Piny ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Piny ransomware is a dangerous malware form that locks files with the .piny appendix and demands for money via the _readme.txt ransom note. This malicious string resides from the Djvu ransomware family and includes the same operating module as its earlier partners.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
Make sure nothing will rename more files to .piny: an automatic scan checks the PC first.
Do it yourself · free Remove Piny ransomware yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Piny ransomware: summary
| Name | Piny ransomware |
|---|---|
| Family | Djvu ransomware/STOP ransomware |
| Features | This notorious cyber threat is capable of locking files by using a unique encryption appendix, demanding a ransom, modifying the Windows Registry and Task Manager, damaging the hosts file, deleting Shadow Volume Copies of encrypted data, installing additional malware, enabling itself within every startup process |
| Appendix | Once all of the data files and documents are locked, all of them appear with the .redl extension added |
| Ransom note | All the ransom demands and contact information is provided in the _readme.txt ransom message that is the same for all Djvu ransomware variants |
| Demanded price | The criminals urge for $490 as the starter price and threaten to raise the ransom amount by 50% if the primary payment is not processed within 72 hours |
| 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
| Malware spread | This ransomware virus is capable of distributing other dangerous threats such as AZORult trojan that can modify your computer system, steal private data, swindle money, etc. |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | datarestorehelp@firemail.cc, datahelp@iran.ir |
| Encrypted file extension | .piny |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .piny |
| Attacker contacts | datarestorehelp@firemail.cc |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 23 December 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.piny - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
datarestorehelp@firemail.cc
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Piny ransomware
- The only way to get rid of the ransomware virus properly is to use automatical software for its removal process.
- Manual elimination might be to difficult to get rid of a virus like this one
How Piny ransomware behaves
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Piny ransomware - a ransom-demanding virus that can urge a price up to approximately $1K in Bitcoin cryptocurrency
Piny ransomware is a dangerous malware form that locks files with the .piny appendix and demands for money via the _readme.txt ransom note.
This malicious string resides from the Djvu ransomware family and includes the same operating module as its earlier partners. The infection process begins with system modification in directories such as the Windows Task Manager and Windows Registry. Also, Piny ransomware includes an executable to %AppData% location that allows it to scan the entire machine for encryptable components.
Furthermore, the ransom message is placed on the computer screen and also in every folder that holds encrypted data. The criminals claim that the only way to recover the locked information is by purchasing the decryption tool from them for $490 or $980 if the users decide to transfer the money later than in 72 hours.
Additionally, these people add the datarestorehelp@firemail.cc email address as a way to make contact and the datahelp@iran.ir email if no answer has been received from the primary email address.
Piny ransomware is a malicious infection that can come from email spam, a software crack or when hackers decide to misuse vulnerable RDP configuration. When this malware lands on a Windows computer system, it starts injecting its own processes and files into the Windows Task Manager and Windows Registry directories.
Piny ransomware brings malicious executables that look for encryptable data. Afterward, all the found documents and files are locked by using a unique symmetric or asymmetric cipher and each filename is modified with the .piny appendix added. From now on, the locked files are no longer properly accessible.
Continuously, Piny ransomware delivers a ransom message named _readme.txt where ransom demands are placed. The criminals urge for a big amount of money to be paid. They start with $490 and end up with $980 if the victims do not transfer the primary price in Bitcoin within a three-day time period:
The crooks will try to convince you to deliver the money as fast as possible as their only goal is to collect money from you. You should never trust Piny virus developers as these people might be seeking to scam you. They might take all of your money and run away by giving you no decryption option at all.
Even though .piny files do not have an official decryptor released yet, you should try other alternatives. First, completing the Piny ransomware removal with reliable antimalware would be a wise step. Also, repairing damaged objects on your computer system by trying a tool such as is another step to take.
When you remove Piny ransomware and the threat no longer persists on your computer, you can start looking for alternative data recovery methods. An option would be to try DrWeb's Rescue Pack that includes 2 years of antivirus protection and decryption software that has already helped some people.
Continuously, Piny virus is also a member of the STOP ransomware family. This means that the malware can distribute other parasites such as AZORult trojan. Be aware of this cyber threat as it can steal your private information, enter your bank account, swindle your money from it, damage your machine and software.
Be aware that Piny ransomware might be capable of evading some type of antimalware detection. So, in order to detect and remove the malware properly, you will need to get a reliable tool. Additionally, make sure that all system locations are cleaned from this ransomware virus, otherwise, the infection might return repeatedly.
Some other features of Piny ransomware include damaging the Windows hosts file to prevent users from visiting security-related pages, eliminating Shadow Copies by executing specific PowerShell commands, enabling itself with every startup process, scanning the system repeatedly and checking for decryptable files.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
The most popular spreading techniques of ransomware infections
Cybersecurity specialists from Virusai.lt state that ransomware viruses have multiple distribution sources and enter Windows computer systems silently without the user's consent.
However, there most often is a mistake made by the user that resulted in the malware's infiltration.
For example, if you would rather open bogus email messages that deleting them right away, you slightly increase the chance of infecting your computer system with malware. Ransomware infections camouflage as letters from reliable shipping companies, healthcare, and banking organizations.
Malicious actors inject the malicious payload into a form of an attachment or hyperlink and add it to the spam message. This is why you should not open any messages that fall into your spam section or arrive from unknown senders. Additionally, do not load any attachments without scanning them with antimalware software first.
Continuously, ransomware viruses are distributed via cracked software that is provided on p2p networks such as The Pirate Bay, BitTorrent, and eMule. You should download all of your wanted products and services only from well-known sources and official developers.
Furthermore, criminals also often misuse vulnerable RDP configuration to log into users' computers remotely. These hackers search for RDP that includes weak passwords or has none at all. This is why you should always think about adding strong and complex passwords.
The Piny ransomware note
ATTENTION!
Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
https://we.tl/t-4NWUGZxdHc
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.
To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
datarestorehelp@firemail.cc
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
datahelp@iran.ir
How to remove Piny 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 Piny 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 Piny 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
.pinyand the instructions are in_readme.txt. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
Our last check found that for Piny 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 Piny 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 Piny ransomware deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since
Piny ransomware removal process
In order to remove Piny ransomware properly, you should employ reliable antimalware software.
These products will ensure you that the entire malicious software and its additional products have been eliminated properly. If you have found yourself struggling to get rid of the virus even by using antimalware programs, you can try diminishing malicious activity first by using Safe Mode with Networking or activating the System Restore feature.
When Piny ransomware removal is completed, you should check your computer system for possible damage. You can do that by employing software such as or . Also, try repairing all the compromised objects by using another tool such as .
Once you complete all of these tasks, you can continue with data recovery possibilities. We have provided three solutions at the end of this article that might help you to restore some files.
[GI=method-1]To deactivate malicious activities on your Windows computer system, boot your machine in Safe Mode With Networking by following these guidelines:
[GI=method-2]To diminish all malicious processes on your Windows machine, you should opt for the System Restore feature. Complete this task by using the below-provided instructions:
Use this software if the ransomware virus has deleted or corrupted some of your data.
Employ Windows Previous Versions feature for file recovery:
Try using this software for restoring some files. However, make sure that you have booted your computer via System Restore before using this tool.
Shadow Explorer mighty help you with data restoring:
If the ransomware virus did not manage to delete or corrupt your Shadow Volume Copies, you can give this method a try.
Currently, the cybersecurity experts are 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.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .piny 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.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about Piny ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .piny files?
That depends on the family behind the .piny 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 _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.
How do I open .piny files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .piny ending shows that Piny 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 Piny ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Piny ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Piny ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .piny 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 Piny ransomware get on my computer?
The way Piny 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 .piny 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 Piny ransomware the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Can I delete _readme.txt?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. _readme.txt contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
My files got .piny 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 .piny 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 Piny 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 Piny 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
- Search Enterprise Desktop: Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 6, 2026)
- Tech terms: P2P (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)