WormLocker ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
WormLocker ransomware is a type of a computer virus that's made to extort money from its victims by encrypting files on their devices and demanding a ransom for a decryption key. First of all, most ransomware, like Qlkm, .Adobe, GandCrab, and so on renames files during their encryption.
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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WormLocker ransomware: summary
| name | WormLocker ransomware |
|---|---|
| type | Ransomware |
| ransom note | Displayed as a locked computer screen; the text is quoted in full below |
| Additional info | Damages system files |
| Ransom amount | 50 Euros (approx. $60) |
| Criminal contact details | wormlocker789@gmail.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 16 more facts
| Virus removal | Computer infections should be handled with appropriate tools – anti-malware software |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .adobe |
| 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 |
| Name | WormLocker ransomware |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension, a Windows Security "Threats found" notification and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .adobe |
| Ransom note | the ransom note |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 4 January 2021 |
| Microsoft Defender name | Ransom:MSIL/WormLocker.DA!MTB |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Which name will your scanner show?
Microsoft's name for WormLocker ransomware is Ransom:MSIL/WormLocker.DA!MTB.
Defender sorts threats by category first, so the word before the colon tells you what kind of program was found, even if the family name means nothing to you.
Do not search for a removal tool by the detection name alone; fake "removal tools" use the same keywords. How the naming works is explained in our guide to antivirus detection names.
- File extension:
.adobe - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on WormLocker ransomware
- To restore the system to a pre-contamination phase, use the app
- If you see this one the screen, you've probably misread the instructions.
- At this point, you must reinstall an operating system that has been severely damaged.
- All your files will not longer be repairable.
- There is no possibility to escape, if you succeed, you belong to those smart and sensible people.
- Howe to get rid of this screen?
- The easies way is to reinstall the operating system using the installation media Method 2.
- If you do not want to reinstall the system, you must repair LogonUI.exe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The WormLocker ransomware note
What happened?
All your files, documents, videos, pictures and
other files have been encrypted with a special
algorithm
If you want the files back, you have to send the
paysafecard code to the email
"wormlocker789@gmail.com".
After sending the amount of 50 euros, you will
receive a decrypt code to unlock all files.
What happens if I don't pay?
If you do not pay by a certain time or turn off the
computer, all your data will be permanently
deleted and you computer will not turn on
properly
How to remove WormLocker 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 WormLocker 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
WormLocker 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.adobeto 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 WormLocker 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 WormLocker 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 Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
WormLocker ransomware – a cryptovirus that gives limited time to pay the ransom or files get permanently deleted
WormLocker ransomware is a type of a computer virus that's made to extort money from its victims by encrypting files on their devices and demanding a ransom for a decryption key.
First of all, most ransomware, like Qlkm, .Adobe, GandCrab, and so on renames files during their encryption. WormLocker virus doesn't do that, as it locks the whole computer screen. Ransom notes are usually some sort of files, either text files or any others. In this case, it's the locked device screen, as victims can't do anything with their infected device apart from looking at it.
In addition, WormLocker file virus reads the whole ransom note aloud. Victims are urged to contact cyber criminals with the given email - wormlocker789@gmail.com and be ready to forward 50 Euros (approx. $60) to receive a decryption code that can be typed in the locked screen to decypher files.
Anti-malware software is a must these days to prevent computer systems from getting infected with a myriad of various computer viruses lurking on the world wide web. When constantly updated, a trustworthy application such as or will safeguard your passageways.
To prove the point, research done by suspicious file analysis portal VirusTotal reports that 47 out of 71 anti-malware engines caught WormLocker virus and obstructed it from entering the computer and encrypting it. Here's a few examples of its detection names:
The purpose of the ransom notes is to scare and intimidate the victims into obeying the cybercriminals. WormLocker ransomware locked screen message is concise and convincing. Moreover, a timer is counting down the seconds until the ransom has to be paid or the files would be deleted and the computer system severely damaged.
Here's the message displayed (and read aloud) from the assailants:
According to research, it didn't matter if the victims paid the requested ransom, waited until the timer expired, or turned off their infected device, either way, they lost their files and got their systems severely damaged. This is the message that victims received after taking any action:
That's why our recommendation is to remove WormLocker ransomware from all infected devices. Viruses could prevent from opening anti-malware software when Windows is running normally. That's why we suggest doing it in Safe Mode with Networking (see the detailed guide at the bottom of this article).
Victims could try doing the repairs manually, but it might be too difficult for inexperienced users.
- Ransom.WormLocker
- Artemis!D3686A0C5829
- Gen:Variant.Razy.816933
- Ransom:MSIL/WormLocker.DA!MTB
- ML.Attribute.HighConfidence
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Evade malware spread through spam emails
Various malware types could be delivered using different techniques, including Remote Desktop Protocol attacks, drive-by download, and others, but one of the most popular methods to infect devices with ransomware is with spam emails.
Everyday computer users should know how to indicate such letters because they're sent out by tens of thousands during spam email campaigns. We've compiled a list of indications, and if any of these are spotted, then we urge you not to open any links in the email or download its attachments because potential threats could be hidden in either of those:
- Friends and legitimate companies address you by your name, not general titles.
- Companies don't make grammatical errors.
- Companies send their emails from official domains.
- Legit companies won't ask to send them sensitive information via email.
- Nor will they send unsolicited attachments.
- Companies don't force their users to visit their webpages.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Tutorial on WormLocker ransomware virus removal
As we've mentioned before, professional, dependable anti-malware software such as and is a must these days due to the number of cyber threats hidden throughout the internet.
These apps will not only remove WormLocker ransomware but might prevent such nightmares in the future.
If the culprit of this article is preventing you from removing it (by disabling anti-malware tools, or locking the screen, or any other reason), use our free guide below this paragraph to accomplish WormLocker ransomware removal with Safe Mode with Networking.
You might need to do that by running it in the same Safe Mode with Networking.
[GI=method-1]Removing WormLocker ransomware in Safe Mode with Networking
[GI=method-2]System Restore might be a useful tool to eliminate an infection
This app might be used to recover files.
File recovery with Windows Previous Version Feature
Files might be recovered individually with this Windows feature.
Using Shadow Explorer to recover files
This powerful app could restore files from Shadow Volume Copies if WormLocker virus didn't delete or encrypt them.
No decryption tool is currently available
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 WormLocker 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 .adobe 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 WormLocker ransomware
Is there a decryptor for .adobe files?
That depends on the family behind the .adobe 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.
Did WormLocker ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by WormLocker ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .adobe 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.
How do I open .adobe files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .adobe ending shows that WormLocker 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 WormLocker ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
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.
How did WormLocker ransomware get on my computer?
The way WormLocker 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 .adobe 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 WormLocker 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 name Ransom:MSIL/WormLocker.DA!MTB tell me?
Microsoft builds names in a fixed order:
- category
- then platform
- then family
- sometimes followed by a variant letter
- a suffix
The category is the most useful part for you. Trojan, Backdoor and PWS mean real malware that can download more, give remote access or steal passwords. PUA means unwanted software.
Ransom means ransomware. Suffixes such as !ml or !MTB mean the detection came from machine learning or behaviour analysis. Search for the family part of Ransom:MSIL/WormLocker.DA!MTB together with the word Microsoft to find its entry in Microsoft's security encyclopedia.
Can I delete the ransom note?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. the ransom note contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Will Fortect remove WormLocker 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 WormLocker 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: Detection rate (read October 7, 2026)
- Lesvirus: Lesvirus (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)