Stone ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Stone ransomware is another new variant of Djvu (STOP) ransomware that uses the _readme.txt message for informing victims about secret encryption and ransom demands. The cyber threat modifies files' names with the .stone appendix that appears next to each doc, jpg, pdf, or another type of encrypted component.
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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A free scan checks for the encryptor still on the PC; it does not decrypt .stone files.
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Stone ransomware: summary
| Name | Stone |
|---|---|
| Malware type | Ransomware |
| Category | Djvu (STOP) ransomware |
| Extension added | .stone |
| Ransom note | _readme.txt |
| Emails | Stoneland@firemail.cc and gorentos@bitmessage.cc |
| 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 17 more facts
| Ciphers used | AES and RSA encryption algorithms are one of the most popular that are used |
|---|---|
| Targets | English speakers |
| Decryption key | Try the STOP ransomware decryptor |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Contact | Stoneland@firemail.cc, gorentos@bitmessage.cc, stoneland@firemail.cc |
| Encrypted file extension | .stone |
| 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 | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .stone |
| Attacker contacts | Stoneland@firemail.cc |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 5 June 2019 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What to search your PC and browser for
- File extension:
.stone - Note file:
_readme.txt - Contact:
Stoneland@firemail.cc
The Stone ransomware note
ATTENTION!
Don't worry my friend, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
hxxps://we.tl/t-4Orti6OnRT
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.
Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.
To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
stoneland@firemail.cc
Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
gorentos@bitmessage.ch
Our Telegram account:
@datarestore
Your personal ID:
-
How to remove Stone 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 Stone 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
Stone 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
_readme.txtand one or two files ending in.stoneto 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 Stone, 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 Stone 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 Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Stone ransomware - a Djvu virus variant which places payment instructions in the _readme.txt file
Stone ransomware is another new variant of Djvu (STOP) ransomware that uses the _readme.txt message for informing victims about secret encryption and ransom demands.
The cyber threat modifies files' names with the .stone appendix that appears next to each doc, jpg, pdf, or another type of encrypted component. For example, if you have a tree.jpg file, after successful encryption, it is modified to tree.jpg.stone.
As a solution for data recovery purposes, the crooks offer a 50% discount from the $980 ransom price if victims contact them in three days. Stoneland@firemail.cc and gorentos@bitmessage.cc are the email addresses of ransomware developers to which the affected user is urged to answer.
Stone virus gives particular commands that need to be followed in order to receive the decryption tool and paying the demanded ransom price ($980 or $490) is one of them. We advise all users to be aware of these cybercriminals and decline all ransom-related offers as there is a big risk of getting scammed and facing monetary losses.
Stone ransomware might be a complex threat as it can include different types of modules which launch malicious activities on the user's computer system. For example, it runs an AES or RSA cipher and starts encrypting all personal files that are found on the targeted system by making them hardly decryptable for the victims.
Furthermore, Stone ransomware can insert malicious executables that launch the cyber threat after each system boot. Additionally, these types of threats might bring fake security certificates that allow them to bypass system security and safely install on the machine. Such type of activity is a big threat to your computer as some antimalware/antivirus tools might not be able to prevent secret infiltration of the ransomware virus.
According to the _readme.txt text file, Stone ransomware developers try to convince users to transfer the demanded payment by offering to show the true existence of the ransomware virus decryption tool. As a solution, crooks suggest sending them one small file/document for free recovery via their email addresses:
Stone ransomware removal should be completed immediately after you detect it on your computer system. Make sure to capture all malware-based content, otherwise, if you leave some malicious executables, the ransomware virus might reboot itself within the next time when the user turns on the computer.
Remove Stone ransomware and try out some data recovery solutions for restoring encrypted documents/files. Take a look at the end of the article and you will find all possible methods. Furthermore, make sure that you take good care of personal files and various important documents in the upcoming future. Use USB devices or remote servers for storing these files and keeping them out of reach from bad actors.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Distribution sources of ransomware threats
If you have ever suffered from a ransomware attack, you probably have permitted a dubious installation of some type of file or visited a third-party source from which the malware appeared. Mostly, ransomware viruses are capable of spreading via email spam and suspicious attachments that crooks clip to the email message.
Our suggestion would be to avoid opening any questionable-looking emails and especially their attached files. Furthermore, you can decrease the risk of secret ransomware infiltration by preventing yourself from visiting online-gaming or movie watching sources which are provided by third-parties and lack required protection.
Furthermore, it is a very great idea to have a reputable antimalware/antivirus program that will ensure safe computing work all the time. Make sure that your antivirus software includes a wide range of features such as threat protection, ensuring safe browsing, preventing stealth installations, optimizing the system, and so on.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Stone ransomware removal guidelines for Windows users
Stone ransomware removal is a very responsible process to carry out.
You should not try to eliminate the cyber threat on your own, as you might make mistakes which can cause severe machine damage. Our suggestion would be to track all malicious components with software such as , , or before terminating them from the system.
After you remove Stone virus, you have to make sure that such malware attack will not appear in the future. According to Virusai.lt experts, to decrease the risk of another ransomware infection, you need to take all precautionary measures seriously.
[GI=method-1]Use Safe Mode with Networking for deactivation of virus activity:
[GI=method-2]Apply these steps to boot your computer by using System Restore:
Opt for this third-party software if you are likely to recover some of your documents/files:
Use Windows Previous Versions feature in order to reverse some files back to their previous states:
If you have enabled the System Restore function in the past, you should give this method a try. Complete all steps exactly as shown in the instructions and you might reach very satisfying results:
Shadow Explorer might allow recovery of some individual files.
If the ransomware virus did not destroy or eliminate Shadow Copies of your files, you can give this third-party software a try.
Currently, experts are working on the Stone decryption key. However, you can give the STOP decryptor a try.
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.
Protect the files you restore
Restore only after the scans are clean and the PC no longer shows files that end in .stone 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.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about Stone ransomware
How do I open .stone files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .stone ending shows that Stone 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 Stone. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did Stone get on my computer?
The way Stone 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 .stone 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 Stone decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Stone 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 "Stone 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 Stone steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Stone, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .stone 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 Stone 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 .stone from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .stone extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
What does _readme.txt tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name _readme.txt, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
Will Fortect remove Stone?
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 Stone, 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
- Comparitech: What is AES encryption and how does it work? (read October 6, 2026)
- Search Storage: USB flash drive (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)