Your browser has been locked ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Your browser has been locked is a virus that drops a scam message about the recorded computer and encrypted files. The criminals require obtaining a MoneyPack payment card and transferring them $300 as a fee for various false violations and in order to unlock the browser and computer screen.
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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Your browser has been locked ransomware: summary
| Name | Your browser has been locked |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware, screen-locker, malware |
| Category | FBI virus, UK Police virus |
| Aim | This malicious message claims that the user has violated copyright laws, distributed pornographic elements, and made other cybercrimes. The hackers also threaten their victims that the computer has been locked, infected with malware, files encrypted, and the only way to reverse such damage is by paying $300 via MoneyPak or another type of banking card |
| Cause | You can encounter such type of misleading message while browsing on unsecured sources or it can be a sign that some type of malware, e.g. trojan, or potentially unwanted program, e.g. adware, has invaded your computer system |
| Browsers | The suspicious message can appear on any type of web browser application, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari |
| 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
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | A message left on the computer; the text is quoted in full below |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| 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 |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 14 July 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Jul 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Your browser has been locked
- You should employ automatic software to get rid of the malicious message.
- Also, booting your computer in Safe Mode with Networking or activating System Restore is necessary if you want to access your machine properly and bypass the lock screen
- If you have found any damaged objects on your computer system, try using for the repair process
How Your browser has been locked ransomware behaves
From our report of Jul 2021 · not reviewed since
Your browser has been locked is a threat that not only locks the screen but also keeps you from using the browser and other apps
Your browser has been locked is a virus that drops a scam message about the recorded computer and encrypted files.
The criminals require obtaining a MoneyPack payment card and transferring them $300 as a fee for various false violations and in order to unlock the browser and computer screen.
This message has been developed by the same scammers who have been promoting the FBI virus, UK Police virus, and similar infections. Although the text and the design of the message seem to be professional and convincing, it is not brought by the "Cyber Department" or other authority. The virus is an illegal alert that is used for misleading gullible people and stealing their money.
Once inside, Your browser has been locked virus is activated, and start modifying some of a PC's settings. Basically, this dangerous infection shows up when a victim opens the browser and starts browsing on the Internet. It can block any website on any web browser, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and others.
The infection falsely claims that the user has violated some types of copyright laws by illegally distributing some copyrighted content. Another thing that the message accuses the user of is watching and spreading pornographic material that also violates the Criminal Code of the United States of America.
However, you should not put any belief in what Your browser has been locked is claiming as all these statements are provided in order to swindle money from you. Besides the mentioned facts, the message threatens that your computer has been infected with malware and files got encrypted. According to the crooks, the only way to reverse these changes is by paying the $300 fee.
For a long time, it was believed that the virus can affect Windows OS only. Unfortunately, but security experts did not evaluate the settings, compromises registries, runs infected processes via Task Manager, and other suspicious tasks. Sooner or later, Your browser has been locked starts blocking websites that the user is visiting by displaying such and similar alerts:
Looks familiar? This message may slightly vary. They may be brought by various law enforcement agencies, including FBI, Department of Justice, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or Police Central e-crime Uni. Besides, the user may be accused of various illegal activities, such as child pornography watching and distributing, illegal file-sharing/downloading, and so on.
No matter how convincing Your browser has been locked notification may look like, NEVER follow its misleading instructions to pay the fine ($300) via MoneyPak, Ukash, Paysafecard, or other prepayment systems. Keep in mind that paying the money by following the ransomware request is just the same as giving away your money to online scammers.
Besides, paying the ransom will not help to get rid of the scam message. It will keep working on your OS and may later ask for the money once again. You should perform a clear Your browser has been locked removal, however, first, you should boot your Windows computer system via Safe Mode with Networking or System Restore to unlock the screen.
Afterward, you can remove Your browser has been locked message from your computer screen by closing the browser window. You should also run a full system scan and detect the cause of this notification as there might be some malware hiding in your computer. To fight the malware, try downloading and installing software such as , .
From our report of Jul 2021 · not reviewed since
"Your Browser Has Been Locked" FAQ
Question: 'Your Browser Has Been Locked' keeps showing during my browsing.
I am accused of the distribution of pornography and other illegal content, but I have never done that. I have heard about ransomware infections, so I assume that I'm encountering one of them. Am I? Please help!
Answer: Yes, exactly. The message that shows up during browsing and says that 'Your Browser Has Been Locked' is an indication that ransomware has entered your machine. If you want to find out more about it, read the article above. In case you seek to remove it and nothing else, install/update any of these programs and run a full system scan with it.
From our report of Jul 2021 · not reviewed since
Malware delivery includes multiple techniques
You can encounter fake alerts that falsely come from cybersecurity agencies when you are browsing on unsecured websites.
However, if the message keeps appearing frequently on your computer system, there might be some type of PUP such as adware or malware such as a Trojan virus on your computer system.
Continuously, you can download the malware by opening a malicious attachment that is attached to a misleading email message. The hackers often pretend to be from reliable shipping, healthcare, and finance companies. Always check the sender and the written content in the message before deciding to open any attachment.
Also, various malware can be distributed through peer-to-peer sources such as The Pirate Bay, BitTorrent, and eMule that offer to download various software cracks, video games, movies, and video clips. You should download all of your products and services from reliable sources and the original developers only.
According to cybersecurity specialists from Virusai.lt, malicious infections can also be produced through advertisements and hyperlinks that we meet across the Internet sphere. You should avoid browsing unsafe websites and clicking on every component that appears. Also, download and install a reliable antivirus tool on your computer.
The Your browser has been locked ransomware note
Cyber Department
Federal Bureau of Investigation
All activities of this computer have been recorded
All your files are encrypted. Don't try to unlock your computer!
(...)
To unlock your computer and to avoid other legal consequences, you are obligated to pay a release fee of $300. Payable through GreenDot MoneyPak (you have to purchase MoneyPak card, load it with $300 and enter the code).
You can buy the code at any shop or gas station. MoneyPak is available at the stores nationwide.
How to remove Your browser has been locked 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 Your browser has been locked 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
Your browser has been locked 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 identify the family
Find the ransom note, usually a
.txt,.htmlor .hta file in every folder or on the desktop, and copy it with one or two encrypted files to a USB stick.From another device, upload them to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note and the file extension. Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note for the report.
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 Your browser has been locked, 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 Your browser has been locked 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 Jul 2021 · not reviewed since
The removal possibilities for the ransom-demanding virus
Your browser has been locked removal is a process you should definitely carry out while dealing with this cyber threat.
However, if the parasite has been preventing you from accessing your computer or web browser properly, you should boot the system in Safe Mode with Networking or activate System Restore. If you do not know how to handle such type of process, we have provided some instructing lines at the end of this article.
Continuously, you should remove Your browser has been locked and its cause with automatical software. There might be some malware in your Windows computer system that has been provoking this bogus message to appear.
For this, use reliable antimalware products and complete a full removal. Also, you can scan the entire system for possible damage with tools such as or and try fixing any corruption found with other software such as .
[GI=method-1]To diminish suspicious changes on your Windows computer system, you should boot in Safe Mode with Networking. Opt for these instructions to complete the task:
[GI=method-2]To deactivate the virus on your machine and disable the lock screen, you can try booting your Windows computer via System Restore. Follow these instructing steps to succeed in the process:
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.
Make the next attack harmless
Your browser has been locked could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (your browser has been locked in the list of installed apps) showed exactly which ones those were. The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for 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 Your browser has been locked ransomware
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.
When will a decryptor for Your browser has been locked be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 7 October 2026, no free decryptor is known. Decryptors usually appear after one of three events:
- police seize the attackers' servers and keys
- the authors leak or publish the master keys
- researchers find a mistake in how the ransomware generates keys
Some families got a tool within weeks, others never. Keep the encrypted files and the note on an external drive, check No More Ransom every few months, and follow news about the Your browser has been locked family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
Did Your browser has been locked steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Your browser has been locked, but the only confirmed sign is your browser has been locked in the list of installed apps, 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.
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 Your browser has been locked get on my computer?
The way Your browser has been locked 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 your browser has been locked in the list of installed apps, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Is Your browser has been locked 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 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.
How do I open my .docx, .jpg and other files locked by Your browser has been locked?
You cannot open locked files normally while they stay encrypted, and renaming them will not help. Our earlier report did not record the extension that Your browser has been locked adds, so check one locked file name and the ransom note for it.
No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates. Do not rename the files, change the extension or edit them, because that can make recovery harder. Copy the locked files to an external drive before you clean the system, so a decryptor released later still has them.
Will Fortect remove Your browser has been locked?
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 Your browser has been locked, 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: Domain Name System (read October 7, 2026)
- Norton: What is a Trojan? Is it a virus or is it malware? (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 7, 2026)