Parad1gm ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Parad1gm ransomware is a malicious string that comes from DopplePaymer ransomware. The operation principle of this parasite is the same as its siblings - encrypting data and demanding money in exchange for the decryption software.
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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Parad1gm ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Ransomware infections are most commonly spread through phishing messages and their malicious attachments. Also, such cyber threats travel through cracked software, malvertising, and vulnerable RDP |
|---|---|
| Name | Parad1gm ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware/malware |
| Family | This malicious string belongs to the DopplePaymer ransomware family |
| Founder | GrujaRS is a cybersecurity researcher that first announced his findings on the Twitter social platform |
| Appendix | Once all of the files and documents are locked with unique keys, the ransomware virus adds the .parad1gm extension next to each filename |
| 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 15 more facts
| Ransom demands | The malware displays a note in each encrypted file that requires contacting the criminals via JEREMIAH.MAHONEY@PROTONMAIL.COM or ALISSA.CARNEY@TUTANOTA.COM email addresses and discussing all the matters about the ransom price |
|---|---|
| Processes | Parad1gm ransomware fills the Windows Task Manager with bogus processes so that it could operate without struggles. The malware can disguise as a legitimate executable and aim to trick people about its appearance |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | JEREMIAH.MAHONEY@PROTONMAIL.COM, ALISSA.CARNEY@TUTANOTA.COM |
| Encrypted file extension | .parad1gm |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .parad1gm |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
| Attacker contacts | JEREMIAH.MAHONEY@PROTONMAIL.COM |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 30 December 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.parad1gm - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
JEREMIAH.MAHONEY@PROTONMAIL.COM
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Parad1gm ransomware
- You can get rid of the ransomware virus if you employ proper software
- If your Windows computer system has experienced some type of damage during the cyber attack, you can try repairing things with the help of software such as
How Parad1gm ransomware behaves
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Parad1gm ransomware - malware that demands to email the developers for receiving information about the ransom price
Parad1gm ransomware is a malicious string that comes from DopplePaymer ransomware.
The operation principle of this parasite is the same as its siblings - encrypting data and demanding money in exchange for the decryption software. Discovered by a cybersecurity researcher known as GrujaRS, Parad1gm ransomware has emerged at the end of December 2019 and has been targetting English-speaking users. When files are locked with symmetric or asymmetric keys, all of the filenames get the .parad1gm appendix added.
Later on, the ransomware includes a ransom note in each encrypted file. These files end up being renamed with the .parad1gm extension added to the original filename and the _readme.txt title next to it.
For example, if you have a file named cat.png, then it would be renamed cat.png.parad1gm_readme.txt. Parad1gm ransomware does not provide any particular ransom demands but encourages to write the crooks via JEREMIAH.MAHONEY@PROTONMAIL.COM or ALISSA.CARNEY@TUTANOTA.COM and discuss all the matters about the price via email.
Parad1gm ransomware is a notorious cyber threat that modifies various entries in the Windows Registry in order to place itself on the system. This way the ransomware assures that its module is launched every time when the computer is booted and the encryption process happens successfully. Besides that, the malware might be programmed to evade some type of antimalware detection so that it could operate properly and silently.
Continuously, Parad1gm ransomware alters the Task Manager section too. It places a random executable in this location that also activates the malicious module.
If the ransomware virus has taken place in your Windows computer system, you might spot multiple unknown processes running in the Task Manager that is a clear sign of an infection. However, the malware can also disguise as a legitimate executable of some type of program to confuse the victim.
Parad1gm ransomware can also try to harden the decryption and removal process for you. The malware might be capable of damaging the Windows hosts file to prevent you from accessing security-related networks where you might find valuable information on virus removal and file recovery. Additionally, the parasite might be able to delete the Shadow Volume Copies of encrypted data by running PowerShell commands to decrease your chances of successful recovery.
Afterward, Parad1gm ransomware runs the encryption module and starts locking all of the files that are found on the infected Windows computer system. The data can come in any type of format such as image, audio, video, excel, database, powerpoint, notepad, word document, etc. Then, the criminals try to scare their victims by claiming that they hacked their network and safe contacting is required for successfully receiving the decryption tool:
Parad1gm virus does not provide any accurate information on the ransom demands and tells the victims to contact them via email to know all the details. However, criminals are most likely to urge some price between $50 and $2000.
These people almost always ask for anonymous cryptocurrency transfers as this is a way to stay untracked. Regarding the fact that BTC cryptocurrency is a worldwide used one, crooks are very likely to ask for it.
Parad1gm ransomware stores both encryption and decryption keys on remote servers which are reachable only for the cybercriminals themselves. Every key comes different for every victim and decrypting files by guessing the key is impossible.
However, you still should not rush to pay the criminals as you can easily get scammed. Go to the end of this article and try some data recovery methods that are placed there as an alternative.
Furthermore, Parad1gm ransomware can be even more dangerous than just holding your files as hostages. This malicious string can be capable of bringing other malware into your Windows computer system. Ransomware infections make the machine vulnerable to other potential threats and it becomes easy to open backdoors for viruses such as trojans that aim to steal private information, swindle money from bank accounts, damage system software, and corrupt the machine.
The only way to keep yourself safe from all of these risks is to remove Parad1gm ransomware as soon as you spot the infection on your Windows device. For this purpose, you should employ only reliable antimalware software that is capable of detecting and dealing with the cyber threat. According to VirusTotal information, the ransomware virus has been discovered by 45 antivirus engines out of the total 72 programs.
After Parad1gm ransomware removal, you can take a look at the end of this page where you will find some data recovery possibilities. Keep in mind that you have a big chance of getting scammed if you decide to pay the cybercrooks their demanded ransom price.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
The most common spreading ways of ransomware threats
Technology specialists from LesVirus.fr claim that malicious actors often deliver their cyber threats through phishing email messages and their dangerous attachments.
The crooks pretend to come from reputable agencies, companies, and institutions in order to create an official look.
Our point would be that you should always carefully manage your email. Do not open any letters that you were not expecting to receive and look suspicious to you. Continuously, always identify the sender, look for grammar mistakes throughout the entire text.
To add, ransomware viruses are also distributed through software cracks that are planted on piracy networks. These types of sources offer to download various products and services for free but they often lack recommended security and can be easily manipulated by various bad actors.
You should get all of your software from reliable developers and official sources, avoid downloading cracks. Also, always make sure that an antivirus product is running on your computer system. This way you will receive warning alerts if something suspicious/malicious is trying to sneak into your device.
Last but not least, cybercriminals know how to manipulate weak RDP configuration. These people search for ports that are protected with weak passwords or include none. Afterward, the hackers can remotely connect to your PC. Remember, always think of complex and strong passwords.
The Parad1gm ransomware note
Hello Paradigm.
Your network was hacked and encrypted.
No free decryption software is available on the web.
Email us at JEREMIAH.MAHONEY@PROTONMAIL.COM (or) ALISSA.CARNEY@TUTANOTA.COM to get the ransom amount.
Keep our contacts safe. Disclosure can lead to impossibility of decryption.
Please, use your company name as the email subject.
TAIL:-
KEY:-
How to remove Parad1gm 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 Parad1gm 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
Parad1gm 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
_readme.txtand one or two files ending in.parad1gmto 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 Parad1gm 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 Parad1gm 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 Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Parad1gm ransomware removal guidelines for victims
If the ransomware virus has hit you and you have been wondering how to remove Parad1gm ransomware from your Windows machine, we are here to help you.
First of all, we want to warn you that you should not take any actions of your own towards the elimination process as you might make damaging mistakes. Better, download and install reliable antimalware software that is capable of dealing with the malware safely and effectively.
If you are having some trouble with detecting Parad1gm ransomware or removing the cyber threat, the infection might be running specific commands that are trying to prevent you from spotting or deleting it. To disable malicious processes and activities, you should boot your Windows machine in Safe Mode with Networking or apply the System Restore feature. Both steps are described and displayed at the end of this article.
If these tools find some damaged locations, you can try fixing them with . Continuously, we have provided some data recovery methods at the end of this page that might let you restore at least some files and are definitely a better option than paying the cybercriminals.
[GI=method-1]Diminish malicious changes and processes on your computer system by booting it in Safe Mode with Networking. You can use the below-provided guidelines if you do not know how to do it:
[GI=method-2]Disable the cyber threat by using the below-provided instructions that will show you how to activate the System Restore feature on your Windows computer:
If your files have been locked by the ransomware, you might have a chance of restoring your data by employing this type of software.
Windows Previous Versions feature might help you with data recovery.
This technique might allow you to restore some of the locked components if you have booted your computer in System Restore already.
Using Shadow Explorer can help you with file recovery.
You can try using this tool if your data got encrypted by a ransomware infection. However, this particular method might not work if the ransomware virus managed to destroy Shadow Copies of encrypted data.
Cybersecurity specialists are currently working on the official decryptor.
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
Parad1gm ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .parad1gm 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.
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 Parad1gm ransomware
How do I open .parad1gm files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .parad1gm 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 _readme.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from _readme.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.
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.
Is there a free Parad1gm ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Parad1gm 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 "Parad1gm 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.
How did Parad1gm ransomware get on my computer?
The way Parad1gm 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 .parad1gm 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 Parad1gm ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Parad1gm ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .parad1gm 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 Parad1gm 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 _readme.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text _readme.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.
Will .parad1gm spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .parad1gm. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will Fortect remove Parad1gm 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 Parad1gm 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
- Twitter: #DopplePaymer(Paradigm)#Ransomware extension .parad1gm! (read October 6, 2026)
- Virus Total: 45 engines detected this file (read October 6, 2026)
- LesVirus: LesVirus.fr (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Remote Desktop Protocol (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)