PureLocker ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
PureLocker is a ransomware strain that is written in programming language PureBasic (which is quite an unusual trait) - it allows malicious actors to deploy malware on Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. It has been spotted attacking various organizations and their servers in targeted attacks recently.
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.
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PureLocker ransomware: summary
| Name | PureLocker ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Cryptovirus, file locking malware |
| Operational scheme | Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) |
| Targeted systems | While most of the ransomware viruses are developed for Windows OS, this malware strain can also be used to attack macOS and Linux systems |
| Cipher | All files (apart from system and executable files) are encrypted with a combination of AES-256 and RSA-4096 encryption algorithms |
| Extension | Victims can quickly recognize encrypted files that are no longer accessible by .CR1 marker |
| 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 16 more facts
| Ransom note | Malware drops YOUR_FILES; the text is quoted in full below |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Malware authors ask users to contact them by using cr1-silvergold1@protonmail.com or another email within seven days of the initial infections, or the personal key required for data decryption will be deleted (the claim is not yet verified) |
| Code | Researchers claim that ransomware developers are reusing the code of More_Eggs backdoor (also known as Terra Locker and SpicyOmlette) |
| Targets | Malware is known to be targeting corporate servers |
| File decryption | There is no working decryptor that could help with PureLocker ransomware-encrypted files. However, victims can restore their data by using data recovery tools (in some cases), or by paying ransom to cybercriminals (not recommended) |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .cr1 |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .cr1 |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 15 May 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.cr1 - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on PureLocker ransomware
- Malware drops YOUR_FILES.txt file on victims' desktops, which includes all the instructions about how to proceed next
- Ransomware is programmed to delete itself upon successful infiltration.
- However, users should employ a most powerful up-to-date anti-malware tool to perform a full system scan in Safe Mode to make sure no malicious components are left
- PureLocker was based on a sophisticated backdoor and could possibly insert other malware on the system, which might corrupt the Windows registry and damage system files.
How PureLocker ransomware behaves
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
PureLocker ransomware - a cryptovirus that affects Windows, Linux, and macOS device and encrypts servers
PureLocker is a ransomware strain that is written in programming language PureBasic (which is quite an unusual trait) - it allows malicious actors to deploy malware on Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. It has been spotted attacking various organizations and their servers in targeted attacks recently. It mainly encrypts databases or servers and then requires ransom in Bitcoin to return those files.
Once inside the system, PureLocker ransomware makes necessary changes to the system and begins to look for files that can be encrypted. Once detected, all the data gets locked with AES-256 + RSA-4096 encryption algorithm and an extension .CR1 is appended to each of the files, preventing any further access.
Additionally, the drops a ransom note YOUR_FILES.txt, which explains to users what happened to their data and that they need to pay a ransom in order to recover it.
PureLocker is also very careful when it comes to payload delivery. Before starting the infection process, it performs several checks and, if not all the conditions are met, it will exit without performing any further actions.
The check makes sure that the malware is executed as intended (for example, whether the malware is being executed via regsrv32.exe or if the file extension is .ddl/.ocx) and that it is not being debugged/analyzed by malware researchers.
The amount of ransom is not provided by PureLocker ransomware developers, although they ask victims to contact them using cr1-silvergold1@protonmail.com email and claim that the private key that is capable of restoring the data on the compromised machine will be deleted after seven days from the infection date.
Note that email address varies and be different for each victim. Since ransomware has just been discovered recently, no decrypter is currently available for file redemption.
While there is no data recovery price mentioned in the ransom note, it is highly likely that criminals will ask for a relatively large sum of money, considering that the malware targets organizations. YOUR_FILES.txt includes the following message:
Paying cybercriminals is quite risky, especially when there has not been any successful PureLocker ransomware decryption tool retrieval. The attackers might be frauds, and never send the promised software, even after the payment in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency is processed.
Instead, you can use other solutions for file decryption. For example, data recovery software might be one of the solutions to recover PureLocker-encrypted files, although chances are relatively low. To find out more about alternative data restoration methods, check our recovery section below.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
A famous hacking group is behind a backdoor which code was used by PureLocker
PureLocker ransomware managed to stay under the radar for several months - not many AV engines on Virus Total were detecting the threat due to its sophisticated evasion techniques such as hiding certain of its components in sandbox environments. Nevertheless, the most up-to-date security software should help with PureLocker ransomware removal in Safe Mode environment.
Intezer and IBM X-Force researchers, who analyzed the sample of PureLocker ransomware, claimed that some of its components are closely related to More_Eggs (also known as Terra Loader and SpicyOmelette) backdoor, which was available on the dark market by a prominent hacker group Cobalt - it operates an underground malware-as-a-service (MaaS) scheme. The backdoor was also used by another criminal gang, FIN6, that primary targets financial organizations.
Researchers claim that PureLocker virus uses a completely unique code that was either heavily modified from an existing malware or is something completely new. Indeed, ransomware that can infect all operating systems and be highly evasive while doing so might cause maximum damage to its victims.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Ransomware operation methods
In most of the cases, corporations send a targeted phishing email that carries a malicious attachment, which, once opened, executes several commands and downloads the main payload of the ransomware.
The analyzed sample by experts was an obfuscated 32-bit DLL file that presented itself as a C++ library Crypto++.
The library contains elements that are typical to music playback functions that are used by regular programs. These included:
Due to this component, ransomware managed to bypass the detection of most of the AV vendors in recent weeks. Additionally, once the file was executed in a sandbox environment, it did not show any suspicious or malicious activity. Paying attention to details and being more suspicious can help avid these infections since some red flags can indicate a malicious purpose of the email.
- DeleteMusic
- DllRegisterServer
- FindMusic
- MoveMusic
- SeekMusic
- UploadMusic
The PureLocker ransomware note
#CR1
All your files have been encrypted using: AES-256-CBC + RSA-4096.
Shadows copies were removed, original files were overwritten, renamed and deleted using safe methods.
Recovery is not possible without own RSA-4096 private key.
Only we can decrypt your files!
To decrypt your files contact us at: cr1-silvergold1@protonmail.com
Your private key will be deleted after 7 days starting from: , after that the recovery of your files will not be possible.
How to remove PureLocker 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 PureLocker 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 PureLocker 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
.cr1and the instructions are inthe ransom note. 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 PureLocker ransomware, 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 PureLocker 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 PureLocker 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 May 2020 · not reviewed since
Recovery options after PureLocker ransomware infection
PureLocker virus is relatively unique ransomware that uses various tricks to stay undetected by security solutions.
While it is true that automatic removal will be performed immediately after it accomplishes its tasks, it might leave multiple components behind or even a secondary payload. In any case, the best solution would be running a reputable anti-malware tool in Safe Mode just to make sure.
Once you remove PureLocker ransomware and all other malicious components, you can attempt to recover your data. Upon infiltration, the malware deletes Shadow Volume Copies - these are automatic Windows backups that otherwise would save you from permanent data loss. If this process fails, you might have a chance of restoring all your files. Additionally, below, you will find suggestions for other methods that might help in some cases.
PureLocker ransomware removal is the process that comes in stages. The first step is ensuring that the machine is no longer affected by malware - running security tools like or or anti-malware programs. This way you can clean the system and move on to data recovery. Also, to make the difference in system performance repair files and functions using .
[GI=method-1]To check if no malware components are present on your computer, access Safe Mode with Networking and perform a full system scan:
[GI=method-2]System Restore can be used to eliminate the threat:
Nevertheless, such an option might only work for some of your files or not work at all.
Make use of Windows Previous Versions feature
This option is possible only if you had System Restore enabled before the infection took place.
ShadowExplorer might be able to recover all your data
Shadow Volume Copies might not be deleted by ransomware in some cases. In such a case, use ShadowExplorer.
No decryption tool is currently available for PureLocker ransomware
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 .cr1 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 PureLocker ransomware
Should I pay the ransom in the ransom note?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from the ransom note 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 .cr1 files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .cr1 ending shows that PureLocker 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 PureLocker ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Is there a free PureLocker ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for PureLocker 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 "PureLocker 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.
How did PureLocker ransomware get on my computer?
The way PureLocker 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 .cr1 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 PureLocker ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by PureLocker ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .cr1 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 PureLocker 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 .cr1 from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .cr1 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.
Should I open the ransom note?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text the ransom note 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 Fortect remove PureLocker 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 PureLocker 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: RSA (cryptosystem) (read October 7, 2026)
- Webroot: Malware as a Service: As Easy As It Gets (read October 7, 2026)
- SearchSecurity: Sandbox (computer security) (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)