Ordinypt ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Ordinypt ransomware is a relatively old computer infection that was first spotted back in 2017. Also known as HSDFSDCrypt and Wo Sind Meine Dateien ransomware, this virus does not not encrypt victims personal pictures, videos, music and other data, but rather replaces their names with random 14 lower and upper case characters, which permanently and irreversibly damages them.
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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Ordinypt ransomware: summary
| Name | Ordinypt ransomware |
|---|---|
| Also known as | HSDFSDCrypt, Wo Sind Meine Dateien |
| Type | Wiper – all personal files are permanently corrupted |
| File extension | This ransomware does not encrypt any files on the device (despite cybercriminals claiming that the malware does precisely that using AES cipher) but rather turns their names into gibberish combinations of random 14 characters. In the newest campaign, cyberattackers are trying to imitate the behavior of ransomware by appending a random extension of 5 characters, although the malware is still programmed to destroy data instead |
| Ransom size | Malicious actors ask for 0.12 BTC for alleged decryption software. In the latest campaigns, crooks ask for 0.1473766 BTC |
| Ransom note | Initial infections used Wo_sind_meine_Dateien.html, later versions rely on [extension]_how_to_decrypt.txt ransom note |
| 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 14 more facts
| File decryption | Paying cybercriminals is useless, as the data gets permanently corrupted by the malware. You might have a chance by using third-party recovery tools, however |
|---|---|
| Malware removal | Choose reputable security software and perform a full system scan to get rid of the wiper |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .nrrcr |
| 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 |
| 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 | .nrrcr |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 4 November 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.nrrcr - Note file:
_how_to_decrypt.txt
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Ordinypt ransomware
- To remediate your system and fix damage done by Ordinypt ransomware, scan it with
How Ordinypt ransomware behaves
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Ordinypt ransomware is a wiper malware that targets German users with spam email campaigns
Ordinypt ransomware is a relatively old computer infection that was first spotted back in 2017.
Also known as HSDFSDCrypt and Wo Sind Meine Dateien ransomware, this virus does not not encrypt victims personal pictures, videos, music and other data, but rather replaces their names with random 14 lower and upper case characters, which permanently and irreversibly damages them.
Nevertheless, cybercriminals behind Ordinypt ransomware still claim that they use AES encryption algorithm to lock data and ask to pay 0.12 Bitcoin for the decryption software which most likely does not exist.
Ordinypt virus is known to be targeting German users, as it drops a ransom note Wo_sind_meine_Dateien.html, which is written in German. The malicious executables were also delivered with the help of malicious spam emails that pretend to come from job applicants, with fake .pdf files attached to them.
The most recent campaign started mid-September 2019 - it targets German users with malicious attachments by "Eva Richter," another fake job resume crafted by cybercriminals behind Ordinypt wiper. This time, hackers are trying to imitate appropriate encryption process by appending a random extension at the end of each file, for example, .NrrcR.
Once inside the system, malware claims that it encrypted valuable user's information and demands 0.12 Bitcoin as a ransom for the decryption tool. Instructions on how to recover corrupted files are delivered in Wo_sind_meine_Dateien.html ransom note and written in fluent German language.
On the first time when Ordinypt was spotted spreading on the Internet, it used a fake job resume e-mail supposedly sent by Viktoria Henschel. It contains two infected attachments — Viktoria Henschel-Bewerbungsunterlagen.zip and Viktoria Henschel-Bewerbungsfoto.jpg.
One of them is a simple photo used to trick people into thinking that it is a legitimate e-mail, while another .zip file holds two executable files of the malware. Besides, hackers appended two file extensions to deceive victims that both of the .exe files are supposedly .pdf documents.
Unfortunately, Ordinypt ransomware acts more like a wiper than a real crypto virus. After being tested by NoVirus.uk cybersecurity experts found that it doesn't encrypt files. Instead, the virus replaces them with random data and deletes original copies of the documents. Shortly after, it generates the so-called encrypted file's name from random characters and drops a random note.
We want to inform you that there is no possible decryptor for Ordinypt virus. Thus, you shouldn't pay the ransom since criminals only try to swindle money from their victims. Also, you can find alternative expensive decryption tools offered online, but they won't help you to recover your files either.
Data wiper is a dangerous malware, and eliminating it from your PC is the best decision. You can remove Ordinypt using powerful antivirus software. Once the malware is terminated, you should also take care of Windows system restoration with tools like .
Warning: Finally, do not pay the attackers as malware is a wiper, and even they would not be able to recover your files.
Instead, check the alternative methods we provide below.
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Eva Richter spam email campaign
The newest campaign of Ordinypt uses very similar tricks for propagation as before - the malicious actors write a fake email that pretends to be a letter from a job applicant Eva Richter who is seeking employment in the firm chosen by the malicious actors. The subject line of the email reads "Bewerbung via Arbeitsagentur - Eva Richter," followed by the subsequent body text (translated from German):
Attached to the email are two files:
Once the .zip file is extracted, users can see Eva Richter Bewerbung und Lebenslauf.pdf.exe file, which pretends to be a resume. More vigilant users should instantly notice that it is, in fact, an executable and not a PDF file. Once it is opened, the malware will begin its data wiping process, which will completely destroy it.
Upon running the process, this variant of Ordinypt ransomware will append a random extension to each of the files located on the system - this action tries to imitate a typical data locking process by crypto-malware. Additionally, the malware will also attempt to destroy Shadow Volume Copies, although it is known that this process sometimes fails.
Therefore, paying criminals is not only risky but will not result in any data recovery. Because Ordinypt wiper sometimes fails to delete Shadow Copies, there is a chance to restore data by using recovery software. For more information, please check the bottom section of this article.
- Eva Richter Bewerbungsfoto.jpg
- Eva Richter Bewerbung und Lebenslauf.zip
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
Cybercriminals send bogus job resumes to distribute the malware
As mentioned above, the ransomware spreads via infected attachments in e-mails sent by Viktoria Henschel.
It is clear that developers tried their best to make the letter look as genuine as possible. As a result, many innocent computer users opened the executable files of theWo Sind Meine Dateien virus damaged their systems permanently.
To avoid the ransomware attack, you should follow the prevention steps:
However, attackers never stick to one distribution method. There are numerous cases when criminals took advantage of irresponsible computer users surfing the Internet. Therefore, we encourage you to be careful and avoid visiting unauthorized websites or clicking on sponsored ads.
- Never open unreliable e-mail letters or attachments and pictures it contains. Instead, delete them right away and block the contact who has sent it to you;
- Always have in mind that criminals are able to hack into social media accounts and distribute malicious links. If you ever receive a suspicious message asking to click on the provided link, close the text and stay away from that user;
- Also, your friend's account might be hijacked as well. Thus in case of any questionable messages, contact your friend in person.
The Ordinypt ransomware note
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby apply for the position offered by you at the Employment Agency.
The field of activity you describe corresponds especially to my career prospects. My application documents are attached.
I would be very happy about an invitation to a personal job interview.
With best regards,
Eva Richter
How to remove Ordinypt 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 Ordinypt 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
Ordinypt 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
_how_to_decrypt.txtand one or two files ending in.nrrcrto 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 Ordinypt ransomware, 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 Ordinypt 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 Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
The easiest way to get rid of the Ordinypt data wiper
For those who opt for a quick Ordinypt removal, we suggest an automatic elimination method by employing a security software of their choice.
Afterward, run a full system scan and let it remove Ordinypt virus.
Another way to get rid of the wiper is to remove it manually. To prevent you from doing even more harm to your computer, we have prepared instructions that will help you. Make sure to follow them strictly in order not to uninstall necessary operating system files.
[GI=method-1]You have to reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Networking if you want to get rid of Ordinypt ransomware. Get help from the instructions provided below:
[GI=method-2]Ordinypt might not permit to install a security software.
As mentioned above, the virus does not perform data encryption. It intentionally deletes valuable information to damage your computer. Our IT experts suggest trying to recover the removed files with a useful recovery tool that might help.
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
Ordinypt ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .nrrcr 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 Ordinypt ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .nrrcr files?
That depends on the family behind the .nrrcr extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
Should I pay the ransom in _how_to_decrypt.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from _how_to_decrypt.txt and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
How do I open .nrrcr files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .nrrcr ending shows that Ordinypt 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 Ordinypt ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Ordinypt ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Ordinypt ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .nrrcr 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.
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 Ordinypt ransomware get on my computer?
The way Ordinypt 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 .nrrcr 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 Ordinypt 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.
Should I open _how_to_decrypt.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text _how_to_decrypt.txt cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .nrrcr attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .nrrcr 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 Ordinypt 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 Ordinypt 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
- Bitcoin: Bitcoin. A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Wiper. Malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Shadow Copy (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)