TRAPGET ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
TRAPGET ransomware is a threat that creates frustration and works on scaring victims into paying the demanded ransom. Criminals allegedly have the decryption tool that can be purchased with cryptocurrency.
Facts checked October 7, 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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TRAPGET ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The threat can spread around using malicious links injected on various platforms, spam emails directly, or infect machines by attaching malware-laced documents as files on misleading emails from allegedly legitimate companies |
|---|---|
| Name | TRAPGET ransomware |
| Malware family | Nefilim ransomware is the initial version that TRAPGET virus is based on |
| File extension | .TRAPGET gets placed on every file that receives alterations with the encryption algorithm |
| Ransom note | TRAPGET-INSTRUCTION; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact | mariajackson2020williams@protonmail.com, mariajackson2019williams@protonmail.com, stephanveamont1997C@tutanota.com |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 12 more facts
| File Recovery | If no backups are available, recovering data is almost impossible. Nonetheless, we suggest you try the alternative methods that could help you in some cases – we list them below |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .trapget |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| 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 | .trapget |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 24 September 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.trapget - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on TRAPGET ransomware
- TRAPGET-INSTRUCTION.txt - a file that contains particular instructions encouraging to pay up
- Perform a full system scan with powerful security software to remove TRAPGET ransomware
- Malware can seriously tamper with Windows systems, causing errors, crashes, lag, and other stability issues after it is terminated.
The TRAPGET ransomware note
Two things have happened to your company.
==================
All of your files have been encrypted with military grade algorithms.
The only way to retrieve your data is with our software.
Restoration of your data requires a private key which only we possess.
==================
Information that we deemed valuable or sensitive was downloaded from your network to a secure location.
We can provide proof that your files have been extracted.
If you do not contact us we will start leaking the data periodically in parts.
==================
To confirm that our decryption software works email to us 2 files from random computers.
You will receive further instructions after you send us the test files.
We will make sure you retrieve your data swiftly and securely and that your data is not leaked when our demands are met.
If we do not come to an agreement your data will be leaked on this website.
Website: hxxp://corpleaks.net
TOR link: hxxp://hxt254aygrsziejn.onion
Contact us via email:
Mariajackson2020williams@protonmail.com
MariaJackson2019williams@protonmail.com
StephanVeamont1997C@tutanota.com
How to remove TRAPGET 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 TRAPGET 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
TRAPGET ransomware encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Copy
the ransom noteand one or two files ending in.trapgetto 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 TRAPGET ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 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 TRAPGET ransomware still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
TRAPGET ransomware - cryptovirus that is designed to encrypt files and deliver TRAPGET-INSTRUCTION.txt file to inform victims
TRAPGET ransomware is a threat that creates frustration and works on scaring victims into paying the demanded ransom.
Criminals allegedly have the decryption tool that can be purchased with cryptocurrency. The lengthy message placed on the system in the form of TRAPGET-INSTRUCTION.txt informs about the encryption and states that paying for the decryption tool is the only option to get files back in the proper shape.
Like other cryptovirus creators, these hackers also offer to submit test files for decryption o create a feeling of trust. There is no reason to contact criminals because email can be a great place to receive other malicious programs and visiting particular sites create more risks to get infections on the system.
This TRAPGET ransomware virus steals valuable files and stores various documents or different information in a separate place, so claims about publications of these files can be made. It is a technique used to make people more eager to pay up in the given time to save their sensitive information and encoded files. The best solution to such infection is removal procedures.
There are no experts that would recommend paying the ransom as the best option. You might lose your files permanently and suffer money losses if you pay these criminals. In most cases, decryption tools are not developed yet, and the test decryption is a trick. Criminals just sent you saved copies of some files to claim that this is how the decryptor works.
TRAPGET ransomware is the virus that aims to extort money from victims by encrypting data. The virus penetrates the targeted system and unnoticed can work for a while. The only symptom that is possible slowness of the machine due to processes running in the back. Unfortunately, until the encryption procedures get done, ransomware is not providing any indications about the happening infection.
Once those files that are commonly used and valuable get locked and encrypted, TRAPGET ransomware delivers a ransom-demanding message on the screen, places the particular file in various folders with affected data. This is the way criminals try to inform victims and encourage them to pay up.
The money-demanding message that TRAPGET ransomware creators compose states the following:
This message is scary and can be convincing enough so victims decide to pay. However, TRAPGET ransomware removal is not starting with paying these hackers. You should ignore these claims, don't panic, and try to get rid of the threat properly with tools like or that can find intruders and remove them from the computer.
It is not worth it to pay the ransom asked by TRAPGET files virus creators. You should take the infection rate and detection numbers into consideration and try to remove it properly instead. The worst thing that can happen is the loss of money and data when you believe those claims about decryption.
There are no particular ransom amount statements but in most of the cases, threat actors that create such campaigns tend to ask for hundreds of dollars in the form of Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. This amount can go up to thousands even, so you should remove TRAPGET ransomware instead and do not consider paying as the solution.
TRAPGET ransomware is damaging, so the sooner you remove it from your device, the better. There are many parts of the system that can get affected and altered to ensure the persistence of this intruder.
When malware manages to change settings or alter/damage files in parts of the system, folders, Windows registry, your machine can get more affected by other threats. It is especially important when your files are in question. Repair virus damage with system tools like and then focus on restoring encrypted data.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
Malware distribution relying on malicious files and websites
There are many ways that hackers can spread their products.
Criminals rely on methods that allow them to scare people, manipulate into doing what the attacker needs. This is how malicious actors can achieve a higher rate of infections - by spreading malware all over the world.
The most common way of delivering ransomware-type infections is the spam email method. When email notifications get sent to various people all over the world, misleading headlines, subject-lines claim about typical issues like orders, invoices, so people open those notifications without thinking twice.
Unfortunately, these emails have either malicious links or files directly attached to the email. These Microsoft documents, PDFs, images, or executables have macro viruses or other scripts that trigger the direct drop of malicious payload on the system. You need to keep paying attention to such details like senders and file-types when you receive such notifications.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
Removing TRAPGET ransomware virus is important before you can rely on file-recovery options
The proper TRAPGET ransomware removal process can change the performance of the previously infected machine because the main intruder can trigger various additional infections and damage parts of the system that control crucial functions and programs or security tools.
Since TRAPGET ransomware virus can control how particular security or antivirus programs work, you should reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and then launch or , or another tool that you can trust. This program selection step is crucial because not every AV detection engine can find and terminate this threat.
However, you can remove TRAPGET ransomware on your own when you choose a proper program for the job. Do not forget that databases differ for these programs, so detection rates can change.
As for the file recovery, do not fall for false claims from third-party program promoters and rely on official sources that provide data recovery applications. Before continuing to work on the machine - run to find or even fix system issues.
[GI=method-1]Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and then run the AV tool that can remove TRAPGET ransomware
[GI=method-2]System Restore feature can ensure that your device is ransomware-free when you recover the machine in a previous state before the infection
The program can restore files after encryption or even deleted documents, images, other data
Windows Previous Versions - a feature that gets used as an alternate method for data recovery
When the System Restore feature gets enabled, you can rely on Windows Previous Versions and repair individual files
ShadowExplorer - method recovering data after encryption procedures
When TRAPGET ransomware leaves Shadow Volume Copies untouched, you can rely on this feature and recover the affected data yourself
Decryption options are limited when there is no TRAPGET ransomware decryption tool in particular
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 TRAPGET 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 .trapget and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about TRAPGET ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .trapget files?
That depends on the family behind the .trapget extension, which this guide cannot confirm yet from the reports alone. Check No More Ransom and ID Ransomware with your ransom note and one encrypted file; they list families with free tools.
If none exists today, keep the encrypted files and a copy of the note on a separate drive, because decryptors are sometimes published months later after flaws are found or servers are seized. Never buy a decryptor from a website that is not the security company that made it.
Should I pay the ransom in the ransom note?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from the ransom note 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 .trapget files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .trapget ending shows that TRAPGET 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 TRAPGET ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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 TRAPGET ransomware get on my computer?
The way TRAPGET 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 .trapget 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 TRAPGET ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by TRAPGET ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .trapget 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 TRAPGET 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 the ransom note tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name the ransom note, 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 .trapget spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .trapget. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
Will Fortect remove TRAPGET 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 TRAPGET 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: Cryptocurrency (read October 7, 2026)
- Thenextweb: Scammers favor malicious URLs over attachments in email phishing attacks (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- VirusTotal: Detection rate of the ransomware (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)