Nvram ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Nvram ransomware – a cryptovirus that belongs to the Dharma virus family and operates an encryption process based on unique ID generation for each victim. This fact means that each victim gets new victims' key generated after the online connection to the C&C server managed by hackers.
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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Nvram ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Ransomware payload typically gets delivered with the help of phishing spam email campaigns or pirated software packages because malicious people inject infected files that only need to get on the system to trigger the drop of the malicious script[1] |
|---|---|
| Name | Nvram ransomware |
| Type | Cryptovirus |
| Symptoms | Once malware gets on the system, it manages to choose the various common type of files and make them useless using the encryption process. To get the data back, users need to pay the ransom in a preferred type of cryptocurrency via the ransom note |
| Ransom note | FILES ENCRYPTED.txt and Info.hta are files placed on the desktop, in folders with encrypted files. Developers deliver the ransom-demanding message this way and can scare people into paying the ransom this way |
| File marker | .id-.[clifieb@tutanota.com].nvram appears at the end of every affected file and indicates damaged files for the victim |
| 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
| Contact email | clifieb@tutanota.com is the only thing that appears in the text file, so people are encouraged to directly contact the criminals, so the amount can be determined. Unfortunately, this contact with malicious actors can lead to additional infections or damage. There is no need to trust people behind such malicious programs |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .nvram |
| 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; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .nvram |
| Attacker contacts | clifieb@tutanota.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 18 November 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.nvram - Note file:
Info.hta - Contact:
clifieb@tutanota.com
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Nvram ransomware
- To remove Nvram ransomware, you need a proper anti-malware tool.
- Also, you should prepare yourself for a difficult process since this threat makes additional changes to affect the removal process and file decryption possibilities
How Nvram ransomware behaves
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Nvram ransomware is the version of a cryptovirus that uses contact email clifieb@tutanota.com in a pattern of file marker
Nvram ransomware – a cryptovirus that belongs to the Dharma virus family and operates an encryption process based on unique ID generation for each victim.
This fact means that each victim gets new victims' key generated after the online connection to the C&C server managed by hackers. Unfortunately, this also means that malware cannot be easily decrypted.
Some versions of the Dharma ransomware can be terminated, and files recovered, but that goes for previous versions like Bip virus from June. You can try to decrypt data with this tool or check other legitimate sources for newly released software.
Unfortunately, Nvram ransomware virus relies on proper encryption algorithms and makes victims' data useless by changing the original code and locking a file. Once that is done, .id-.[clifieb@tutanota.com].nvram appears on each file and indicates affected files for the user. Also, immediately after the file encryption FILES ENCRYPTED.txt shows up on the screen and placed in various folders with encrypted files alongside Info.hta that determines what the victim should do next.
Nvram ransomware is the infection that spreads on the system immediately after the payload drop and initiated malicious script. Files get automatically encrypted and other processes launched in the background when this happens, so the victim immediately is informed about the infection.
Unfortunately, the system runs pretty smooth during this Nvram ransomware infiltration, and only after the encryption, when ransom message appears on the screen, the victim knows what happened. When it is too late to avoid infiltration and virus damage, and the victim has either to pay, or recover files using any other method.
When Nvram ransomware delivers the following instructions for payment and making a Bitcoin wallet:
You shouldn't even consider making the payment because ransomware creators are only waiting for your interaction and revealed information. When you contact criminals, they may ask for more significant ransom or send you additional malware instead of decryption key or tool. You should remove Nvram ransomware instead and ignore all the messages from virus creators. Clean the machine, repair the damage, and fix corrupted system files with .
Then you can focus on data recovery and move further to make your device virus-free. As for the proper Nvram ransomware removal, you should rely on anti-malware tools nad the detection results should help you choose the particular program. AV engines can detect malicious activities, indicate threats and dangerous programs during a full check on the system.
Then you need to employ the same AV tool and remove Nvram ransomware with all the related applications, files, or even malware. Make sure to double-check wit the same or a few different tools from the anti-malware category, so there is no risk of getting files encrypted again or damaging newly recover files.
To achieve the best results on your first try in Nvram ransomware termination, you should reboot the machine in Safe Mode and then run the AV tool to check the machine. This method allows the program to find all parts of the threat and get rid of the infection completely.
When Nvram ransomware plants other files and programs in the background data recovery gets difficult and the process of virus removal affected since those altered registry entries run the ransomware every time you reboot the machine. You should first fix the damage, so file recovery cannot end in lost or permanently damaged data.
Since there is no particular tool for Nvram ransomware decryption, you should either try to find a version of Dharma decryptor that possibly can work, seek help from malware researchers or depend on third-party software designed to restore various files, including encoded data. These methods and additional tips for virus termination are listed below the article for you.
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Infected attachments deliver a cryptovirus payload via spam email
Phishing campaigns, shady emails claiming about financial information and other deceptive techniques, misleading services like torrent sites, or pirating pages can deliver anything without your knowledge, including malicious code of the virus, and direct ransomware. There are some unique instances when malicious actors rely on particular campaigns, exploit kits, and system vulnerabilities, but this is the family that has more common and typical distribution methods.
The email comes directly to your box and can even go straight no normal box section, not spam email box, so you fall for the trick and open the notification.
Experts note that opening the email itself, in most cases, is not the step you need to take to get the infection, but interaction with links or attachments can lead you to malware infection and system damage. When you trigger the malicious macros on the file, the script is launched and executed immediately before your eyes.
You need to pay attention to potential red flags:
- suspicious senders;
- companies or services that you don't use sending you "Order information";
- file attachments in MS document formats;
- "Enable the Content" button on the email or a document.
The Nvram ransomware note
All your files have been encrypted!
All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC. If you want to restore them, write us to the e-mail clifieb@tutanota.com
Write this ID in the title of your message
In case of no answer in 24 hours write us to theese e-mails: jacklee73@mail.ua
You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.
Free decryption as guarantee
Before paying you can send us up to 1 file for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 1Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)
How to obtain Bitcoins
The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click 'Buy bitcoins', and select the seller by payment method and price.
https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:
http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins/
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 Nvram 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 Nvram 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 Nvram 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
.nvramand the instructions are inInfo.hta. 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 Nvram 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 Nvram 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 Nvram 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 Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Avoid cryptovirus damage by eliminating Nvram ransomware virus as soon as possible
The best thing that you can do when dealing with Nvram ransomware virus - investing in a good system tool that is based on anti-malware functionalities.
The AV program based on virus database and malicious behavior detection is the only tool that can terminate such type of cyber infection.
Manual Nvram ransomware removal is not possible because you cannot find and delete all related files yourself, professional program that checks various parts of the machine is the required help. By checking the system for malicious activities, the anti-malware program can indicate many files that you had no knowledge of.
Then you can remove Nvram ransomware, store encrypted files on a different device, and clean the malware damage. We offer to store encoded data on the external device, in case of a decryption tool developed later on. However, after the virus removal, you should go through the system with a system repair application like , , or . These programs may find affected system parts and repair them without causing additional damage.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and get rid of the threat using anti-malware tools
[GI=method-2]You can try to enable System Restore feature, so Nvram ransomware gets terminated
Data can get recovered with the program when ransomware encrypts files or user accidentally deletes them
Windows Previous Versions as a feature for data restore
Unfortunately, Nvram ransomware encrypted files can only get recovered with Windows Previous Versions when System Restore gets enabled before
ShadowExplorer feature that can help to restore affected data
When Shadow Volume Copies are left untouched, you can use ShadowExplorer and repair those encrypted files
Decryption tool for Nvram ransomware is not developed, but you can try to use Dharma decrypter
This is the place where you can find information about possible Dharma 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.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .nvram 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.
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 Nvram ransomware
How do I open .nvram files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .nvram 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.
Should I pay the ransom in Info.hta?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from Info.hta 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.
Is there a free Nvram ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Nvram 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 "Nvram 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.
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 Nvram ransomware get on my computer?
The way Nvram 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 .nvram 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 Nvram ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Nvram ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .nvram 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 Nvram 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 Info.hta?
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. Info.hta 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 .nvram attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .nvram 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 Nvram 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 Nvram 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
- Virustotal: NVRAM virus payload detection rate (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)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)