unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it
unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware is an alternative name for recently emerged Unlckr virus. Researchers suspect that malware is related to Unlock92 ransomware.
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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Unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Contact | unlckr@protonmail.com |
| Encrypted file extension | .cr020801 |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not 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
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension |
| Evidence | 3 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .cr020801 |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 15 June 2017 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Names and addresses to look for
- File extension:
.cr020801
How unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus behaves
From our report of Jun 2017 · not reviewed since
Computer users from Russia should be aware of unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus
unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware is an alternative name for recently emerged Unlckr virus.
Researchers suspect that malware is related to Unlock92 ransomware. It seems that Russian-speaking computer users are in the target field of the ransomware. The virus uses RSA-2048 encryption algorithm and appends .cr020801 file extension to affected files. The instructions how to recover files are delivered in ! _INSTRUKTSYA _ !. txt file.
The first task ransomware does on the affected computer is making connections to multiple remote hosts. Once Command and Control (C&C) server responds, malware starts completing received the tasks. Before starting data encryption, unlckr@protonmail.com virus might modify Windows Registry in order to run on system startup. What is more, it might install other malicious files or affect numerous system processes.
Once system modifications are made, unlckr@protonmail.com virus starts looking for targeted file extensions. For data encryption, it uses a strong RSA-2048 cipher that prevents users from opening or using necessary files. Once this procedure is over, all the encrypted files have .cr020801 file extension. In order to use the data again, users have to get a private decryption key.
The ! _INSTRUKTSYA _ !. txt file offers to obtain a necessary decryption key. In the ransom note, victims are told to contact cyber criminals via unlckr@protonmail.com email and send one encrypted file. Within 24 hours hackers should respond and give further instructions. However, it may not happen.
Cyber criminals warn that if victims do not receive the answer in one day, they supposed to access a particular website via Tor browser. In the website, people will find a current contact email. Thus, they have to send another message.
Communicating with cyber criminals and following their orders is not recommended. We can assure that they won't allow using decryptor for free. They may ask a huge amount of money for the exchange.
If you are thinking about this shady deal, you should be aware that there's a huge possibility that you will lose your money. Cyber criminals may disappear as soon as their get the ransom.
We highly recommend focusing not only on your files but computer's security. Thus, the first you have to do is to remove unlckr@protonmail.com with the help of reputable malware removal program such as . While this malicious program runs on the computer, the system is vulnerable, and other malware or trojans might attack your device as well.
After unlckr@protonmail.com removal, you can plug in an external device where you keep your backups and copy necessary files. If you do not have copies of your files, we cannot promise anything positive to you.
Malware might delete Shadow Volume Copies. Thus, data recovery becomes complicated. However, at the end of the article, you will find a few methods that may help to bring back your files.
From our report of Jun 2017 · not reviewed since
Hackers employ several strategies to spread ransomware
Cyber criminals might spread unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware with the help of:
To avoid ransomware attack, you should stay away from suspicious emails. Do not open spam emails and especially included links, buttons or documents.
Install new programs and their updates only from reliable sources. Suspicious file-sharing sites and advertisements usually hide malicious components.
When browsing the web, keep away from eye-catchy and too-good-to-be-true ads. Nevertheless, the majority of malware-laden ads are delivered on high-risk websites; they might be placed on popular sites as well.
In order to protect your PC from unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware, you should also install reputable security software and backup your files.
- malicious email attachments;
- fake updates;
- bogus software downloads;
- malvertising;
- exploit kits.
How to remove unlckr@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 unlckr@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.
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 unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus 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 identify the family
The name of the family decides whether a free decryptor can help. Copy the ransom note and two small encrypted files to a USB stick, and check them on another device with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff.
Note the extension added to the files, the contact address and the victim ID shown in the note. Keep the originals on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC untouched.
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 unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus, 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 unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus 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 unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus 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 Jun 2017 · not reviewed since
Remove unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus safely
Only professional security software can assure that unlckr@protonmail.com removal is safe and effective.
Trying to delete ransomware manually may end up with irreparable system damage.
We suggest installing one of these tools and dedicate virus removal for them: , or . If you cannot install or run security tools, reboot the PC to Safe Mode with Networking (instructions provided below).
Once you remove unlckr@protonmail.com from the device, you can restore your files from backups or try additional recovery methods.
[GI=method-1]Malware might prevent you from running automatic removal. Thus, you may need to disable the virus first by following these steps:
[GI=method-2]This method also helps to disable the virus and run a full system scan with malware removal program.
This tool has been created to restore deleted or corrupted files. However, this tool has been updated in order to help victims of ransomware.
Take advantage of Windows Previous Versions feature
If System Restore function has been enabled before unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware attack, you should follow the steps below and access previously saved versions of the locked files.
Decryptor for unlckr@protonmail.com virus is not available yet.
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 .cr020801 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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus
How do I open .cr020801 files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .cr020801 ending shows that unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus 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 unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Is there a free unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus 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 "unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus 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.
Are ransomware recovery services legitimate?
Some are, but read the offer carefully. Genuine data-recovery firms recover deleted originals from disks or rebuild damaged files, and they say so. Others promise to "decrypt any ransomware" for a fixed price, which is impossible without the key; they quietly pay the attackers and keep a margin, sometimes without telling the victim.
Be especially careful with services that contact you after you post about the attack online. Ask for references, a written method and a no-result-no-fee clause, and check the free tools on No More Ransom first.
How did unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus get on my computer?
The way unlckr@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 .cr020801 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 unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by unlckr@protonmail.com ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .cr020801 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 unlckr@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.
Can I just remove .cr020801 from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .cr020801 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.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .cr020801 attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .cr020801 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.
Will Fortect remove unlckr@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 unlckr@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
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)