Politie virus: what it is and how to remove it
Politie virus is the ransomware that states about cybercrime and illegal activities on fake alerts that ask to pay up. This is a virus that infects various devices on countries in Europe mainly and demands euros for the alleged help or dismissed charges for illegal activities like pornographic content distribution or cybercrime.
Facts checked October 7, 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.
If Politie virus keeps coming back after uninstalling, a scan can find what reinstalls it.
Do it yourself · free Remove Politie virus yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Politie virus: summary
| Distribution | Other malware, emails with infected files |
|---|---|
| Name | Politie virus |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Ransom amount | 50-100€, can go up to hundreds or thousands |
| Tactics | Poses as government agencies or authorities and demands to pay for alleged illegal activities |
| Payment transfer | Using Ukash or PaySafeCard services |
| 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 12 more facts
| Other names used for a similar threat | FBI virus, Police Virus, Ukash virus, Police ransomware, FBI ransomware |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Ransom note | Not named in our report; the text of the note is not in our records |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 2 April 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Politie virus
- Install anti-malware and remove Politie virus from the machine
- Make sure to clear the issues with your system by running or a similar tool
How Politie virus behaves
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Politie virus is a computer virus that displays bogus notification pretending to be the alert form Police or any other government agency
Politie virus is the ransomware that states about cybercrime and illegal activities on fake alerts that ask to pay up.
This is a virus that infects various devices on countries in Europe mainly and demands euros for the alleged help or dismissed charges for illegal activities like pornographic content distribution or cybercrime.
These alerts stating about Police or FBI interference are fake and created to scare people into paying the demand.
Warning: You haven't violated any laws, so don't pay the fine because this can lead to permanent money loss or even installation of other malware if you contact these people behind the fake alerts.
There is nothing legal, and authorities are not involved in this Politie ransomware attack. However, when the screen gets locked and the message alerts about various law violations and involvement in illegal activities, people get scared and don't think twice before paying the demanded amounts.
Politie virus belongs to a category of ransomware that is one of the most dangerous cyber threats because it involves money and direct extortion from victims. You should never pay the ransom demanded from you because there is no need to trust those promises that criminals state on their messages and fake alerts, in this case.
The message delivered by Politie virus can differ from country to country, but it sounds similar and every time claims that you have been involved in illegal activities. This is a scammer method used to trick people, so criminals can make a profit from all those fines.
Politie ransomware virus also can disable function on your machine and lead to the damaged device due to such alterations. Besides the lock screen and messages, this threat can install trojans, worms, and viruses with the particular purpose of running other processes in the background.
To end all of them, you need to get professional tools, and clean the system fully, remove Politie virus alongside other trojans or malicious programs. This is crucial because scammers may lure you into revealing information or use different tactics in the future if you leave the payload or any other related file on the system.
Rely on tools like or and perform the full Politie virus removal during a full system scan. When there is more damage ake on your computer, you can also try to use the System Restore or Safe Mode features listed below that help to achieve needed results. You should also check tips and tricks below the article, where experts make a guide for malware removal.
Politie virus is a dangerous cyber threat, a screen locker, that seeks to make users pay the invented fine for their 'illegal' crimes. This threat is designed for the Netherlands, so it uses this country's language. Note that there are many other Politie Virus versions that all belong to a widely-known group of ransomware, which called Ukash.
As soon as they get inside the system, they take over the whole computer's system and lock it down with their misleading alert, which includes the names of governmental organizations, shows victim's IP address and gives the misleading information.
It claims something like that: "Uw computer is vergrendeld." Instead of falling for Politie Virus or other Ukash virus, keep in mind that they have nothing to do with Netherlands police and must be ignored. You must remove Politie Virus as soon as you start seeing its misleading alert.
Since the Politie virus is spreading all over the world it can present the message in various languages like "Uw computer is vergrendeld. Illegaal gedownloade muziek stukken." Typically, to other Ukash threats, it uses the language of the victim in order to make the user think that he truly has a deal with a local governmental authority.
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Ransomware spreading methods include spam email campaigns
Ransomware in most cases gets distributed by trojan horses or other malware that takes advantage of every security vulnerability it finds.
Typically, it comes inside the PC via spam emails and other files that have been infected with the trojan or worm. Once inside and active, it starts its activity or ransomware payload dropping immediately. Sometimes such malware is designed only to infect the machine further.
However, those spam email campaigns that deliver malware and viruses also spread cryptovirus directly on the computer once the malicious file gets downloaded and opened on the machine. It happens when the email received looks legitimate enough to get opened without paying attention.
Emails have either hyperlinks or file attachments with a malicious script or direct ransomware payload. Make sure to delete any emails that raise questions or seem not genuine immediately and don't download or open any files from such notifications.
The Politie virus ransom note
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove Politie virus
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 Politie virus 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 Politie virus 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 identify the family
The name of the family decides whether a free decryptor can help. Copy the ransom note and two small encrypted files to a USB stick, and check them on another device with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff.
Note the extension added to the files, the contact address and the victim ID shown in the note. Keep the originals on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC untouched.
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 Politie virus, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 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 Politie virus 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 Politie virus 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
Removing Politie virus includes cleaning the machine fully from other malware
When trying to remove Politie virus, you may find that you are blocked from getting on the Internet and that's the most important thing because you won't be capable to download the anti-malware program and remove infected files from the system.
However, if you have the connection download or that will remove infected files from your computer or try to get this tool on another PC and scan the machine via an external drive.
Another tip for Politie virus removal is a system cleaning and various functions of the device itself. You can rely on tool for the system performance improvements. Also, the ransomware changes a lot on the machine and even disables some programs like antivirus tools. Entering the Safe Mode before scanning the machine can give the advantage of fully eliminating ransomware from the PC.
[GI=method-1]If Politie virus stops your security software, you should access Safe Mode with Networking:
[GI=method-2]Employ System Restore feature to clean the system:
Make use of Windows Previous Versions feature
This option is only available for those who had System Restore feature enabled
ShadowExplorer can restore all your files
ShadowExplorer is useful if Shadow Volume Copies were not deleted by Politie virus
Decryption is not possible
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
Politie virus could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (politie virus in the list of installed apps) 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 Politie virus
Is there a free Politie virus decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Politie virus 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 "Politie virus 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.
Are ransomware recovery services legitimate?
Some are, but read the offer carefully. Genuine data-recovery firms recover deleted originals from disks or rebuild damaged files, and they say so. Others promise to "decrypt any ransomware" for a fixed price, which is impossible without the key; they quietly pay the attackers and keep a margin, sometimes without telling the victim.
Be especially careful with services that contact you after you post about the attack online. Ask for references, a written method and a no-result-no-fee clause, and check the free tools on No More Ransom first.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
How did Politie virus get on my computer?
The way Politie virus 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 politie virus in the list of installed apps, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Did Politie virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Politie virus, but the only confirmed sign is politie virus in the list of installed apps, 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 Politie virus 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.
The note says the price doubles after a deadline. Should I hurry?
No. Deadlines and discounts are pressure tactics meant to stop you from thinking, checking for a decryptor or talking to the police. Encrypted files do not get worse with time, and attackers who want money usually still answer after the deadline.
Use the time to remove the ransomware, check every backup and copy, identify the family and report the attack. If you are a business, let your incident response provider and insurer advise you. A rushed payment to the wrong address, or to a scammer posing as the attackers, is the more common mistake.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by Politie?
You cannot open locked files normally while they stay encrypted, and renaming them will not help. Our earlier report did not record the extension that Politie adds, so check one locked file name and the ransom note for it.
No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates. Do not rename the files, change the extension or edit them, because that can make recovery harder. Copy the locked files to an external drive before you clean the system, so a decryptor released later still has them.
Will Fortect remove Politie virus?
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 Politie virus, 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
- ZDNet: Ransomware attacks: Why and when it makes sense to pay the ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Trojan horse (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)