Razor ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Razor ransomware is a malicious string that has emerged in the first half of February 2020. It was found to come from the Garrantdecrypt malware family.
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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Razor ransomware: summary
| Name | Razor ransomware |
|---|---|
| Category | Ransomware/malware |
| Family | Garrantydecrypt ransomware |
| Encryption | Once the virus appears on the targeted computer system, it starts scanning the device for encryptable material. When all the files and documents are detected, the malware launches a strong encryption cipher, e.g. (AES or RSA) and locks up all the components with the .razor appendix |
| Ransom note | The ransomware brings the #RECOVERY#.txt text message to the Windows computer screen which includes criminals' contact information such as azor2020@protonmail.ch email address, @razor2020 via ICQ, and razor2020@jxmpp.jp for contacting them through Jabber |
| Delivery | The malicious payload is mostly delivered through email spam campaigns when the criminals pretend to be from reliable shipping, healthcare or banking organizations and send messages together with attachments that are infected with the ransomware |
| 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
| Other dangers | Besides encrypting all the files that are found on the computer, Razor virus can make the system more vulnerable to other infections and let malware such as trojans escape security barriers |
|---|---|
| File recovery | Rather than completing the criminals' demands and paying some type of price for the decryption tool, go to the end of this page and try out the data recovery alternatives that are provided there |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | razor2020@protonmail.ch, razor2020@jxmpp.jp, tomten@cock.li |
| Encrypted file extension | .razor |
| 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 |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .razor |
| Attacker contacts | razor2020@protonmail.ch |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 13 February 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.razor - Note file:
RECOVERY#.txt - Contact:
razor2020@protonmail.ch
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Razor ransomware
- To complete full malware removal, you have to employ reliable security software
- If the malware has brought any type of damage to the computer system, you should try repairing the machine with the help of a tool such as
How Razor ransomware behaves
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Razor ransomware - a Garrantydecrypt ransomware family member that is programmed to append the .razor extension to each filename
Razor ransomware is a malicious string that has emerged in the first half of February 2020.
It was found to come from the Garrantdecrypt malware family. Even though this parasite is not that famous as Djvu ransomware or Phobos ransomware, that does not mean that it is not dangerous. .razor files virus operates exactly as other similar threats - by running unique encryption codes, locking all detected files, and providing payment rules.
When this notorious infection appears on Windows, it heads for all the files that are stored on the device.
Once they are captured and locked by a strong cipher, the .razor appendix appears near to each filename. Additionally, Razor virus displays the #RECOVERY#.txt text message in a Notepad blank. This piece of information includes criminals' contacts such as razor2020@protonmail.ch email address, @razor2020 via ICQ, and razor2020@jxmpp.jp for contacting them through Jabber.
Razor ransomware is a virus that targets English-speaking users and appears on computers that are running the Windows operating system. Once the target is reached and the device gets infected, the malicious payload alters some locations on it, including the Windows Registry, Task Manager, Control Panel, User's folder, etc.
These areas can be filled with suspicious keys, files, and processes. Beware that Razor ransomware will likely enable its module to run within every computer startup process and scan the entire system for encryptable components in a repeated amount of time. Nevertheless, the malware can end up deactivating your antivirus software in order not to get detected.
Furthermore, Razor ransomware will use unique encryption ciphers such as AES, RSA, or SHA to code up files. The malware can reach any types of components such as images, audios, videos, databases, excel sheets, powerpoints, etc. When these files and documents get locked, the user is not able to access them properly anymore.
Afterward, Razor ransomware stores both encryption and decryption keys on remote servers so that they would not be reachable for the victims. Another way how the malware might try to harden the data recovery process is by permanently damaging or eliminating the Shadow Volume Copies by running specific PowerShell commands.
Criminals in the ransom note warn victims not to rename the encrypted files or try recovering them with third-party software as they can get lost forever. However, this is just a way for Razor ransomware developers to scare their victims and speed up the ransom payment process that is usually urged in exchange for the decryption tool:
Even though Razor ransomware does not provide any particular ransom demands, this does not mean that crooks will not ask for some money after you contact them. These people are very likely to urge for a sum anywhere from $50 to $2000 or more and require it to be paid in some type of cryptocurrency, for example, Bitcoin.
You should stay away from the required payments and even from contacting crooks. Razor ransomware has been created only for hackers' benefits and these people might decide to run away after you transfer the demanded price or provide you with fake decryption software that does not truly work. However, the choice is yours.
A piece of advice would be to remove Razor ransomware from your Windows computer system with the help of reliable software. Choose an antimalware tool that is capable of detecting some type of malware and getting rid of all the malicious products that it has brought to the computer system. This includes various files, keys, and processes.
If you are having some trouble to perform Razor ransomware removal, you should boot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking first. Afterward, continue with your task. Another reason to speed up the elimination process is the possibility that you might end up with additional dangerous malware on your computer system.
When Razor ransomware is permanently gone, now you can try some data recovery techniques for bringing your files back to their primary states. Rather than taking risks while paying the ransom, you should go to the end of this article and try some file restoring software that can be very helpful if used as required.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Email spam - a source that is at a high risk of ransomware infections
Malicious payload is aimed to be sneaked in unknown, otherwise, it would not make its way through various security barriers.
Criminals who distribute ransomware viruses camouflage the infection as some type of a legitimate-looking file so that it would not raise any concern before opening. Such components often come attached to email spam messages. Criminals pretend to be from reliable organizations, e.g. shipping, banking, healthcare and trick people into believing that the email is truly reliable and the clipped attachment should be opened or even downloaded.
If you have already opted for the downloading process of the unknown attachment, you should still not view the content inside unless your antimalware software says that it is safe after completing a full scan. Some ways to identify misleading email messages are the following ones:
NoVirus.uk specialists claim that there are also some other ways of how ransomware can be delivered to computers. Malicious actors can use software cracks to hide the infectious payload, they can create fake Adobe Flash Player o JavaScript updates to camouflage the ransomware, and so on.
You should know that everything you do online should be completed with big care and responsibility. Also, owning a reliable antivirus tool will increase your chances of avoiding malware greatly.
- Always check the sender. If the email letter is coming from some type of unknown address such as tomten@cock.li, it definitely is not a reliable one as well-known companies do not use such emails.
- Investigate the text message for grammar mistakes. When you have opened the letter and read the content inside, you should try to discover any possible grammar mistakes. If there are some, this is very likely to be a sign that the email is not coming from a trustworthy sender.
- Evaluate the expectations of such an email. If you have not been waiting for an email lately but still have received some type of urgent or important message, there might be hackers trying to trick you. If you have any concerns about the received email, you can always try contacting the company, which has supposedly written the letter, via mobile phone.
The Razor ransomware note
All your files have been ENCRYPTED!!!
Write to our email:
razor2020@protonmail.ch
ICQ:
@razor2020
Or contact us via jabber:
razor2020@jxmpp.jp
Jabber (Pidgin) client installation instructions, you can find on youtube - hxxps://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pidgin+jabber+install
Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
tell your unique ID
-
How to remove Razor 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 Razor 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 Razor 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
.razorand the instructions are inRECOVERY#.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 Razor 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 Razor 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 Razor 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 Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Razor ransomware removal requires strong software
If you are looking forward to getting rid of the cyber threat once and for all, you need to make sure that you employ tools that are strong enough.
Razor ransomware is a dangerous virtual parasite that scatters malicious payload all over the computer system, including locations such as the Control Panel, Registry, and Task Manager. Only by cleaning these directories properly you will be able to terminate the infection in a way that it will not return in the upcoming feature.
Note that completing Razor ransomware removal manually is not a way to make things right. While performing the elimination in such a way, you take risks of completing mistakes that might appear damaging to your computer system.
You also might skip some malicious keys or files. So, go to the Internet and read all about recommendable antimalware programs and choose a piece of software that has collected the best user and expert reviews.
If you see that you are having a hard time to remove Razor ransomware from your infected Windows device, the malware might be executing a malicious command to blog your AV tool or your removal attempts.
Regarding this fact, look down below and follow the steps that teach how to boot in Safe Mode. Afterward, you can start viewing data recovery alternatives some of which have also been included to the end of this article.
[GI=method-1]To diminish malicious settings on your Windows computer and deactivate the parasite, apply the following guiding steps and execute Safe Mode with Networking
[GI=method-2]To deactivate the ransomware virus which has been recently running on your Windows device, you should launch the System Restore feature. Complete the task by following these instructions
After receiving the payment, crooks might not even provide you with the promised key. Alternatively, you can try recovering your blocked data with the help of the below-provided material.
Try downloading and installing this piece of software as it can bring you satisfying results when trying to restore data
Windows Previous Versions feature might be the right tool for file recovery
If you have been looking for some type of software that could reverse your encrypted files back to their previous states, this one might just be the exact one. However, you should have enabled System Restore in the past for this tool to operate properly
Use Shadow Explorer to restore some components that are locked by ransomware
If the file-encrypting virus has locked all of your files and documents but has not deleted or permanently damaged the Shadow Volume Copies, you should give this software a try
The .razor files decrypter is still in the development mode
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 Razor 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 .razor and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
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 Razor ransomware
How do I open .razor files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .razor 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.
Should I pay the ransom in RECOVERY#.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from RECOVERY#.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.
Is there a free Razor ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Razor 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 "Razor 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 Razor ransomware get on my computer?
The way Razor 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 .razor 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 Razor ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Razor ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .razor 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 Razor 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.
What does RECOVERY#.txt tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name RECOVERY#.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.
My files got .razor overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .razor extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
Will Fortect remove Razor 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 Razor 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: Shadow Copy (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)