SaveTheQueen ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
SaveTheQueen ransomware, released by MCS (MaliciousComputerServices), is a data-locking computer virus claiming that purchasing the decryption tool from the crooks is the only way to recover your files. Even though the .SaveTheQueen.HelpMe.txt message urges users not to panic, the written text does not look calming at all.
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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SaveTheQueen ransomware: summary
| Name | SaveTheQueen ransomware |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware infection/file-locking malware |
| Developer | MCS (MaliciousComputerServices) |
| Appendix | Once all files are locked by using a unique algorithm, the malware appends the .SaveTheQueen extension to each filename as a sign of successful encryption |
| Message | Crooks provide information on the infection, contacts and ransom demands in the .SaveTheQueen.HelpMe.txt message |
| File | Once the parasite lands on a computer, it drops the SaveTheQueen.exe file on the machine and starts executing its module |
| 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
| Email(s) | The criminals provide GodSaveMe@tutamail.com/GodSaveYou@tuta.io email addresses and urge to contact them within a 7-day time period, otherwise, files will remain undecryptable forever |
|---|---|
| Spreading | Ransomware viruses can be distributed in multiple ways: email spam, vulnerable RDP, exploit kits, software cracks, malicious attachments, infected hyperlinks, etc. |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Ransom note | HelpMe.txt |
| Contact | GodSaveMe@tutamail.com, GodSaveYou@tuta.io |
| Encrypted file extension | .savethequeen |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .savethequeen |
| Attacker contacts | GodSaveMe@tutamail.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 28 November 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.savethequeen - Note file:
HelpMe.txt - Contact:
GodSaveMe@tutamail.com
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on SaveTheQueen ransomware
- Employ only reliable software to get rid of the ransomware infection from your Windows computer system.
- Manual elimination should not be a possibility in this case as there is a high risk of damage
- If you have found some system components that have been affected by the infection, you can employ and try repairing them with this tool
How SaveTheQueen ransomware behaves
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
SaveTheQueen ransomware - a file-encrypting parasite that has been created by MaliciousComputerServices
SaveTheQueen ransomware, released by MCS (MaliciousComputerServices), is a data-locking computer virus claiming that purchasing the decryption tool from the crooks is the only way to recover your files.
Even though the .SaveTheQueen.HelpMe.txt message urges users not to panic, the written text does not look calming at all. It states that all files, documents, photos, and databases have been locked with the .SaveTheQueen appendix added and the victims need to write via GodSaveMe@tutamail.com/GodSaveYou@tuta.io email addresses to receive the decryption key, otherwise, it will be deleted permanently.
Even though the crooks do not shout out any particular details about ransom demands, you can be provided with ransom demands anywhere between $50 and $2000 in BTC or another type of cryptocurrency.
Once SaveTheQueen virus enters the Windows computer system, it brings the SaveTheQueen.exe file to the machine which launches the malicious module. VirusTotal has reported that this executable has been detected as malicious by 42 AV engines out of the total 69.
Continuously, SaveTheQueen ransomware might apply some alterings to the Windows Registry and Task Manager sections. The malware might add entries and processes that allow it to scan the computer system in some time periods and search for newly-created files that it could repeat the encryption.
Additionally, SaveTheQueen ransomware might be able to launch itself automatically within every computer startup process, run the ransom message in the computer background and add it to every folder that holds affected data. Also, the malware might execute PowerShell commands to eliminate Shadow Copies and harden the decryption.
SaveTheQueen ransomware provides ransom demands in a way that would threaten and scare the victims. According to this message, users can only purchase the decryption software from them, otherwise, the files will remain encrypted forever:
Our recommendation would be to avoid any communication with these untrustworthy people as you might get easily scammed and have to face huge monetary losses without any decryption software in hand. Instead of wasting your money on questionable things, purchase a reliable antimalware tool and go for the SaveTheQueen ransomware removal process.
Once you remove SaveTheQueen ransomware from your Windows machine, search for damaged components and try fixing them with . Also, we have provided some booting steps at the end of this article that might help you to diminish malicious ongoing processes. Bonus: there you will also find some data recovery techniques that can bring positive results.
SaveTheQueen ransomware should not stay on your computer system for long as this malware might bring other cyber threats along its side and we guess that you definitely do not want another hazardous infection troubling your computing work, destroying your system, or corrupting your data files.
From our report of Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
The spreading process of ransom-demanding threats
Ransomware viruses are dangerous and sneaky parasites that attack people unknowingly.
However, the user must have made some unrecognizable security change that weekend his/her computer's protection level or just has not taken computer security as important as it should have been taken.
Malware ends up on those computers that have weak automatical security or are able to avoid less-advanced antimalware. So, do not be afraid to invest in your antivirus protection as it will provide you with long-term protection and inform you about potential danger. Also, do not forget to keep your AV software regularly updated.
Continuously, ransomware is often distributed through cracked software, exploit kits, PUPs such as adware or browser hijackers, email spam campaigns, infectious Word, PDF, Excel sheets, malicious hyperlinks, vulnerable RDP configuration (TCP port 3389), and similar. Besides installing antimalware you should also:
- Keep your email managed. If you ever receive a letter that you were not waiting for, you should investigate the sender and the content first. If the sender's name sounds concerning or the entire message includes grammar/style mistakes, there is a big risk that some type of hacker has been trying to trick you.
- Secure your RDP properly. If RDP contains weak protection or none at all, bad actors can easily manipulate the port and connect to your computer system remotely.
- Do not open questionable attachments. If you ever encounter some bogus attachments, better delete them or scan with antivirus software before opening to make sure that no malicious content is hidden there.
- Overall, take your online protection seriously. Do not download any suspicious apps that might bring malware to your system, do not click on unknown locations, and avoid visiting P2P networks such as The Pirate Bay, etc.
The SaveTheQueen ransomware note
Do not panic!
All your files, documents, photos, databases and other important files are encrypted and have the extension: .SaveTheQueen
The only method of recovering files is to purchase an unique private key.
Only we can give you this key and only we can recover your files.
Contact us by e-mail in 7 days ; or your key will be deleted permanently.
God bless you!
How to remove SaveTheQueen 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 SaveTheQueen 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 SaveTheQueen 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
.savethequeenand the instructions are inHelpMe.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 SaveTheQueen 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 SaveTheQueen 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 SaveTheQueen 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 Nov 2019 · not reviewed since
SaveTheQueen ransomware removal process
SaveTheQueen ransomware removal is the type of process that requires antivirus security software.
We suggest trying to find the malicious infection and its corrupted files with a program such as or . Continuously, if you are provided with a list of damaged components, you can try fixing them with software such as .
According to cybersecurity specialists from Virusai.lt, you cannot properly remove SaveTheQueen ransomware and other dangerous malware only on your own. First of all, you risk raking big risks and leaving malicious components in your system still running. If you skip any crucial product, it might relate in the repeated appearance of the ransomware.
Also, we have provided some step-by-step guidelines down below that should help you to stop malicious processes coming from SaveTheQueen ransomware. Even though there is no 100% guarantee that the software will help, it is still a way better option than paying an inadequate ransom price and risking to get scammed.
A little tip for future data protection would be to store copies of important information on remote servers such as iCloud or Dropbox. Also, you can purchase a portable drive (or multiple ones) and copy your valuable data there.
[GI=method-1]To prevent malicious activities on your Windows computer, boot the system in Safe Mode with Networking.
[GI=method-2]To stop damaging processes, you can try opting for the System Restore feature:
Use this software if the ransomware virus has locked your files and documents.
Use Windows Previous Versions feature to recover some data:
Employ this feature if you are looking forward to restoring some encrypted details. However, be sure that you have activated System Restore before opting for this method.
Try Shadow Explorer for data recovery tasks:
Use this tool and try restoring some individual files if the ransomware virus did not delete Shadow Volume Copies of encrypted data.
Cybersecurity experts are currently working on the official decryptor.
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
SaveTheQueen ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .savethequeen 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 SaveTheQueen ransomware
Should I pay the ransom in HelpMe.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from HelpMe.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 .savethequeen files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .savethequeen ending shows that SaveTheQueen 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 SaveTheQueen ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Is there a free SaveTheQueen ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for SaveTheQueen 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 "SaveTheQueen 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 SaveTheQueen ransomware get on my computer?
The way SaveTheQueen 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 .savethequeen 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 SaveTheQueen ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by SaveTheQueen ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .savethequeen 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 SaveTheQueen 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 .savethequeen from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .savethequeen 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 HelpMe.txt tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name HelpMe.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 SaveTheQueen 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 SaveTheQueen 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
- VirusTotal: 42 engines detected this file (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Shadow Copy (read October 6, 2026)
- Search Enterprise Desktop: Remote desktop protocol (RDP) (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)