VashSorena ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
It is a cryptovirus that locks non-system files on a contaminated device, renames them, and demands a ransom displayed in the generated ransom notes. It was reported that the criminals don't send the decryption key after the ransom is paid, so victims shouldn't risk their money by contacting virus authors.
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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VashSorena ransomware: summary
| Distribution | File-sharing platforms, spam emails, RDP attacks, deceptive ads |
|---|---|
| name | VashSorena ransomware |
| type | File-locker, cryptovirus |
| Known extension variations | .Crypto, .encrypt, .Covid |
| Ransom note | How_To_Decrypt_Files.txt, Unlock_Files.txt, HELP_DECRYPT_YOUR_FILES.html, etc. |
| Encryption method | AES RSA 256 |
| 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
| criminal contact details | yourfile2020@protonmail.com, filerestory@gmail.com, yourfile2020@firemail.cc, decryptfiles5@gmail.com |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Decryptable. Victims are advised not to pay the ransom as the bad actors don't send the decryption tool |
| Virus removal | All malware infections should be dealt with the same way – removed with trustworthy anti-malware software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .covid |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | VashSorena ransomware |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension, a ransom note left in folders and a Windows Security "Threats found" notification |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .covid |
| Attacker contacts | yourfile2020@protonmail.com |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 11 April 2021 |
| Microsoft Defender name | Ransom:Win32/Sorena.PA!MTB |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What antivirus programs call VashSorena ransomware
Microsoft Defender reports VashSorena ransomware as Ransom:Win32/Sorena.PA!MTB.
In a Defender name, the part before the colon is the category, the part after it is the platform, and the part after the slash is the family Microsoft assigned. A suffix after ! is an internal Microsoft marker, not a different threat.
Generic labels such as Agent, GenericKD or Malware.AI only say that a file looks malicious, not what it does; our guide to antivirus detection names shows how to read them.
- File extension:
.covid - Note file:
How_To_Decrypt_Files.txt - Contact:
yourfile2020@protonmail.com
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on VashSorena ransomware
- Ransomware affects system files and settings.
- If left unattended, it could lead to crashing, freezing, and other system irregularities.
- Use the tool to get your system back to normal
How VashSorena ransomware behaves
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
VashSorena ransomware – a computer infection that encrypts files and renames them with different extensions
It is a cryptovirus that locks non-system files on a contaminated device, renames them, and demands a ransom displayed in the generated ransom notes.
It was reported that the criminals don't send the decryption key after the ransom is paid, so victims shouldn't risk their money by contacting virus authors.
When the VashSorena virus encrypts files, it also renames them by appending an extension to the original filenames. Since there's more than one variation of this ransomware, the extension can differ - .Id-XXXXXXXX.[yourfile2020@protonmail.com].Crypto, .Email=[decryptfiles5@gmail.com]ID= .encrypt, with the latest version appending .Covid extension.
After completing the encryption, ransomware generates ransom notes, which might include files like How_To_Decrypt_Files.txt, Unlock_Files.txt, and possibly others. If you found that your files were renamed and you are being asked to pay, do not stress and check this article - it will explain how to deal with this rather difficult situation.
Malware can be spread in many different ways, including RDP attacks, deceptive ads, etc. Our research suggests that two of the most popular ways to distribute malware is via file-sharing platforms and spam emails. You should always take precautionary measures while surging the web, downloading files, or opening emails from unknown sources.
Ransomware was first spotted in May of 2020. Since then, at least a couple of its variations were created.
All had different contact email addresses, but their ransom notes were almost identical. All versions appended original filenames with complex triple extensions. As far as we know, there are three versions:
Developers of ransomware send this message within their random note:
Warning: We've said that in the opening paragraph, and we'll say it again - do not pay the assailants as no decryption key will ever be sent to you.
Instead, it would be best if you focused on removal. The best way to do it is by using professional anti-malware programs such as or .
A suspicious file analysis portal called VirusTotal has reported that 44 out of 71 anti-virus engines have caught the culprit of this article and prevented it from contaminating the system. Here are a few examples of virus detection names:
After installing either of these apps, launch it, scan the entire computer system and remove ransomware with any other suspicious files that the tool detects. Once that's done, run a system scan with the system repair app to fix any system irregularities that the file-locker might have done.
- .Crypto virus
- .encrypt virus
- .Covid virus
- Ransom:Win32/Sorena.PA!MTB
- Ransom:Win64/Sorena.1b828b3d
- Win64:Trojan-gen
- Artemis!9562059383C3
- Trojan.Filecoder!8573iDWJS+4
From our report of Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Precautionary measures to take to avoid malware attacks
Cybercriminals are creating more and more various ransomware.
Some of it is targeted at companies, some of it at regular people. Cybersecurity experts predict that in 2021 ransomware damages will reach $20 billion. There hasn't been a more appropriate time to take care of cybersecurity than now.
Our IT specialist team has compiled a list of guidelines that would greatly increase your cybersecurity level and help evade ransomware and other malware lurking on the internet. Here are the simple guidelines:
- Keep backups of all critical data. Store them on at least two separate devices/locations, like cloud, external storage, and alike.
- Install all the latest updates (except beta versions) to your software, most importantly to the operating system.
- Purchase, constantly use, and frequently update a professional anti-malware tool.
- Learn how cybercriminals deliver payload files of different malware types either by reading our articles or by googling it.
The VashSorena ransomware note
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hack For Life <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
All Your Files Has Been Locked!
If you think you can decrypt the files we would be happy
But all your files are protected by strong encryption with AES RSA 256 using military-grade encryption algorithm
Video Decrypt: Due to the deletion of video on video sharing sites
You can download and watch the video from the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L1qeBgY_AfjYVgO8FEZsViJxK4TBWXZI/view
What does this mean ?
This means that the structure and data within your files have been irrevocably changed,
you will not be able to work with them, read them or see them,
it is the same thing as losing them forever, but with our help, you can restore them.
You Can Send some Files that not Contains Valuable Data To make Sure That Your Files Can be Back with our Tool
Your unique Id :
Contact : @gmail.com or https://t.me/filedecrypt002
What are the guarantees that I can decrypt my files after paying the ransom?
Your main guarantee is the ability to decrypt test files.
This means that we can decrypt all your files after paying the ransom.
We have no reason to deceive you after receiving the ransom, since we are not barbarians and moreover it will harm our business.
You Have 2days to Decide to Pay
after 2 Days Decryption Price will Be Double
And after 1 week it will be triple Try to Contact late and You will know
Therefore, we recommend that you make payment within a few hours.
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
Again, we emphasize that no one can decrypt files, so don't be a victim of fraud.
It's just a business
Warning : If you email us late You may miss the Decrypt program Because our emails are blocked quickly So it is better as soon as they read email Email us ;)
You Can Learn How to Buy Bitcoin From This links Below
https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
https://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins
https://www.bestbitcoinexchange.io
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hack For Security <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
How to remove VashSorena 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 VashSorena 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 VashSorena 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
.covidand the instructions are inHow_To_Decrypt_Files.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 VashSorena 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 VashSorena 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 VashSorena 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 Apr 2021 · not reviewed since
Instructions for ransomware removal from infected devices
Once again, it is important to note that developers don't send the decryption tool even if the ransom is paid, so you should not even consider it as an option.
There's a possibility that your files can be decrypted without the involvement of criminals.
Companies and some other good guys have reportedly decrypted some versions VashSorena ransomware, so before eliminating this file-locker from the contaminated device, victims should visit the NoMoreRansom portal. If it doesn't help, copy all essential files to an offline storage device because a decryption tool can be created soon enough.
Only after doing that, you should take on the task of removal.
After you remove ransomware, it's time to take care of the device's overall system health.
[GI=method-1]When a virus prevents from launching security software, users can do that in Safe Mode with Networking
[GI=method-2]Some infections could be deleted with System Restore
This third-party application might be able to help people with data recovery.
File recovery with Windows Previous Version feature
This feature might allow users to recover VashSorena encrypted files.
Using Shadow Explorer for data recovery
Most ransomware removes Shadow Volume Copies when it's encrypting the targeted system. If it didn't, then this app might be able to recover lost data.
Possible decryption methods
This ransomware is decryptable. Refer to NoMoreRansom webpage, which helps ransomware victims by decrypting their files for free, so cyber criminals would go broke.
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 .covid and no longer open; otherwise the restored copies can be damaged again.
Then build a backup that survives the next infection:
- one copy in the cloud with version history
- one on an external drive that is disconnected between backups
- the working copy on the PC
Version history matters because a backup that syncs damaged files overwrites the good ones.
How to do this with the tools built into Windows: the 3-2-1 backup rule on Windows.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about VashSorena ransomware
How do I open .covid files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .covid has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
Should I pay the ransom in How_To_Decrypt_Files.txt?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from How_To_Decrypt_Files.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 did VashSorena ransomware get on my computer?
The way VashSorena 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 .covid 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 VashSorena ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for VashSorena 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 "VashSorena 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.
Did VashSorena ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by VashSorena ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .covid 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 VashSorena 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.
Should I open How_To_Decrypt_Files.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text How_To_Decrypt_Files.txt cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
Defender removed Ransom:Win32/Sorena.PA!MTB. Am I safe now?
Often yes, but check two things. First, whether the detection was caught on arrival: a file in Downloads or in an archive that Defender quarantined before it ran is the best case.
Second, whether Ransom:Win32/Sorena.PA!MTB comes back. If it returns, or if Protection history shows several different detections around the same date, something on the PC keeps producing the file and needs to be found.
Run a full scan and, if anything remains, an offline scan. If the category names a password stealer or a backdoor, change your passwords from another device even if the file is gone.
Will Fortect remove VashSorena 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 VashSorena 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: VirusTotal (read October 6, 2026)
- Cybersecurityventures: Global Ransomware Damage Costs Predicted To Reach $20 Billion (USD) By 2021 (read October 6, 2026)
- 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)