The 2wfv1 virus belongs to the ransomware type of malicious agent. A harmful program of such sort encrypts all the data on your computer (images, text files, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its own extension to every file, leaving the T3yp_HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt files in every directory which contains the encrypted files.
2wfv1 virus: what is known so far?
☝️ A scientifically correct denomination for the 2wfv1 is “a ransomware infection”.
The scheme of renaming is this: **random_symbols**.2wfv1. In the course of encryption, a file named, for instance, “report.docx” will be renamed to “report.docx.370vTCIJHC3186svBHGVUueUOY138601d.2wfv1”.
In each folder containing the encrypted files, a T3yp_HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt text file will appear. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. That is it.
2wfv1 outline:
| Name | 2wfv1 Virus |
| Extension | .**random_symbols**.2wfv1 |
| Ransomware note | T3yp_HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt |
| Detection | Win32/RiskWare.HackTool.Agent.N, Trojan.Runner.4705, Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt!MSR |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .**random_symbols**.2wfv1 extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by 2wfv1 virus |
In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the 2wfv1 looks like. Each filename has the “.**random_symbols**.2wfv1” extension added to it.
That is how encrypted “.**random_symbols**.2wfv1” files look.
How did my computer get infected with 2wfv1 ransomware?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
Nowadays, there are three most popular ways for evil-doers to have ransomware working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer file transfer.
If you access your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a viral item enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse scheme1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC pretending to be something different. For example, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some program. But what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that corrupts your data. Since the installation file can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The optimal thing is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer file transfer protocols like BitTorrent or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is complete.
How to remove the 2wfv1 virus?
It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the 2wfv1 virus will most likely install the Azorult Spyware on your machine to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware2 can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Often criminals would decrypt few of your files so you know that they do have the decryption program. As 2wfv1 virus is a relatively new ransomware, anti-malware developers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. However, the anti-ransomware instruments are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon arrive.
Of course, if the criminals do the job of encrypting victim’s critical data, the desperate person will most likely fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers gives no guarantee that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption key to the injured party. There were reports of malefactors just vanishing after getting the money without even bothering to reply.
The optimal solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud disk or at least on an external storage. Surely, that might be insufficient. The most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all happened. But at least it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your drives with the antivirus program after the system restoration.
There are other ransomware products, besides 2wfv1, that work similarly. For instance, Mljx, Hudf, Mljx, and some others. The two main differences between them and the 2wfv1 are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encoded, their extensions altered, ransom notes appear in every directory containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate victims were able to decode the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-ransomware developers. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decoding code to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ tool to pull the money out of their victims.
How сan I avoid ransomware infection?
2wfv1 ransomware has no superpower, so as any similar malware.
You can armour your PC from its attack within three easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are expecting (can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the questionable letter carefully. A hoax email will always contain a mistake.
- Avoid using cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, possibly under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, untrusted programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy software, as trojans may also have the functionality you seek. You can try to find information on this program on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal way is not to use such programs at all.
- And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, use GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect defense for your system.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft3
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft4.
Download Removal Tool.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Run the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your computer.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your PC for 2wfv1 infections and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 Can I somehow access “.**random_symbols**.2wfv1” files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.**random_symbols**.2wfv1” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
If the “.**random_symbols**.2wfv1” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. All other solutions require time.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the 2wfv1 virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?
Absolutely not! Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will delete the threats from your PC. The ransomware that has infiltrated your system is probably still functional and launching checks from time to time to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has been said above, the 2wfv1 ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide criminals with easy access to your computer after some time.
🤔 What to do if the 2wfv1 ransomware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
In such a case, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encodes any new files created or imported into your PC. To suppress this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Many of the blocked files might still be at your disposal
- If you exchanged your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to give those images back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try to do it again.
- Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, phone, memory stick, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery utilities5 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the video below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but remember: you can do it only after you kill the ransomware itself with an anti-malware program.
Also, you can contact the following governmental fraud and scam sites to report this attack:
- In the United States: On Guard Online;
- In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
- In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
- In Australia: SCAMwatch;
- In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
- In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;
To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove 2WFV1 Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: 2WFV1 Virus
Description: 2WFV1 Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .**random_symbols**.2wfv1 extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- You can read more on spyware variants and nature in the respective section of GridinSoft official website.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
