Nbes ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Nbes ransomware is a dangerous parasite that encrypts data by adding the .nbes appendix and urges a Bitcoin ransom. The notorious malware travels via software cracks or email spam and infiltrates Windows computers unknowingly.
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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Nbes ransomware: summary
| Name | Nbes ransomware |
|---|---|
| Category | Ransomware virus/file-locking threat |
| Family | Djvu/STOP ransomware |
| Appendix | Once files are locked by using a unique cipher, the .nbes appendix is added to each filename |
| Ransom note | This malware provides the _readme.txt ransom message that is the typical information note of all Djvu ransomware variants |
| Ransom price | At first, the criminals urge for $490 in exchange for the decryption tool. However, these people threaten to raise the price up to 50% if the victims do not transfer the money in BTC within 3 days |
| 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 16 more facts
| Crooks' emails | Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc and datahelp@iran.ir are written in the ransom note as a way to make contact with the cybercriminals |
|---|---|
| Malware spread | All STOP ransomware variants are known for distributing the AZORult Trojan virus and Nbes ransomware is not an exception |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc, datahelp@iran.ir, datarestorehelp@firemail.cc |
| Encrypted file extension | .nbes |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .nbes |
| Attacker contacts | Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 16 December 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.nbes - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Nbes ransomware
- You should perform the malware removal automatically as manual elimination might bring additional damage or you might accidentally miss some infectious objects while dealing with the parasite on your own
- If the malware has managed to damage some system objects, you can try repairing your computer with software such as
The Nbes ransomware note
ATTENTION!
Don't worry, 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:
https://we.tl/t-4NWUGZxdHc
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:
datarestorehelp@firemail.cc
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
datahelp@iran.ir
How to remove Nbes 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 Nbes 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 Nbes 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
.nbesand 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 Nbes 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 Nbes 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 Nbes 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 Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Nbes ransomware - a Djvu ransomware version that offers to send one small file for free decryption
Nbes ransomware is a dangerous parasite that encrypts data by adding the .nbes appendix and urges a Bitcoin ransom.
The notorious malware travels via software cracks or email spam and infiltrates Windows computers unknowingly. Afterward, .nbes files virus launches an encryption module and targets all data found. This type of activity leads to ransom demands that vary from $490 to $980 and are placed in the _readme.txt message.
Here crooks offer to decrypt one small file for free to give some proof of the decryption key's existence. Datarestorehelp@firemail.cc and datahelp@iran.ir email addresses are also included in the ransom message as a way to make contact.
Nbes ransomware has already been discussed in forums and users have been urging for help on the data recovery process. This malicious string appears to be a newly-released version of Djvu/STOP ransomware that has been loading the cybersphere with numerous new file-locking virus variants that currently remain undecryptable.
Nbes virus is a malicious cyber threat that can make numerous alterings to the Windows Registry, Task Manager, PowerShell, and other computer sectors. Here, the virtual parasite includes various modules some of which might be:
As you can see, Nbes ransomware is capable of an entire variety of bogus and malicious activities. Nevertheless, it can infiltration additional malicious components so you might get two viruses instead of one! For example, there is a big chance that you will receive AZORult Trojan virus as STOP ransomware is known to spread this parasite actively.
Continuously, Nbes ransomware aims to urge for a big sum of money in exchange for the decryption software. At first, criminals ask for $490 and threaten to double the price if the demands are not met within 3 days of time. These people also outline that the only way to recover locked data is by purchasing the key from them:
The criminals urge for a ransom price in Bitcoin to not get tracked and stay anonymous all the time. If these people run away with your money, there are almost no chances that you will receive it back.
Nbes ransomware can bring harm to the user's files, software, and computer system. If you are looking for a tool to repair the machine, you can try using but remember that you need to deactivate and eliminate the cyber threat first as if its module is still running, all the malicious processes might reoccur very easily again.
Additionally, take a look at the end of this article where you will find computer boot options that can help you to disable malicious activities on your Windows computer.
Continuously, when you remove Nbes ransomware, do not forget to delete the Windows hosts file, otherwise, access to security-related websites will remain blocked. When the virtual parasite is finally gone, you can start thinking about data recovery possibilities. As we have already mentioned, there is no need to pay the ransom.
Even though Djvu ransomware variants who have been released after August this year remain currently undecryptable, there are some other methods you can try for restoring your data. At the end of this page, we have provided three alternative data recovery options some of which might appear helpful if applied correctly.
Additionally, if you have found that Nbes ransomware has locked your files, you can try using DrWeb's Rescue Pack. This software package includes a decryption tool for locked documents and two years of computer protection for $150. Some users have found it useful for Djvu malware versions, so you can give it a try too.
- Running encryption on all data files found.
- Searching for possibly encryptable components in certain time periods.
- Eliminating files' Shadow Volume Copies.
- Disabling antimalware protection.
- Automatically launching the parasite within each computer startup process.
- Damaging the hosts files to prevent users from accessing security-related sources on the web.
- Running other malicious processes in the background (e.g. malware installation).
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Data protection tips for the future
Since you have been infected with Nbes ransomware, you should have noticed that your valuable data lacks required protection that resulted in the encryption of all your important filed and documents. For this not to repeatedly happen in the future, you need to learn how to secure your files properly.
To avoid remote access to your important files and documents, you should purchase a portable drive (USB flash device) and store your information on that device. Remember, keep it unplugged from the computer when you are not using it, otherwise, malware might be able to reach the data that is kept connected to your PC.
Continuously, other data-securing methods include registering to a remote service such as iCloud or Dropbox. Here you will be able to transfer all your important documents but these servers are still less secure that pluggable USB drives.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Know about ransomware distribution
To properly protect your computer system and avoid ransomware infections, you have to know how they are spread first.
According to technology specialists from Virusai.lt, these cyber threats are often loaded as cracked software. You should not download any products that are provided on illegitimate sources such as The Pirate Bay. Get all of your products and services only from the official developers and their original websites.
Continuously, email spamming is another factor that can relate to secret ransomware infiltration. Crooks pretend to come from reliable shipping companies such as FedEx/DHL or trustworthy healthcare, banking organizations in order to give the email messages a look of trust. Afterward, the criminals include an infectious hyperlink or attachments that are presented as some type of important information when truly malware is hidden there.
A piece of advice would be to carefully manage all of your email letters, especially those that you receive in your Spam section.
Always identify the sender, check the entire text for grammar mistakes as reputable organizations would not let themselves to deliver you an email full of mistakes. Additionally, do not open any unknown attachments without scanning them with an antivirus program that can easily detect malware in such sources.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Nbes ransomware removal possibilities
Nbes ransomware removal requires cleaning all infected directories on the Windows computer and eliminating all malicious processes at once.
If you want to learn how to disable malicious tasks on your machine, you can take a look down below and will find out how to boot in Safe Mode with Networking and activate System Restore.
Afterward, you should go ahead and remove Nbes ransomware without any hesitation. The malware can be eliminated only automatically in this case as manual removal might more damage to your machine. Additionally, try using and for discovering malicious objects in your computer and try employing that might help you to repair the damage.
When Nbes ransomware is gone, you can start thinking about file recovery purposes. As we have already mentioned, you are not advised to pay the ransom price as you might get easily scammed. As an alternative, go to the end of this article and try some of the methods that are provided there.
[GI=method-1]To deactivate malicious processes on your Windows computer system, you have to boot in Safe Mode with Networking. Achieve such goal by completing the following tasks:
[GI=method-2]To disable malware-laden activities on your machine, opt for the System Restore feature. You can complete this task by opting for the following guiding steps:
If the ransomware virus has managed to lock, corrupt, or damage some of your data components, you can try repairing them with a tool like this one.
Try employing Windows Previous Versions feature for data restoring purposes:
If you have enabled the System Restore feature in the past, this method might bring you positive results.
Use Shadow Explorer for recovering some encrypted data:
You can try this method for restoring some files that have been touched by the ransomware virus. However, keep in mind that this technique might not work if the ransomware virus managed to erase Shadow Copies of encrypted data.
Currenlty, no official decryption key has been released for Nbes ransomware virus.
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 Nbes 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 .nbes and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about Nbes ransomware
How do I open .nbes files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .nbes 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 Nbes ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Nbes 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 "Nbes 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.
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.
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.
How did Nbes ransomware get on my computer?
The way Nbes 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 .nbes 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 Nbes ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Nbes ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .nbes 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 Nbes 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.
Can I delete _readme.txt?
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. _readme.txt 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.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .nbes attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .nbes stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
Will Fortect remove Nbes 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 Nbes 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
- Emsisoft Support: .NBES extension ransomware (read October 6, 2026)
- Emsisoft: Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP Djvu (read October 6, 2026)
- Dr Web Products: Dr.Web Rescue Pack (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)