Qewe ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Qewe ransomware is one of many Djvu family versions that count more than 220 separate variants already. This is the threat that runs in the background and causes all the changes before it displays any visible symptoms.
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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Qewe ransomware: summary
| Distribution | In most reports, this threat is delivered via pirated software packages and malicious or even hacked websites. In general, one f the more common ways to spread such malware are infected files that get attached to emails in spam campaigns[2] |
|---|---|
| Damage | Ransomware is based on blackmail, so your money goes directly to criminals. This communication and money transferring can lead to issues with privacy and money loss. You need to take into the consideration that ransomware can easily spread other threats around without many efforts |
| Name | Qewe ransomware |
| Family | This threat belongs to a well-known Djvu ransomware family that became extremely active in the second half of 2019 and remained extremely dangerous in 2020 |
| File marker | .qewe – the file extension that occurs on every file affected by the threat. It comes after the original name and the file type indicator, so shows the affected files in alongside other ones that are not encoded |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt is the known name of a text file that contains a ransom-demanding message from creators of the dangerous virus. This note contains details about encryption and contact information, the ransom amount |
| 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 13 more facts
| Ransom amount | The amount these criminals want from victims is $980, but actors also offer the discount of 50% for users who contact extortionists in the first 72 hours |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | helpmanager@mail.ch, helpdatarestore@firemail.cc |
| Encrypted file extension | .qewe |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Type | File-encrypting 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 | .qewe |
| Attacker contacts | helpmanager@mail.ch |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 27 April 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.qewe - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
helpmanager@mail.ch
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Qewe ransomware
- Qewe ransomware removal can be quicker and give more satisfying results if you run the professional anti-malware tool to find all the dangerous files automatically.
- AV engines can clear malware thoroughly
- Run or a similar system optimization tool or even a PC repair application to identify affected or even damaged parts of the computer and system folders and files
The Qewe 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:
hxxps://we.tl/t-svMd2A4k89
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:
helpdatarestore@firemail.cc
Your personal ID:
How to remove Qewe 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 Qewe 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 Qewe 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
.qeweand 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 Qewe 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 Qewe 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 Qewe 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 2020 · not reviewed since
Qewe ransomware is the ransomware that cannot get decrypted unless the offline keys get used in the encryption process
Qewe ransomware is one of many Djvu family versions that count more than 220 separate variants already.
This is the threat that runs in the background and causes all the changes before it displays any visible symptoms. The first and the most important function that this malware has is file locking that allows the creators of the virus to make a profit directly from victims. Users notice data that gets marked using .qewe extension nad becomes inoperable.
This is the indication of a successful encryption procedure that ransomware runs as soon as it lands on the computer. Since Djvu ransomware and STOP virus family, in general, are known creators of dangerous cryptocurrency-extortion based threats, we can immediately tell that paying is not an option, in this case.
Even though versions that came out before August of 2019 were easily decryptable, Qewe ransomware virus is no longer based on the same coding and encryption functions. Online keys were used less often, so many people got their files restored with the help of researchers and tools designed to find victims of the same version.
Ransomware now connects to the server each time the encryption process runs on the targeted machine, so victims get unique victim IDs that are no longer matching with any other person or users.
Emsisoft still offers the procedure of recovering files, but their Djvu decryption is based on offline IDs only, so when your ID in the ransom note file ends in t1, you can have the option of decryption. However, other victims cannot repair the damage since keys are formed separately for each of them.
Qewe ransomware is the version in a family that is active and not stopping, so new versions come out more often since the coding is not much altered for each of them. This also indicates a few distinct features of the Djvu malware that are not changed for a while now.
The ransom note is delivering the same text, ransom offer, and is named _readme.txt fir at least two years. Also, helpmanager@mail.ch, helpdatarestore@firemail.cc contact emails are the same for may recent versions like .jope or .lalo.
Qewe ransomware is the version of the virus that was decryptable before. Cybercriminals evolve and make their products more persistent, so these malware creators updated their coding procedures and started to use more advanced methods and rely on online IDs.
Offline keys can change with versions only, these keys were more useful for researchers and malware-fighting tools. Online IDs allow making each victim unique and different from other users affected by the same version of the ransomware.
There is no solution for your files expert recovery from backups because these victim IDs needed for decryption tools are stored on malicious actors' servers. Unless the database of the malware creators get leaked or Qewe ransomware developers get caught by law enforcement.
Qewe ransomware removal is not helping to unlock your files, so you need to delete the infection for the sake of the security and to clear the malware traces to avoid further damage. However, files email locked and useless.
Anti-malware tools can detect and indicate threats that behave suspiciously or maliciously. Once you get the list of malware, you need to clear them all off of the system and repair damage after that.
The most important thing is to remove Qewe ransomware before start anything else, especially data recovery because your files may get encrypted again and damaged permanently. Ransomware scripts can run in the background and affect security features, other programs and run the encryption again if you do not remove all parts of the infection.
Anti-malware tools are based on detecting malicious behavior, so various programs related to Qewe ransomware can get indicated at the same time as the main payload file.
However, often the processes that are set to run in the background cannot be easily stopped or found. You may need to rely on a few AV tools to double-check or enter the Safe More before you run the anti-malware in the first place.
In most cases, when Qewe ransomware virus is dropped on the system all the processes start in stages. before the encryption is triggered this malware shows a fake window stating about Windows Update or different procedures, so slowness or different interruptions that users notice could be not they suspicious. However, even these masking techniques are useless when the ransom note appears.
Qewe ransomware delivers _readme.txt file on the desktop, places this note in many folders with encrypted files, and expects victims to follow the wanted steps:
Paying ransomware is never an option because direct contact between victims and criminals can lead to more issues besides the initial file encryption. When you transfer the amount, Qewe ransomware asked, you may be asked to pay more and more or receive an email with another malware script.
Qewe ransomware often is the secondary payload of a trojan or worm attack. So rely on professional anti-malware tools and can the system fully. The in-depth check can clean the system and improve the performance without causing additional damage. However, manual changes in system settings and program work can.
Tools like can find, indicate, and fix the damage that ransomware triggered with background processes and all the deletion or installation of apps and data. For data recovery options, file backups need to be updated more often, so you do not need to search for other solutions when ransomware occurs.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Malicious files get placed on targeted devices
Malware evolves as technologies change.
Cybercriminals also rely on more modern ways to spread their products around. This is the reason why ransomware is more stealthily and dangerous than ever before. malicious actors were more focused on email campaigns before and obtained payments from people who opened a malicious attachment from emails.
Now there are more hacked or malicious sites with triggers that allow downloads of malicious scripts and start infections like this. In addition, pirated sites, and torrent services become one more technique that allows spreading malware payload via files attached to software packages. In most cases, online games, cheats, software cracks, and license numbers when downloaded triggers the infection.
The best solution for avoidance of these infections can be paying attention to sources and choosing the official sites, not torrent or other sharing services. Illegal downloads and licensed versions are never a good idea. Keep anti-malware tools running more often, so these infections get indicated at the start of an infiltration.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Qewe ransomware termination procedures go before file recovery
You need to note how important Qewe ransomware removal process is and take care of your machine as soon as possible, so nothing that this file-locker does could damage your machine permanently. Data that is encrypted can be lost if you have no backups and other options do not work, but the sooner you clean malware off of the device the better.
Getting the professional anti-malware tool can help to remove Qewe ransomware more thoroughly and quickly. Anti-malware tools and security programs like or can clear malicious programs and files triggering unwanted functions. This way you can base your selection on detection and run the tool that is capable of clearing all malware.
Of course, there is an issue that Qewe ransomware virus creates besides the direct file encryption - damage. System files and functions often gel disabled, so malware runs with each reboot, and the virus can spread around easily. These alterations shouldn't be fixed manually, so rely on or get system optimization programs for performance improvements.
[GI=method-1]Rely on system reboot in Safe Mode with Networking because this option allows you to run the AV tool freely and find Qewe ransomware traces for the best removal
[GI=method-2]System Restore should help with clearing the system from viruses because your device will get recovered to a previous state when the threat was not active
You can use this program for encrypted files or any data that gets deleted by accident
Windows Previous Versions can provide a solution for file recovery after the Qewe ransomware attack
When System Restore gets enabled, you can rely on Windows Previous versions and recover files affected during the ransomware attack
ShadowExplorer is the feature of Windows PCs
If you are sure that Qewe ransomware left Shadow Volume Copies untouched, you can rely on ShadowExplorer and restore encrypted files
Try the Djvu decryption tool
Qewe ransomware is the version that is advanced and less likely to get decrypted, but Emsisoft decryption tool for Djvu can possibly help for some of the versions
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.
Backups: the 3-2-1 rule
Keep three copies of files that matter, on two kinds of storage, with one copy offline or off-site.
A disk that stays plugged in is reached by malware like Qewe ransomware together with the PC; one you connect only for the backup is not.
On Windows 11, File History keeps versions on an external drive, and OneDrive keeps earlier versions of synced files. Before restoring anything, make sure the PC no longer shows files that end in .qewe and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
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 Qewe 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 .qewe files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .qewe ending shows that Qewe 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 Qewe ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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.
Is there a free Qewe ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Qewe 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 "Qewe ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
How did Qewe ransomware get on my computer?
The way Qewe 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 .qewe 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 Qewe ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Qewe ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .qewe 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 Qewe 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 .qewe from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .qewe 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 Qewe 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 Qewe 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: Ransomware (read October 6, 2026)
- Threatpost: Sextortion Emails Force Payment via GandCrab Ransomware (read October 6, 2026)
- VirusTotal: Virus sample detection rate (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)