NEWS ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
NEWS ransomware – cryptovirus that claims to offer a decryption tool for victims that decide to pay the ransom. It makes files useless after the encryption process and marks them using the appendix pattern .victims'ID-ID.[notgoodnews@tutanota.com].NEWS.
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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NEWS ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Sites that include malicious code, files loaded on the emails with malicious macros[1] all can install either the malware that acts as a payload dropper or this cryptovirus directly on the system without additional interaction or permissions |
|---|---|
| Name | NEWS ransomware |
| Family | Dharma ransomware |
| File marker | .NEWS is the appendix that appears on every encrypted file after the original name and file type extension. The full pattern of the extension includes the email address of the crooks – .victims'ID-ID.[notgoodnews@tutanota.com].NEWS |
| Ransom note | The pop-up window shows up on the screen with instructions and payment options; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact emails | notgoodnews@tutanota.com and notgoodnews@cock.li |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Encrypted file extension | .news |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| 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 | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .news |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 7 February 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.news - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on NEWS ransomware
- This program window, in most cases, is named with one of the contact emails.
- Also, a ransom note in the text file named FILES ENCRYPTED.txt is added on every folder with encoded data and on the desktop.
- This file includes contact emails and encouragement to contact criminals for file recovery
- Get a professional anti-malware program and remove NEWS ransomware during a full system scan that indicates all the intruders and malicious programs, so it can delete any possible threats
- If you skip that step, your files may get affected again when you try to repair them from the backup
How NEWS ransomware behaves
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Ransomware comes from spam emails and infected websites
Malicious actors that develop such ransomware threats and other types of more dangerous malware are known for sending emails with malicious attachments or exploiting vulnerabilities of the targeted systems and programs. Criminals spam victims with notifications supposedly coming from companies or services that are popular, so people don't think too much before opening attached files or clicking on included links.
Don't fall for unexpected emails from DHL, FedEx, or eBay and other shipping companies, financial services. Especially when the email states about receipts, financial information, updates on your orders, and so on. You should resist even opening the email, especially downloading the document or executable file.
Embedded links, malicious website redirects, infected word documents with macros can load the payload of ransomware directly on the machine, so pay close attention to red flags or simply delete emails you were not expecting to get.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
NEWS ransomware is the file-encrypting virus that spreads infection via email attachments
NEWS ransomware – cryptovirus that claims to offer a decryption tool for victims that decide to pay the ransom.
It makes files useless after the encryption process and marks them using the appendix pattern .victims'ID-ID.[notgoodnews@tutanota.com].NEWS. When files get encoded and marked using this extension, a ransom note appears on the screen and in some of the folders containing encrypted data. The program window at first delivers payment instructions and initial information about the encryption process, so people can know what happened.
Then the text file FILES ENCRYPTED.txt informs NEWS ransomware virus victims what to do further - contact the developers via email addresses notgoodnews@tutanota.com and notgoodnews@cock.li. However, that is not the best option since this is a version of Dharma ransomware - a known threat that is not decryptable from the start.
Malicious actors that release new versions of the virus cannot guarantee that the decryption tool is available after the payment, so do not trust them and try to terminate the virus instead of contacting them. Crypto malware can easily damage the machine with additional processes, so the more time it gets on the device the more issues you need to fix later.
NEWS ransomware is the version of the Dharma virus that is known for delivering full instructions with payment options and places where Bitcoins can get purchased. Cryptocurrency extortion is the main aim of the malicious actors behind this threat. However, experts do not recommend paying or even contacting such crook,s especially when it comes to this family.
This particular .[notgoodnews@tutanota.com].NEWS ransomware delivers a shorter version of the common note:
Also, a text file with particular contact emails gets placed in various folders containing NEWS ransomware encrypted files. The particular ransom amount is not determined, so when people contact the criminals, malicious actors can specify the amount the victim needs to pay for the alleged decryption tool.
These crooks may offer test decryption of one or a few files, but that is the method to fake trust between you and criminals. Don't fall for this scam.
Even though .[notgoodnews@tutanota.com].NEWS ransomware aims to get money from people the encryption process is not the only activity malware runs on the machine. It starts the attack with file locking and gives 12 hours for victims to pay up. During the time on the system, threat also interferes with such settings, like security features or functions that allow file recovery to happen.
NEWS ransomware removal process may get difficult because of these alterations because the virus is set to disable AV tools, damage registry, and affect the performance of some of the applications and programs. When the anti-malware tool that already is on the system cannot work, you may reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and launch the alternate AV tool from an external device, for example.
Even when the ransom note from NEWS ransomware developers seems convincing, you should think twice before writing them an email. There are no better options than to get rid of the virus without communication with criminals and recover encrypted data.
There is no easy way to remove NEWS ransomware because cryptovirus is a dangerous and powerful malware that avoids detection and makes the machine running poorly to keep the control of files and functions.
Your files may bet damaged permanently and you may lose money of you consider paying the ransom as an option. Get a proper AV tool and remove the threat. Then clean the system with or a similar system tool and rely on data backups to replace affected files with safe copies.
.[notgoodnews@tutanota.com].NEWS virus cannot be decrypted because researchers haven't released any tools available for users. It is not common to find decryptable Dharma versions, but you can still store some of the encrypted and malware-related files and wait for possible decrypter.
This wait may take longer than you think, so NEWS ransomware should be eliminated as soon as possible. Remember to keep in mind that any traces of the virus can affect the system significantly and even launch the secondary encryption. Windows registry, system functions, files, and parts of the device needed for file recovery or virus removal get altered, so the cryptovirus is persistent.
Double-check before adding any new files on the affected device, and make sure to repair the NEWS ransomware virus damage. If you need additional help, check the guide below the article. There are a few options for file restoring too, so check them out.
The NEWS ransomware note
YOUR FILES ARE ENCRYPTED
Don't worry,you can return all your files!
If you want to restore them, follow this link:email notgoodnews@tutanota.com YOUR ID 1E857D00
If you have not been answered via the link within 12 hours, write to us by e-mail:notgoodnews@cock.li
Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.
How to remove NEWS 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 NEWS 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
NEWS ransomware 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 confirm the family
Copy
the ransom noteand one or two files ending in.newsto a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
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 NEWS ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 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 NEWS ransomware 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 Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
NEWS ransomware file virus needs to get deleted right away, so system damage is affected
Note that NEWS ransomware virus runs in the background without your knowledge.
If you don't recall opening shady attachments or visiting any malicious websites, your device may have been affected for a while now. Additional processes, programs, and files affect the performance and security of the computer.
To remove NEWS ransomware and terminate all the activities, you need to get rid of all the related files and possible malware. When secondary viruses get installed, automatic virus termination is the only way to go. Rely on , , or another anti-malware tool for the job.
When you performed a full system scan and proper NEWS ransomware removal, you should get a PC repair utility like . This program can find and fix damaged files, change settings back to normal without causing additional damage to your machine. Then go through the recovery options below.
[GI=method-1]To ensure that NEWS ransomware gets eliminated properly, reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking before scanning the system with the anti-malware program
[GI=method-2]System Restore can be the feature helpful for such NEWS ransomware elimination process because it repairs the system in a previous state
Windows Previous Versions is another feature that can be used in place of the data backups
When you enable System Restore feature, Windows Previous Versions can be used to recover after NEWS ransomware encryption
ShadowExplorer can help with files affected by NEWS ransomware virus
To get files after .[notgoodnews@tutanota.com].NEWS ransomware attack back using this method, you need to know that Shadow Volume Copies were left untouched by the threat itself
.[notgoodnews@tutanota.com].NEWS is not decryptable
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.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .news and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on 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 NEWS ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .news files?
That depends on the family behind the .news 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.
How do I open .news files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .news ending shows that NEWS ransomware 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 NEWS ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did NEWS ransomware get on my computer?
The way NEWS 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 .news 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.
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.
Did NEWS ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by NEWS ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .news 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 NEWS 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 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.
My files got .news 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 .news 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 NEWS 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 NEWS 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
- Wikipedia: Malicious macros (read October 7, 2026)
- Zndervirus: Zondervirus (read October 7, 2026)
- Virustotal: News virus detection rate (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)