmware vulnerabilities
HR ransomware is malware that was first identified by a security researcher Amigo-A in early March 2020.
While its main goal exactly the same as other file locking viruses - to make victims pay for the decryption tool, this ransomware's operation principle is a bit different - it only targets NAS (Network-attached storage) devices - so far, only Zyxel Nas326 model was seen being infected in the wild. Researchers believe that HR ransomware is injected into the machine using a firmware vulnerability that allowed the attackers to obtain root access.
HR ransomware developers ask users to pay 0.113 BTC to the 3MAqy8bi5SGrfYAzhavTjZWRNBsLvgZ8sX Bitcoin wallet and then email them via letgetyourfileback@protonmail.com to allegedly retrieve the decryption key that could unlock data. All the information is provided inside RANSOM_NOTE.txt file, which serves as message from the virus authors. Paying the ransom may be completely useless due to a different type of file modification method in comparison to regular ransomware infections.
Unlike regular ransomware viruses that target desktop computers running Windows, HR ransomware goes for NAS devices. In the wild, most of the infections occur on regular machines and their connected networks, although there have been other file-locking malware that was targeting NAS systems before, such as Muhstik, DecryptIomega, and others. Similarly to HR ransomware, these infections were proliferated with the help of software vulnerabilities.
HR ransomware targets the most common file types on the NAS system, including .jpg, .doc, .txt, .dat, .ppt, .mp4, etc., in order to cause maximum damage to victims. However, instead of encrypting files with a secure encryption algorithm, HR virus damages files by replacing their content with a string sdsdfvjregjnuituergburiaylrgfreg784r78q3784rtgoyfp027r8go8graofbhsldcdyrfo7gf.
Each of such compromised files, regardless of its original size, turns into a 77kb size file and is appended with .HR or .hr.hr.hr extension. Despite that, researchers believe that the attackers may transfer the original files to their own servers, which may make the redemption possible. No documented recovery was yet tracked, although the Bitcoin wallet used by attackers already has two transactions.
After the encryption process, HR ransomware victims can find the following ransom note:
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the attack, believing cybercriminals should not be an option. Even if HR ransomware authors transfer all the healthy data to their own servers, it is important to note that their storage will run out of space eventually (NAS devices typically store a large amount of data).
Nevertheless, because many users may be unaware of these circumstances, HR ransomware developers may use it as a means for blackmail. Those who pay the ransom may end up scammed. Unfortunately, the affected files located on the device are damaged, and no recovery software will retrieve them.
The best advice would be to remove HR ransomware from the machine to prevent the incoming data compromise. For that, victims should employ powerful security software and perform a full system scan. In case your system is malfunctioning even after HR ransomware removal, repair it with .
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Vulnerabilities allow malware to penetrate systems automatically
Software vulnerabilities are essentially "weak spots" within the code that can be used for various purposes.
By exploiting these flaws, malicious actors can escalate privilege, disable security software, implant malware, and perform many other actions (depending on the severity of the vulnerability).
Vulnerabilities that are exploited in the wild are called Zero-day flaws, which means that they have not yet been fixed by the responsible party (essentially, developer of the software). Ransomware that attacks NAS devices is typically spread by using zero-days, so there is no way to mitigate the attack vector until the developer fixes the flaw and then releases a security patch.
Therefore, we strongly advise not using Zyxel Nas326 for the time being until the vulnerability is patched. As a minimal precautionary measure, the stored data should be backed on another storage device until the flaw is fixed.
The HR ransomware note
The harddisks of your computer have been encrypted with an Military grade encryption algorithm.
There is no way to restore your data without a special key.
Only we can decrypt your files!
To purchase your key and restore your data, please follow these three easy steps:
1. pay exactly 0.1130 BTC to this Wallet : [payment address omitted]
2. Once payment has been completed, send email to letsgetyourfileback@protonmail.com .send this id as content of email : 1mk8hjkn2old3
We will check to see if payment has been paid.
3. You will receive a text file with your KEY that will unlock all your files.
IMPORTANT: To decrypt your files, place text file on desktop and wait. Shortly after it will begin to decrypt all files.
WARNING:
Do NOT attempt to decrypt your files with any software as it is obselete and will not work, and may cost you more to unlcok your files.
Do NOT change file names, mess with the files, or run deccryption software as it will cost you more to unlock your files-
-and there is a high chance you will lose your files forever.
Do NOT send "PAID" button without paying, price WILL go up for disobedience.
Do NOT think that we wont delete your files altogether and throw away the key if you refuse to pay. WE WILL.
Email: letsgetyourfileback@protonmail.com
How to remove HR 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 HR 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
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so HR ransomware 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
.datand the instructions are inRANSOM_NOTE.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 HR ransomware, 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 HR ransomware 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 HR ransomware 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 Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Delete the HR ransomware infection from your NAS device
Since HR ransomware virus is a relatively new infection, not much is known about its operation or even HR ransomware removal methods.
Therefore, we first suggest to install a reputable anti-malware program and perform a full system scan via the App Center functionality. Additionally, you should also change all the passwords related to the device, remove unknown user accounts, get rid of unwanted apps, and set an access control list via Control Panel > Security > Security level.
However, if you could not remove HR ransomware from the system by using anti-malware, you might have to perform a full factory reset by going to the following path: Control Panel > Service > Maintenance > Configuration Backup > Factory Reset.
As for HR ransomware affected files, currently, there is no solution available, as the data gets corrupted. We suggest waiting till security researchers find out more about this data wiper.
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 HR ransomware 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 .dat and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about HR ransomware
How do I open .dat files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .dat 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.
Is there a free HR ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for HR 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 "HR 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.
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 HR ransomware get on my computer?
The way HR 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 .dat 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 HR ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by HR ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .dat 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 HR 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.
Should I open RANSOM_NOTE.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text RANSOM_NOTE.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.
My files got .dat 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 .dat 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 HR 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 HR 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
- Blockchain: 3MAqy8bi5SGrfYAzhavTjZWRNBsLvgZ8sX (read October 6, 2026)
- FireEye: What is a Zero-Day Exploit? (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)