The Anon_by virus falls within the ransomware type of malicious agent. Harmful software of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (images, documents, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, leaving the anon_by.txt text files in every directory which contains the encrypted files.
What is Anon_by virus?
☝️ A strictly correct designation for the Anon_by would be “a ransomware-type infection”.
Anon_by will append its own .anon_by extension to every file’s name. For example, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.anon_by”. In the same manner, the Excel sheet named “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.anon_by”, and so forth.
In each folder that contains the encrypted files, a anon_by.txt file will appear. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the tamperers. You can obtain this decoding tool after contacting @AnonymousRussian, @An0nymousRUS, @anon_red_bot, @anon_by_bot through email. That is it.
Anon_by summary:
| Name | Anon_by Virus |
| Extension | .anon_by |
| Ransomware note | anon_by.txt |
| Contact | @AnonymousRussian, @An0nymousRUS, @anon_red_bot, @anon_by_bot |
| Detection | UDS:Trojan-Ransom.Win32.GenericML.xnet, Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.SU!MTB, Trojan:Win32/Redline.WON!MTB |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .anon_by extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Anon_by virus |
The anon_by.txt document accompanying the Anon_by malware states the following:
Вас Атакованы Официальное сообщество Anonymous рФ, основаное на добровольческой деятельности против недобросовестных стран и др. Резерв: @AnonymousRussian Переходник: @An0nymousRUS Редакция: @anon_red_bot По всем вопросам: @anon_by_bot Слава **** Братья!
In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Anon_by looks like. Each filename has the “.anon_by” extension appended to it.
An example of encrypted .anon_by files.
How did my computer get infected with Anon_by ransomware?
There are many possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
There are currently three most popular ways for hackers to have ransomware working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer-to-peer file transfer.
If you access your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a malware file enclosed in them. So it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan virus model1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your machine disguised as something different. For example, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some software. But what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful program that corrupts your data. As the update package can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the resource of the things you’re downloading. The optimal way is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-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 guess what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is complete.
How to remove the Anon_by virus?
It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Anon_by virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your computer to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware2 can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Sometimes tamperers would unblock several of your files so you know that they do have the decryption tool. As Anon_by virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software designers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. However, the anti-ransomware tools are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Sure thing, if the criminals do the job of encrypting someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will probably fulfill their demands. However, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your files back. It is still dangerous. After obtaining the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports of criminals just disappearing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.
The best countermeasure to ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud drive or at least on an external drive. Obviously, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the OS restoration.
Anon_by is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. For instance, Towz, Powd, Tuow, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Anon_by are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encoded, their extensions changed, ransom notes are created in every directory containing encoded files.
Some lucky victims were able to decrypt the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ technology to pull the money out of their victims.
How to avert ransomware infection?
Anon_by ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can armour your system from ransomware injection taking several easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown senders with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the dubious email carefully. A fake email will always have a mistake.
- Do not use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked software, possibly as a “patch” to prevent the license check. But untrusted programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try to find information about this program on the anti-malware forums, but the best solution is not to use such programs at all.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a powerful armor for your PC.
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 PC.
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 Anon_by 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
🤔 How can I open “.anon_by” files?Is it possible to open“.anon_by” files?
There’s no way to do it, unless the files “.anon_by” files are decrypted.
🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?
If the “.anon_by” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Anon_by 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 only deals with actual viruses. The virus that has infected your system is probably still active and running scans from time to time to encode any new files you might create on your PC after the attack. As it has been said above, the Anon_by ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide criminals with easy access to your system after some time.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Anon_by ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.
In such a case, you need to have a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or brought into your system. To stop this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run upon system start. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 What could help the situation right now?
Some of the encrypted files can be found elsewhere.
- If you exchanged your important files by email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
- You might have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to give those images back to you.
- If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Internet, you can try downloading them again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
- Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, mobile, external storage, etc.
HINT: You can use file recovery programs5 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you can do it only after you kill the virus 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 ANON_BY Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: ANON_BY Virus
Description: ANON_BY Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .anon_by 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.
