.KoxENy1Wq virus: what it is and how to remove it
KoxENy1Wq ransomware - the virus that creates a pattern of file extensions with random characters. The infection starts silently, and the person that suffers from the attack only notices speed and performance issues before anything else.
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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.KoxENy1Wq virus: summary
| Distribution | Typically such threats spread using malicious files and techniques that allow them to inject code on the system directly. Dangerous files can be added in the package with pirated software, attached to the spam email or get downloaded from a hacked/malicious site |
|---|---|
| Name | .KoxENy1Wq virus |
| Type | Ransomware |
| The file marker | .KoxENy1Wq is the extension that appears at the end of every file affected by the encryption procedure. It comes right after the original name and the filetype determining appendix |
| Symptoms | The infection starts in the background, so the performance speed may get affected. Other processes appear running in the Task Manager, files get locked and marked using the mentioned randomized extension |
| Possible features | Generally, ransomware should deliver the ransom note file with the message from criminals, list all the details and the ransom amount, contact info there. Sometimes these threats also load trojans, worms, other threats to gather valuable information from the system[2] |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .koxeny1wq |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .koxeny1wq |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 30 June 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.koxeny1wq
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on .KoxENy1Wq virus
- KoxENy1Wq ransomware removal process requires professional anti-malware tools because there are other files and programs that need to get deleted.
- Manual termination is pretty much impossible
- When the computer is affected by such a threat, various parts of the system get altered, and you may not notice that.
- Running a check with or a different optimizer could find and fix the affected or corrupted data for you
How .KoxENy1Wq virus behaves
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
KoxENy1Wq ransomware – the cryptovirus that demands money after the file encryption
KoxENy1Wq ransomware - the virus that creates a pattern of file extensions with random characters.
The infection starts silently, and the person that suffers from the attack only notices speed and performance issues before anything else. Threat focuses on locking data in common types like images, documents, archives, databases, and so on.
The victim immediately is encouraged to pay up. This is the new sample of ransomware that was recently reported to the public, so there are not many details that could be revealed about the coding nor the payment demands or other options, contact details.
Even though it is new and not analyzed in-depth yet, KoxENy1Wq ransomware virus is powerful and can get extremely dangerous. You shouldn't wait for any ransom demands or additional messages from these criminals behind the cryptovirus. In most cases, these malicious actors focus on getting money from people, so the encryption is the first process that is launched, but system folders and functions get significantly affected too.
KoxENy1Wq ransomware is the virus that encrypts files like audio, video, pictures, archives, or even backups. It affects any found data on the system and can compromise the machine in general significantly. These files get affected when encryption algorithms provide the opportunity to change the original code of the file.
Attackers mainly focus on getting money from people, so these encryption processes end up with a ransom demand by KoxENy1Wq ransomware creators. It is not known, but you should receive the text file with a particular extortion message or the HTML window with further instructions.
Unfortunately, we don't have a particular message that KoxENy1Wq ransomware developers send to victims, but there is no reason to pay these criminals nor to think about contacting them. The best option for such infection is to clear all traces of the virus and replace affected parts using your safe files from a backup.
Besides the fact that this is the file-locking threat, KoxENy1Wq ransomware affects system files differently - the more crucial and dangerous way. It focuses on deleting system files, disabling some functions, security features, programs. It can delete files needed for the data recovery or terminate functions helping to clear the malware.
These functions need proper repair after the KoxENy1Wq ransomware removal. Or even before that, so you can use the anti-malware engine properly. Rebooting the system in Safe Mode with Networking can help to disable the virus and run the proper system scan using the chosen AV.
You need to remove KoxENy1Wq ransomware properly and focus on data recovery. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done because threats like this can damage system files and functions too. You may experience huge losses when you decide to pay since after such cryptocurrency transfers criminals tend to disappear with the promised decryption tool.
Make sure to clear the damage that KoxENy1Wq ransomware virus caused before you add any external device on the computer or recover files using automatic methods. Decryption tool is not developed for this threat, you have fewer options, but some of them are listed below the article. Be careful and double-check before adding new files on the machine.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Ransomware payload injecting methods
The threat can distribute the malicious code via files spread on social media, hacked or malicious sites.
Even fake software installers, updates found on the internet can trigger drops of the malicious files and trojans, malware that is designed to spread ransomware files and infect machines further. It is a common method.
The more sophisticated and stealthy technique that allows cryptocurrency extortion-based malware to end up on the machine involves email notifications and attachments on them. When you receive the email stating about financial information, invoices, order details, and you see the familiar company, you may not think before opening the email.
However, such deceptive and misleading notifications include files with a malicious script that triggers the infection, encryption process. Any suspicious sender, file attachments, random shortened links in the message should be considered a red flag and encourage you to delete the email right away.
How to remove .KoxENy1Wq virus
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 .KoxENy1Wq virus 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
.KoxENy1Wq virus 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 .KoxENy1Wq virus, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while .KoxENy1Wq virus 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 Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
KoxENy1Wq virus termination tips and information about data recovery
The first thing that you need to know about KoxENy1Wq ransomware removal is that the threat cannot be easily found and deleted from the machine manually.
You need to get proper anti-malware or security tools, so all the threats and associated programs get detected and eliminated.
You can remove KoxENy1Wq ransomware with tools like or , but you need to choose the AV engine that can find the threats. Not all of them do so due to differences in databases of malware that are used. When you tried a few programs, and the issue is found, you only need to clean the machine by following the suggestions.
Remember that KoxENy1Wq ransomware virus changes things in system folders too, so you need to clear them before you go for any data recovery options. Rely on and fix the affected data, corrupted system files, program functions. Then you can try to restore encoded files when the system is virus-free. Rely on your file backups for that or third-party programs that can restore data for you.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the system in Safe Mode with Networking to have a better chance to remove KoxENy1Wq ransomware
[GI=method-2]You should rely on System Restore feature that can recover the machine to a previous state for you
You can use this program for encrypted or accidentally deleted files
Windows Previous Versions feature helps with data damaged by KoxENy1Wq ransomware virus
When you enable the System Restore feature, you can try this method for file restoring purpose
ShadowExplorer is the file recovery feature that OS can offer you
When KoxENy1Wq ransomware is not affecting Shadow Volume Copies, you can rely on the ShadowExplorer for the proper recovery
There are no available decryption tools
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
.KoxENy1Wq virus could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .koxeny1wq 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 .KoxENy1Wq virus
How do I open .koxeny1wq files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .koxeny1wq ending shows that .KoxENy1Wq virus 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 .KoxENy1Wq virus. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
When will a decryptor for .KoxENy1Wq virus be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 6 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 .KoxENy1Wq virus family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
Did .KoxENy1Wq virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by .KoxENy1Wq virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .koxeny1wq 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.
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 .KoxENy1Wq virus get on my computer?
The way .KoxENy1Wq virus 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 .koxeny1wq 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 .KoxENy1Wq virus 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 .koxeny1wq from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .koxeny1wq 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.
Will .koxeny1wq 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 .koxeny1wq. 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 .KoxENy1Wq virus?
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 .KoxENy1Wq virus, 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
- Twitter: #Ransomware Ext: .KoxENy1Wq (read October 6, 2026)
- Threatpost: REvil Ransomware Gang Adds Auction Feature for Stolen Data (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)