Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it

Recuperadados@protonmail.com virus operates as the cyber infection which is ready to encrypt users' crucial files. According to the displayed email address, it sparks speculations whether it is related to Il tuo computer e stato infettato da Cryptolocker!

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.

Automatic

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Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus: recuperadados ransomware
Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus as our 2016 report showed it.

Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus: summary

Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
Ransom noteNot recorded in our earlier report
ContactRecuperadados@protonmail.com, recuperadados@protonmail.com
Encrypted file extension.bloqueado
DecryptorNo free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
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 9 more facts
DamageNot recorded in the old report
NameRecuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus
TypeFile-encrypting ransomware
SymptomsFiles renamed with a new extension
Evidence6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Encrypted files.bloqueado
Free decryptorNo free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026)
First seen29 December 2016
Facts checked6 October 2026

What to search your PC and browser for

  • File extension: .bloqueado

How Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus behaves

From our report of Dec 2016 · not reviewed since

Review of Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus

Recuperadados@protonmail.com virus operates as the cyber infection which is ready to encrypt users' crucial files.

According to the displayed email address, it sparks speculations whether it is related to Il tuo computer e stato infettato da Cryptolocker! malware. The ransom notes of the latter and former threats are written in Portuguese. Furthermore, both of them use @protomail.com domain as the public email address.

According to the IT experts, this threat is based on the HiddenTear ransomware pattern, thus, it would be a mistake to underestimate the threat. Despite how ominous file-encrypting threats may look, there are prevention and confrontation ways . In the last section of this article, you will find recommendations how to remove recuperadados@protonmail.com from the device. In addition, we add a few suggestions on the recovery of the files as well.

While "English" crypto-malware threats comprise the majority of the ransomware business, more "multinational" threats start to appear as well. It is not the first time when Spanish or Portuguese users are attacked with ransomware. Such countries as Malaysia also report of the virus activity .

It suggests that despite the quality of the Internet network and the area of residence, you might encounter recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware or another infection. When this particular malware settles on the device, it will take some time to encode your files. Afterward, all of them will possess .bloqueado file extensions.

Attaching the attachments referring pop culture or mythology has been a prevalent tendency among cyber crooks . As a result, all of the files become inaccessible. In relation to this, the crooks urge the victims of Recuperadados malware to contact them via specific recuperadados@protonmail.com email address.

Naturally, you will have to pay in return for the key. According to the -.txt message, victims should pay 1500 USD in return for the decryption tool. Even if FBI occasionally changes its mind concerning the need to pay the ransom , you should not trust hackers on their word . ensures complete elimination of the threat.

Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus: recuperadados ransomware
Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus in our 2016 report.

From our report of Dec 2016 · not reviewed since

When did the hijack happen?

If you follow the news in the IT field, you might be familiar with the most dominant ransomware distribution method.

Specifically, felons prefer disguising crypto threats under update.exe, explorer.exe, or dllhost.exe fil, .doc or .zip folder. Users recklessly open the attached files only to find out later what menacing content they released from the Pandora box.

After the infected file is activated, it might start executing the primary functions of the ransomware via Rundll32.exe or another system function. In addition, note that exploit kits are the secondary most popular channel for delivering ransomware. In comparison with the first method, they are more menacing as you cannot detect them simply with a naked eye.

How to remove Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus

Tools you'll need

All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.

  • A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
  • Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
  • Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
  • ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
  • No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
  • Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.

How to remove Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus and get your files back

Work in this order.

Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.

  1. Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives

    Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus 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 quick settings with Wi-Fi turned off
    Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files

  2. Step 2: Save the ransom note and identify the family

    Find the ransom note, usually a .txt, .html or .hta file in every folder or on the desktop, and copy it with one or two encrypted files to a USB stick.

    From another device, upload them to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note and the file extension. Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note for the report.

    Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.

    A ransom note text file next to encrypted files in File Explorer
    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

  3. Step 3: Check for a free decryptor

    For Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus, 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

  4. Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt

    Restoring or decrypting files while Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus 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 Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

  5. 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.

    Command Prompt running vssadmin list shadows
    Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files

  6. 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

  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. 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.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.Windows 7/XP

Windows 10 / Windows 8

  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot.Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options.Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings.Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.Enable safe mode

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:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

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:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. 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).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following: Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files
  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. 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 Dec 2016 · not reviewed since

Eliminating the malware

Recuperadados@protonmail.com removal does not take long if you opt for the automatic method.

Install a security tool, for instance, or , and let it deal with the malware. In order for it to eradicate all components of the threat, update its virus database. Nonetheless, you should keep in mind that some versions of the file-encrypting malware tend to bother the elimination process by locking computer screen or disabling other crucial functions.

If you cannot remove recuperadados@protonmail.com virus for this reason as well, do not panic but follow the guidelines. In the end, you will also find some suggestions how to recover your files if you do not have a backup at hand.

If recuperadados@protonmail.com malware assaults your PC and encodes your files, it is understandable that you may risk paying in the hope of retrieving the files. However, give this program a try and see. You might succeed in eliminating the files and avoid wasting money.

How effective is ShadowExplorer?

Latest Windows OS versions are automatically set to create shadow volume copies. This program uses these patterns to recreate the copies of your locked data. As it is unknown whether the virus deletes the copies, you should make a rush.

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

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 .bloqueado 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 Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus

How do I open .bloqueado files?

You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .bloqueado 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.

When will a decryptor for Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus be released?

Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 6 October 2026, no free decryptor is known. Decryptors usually appear after one of three events:

  • police seize the attackers' servers and keys
  • the authors leak or publish the master keys
  • researchers find a mistake in how the ransomware generates keys

Some families got a tool within weeks, others never. Keep the encrypted files and the note on an external drive, check No More Ransom every few months, and follow news about the Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.

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 Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus get on my computer?

The way Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.

Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .bloqueado 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.

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.

Did Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?

We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .bloqueado 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 Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus the same as other ransomware with a similar name?

Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.

Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.

Should I reinstall Windows after the .bloqueado attack?

Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .bloqueado 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.

If I delete Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus, do my files come back?

Unfortunately not. Deleting the program only ends the attack; every file that already has the .bloqueado ending stays encrypted, because decryption needs a key that only the attackers hold.

That is why this guide separates removal from recovery. First make sure Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus is gone with an offline scan, then work through the recovery list:

  • backups
  • OneDrive history
  • Previous Versions
  • copies on other devices and
  • if one exists
  • a decryptor

Do not rename or edit the encrypted files in the meantime, and keep them even if nothing works today.

Will Fortect remove Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For Recuperadados@protonmail.com ransomware virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

More removal guides

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