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Do not assume paradise.exe is safe. Microsoft Defender has detections named Ransom:Win32/Paradise!rfn and Ransom:Win32/Paradise.A!MSR, and security researchers have documented Paradise as Windows ransomware. However, a filename by itself cannot prove that every copy is malicious or identify its publisher. Treat an unknown copy as untrusted: do not open it, scan it with updated Microsoft Defender, and use an offline scan if the detection returns or Windows still behaves as though malware is active.
If removing the file leaves Windows reporting application or system errors, repair Windows components rather than downloading a replacement executable. Run DISM first and SFC second. If malware caused changes that cannot be repaired, protect your accounts, preserve known-clean data, and be prepared to reset or reinstall Windows.
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What is paradise.exe?
paradise.exe is only a filename. It is not a Windows component name that proves legitimacy, and it does not identify one single program. A legitimate developer could theoretically use the name, while malware can copy any filename and place it in a user-writable folder.
The name deserves particular caution because Microsoft Security Intelligence lists two Paradise ransomware detections. Ransom:Win32/Paradise!rfn was published and updated on June 10, 2025; Microsoft says Defender detects and removes it and warns that the threat can perform actions chosen by a malicious actor. Microsoft also lists Ransom:Win32/Paradise.A!MSR, published November 5, 2019. Both entries advise updated security intelligence and a full scan because remnants can remain after an initial detection.
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Trend Micro’s Ransom.Win32.PARADISE.E entry, dated February 6, 2020, classifies a Paradise sample as Windows ransomware. That description says the sample can drop files, terminate processes and connect to URLs or IP addresses, and that it can arrive through malicious downloads or other malware. An NHS England Digital alert from August 6, 2018 provides historical context, stating that Paradise was first observed in 2017 and sold to affiliates as a malware-as-a-service ransomware tool. The alert is archived, so it should not be read as current prevalence data.
Is paradise.exe a virus or ransomware?
It can be associated with ransomware, but the filename alone is not a diagnosis. A Microsoft or security-product detection tied to the file is materially different from seeing an unexplained filename in File Explorer. Do not run the file to find out what it does.
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Is paradise.exe safe if it is in AppData or Temp?
No location makes the file automatically safe. AppData and Temp commonly contain files created by applications, installers and browsers, but a malicious program can also use those folders. Conversely, a file in one of those folders is not automatically malware. Check the file without opening it and let current security intelligence determine whether it is detected.
Record the full path, file size, creation date and any displayed publisher information for your own troubleshooting, but do not launch the executable or use its “Open with” options. Those details can help you recognize whether the file reappears after cleanup without giving it permission to run.
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What should I do before scanning paradise.exe?
Start with containment. If the computer is showing unexpected encryption, pop-ups, disabled security controls or repeated detections, disconnect Wi-Fi and unplug Ethernet. Do not sign in to banking, email administration or other sensitive accounts from the affected computer while you are investigating.
- Save only essential work. Avoid copying unknown executables or scripts to another device. If you must preserve documents, use a separate location and restore them only after they are known to be clean.
- Disconnect from networks when active compromise is suspected. This limits opportunities for a malicious process to communicate while you scan.
- Do not double-click the file. Do not disable Defender, add an exclusion, or run an unverified “fix” downloaded in response to the warning.
- Use a separate, trusted device for account protection. The FTC advises stopping sensitive logins, scanning the computer, changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication after suspected malware. Change passwords from a device you trust, not from the potentially compromised PC.
How do I scan paradise.exe without opening it?
Windows Security can scan one file, the whole computer or the system before normal Windows processes start. Use the least invasive check first, then increase scan depth when the result or symptoms warrant it.
| Scan | How to start it | Best use | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| File or custom scan | In File Explorer, right-click paradise.exe and choose Scan with Microsoft Defender. You can also open Windows Security, choose Virus & threat protection, then Scan options and select a custom location. |
Checks the specific copy without launching it. | A single-file check may not find remnants elsewhere. |
| Full scan | Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Full scan > Scan now. | Checks files and running areas across the PC after definitions are updated. | It can take substantially longer than a targeted scan, and persistent malware may still interfere with Windows. |
| Microsoft Defender Offline | Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options > Microsoft Defender Offline scan > Scan now. | Restarts into the Windows Recovery Environment before scanning, making it harder for persistent malware to hide. | The PC restarts, so save work first and keep power connected. |
Update Defender before a full scan
- Open Windows Security from the Start menu.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Under Virus & threat protection updates, select Check for updates. Let security intelligence finish updating.
- Return to Scan options and start Full scan.
Microsoft’s Paradise entries specifically recommend current definitions and a full scan because artifacts can remain after an initial detection. Leave the computer connected to power, and do not use it for sensitive work while the scan runs.
When to run the offline scan
Choose Microsoft Defender Offline when the same detection returns, a scan cannot finish, Defender is repeatedly disabled, or the computer continues acting as though malware is active. Windows restarts into its recovery environment and scans before the ordinary Windows session loads. After the restart, review Protection history in Windows Security for the result.
How do I remove paradise.exe and Paradise ransomware?
Allow Defender to quarantine or remove a detected copy. Do not restore an item from quarantine merely because the filename looks familiar. Deleting a visible executable is not the same as removing every component, and it cannot reverse damage that may already have occurred.
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- Open Windows Security and select Virus & threat protection.
- Open Protection history and read the detection name, affected path and action taken.
- If Defender has quarantined the file, leave it quarantined while you complete the full scan. Do not select Allow on device for an unknown copy.
- Run the full scan described above. If the item reappears or the scan fails, disconnect the network and run Microsoft Defender Offline.
- After remediation, inspect your important files from a known-clean device. Do not restore unknown executables, scripts or installers from a backup until they have been scanned.
Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) can provide an additional post-infection check. Microsoft describes MSRT as limited to specific prevalent threats and explicitly says it does not replace an up-to-date antivirus product, so treat it as supplementary rather than as your primary removal method.
Can I simply delete paradise.exe?
If Defender identifies the file, quarantine or removal through Windows Security is safer than manually deleting it because the security product can record the action and check for related artifacts. If a copy is in Downloads or Temp and no application needs it, deleting that inert copy after scanning may remove the file you can see, but it does not prove the computer is clean.
Do not delete files from C:Windows, System32 or an application folder merely because their names resemble paradise.exe. A wrongly deleted system or application file can create a new error. If you cannot establish what a file belongs to, leave it quarantined and continue with the broader scans.
How do I fix a paradise.exe application error after malware removal?
Once Defender has completed remediation, repair Windows components from an elevated Command Prompt. Microsoft recommends running Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) first because it can repair the component store that System File Checker uses, then running SFC to check protected system files.
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- Open Start, type Command Prompt, right-click it and choose Run as administrator. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Run this command and wait for it to finish:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth - When DISM completes, run:
sfc /scannow - Restart Windows and test the application or shortcut that reported the error.
DISM and SFC repair Windows components and protected files; they are not malware-removal tools. If either command reports that it cannot complete because the system drive is full, free space and retry. DISM can also use a Windows installation source, including removable media, when the local repair source is unavailable; use media that matches the installed Windows edition and architecture.
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If the error names a third-party application, reinstall that application only from its trusted publisher after the computer is clean. Never download a replacement paradise.exe from an unverified DLL or “missing file” site.
What if Paradise changed files or Windows cannot be repaired?
Some malware changes cannot be reversed by removing the executable or repairing system files. If important files are unavailable, do not overwrite the affected disk with random recovery utilities or restore unknown programs from backup. Preserve known-clean documents on an external location and keep the affected computer disconnected while you decide on recovery.
Reset or reinstall Windows
Microsoft advises considering a reset or reinstall when malware has caused irreversible changes. A reset or clean installation removes applications and can remove personal data depending on the option selected, so read each screen carefully and make a verified backup of known-clean data first. After installation, apply Windows updates, enable Defender and restore only files you have checked.
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Assume credentials used on the affected PC may be exposed if active malware was present. From a trusted device, change important passwords, enable two-factor authentication where available and review account activity. Do not reconnect the cleaned computer to your network until Defender scans finish and Windows is updated.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can I prevent another paradise.exe incident?
- Download software from trusted sources. Avoid pirated installers, unsolicited email attachments and “cracks” that ask you to disable security controls.
- Keep Windows, browsers and applications updated. Security updates close vulnerabilities that attackers may otherwise exploit.
- Use Microsoft Defender and SmartScreen. Keep real-time protection and reputation-based warnings enabled unless a trusted administrator has a documented reason to change them.
- Maintain external backups. Keep at least one backup disconnected from the PC so a ransomware incident cannot alter every copy. Test that you can restore ordinary files.
- Review alerts instead of dismissing them. Record the detection name and path, then investigate repeated appearances rather than repeatedly deleting the visible file.
There is no current authoritative prevalence percentage or loss estimate for Paradise in the available evidence. The practical point is narrower: a file named paradise.exe is not proof of infection, but documented Paradise ransomware detections make an unexplained copy worthy of cautious, layered checking.
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What should I remember about paradise.exe?
Do not open an unknown copy. Scan it with updated Defender, escalate to a full and then offline scan when symptoms or detections persist, and protect accounts from a separate trusted device. Only after security remediation should you run DISM followed by SFC to address Windows errors. If the system or data remains compromised, use known-clean backups and consider a reset or reinstall rather than trusting a replacement executable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does paradise.exe keep showing up after Defender removes it?
A recurring alert can mean another copy, a remnant or a process that recreates the file. Check the detection path in Protection history, update security intelligence, run a full scan and then use Microsoft Defender Offline if it returns; repeated recurrence is a reason to consider reset or reinstall rather than repeatedly deleting one visible file.
Will DISM or SFC remove Paradise ransomware?
No. DISM repairs the Windows component store and SFC repairs protected system files. Complete Defender remediation first; use these commands only for Windows damage that remains afterward.
What should I restore from a backup after a Paradise incident?
Restore only data you know is clean, preferably from an external backup that was not connected during the incident. Do not restore unknown executables, scripts or installers until they have been scanned on the repaired system.
Is the 2018 Paradise warning still a measure of current risk?
No. The NHS England Digital notice is archived historical context about Paradise’s malware-as-a-service model and delivery routes. Current handling should rely on present security-intelligence detections and the results of scans on your own computer.
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