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Ransom:Win32/DefrayCrypt.A
Aliases: Defray (other)
Summary
Microsoft Defender Antivirus detects and removes this threat.
This ransomware attempts to encrypt files on your PC so they can't be opened or used.
You can read more on our ransomware page, and our tech support scams FAQ page has more information on how threats like this can spread.
There is no one-size-fits-all response if you have been victimized by ransomware. There is no guarantee that paying the ransom will give you access to your files. If you've already paid, see our ransomware page for help on what to do now.
Run antivirus or antimalware software
Use the following free Microsoft software to detect and remove this threat:
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus for Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, or Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7 and Windows Vista
- Microsoft Safety Scanner
You should also run a full scan. A full scan might find hidden malware.
Use cloud protection
Use cloud protection to help guard against the latest malware threats. It’s turned on by default for Microsoft Security Essentials and Microsoft Defender Antivirus for Windows 10.
Go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Defender > Windows Defender Security Center > Virus & threat protection and make sure that your Cloud-based Protection settings is turned On.
Prevent malware infections from spam emails
- For enterprise users:
- Follow the appropriate Exchange Online Protection instructions to suit your business needs.
- Learn about how Office 365 can help you block spam using machine learning. See Exchange Online Advanced Threat Protection and First look at Advanced Threat Protection: new tools to stop unknown malware & phishing attacks for details.
- Be aware of the dangers in opening suspicious emails. Don't open email attachments or links from untrusted sources.
- The Microsoft SmartScreen filter can also help detect spam. It’s built-in and enabled by default in Microsoft email programs.
- Submit spam and non-spam messages to Microsoft for analysis.
Advanced troubleshooting
To restore your PC, you might need to download and run Windows Defender Offline. See our advanced troubleshooting page for more help.
Get more help
You can also visit our advanced troubleshooting page or search the Microsoft virus and malware community for more help.
If you’re using Windows XP, see our Windows XP end of support page.
