Spora ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it
Spora is a ransomware-type virus that was first discovered on January 10, 2017. Malware uses an advanced combination of AES and RSA encryption keys to corrupt users data on the affected computer.
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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Spora ransomware virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | Not named in our report; instructions on how to transfer the payment are provided in the ransom note which is usually saved on the desktop; the text of the note is not in our records |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .key |
| 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 | Spora ransomware virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension |
| Evidence | 13 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .key |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 22 August 2017 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.key
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Spora ransomware virus
- .backup, .xlsx, .docx, .rtf, .dwg, .cdr, .cd, .mdb, .1cd, .odt, .pdf, .psd, .dbf, .doc, .sqlite, .accdb, .jpg, .jpeg, .tiff, .zip, .rar, .7z, .xls.
- Скан-копия _ 10 января 2017г.
- Составлено и подписано главным бухгалтером.
How Spora ransomware virus behaves
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Spora's activity increased in August 2017: three updates have emerged
Malware researchers spotted few new variants of Spora spreading in August.
The first reports about ransomware updates appeared on August 4th. The recent variant spreads as an obfuscated radF14DE.exe file.
It does not append any extension to the targeted files; however, it still corrupts them and demands to pay 90 dollars for data recovery.
Warning: However, according to the ransom note, the size of the ransom will increase to 121 dollars if users do not pay in four days time.
The second ransomware update was reported on August 7th. This variant spreads as an obfuscated PE/HTA bundle in ZIP archives that are attached to phishing emails. According to the latest data, ransomware runs from mshta.exe and cmd.exe files.
The third variant was reported on August 14th. It aims at Russian computer users only. It spreads via malicious spam emails that include ZIP file.
The archive includes pdf.wsf dropper that runs ransomware on the system. What is interesting, this version of Spora does not rename targeted files and does not append any extensions.
According to the ransom note, files are encrypted with RSA encryption, and in order to get back access to them, victims have to transfer 140 USD. If the payment is not made within 4 days, the size of the ransom increase to 189 USD.
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Spora continues spreading all over the world
Spora is a ransomware-type virus that was first discovered on January 10, 2017.
Malware uses an advanced combination of AES and RSA encryption keys to corrupt users data on the affected computer. Despite astonishing appearance and worldwide prevalence, virus activity has been slowed down for a couple of months. However, on August researchers warned about ransomware's return.
Spora ransomware appears to be a data-encrypting Trojan which derived from CryLocker. Malware started communicating with its victims only in the Russian language. However, after several weeks of operation, it has started traveling the whole world wide web. Currently, the most affected countries are Mexico, Poland, and Sweden.
It gets executed with the help of close.js file. JavaScript files are popular tools among hackers. Surprisingly, the malicious program uses an entirely different, and very complicated data encryption algorithm which seems to be immune.
Apparently, Spora virus creates contents of .KEY file by creating RSA key, encrypting it with a newly generated AES key. In addition, it encrypts the AES key with a public key inserted into the virus' executable file, and finally, saves them to .KEY.
Data encryption routine of this malware is slightly less complicated: they are encrypted using an AES key encrypted with RSA cipher (unfortunately, we cannot say so about Spora ransomware removal).
According to the analysis, the virus currently targets only 23 file extensions:
Files that have these extensions are secured using a long encryption key (the public key); meanwhile, the private key is sent to criminals remote servers and is kept there until the victim agrees to pay a ransom. Instructions on how to transfer the payment are provided in the ransom note which is usually saved on the desktop.
These instructions point the victim to a place that contains even more instructions - the official Spora ransom payment site which is sophisticated. Besides, currently, 10 different sites are used for collecting illegal ransoms, including spora[.]bz, spora[.]one, spora[.]hk, and others.
However, you should not analyze and use none of these payment sites after the attack. You should remove Spora ransomware from the PC immediately with the help of or another reliable malware removal program.
The Spora ransomware virus ransom note
We did not record the full text of the ransom note in our report.
How to remove Spora 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 Spora 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
Spora ransomware virus 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 Spora ransomware virus, 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 Spora ransomware virus 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 Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Hackers give detailed instructions and surprise with a sophisticated Spora ransom payment site
Once Spora finishes its malicious activities, it drops a ransom note in each folder that has encrypted.
The guidelines are written in Russian or/and English language. The name of the ransom note is created by using this scheme:
The payment site differs from websites that typical ransomware viruses normally point to because it provides a variety of options for the victim:
Authors of the virus accept the payment in BitCoin currency only. On January 16th, the payment website was improved, and a "Help" page was added. The site also has a public communication window, a table of transactions already made, and other little details that all make a very user-friendly interface .
No matter what, the malware is definitely not user-friendly as it wants to extort money from the victim. In order to get the decryption key, victims are asked to pay the ransom and send the .KEY file to crooks via the payment site. If you have been hit by this virus, make sure you delete it immediately. It is highly advisable to use tools like or for successful Spora removal.
- remove Spora virus for $20,
- restore files for $30,
- pay $50 for ostensible immunity to ransomware attacks;
- get a full restore package for $79.
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Spora 2.0 - the major update of the ransomware
oon after the original version of the virtual threat got unleashed, cyber villains introduced an updated variant of the malware - Spora 2.0 ransomware virus.
The authors of this virtual menace launched a more crafty campaign to multiply their global infection rate .
EITest malicious code would redirect users to the website infected with an exploit kit. Shortly afterward, the web page would turn into a mosaic of miscellaneous source codes. Consequently, the notification "The HoeflerText font wasn't found" emerges.
In order to solve this inconvenience, the crooks offer to enable a special Chrome Font Pack. However, what users would download is not some fishy browser extension but a real virtual menace – Spora 2.0.
Interestingly, that the folder carrying infection are double-zipped. Now the crooks demand approximately 2000 USD in exchange for the files . Despite the elaborate payment site, there are no reports whether the felons returned all files to their victims.
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Crypto-malware spreads via malicious emails
Malspam is currently the main technique used to distribute Spora.
In the beginning, when this threat was using Russian language only, misleading emails used such subject:
In English that would be: "The copy of scan _ 10 Jan 2017. Written and signed by the chief accountant".
However, this ransomware keeps changing, and it will definitely use different subject lines. You should be careful with emails and especially with their attachments because they might include infectious HTA files. These hideous files have double extensions, for example, PDF.HTA and the real extension is hidden so that the victim would think that .DOC is the real extension.
Let us remind you that HTA file is HTML executable file format, and so when the victim opens it, it downloads close.js JavaScript file to the system folder called %Temp%. Here, the infection activates itself by extracting an executable file and opening it. This executable file is the main file which is responsible for the data encryption procedure.
At the same time, HTA file opens a DOCX file, which shows an error message that says file cannot be opened. While the victim stares at this suspicious error, the ransomware encrypts all files on the system.
From our report of Aug 2017 · not reviewed since
Spora removal guide
You can remove Spora virus quite easily using reliable anti-malware software.
If you do not have one, we suggest installing or . If you want to use a different program, you can easily choose the one that you like after reading detailed software reviews in the Software section.
Please keep in mind that you are dealing with the virus of ransomware type, so it can try such things as blocking your anti-malware and antivirus programs when trying to remove it from the system.
If this option does not work, continue Spora removal with the help of System restore method.
[GI=method-1]Ransomware viruses are extremely hard to remove because they typically modify Windows Registry, clutter the system with malicious files and often drops additional malware. If your anti-malware program is blocked by Spora virus, perform the following steps and reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Networking before a scan. You should repeat it in normal mode once you finish the scanning process in Safe Mode.
[GI=method-2]If rebooting to Safe Mode with Networking failed to work for you, you can try System Restore option to block the virus. Then, make sure you run a full system scan with anti-spyware software because system restore does not eliminate malicious files from your computer, it just blocks the ransomware.
There are some data recovery methods that might help you to restore lost files. You can find descriptions of these methods below.
Find lost data with ShadowExplorer
ShadowExplorer helps you to find previously saved file copies in case their latest versions get corrupted. Here's a quick tutorial on how to find the earlier versions of encrypted files:
Spora ransomware decrypter 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.
Make the next attack harmless
Spora ransomware virus could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .key and no longer open) 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 Spora ransomware virus
Is there a decryptor for .key files?
That depends on the family behind the .key 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.
How do I open .key files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .key ending shows that Spora 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 Spora ransomware virus. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Did Spora ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Spora ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .key 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.
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 Spora ransomware virus get on my computer?
The way Spora 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 .key 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 Spora 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.
My files got .key overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .key extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
If I delete Spora ransomware virus, do my files come back?
Unfortunately not. Deleting the program only ends the attack; every file that already has the .key ending stays encrypted, because decryption needs a key that only the attackers hold.
That is why this guide separates removal from recovery. First make sure Spora ransomware virus is gone with an offline scan, then work through the recovery list:
- backups
- OneDrive history
- Previous Versions
- copies on other devices and
- if one exists
- a decryptor
Do not rename or edit the encrypted files in the meantime, and keep them even if nothing works today.
Will Fortect remove Spora 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 Spora 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
- Kaspersky Lab US: What is a Trojan Virus? - Definition (read October 7, 2026)
- UsunWirusA: UsunWirusA (read October 7, 2026)
- Twitter: Report on Spora update: August 4th (read October 7, 2026)
- Twitter: Report on Spora update: August 7th (read October 7, 2026)
- Twitter: Report on Spora update: August 14th (read October 7, 2026)
- 2-Spyware: Locky virus. How to Remove? (Uninstall Guide) (read October 7, 2026)
- F-Secure: Crypto-ransomware (read October 7, 2026)