Pola ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Pola ransomware is a file-locking computer virus that encodes non-system files, renames them by appending .pola extension to their original filenames. Also, it creates a ransom note named _readme.txt, which holds threats and instructions from the developers, and places it directly on the desktop.
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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Pola ransomware: summary
| Distribution | File-sharing platforms, spam email attachments with malicious files |
|---|---|
| name | Pola ransomware |
| Type | File-locker, crypto virus |
| Family | Djvu ransomware |
| Appended file extension | Original filenames are appended with .pola extension |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
| 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 amount | $490 if the victims contact the criminals within 72 hours of the attack. If they're not hasty, the offered 50% discount ends, increasing the price to $980 |
|---|---|
| Criminal contact details | helpmanager@mail.ch, restoremanager@airmail.cc |
| Virus removal | To remove ransomware infection securely, a reliable anti-malware tool should be used |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .pola |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Pola ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .pola |
| Attacker contacts | helpmanager@mail.ch |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 11 April 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What to search your PC and browser for
- File extension:
.pola - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
helpmanager@mail.ch
How Pola ransomware behaves
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Pola ransomware – a hazardous cryptovirus that locks all personal data in order to blackmail victims
Pola ransomware is a file-locking computer virus that encodes non-system files, renames them by appending .pola extension to their original filenames.
Also, it creates a ransom note named _readme.txt, which holds threats and instructions from the developers, and places it directly on the desktop. This note's main purpose is to convince victims to meet the demands of their assailants - contact them by provided emails (helpmanager@mail.ch or restoremanager@airmail.cc) and pay the requested amount of money ($490/$980).
If any of these symptoms are spotted, then the device is infected with ransomware. If you're eager to eliminate it, go straight to the bottom, where the guidelines are displayed. If you want to learn more about ransomware, its spreading techniques, data recovery options, and other details - please continue reading.
Ransomware belongs to one of the most pervasive ransomware families that there is - Djvu. Since its introduction in late 2018, it has been launching new versions weekly, Igal virus, Wbxd virus, Coos virus, to name just a few. Private companies are working on decryption tools for cryptovirus from this lineage, so victims wouldn't have to pay a dime for data recovery.
There is no particular decryption tool developed for the newest variant, but you might try the Emsisofts decrypter tool. As for file recovery data backups, system features and third-party software remain the best solution. All available options are listed below.
As we've mentioned before, ransomware virus is from the Djvu ransomware family. All members have quite a few similarities, including matching email addresses, similar distribution techniques, the same coding algorithm (RSA 2048) used to encrypt data (among the latest versions), and almost identical ransom notes.
These notes contain a lot of information and persuasion techniques. Developers of Ransomware try to convince their victims to pay them by whatever means they can:
The whole message in the _readme.txt note reads:
Victims of ransomware attacks should never meet their assailants' demands, as the attacks can be stopped only if people stop paying the criminals. The only right thing to do is to remove ransomware from an infected computer and forget about this terrible nightmare.
But first things first. Since this cryptovirus is brand new, there is no decryption software available at the moment. If you had backups, skip this part.
If you didn't, then export all essential encrypted files to an offline storage device, like a USB drive. Companies are constantly working to develop decryption tools for ransomware victims, so one should be created sooner or later.
When that's done, you're ready to take on the task of Pola ransomware removal. For this, you will need a trustworthy anti-malware tool. Install and launch the app.
Run a full system scan and eliminate the infection and any other questionable files that the tool suggests. And voila, the infection is gone.
But to ensure that it won't reappear and fix all corrupted system files and settings (Djvu family ransomware does that as a rule), we highly recommend performing system repair with powerful system tune-up tools such as the or similar software. Only after this can you rest assured file virus is completely removed.
- free decryption of a few files is offered to prove that the necessary tool exists,
- a video link is provided so victims could see the decryptor in action,
- a 50% discount is offered for the ransom price if the victims contact the criminals within three days of infection.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
If you want to elude Djvu ransomware – avoid file-sharing platforms
The internet is full of various malware threats these days, from hazardous trojans to annoying adware.
These computer infections can be distributed in a myriad of ways, including drive-by downloads, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) attacks, deceptive ads, spam emails, and so on and so forth.
Our research team has concluded that Djvu family members are almost exclusively distributed via file-sharing platforms, especially popular torrent websites. That's great news because to stop this ransomware from infecting devices, users have to do just one thing - refrain from using such portals.
Ransomware was usually hidden in the most eye-catching torrents, like unlocked expensive software, cracks for the most anticipated games, and alike. People who tried to cheat the system by acquiring pirated software got much more than they anticipated.
Refrain from using file-sharing platforms. Support your beloved software creators by purchasing their products.
The Pola ransomware note
ATTENTION!
Don't worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like pictures, 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-EtT4dX8q3X
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:
helpmanager@mail.ch
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
restoremanager@airmail.cc
Your personal ID:
How to remove Pola 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 Pola 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 Pola 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
.polaand 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 Pola 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 Pola 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 Pola 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 Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Scrupulous instructions for ransomware virus removal and system repair
Ransomware infections are a nightmare, but we're glad you chose us to guide you through it.
If you had backups of your data, then skip right to the removal part. If you didn't, then please copy all essential files to offline storage. There's no decryption tool available now, but companies like Emisoft and others constantly upgrade their decryption software to help cyberattack victims. All possible data recovery options are listed at the bottom of this page.
Any of these apps should eliminate the cyber infection with all of its parts automatically. Sometimes though, cryptoviruses can block such software, so you'll have to reboot your PC and start it in Safe Mode with Networking.
Once the Pola file-locking parasite is obliterated, a system repair is in order. Djvu ransomware family makes alterations to various system files (e.g., host files) and settings (e.g., the registry). This allows the virus to stay undetected, prevents users from visiting security sites (including 2-spyware.com), and so on. To fix all these issues, cybersecurity experts at LesVirus.fr suggest using the powerful app.
[GI=method-1]If ransomware disabled your anti-malware software, remove it when in Safe Mode with Networking
[GI=method-2]In some cases, computer infections could be removed with System Resore
This third-party tool might be able to restore .pola extension files.
Windows Previous Version feature allows to recover files individualy
This powerful feature could enable users to restore .pola files to their previous versions.
If Shadow Copies are intact, use Shadow Explorer
This data recovery tool restores files from Shadow Volume Copies. Most cryptoviruses remove these copies when the infection begins. If they're still there, you might be in luck.
Possible decryption methods for Djvu family ransomware
Few companies are developing free decryption tools to help out victims of ransomware. Keeping in mind that the Pola cryptovirus is brand new, the offered software might not do the trick.
But there's always hope that the decryption software intended for this file-locking parasite will be developed sooner or later. You should determine if the version you got affected by is decryptable or not based on offline vs online key formation.
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 .pola 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.
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 Pola ransomware
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 .pola files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .pola ending shows that Pola 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 Pola ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did Pola ransomware get on my computer?
The way Pola 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 .pola 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 there a free Pola ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Pola 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 "Pola 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.
Did Pola ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Pola ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .pola 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 Pola 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 just remove .pola from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .pola extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
What does _readme.txt tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name _readme.txt, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
Will Fortect remove Pola 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 Pola ransomware, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Drive-by download (read October 6, 2026)
- Lesvirus: LesVirus (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)