Ragnarok ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Ragnarok ransomware is the cryptovirus that encrypts audio, video, image files, documents, databases, archives, and other common file types, so developers have a reason to demand large payments for the alleged file recovery. The ransomware delivers a note called "!!Read_me_How_To_Recover_My_Files.html" - it provides more details to victims and asks them to contact the attackers via ragnar0k@tutanota.com ragnarok_recover@secmail.pro, or r19nar0k@airmail.cc emails.
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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Ragnarok ransomware: summary
| Distribution | Threat gets delivered via spam email campaigns with infected email attachments and by exploiting various vulnerabilities that allow attackers to get into targeted systems and execute needed malicious processes |
|---|---|
| Name | Ragnarok ransomware |
| File marker | .ragnarok_cry, .ragnarok, .rgnk, .odin |
| Ransom note | How_To_Decrypt_My_Files.txt, !!Read_me_How_To_Recover_My_Files.html |
| Contact email | asgardmaster5@protonmail.com, ragnar0k@ctemplar.com, ragnarok_master@protonmail.com, ragnarok@rape.lol, yawkyawkyawk@cock.li, ragnar0k@tutanota.com, ragnarok_recover@secmail.pro, r19nar0k@airmail.cc |
| Symptoms | The virus gets on the machine and encrypts various files in common types like photos, videos, documents. Then files get marked and the ransom note delivered with an encouraging message to pay up |
| 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
| Danger | Ransomware can freely run in the background, affect functions, processes and disable some functions of the system to keep the persistence. Also, ransomware behavior involves blackmailing and often leads to loss of money or personal data |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .thor |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .thor |
| Attacker contacts | ragnar0k@tutanota.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 20 October 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.thor - Note file:
Read_me_How_To_Recover_My_Files.html - Contact:
ragnar0k@tutanota.com
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Ragnarok ransomware
- To delete Ragnarok ransomware, you need a proper anti-malware tool.
- Such software can detect threats and clean the machines
How Ragnarok ransomware behaves
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Ragnarok ransomware is the threat that marks encoded data with a .thor file extension after encryption
Ragnarok ransomware is the cryptovirus that encrypts audio, video, image files, documents, databases, archives, and other common file types, so developers have a reason to demand large payments for the alleged file recovery. The ransomware delivers a note called "!!Read_me_How_To_Recover_My_Files.html" - it provides more details to victims and asks them to contact the attackers via ragnar0k@tutanota.com ragnarok_recover@secmail.pro, or r19nar0k@airmail.cc emails.
All the Ragnarok virus encrypted files are modified with an extension and a unique identifier. For example, a file "picture.jpg" is transformed into "picture.jpg.T1FURFU.thor," and can no longer be accessed by victims.
Just as it is the case with any other ransomware, the attackers demand a ransom of $980, with a 50% discount available if contacted within 72 hours of the infection. Unfortunately, no free decryption tools are currently available for this malware.
The initial version of the Ragnarok files virus was deployed in mid-January 2020 when a researcher Karsten Hahn reported seeing the strain being involved in attacks against companies and their customers.
It appended .ragnarok_cry or .ragnarok extensions, although later variants use names of other known mythological Nordic gods, e.g., Odin. Malware is also known for its ability to avoid infecting users and companies from countries such as China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and others.
The name of this Ragnarok ransomware virus was in the headlines of news sources when it was discovered that specific vulnerability in the Citrix Application Delivery Controller allowed attackers to execute the arbitrary code and install malware on the targeted network.
The company released patches for their software and the particular CVE-2019-1978 flaw, but many potential victims may not get the patch for their software or might already be affected by the cryptovirus, so you if you might be one of them, take actions immediately.
Ragnarok ransomware infection spreads with the help f payload droppers that initiate the installation of the threat when the malicious script gets triggered by enabling the macro viruses or when the other malware injects already infected machine with a payload of cryptovirus.
Once it gets on the machine t can run in the background and change needed system settings or disable/ install programs and functions. However, the first and the most dangerous, noticeable feature if this type of malware is encryption.
Ragnarok ransomware changes the original code of the chosen data by relying on the encryption algorithms that allow the virus to make files useless and unopenable. When that is done, the virus shows instructions in the form of a text file, in this case, named How_To_Decrypt_My_Files.txt that presents the following message to victims:
Even though all the claims seem convincing and the message scares you into consideration to pay these criminals, there is no reason to pay extortionists, especially, when money is the only aim of such malicious actors. You should remove Ragnarok ransomware instead and try to recover the system back to normal to restore those encrypted files using third-party programs or some system functions that could help.
The best way to react after you got affected by a threat like Ragnarok ransomware is to gather some of those encrypted files alongside other data related to this infection and store on an external drive, in case, decryption tool will be released by some experts or malware researchers. Then you should get a tool falling into the anti-malware software category and scan the system fully.
Ragnarok ransomware removal cannot be that difficult, especially when AV detection is pretty high for the payload of this particular cryptovirus. That means that most of the anti-malware available to this day can find the threat and remove it from the machine, you just need to choose the proper program and run a full system scan. Then follow the suggested steps and clean the system from malware traces.
Unfortunately, Ragnarok ransomware is not the threat that only encrypts files ad awaits for payment transfers to come. Extorsiotinsts want victims to pay for the alleged restoration of files but there are more changes the threat manages to do in the background of the system to keep running on the device.
Ragnarok ransomware can make entries in the Windows registry, launch and repress processes in the system, inject other malware directly or open backdoors for remote access. There are many versions of secondary payload that ransomware can execute behind the victim's back and do that successfully while the person is focusing on recovering those encoded files. Some files can get deleted to keep fewer data recovery methods for the person.
Nevertheless, altering those parts of the system yourself can be as damaging as the changes the virus does on the machine, so we don't recommend searching for manual solutions with virus damage as well as with the termination of this infection.
To tackle those affected parts and damaged data, get a tool that can run a scan on the system and find changes that Ragnarok ransomware did. could be the tool that finds and fixes damaged files for you. Then you can be sure that ransomware is not going to renew itself and that your recovered files are safe.
From our report of Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Pay attention to details and avoid malware infiltrations
When you get emails on the daily, you should consider every one of them as potential spam and pay attention to the sender and the topic before you even get to open the notification. If you are not expecting to get financial information-related emails from a company or service, you should never open such a message.
Malicious actors use company names, services, government agencies to trick people that they have received an order or receipt details, payment information and so on, so the victim falls for the scam.
Once the message is opened and the file attached to the email downloaded the only step left is to enable macros or visit the linked URL. Users often go straight to the suggested step and do that without thinking.
You need to look out for any misspelled company names, typos or grammar mistakes and letters from companies you don't have a relation with. This is how you can avoid serious infections. Also, keeping the system virus free with a proper anti-malware or security tool.
The Ragnarok ransomware note
#what happend?
Unfortunately your files are encrypted, To decrypt your files follow the instructions
1. you need a decrypt tool so that you can decrypt all of your files
2. contact with us for our btc address if you want decrypt your files or you can do nothing just wait your files gona be deleted
3. you can provide a file which size less than 3M for us to prove that we can decrypt your files after you paid
4. it is wise to pay in the first time it wont cause you more losses
DEVICE ID:
----------------------------
-
----------------------------
you can send your DEVICE ID to mail address below
asgardmaster5@protonmail.com
How to remove Ragnarok 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 Ragnarok 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
Ragnarok ransomware encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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
Copy
Read_me_How_To_Recover_My_Files.htmland one or two files ending in.thorto a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
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
For Ragnarok ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while Ragnarok ransomware still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or 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
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
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
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
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 Oct 2020 · not reviewed since
Prepare for file recovery be eliminating Ragnarok ransomware completely
Ragnarok ransomware virus may disable your AV tools like Windows Defender and other security programs, so it is easier to perform malicious operations, so you may need to enter the Safe Mode with networking to fully detect and remove the threat from the machine. You can find instructions on that below.
When you enter the safe mode, you can freely run the anti-malware tool of your choice and remove Ragnarok ransomware using the software designed to detect malicious threats and indicate the dangerous behavior.
The only tip from us for the best Ragnarok ransomware removal would be choosing trustworthy professional tools. You cannot remove such malware yourself, so the less damage is left the better. AV tools remove malware from the machine and the applications designed to optimize the performance like can fix the damage and repair additional system changes that malware caused.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking to eliminate Ragnarok ransomware completely with your AV tool
[GI=method-2]Try System Restore feature as a method of Ragnarok ransomware removal
Try this program for encrypted or accidentally deleted files and get your data back
Windows Previous Versions feature is the method helping to restore encoded files
When System Restore gets enabled, you can use Windows Previous Versions and recover files encrypted by Ragnarok ransomware
ShadowExplorer is the possible solution for file recovery
When ransomware is not damaging Shadow Volume Copies, you can restore encrypted files using ShadowExplorer
There is no official tool for Ragnarok ransomware decryption
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
Ragnarok ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .thor and no longer open) 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.
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 Ragnarok ransomware
How do I open .thor files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .thor has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
How did Ragnarok ransomware get on my computer?
The way Ragnarok 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 .thor 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 Ragnarok ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Ragnarok 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 "Ragnarok 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.
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.
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 Ragnarok ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Ragnarok ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .thor 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 Ragnarok 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.
Should I open Read_me_How_To_Recover_My_Files.html?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text Read_me_How_To_Recover_My_Files.html 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.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .thor attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .thor stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
Will Fortect remove Ragnarok 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 Ragnarok 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
- Fireeye: Nice Try: 501 (Ransomware) Not Implemented (read October 6, 2026)
- Twitter: Ragnarok report (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)