JungleSec ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
JungleSec — a ransomware virus that encrypts files and demands a ransom of several hundreds dollars. This ransomware is not an ordinary one as the main system targeted by it is Linux.
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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JungleSec ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Spam email attachments |
|---|---|
| Name | JungleSec |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Danger level | High. Can access system files and encrypts them |
| Ransom note | ENCRYPTED.md; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact emails | junglesec@anonymousspeech.com |
| 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 12 more facts
| Extension | .jungle@anonymousspechcom |
|---|---|
| Decryption | Not available yet |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .jungle |
| 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 | 6 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .jungle |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 27 December 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.jungle - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Dec 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on JungleSec
- Best tool when dealing with ransomware is
How JungleSec ransomware behaves
From our report of Dec 2018 · not reviewed since
JungleSec ransomware is a dangerous crypto-virus attacking Linux users
JungleSec — a ransomware virus that encrypts files and demands a ransom of several hundreds dollars.
This ransomware is not an ordinary one as the main system targeted by it is Linux. Furthermore, this type of cyber threat can appear because of an unsecured IPMI. After ransomware encrypts files, it immediately changes its names to .jungle@anonymousspechcom file extension.
As a result, they become totally useless and cannot be opened or used when desired. In exchange for a special key, which is needed to recover locked data, cybercriminals are demanding 0.3 bitcoin.
We do NOT recommend paying this ransom as there is a possibility that these people will disappear after the payment is done. This means that you can put yourself at high risk of permanent data and money loss. Nevertheless, JungleSec virus has the ability to create a backdoor and decreasing the computer's safety.
Right after JungleSec ransomware finishes the encryption process, you can spot the ENCRYPTED.md file placed on a desktop or in some folders on your computer. This file is ransom note which it contains various details about the attack. Often, these files contain login instructions and more information on what happened to victim's files or what can happen if he or she fails to pay the ransom. Typically, ransom messages contain:
In this case, the ransom note reads the following:
Additionally, we should warn you that JungleSec virus can also try to mutate and start spreading on Windows. In this case, there is a high possibility that it will initiate such malicious actions as modifying the host of the infected machine and changing Windows Registry. As a result, you cannot only be left without your files but can also find serious issues while trying to use your computer properly.
The main reason, why you should remove JungleSec ransomware, is money extortion behavior. Cybercriminals have provided an email address called junglesec@anonymousspeech.com, but we do not recommend contacting these people in any way.
Keep in mind that they are criminals and this communication cannot lead to positive results. It is known that virus developers have already been disappearing after the payment is done and people have been left without money and their important files.
Cybersecurity specialists at Virusi.hr have also noted that paying the demanded 0.03 BTC and then installing the "recommended" decrypter cannot guarantee the safeness of your computer.
You should focus on the elimination of this virus first and only then start trying different decrypters to recover your files. Running a full system scan can be helpful if this ransomware got additional files planted on your computer. Additionally, jump to our Data recovery section.
Furthermore, some reports that were recently released, claimed that JungleSec ransomware has attacked some victims which admitted that the infiltration happened due to an unprotected IPMI server. Moreover, researchers have discovered that the crooks use this type of command to encrypt data:
Once this line is typed, the crooks only have to enter a specific password which allows them to encrypt documents that are stored on the infected PC. After the encryption, the .ENCRYPTED.md ransom note pops-out and urges for money in order to receive the decryption tool.
However, crooks often scam the victims of JungleSec ransomware, so better note that securing your IPMI is necessary, what you have to do is change the default password and make it accessible for the admin only.
- ransom amount;
- ransomware name;
- contact email/s;
- required cryptocurrency;
- time limit;
- instructions for creating a wallet;
- identification key;
- suggestion for a test decrypt.
From our report of Dec 2018 · not reviewed since
Insecure emails and virus-filled attachments can be harmful
If you do not pay enough attention while browsing online, you can easily download cyber infections and other malicious programs toy our computer.
Keep in mind that the main way used to spread malware is spam. Malicious email attachments can contain safe-looking attachments that are filled with macro viruses and similar files that are used to download ransomware to the system.
These malicious attachments can look like Pdf, Word or Excel files and give no suspicion to you. Nevertheless, once they get into the system, these files secretly download malware and set it according to preferences.
To prevent ransomware infiltration, keep in mind that you carefully double check every attachment you find in the email. no matter how safe it looks. Besides, always pay attention to sender's address, letter's body, and similar information. Finally, make sure you clean your spam box occasionally and delete those suspicious emails without opening.
The JungleSec ransomware note
───────────
JUNGLESEC
───────────
What happen to my data ?
———————–
Your data are encrypted. If you try to bruteforce, change the path, the name or do anything that can alterate a single byte of a file(s) will result to a fail of the recovery process, meaning your file(s) will be loss for good.
How can I retrieve them ?
————————-
– To known the process, you must first send 0.3 bitcoin to the following address :
– Once the payment made, send your email address to junglesec@anonymousspeech.com, do not forget to mention the IP of server/computer
Will you send the process recovery once payment is made ?
——————————————————–
– We have no interest to not send you the recovery process if payment was made.
– Once the payment is made, you should receive the recovery process to decrypt your data in less 24 hours
By Jungle_Sec
How to remove JungleSec 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 JungleSec 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 JungleSec 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
.jungleand the instructions are inthe ransom note. 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 JungleSec, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 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 JungleSec 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 JungleSec 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 Dec 2018 · not reviewed since
Specialists: JungleSec ransomware elimination requires professional help
JungleSec ransomware is known to target Linux OS, but there is no guarantee that the virus won't be modified and designed to affect Windows.
In this case, we can recommend you to use the recovery instructions that are provided right below this post.
Nevertheless, you need to remove JungleSec ransomware first, without leaving its leftover files on your computer. For that, you should rely on certified tools and programs in the first place instead of trying to perform the elimination yourself.
You can delete this ransomware and all the related pieces with such tools as or that will scan the whole system to check if there are no additional viruses hiding inside the system.
JungleSec ransomware removal is a difficult and time-consuming process, so you should not perform the elimination manually, especially if you are not an advanced computer user. Keep in mind that if you plug in an external drive or similar device to your computer while the ransomware is there on your computer, you can damage files that are saved on it permanently.
[GI=method-1]To remove ransomware from Windows, you can reboot the computer in Safe Mode with Networking first by using this guide:
[GI=method-2]Try System Restore feature to delete JungleSec by disabling it and running a full system scan:
To try it, follow this guide:
Windows Previous Versions feature is a great tool for individual files' recovery
If you want to recover individual files you should use Windows Previous versions feature, but this can be used only if System Restore feature was enabled before the attack
ShadowExolorer is an alternative feature that can help you restore your files
If you got lucky and ransomware did not delete Shadow Volume Copies you can recover your files with ShadowExplorer
JungleSec decryption tool is not available
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 JungleSec 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 .jungle 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 JungleSec ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .jungle files?
That depends on the family behind the .jungle extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
Should I pay the ransom in the ransom note?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
How do I open .jungle files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .jungle ending shows that JungleSec 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 JungleSec. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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.
Did JungleSec steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by JungleSec, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .jungle 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.
How did JungleSec get on my computer?
The way JungleSec 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 .jungle 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 JungleSec 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 delete the ransom note?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. the ransom note contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Will .jungle 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 .jungle. 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.
Will Fortect remove JungleSec?
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 JungleSec, 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
- Network world: What is IPMI? (read October 7, 2026)
- 2-spyware: Ransomware viruses threatened home computer users and corporations in 2017 (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Macro virus (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)