SILENTANONYMOUS Virus (.SILENTATTACK File)

The Silentanonymous virus belongs to the ransomware type of malicious agent. Malware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its extra extension to every file, leaving the Silent_Anon.txt files in each directory which contains the encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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Silentanonymous virus: what is known so far?

Silentanonymous will add its extra .SILENTATTACK extension to the title of every encrypted file. For example, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be turned into “photo.jpg.SILENTATTACK”. Just like the Excel sheet with the name “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.SILENTATTACK”, and so forth.

In each folder containing the encrypted files, a Silent_Anon.txt file will be found. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. That is it.

Silentanonymous Summary:

The Silent_Anon.txt file accompanying the Silentanonymous ransomware provides the following discouraging information:

----> SILENTANONYMOUS ENTER YOUR SYSTEM <----
_________________________YOU ARE HACKED SUCCESSFULLY___________________
All of your files have been encrypted
Your computer was infected with a ransomware virus. Your files have been encrypted and you won't
be able to decrypt them without our help. What can I do to get my files back? You can buy our special
decryption software, this software will allow you to recover all of your data and remove the
ransomware from your computer. The price for the software is $1,500. Payment can be made in Bitcoin only.
How do I pay, where do I get Bitcoin?
Purchasing Bitcoin varies from country to country, you are best advised to do a quick Google search
yourself to find out how to buy Bitcoin.
Many of our customers have reported these sites to be fast and reliable:
Coinmama - hxxps://www.coinmama.com Bitpanda - hxxps://www.bitpanda.com


Payment informationAmount: 0.0000766 BTC
Bitcoin Address:  17CqMQFeuB3NTzJ2X28tfRmWaPyPQgvoHV

In the picture below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by Silentanonymous looks like. Each filename has the ".SILENTATTACK" extension added to it.

That is how encrypted ".SILENTATTACK" files look.

How did Silentanonymous ransomware end up on my PC?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for hackers to have ransomware planted in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration, and peer networks.

• If you access your inbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose sender is strange to you, be wary of opening those letters. They are most likely to have a harmful file attached to them. Therefore, it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan horse scheme. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates your PC disguised as something legal. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some program. But what is unpacked is a harmful agent that encrypts your data. As the update file can have any title and any icon, you'd better be sure that you can trust the source of the files you're downloading. The optimal thing is to trust the software companies' official websites.
• As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like torrents or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never know what you download until you get it. So you'd better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.

How to remove ransomware?

It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Silentanonymous virus will probably install Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware can extract your logins and passwords from your browser's auto-filling data.

Remove Silentanonymous with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Silentanonymous as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for "Silentanonymous" removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Silentanonymous and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Often tamperers would unblock several of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption program. Since the Silentanonymous virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. Nevertheless, the decoding instruments are constantly upgraded, so an effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Of course, if the malefactors do the job of encoding the victim's critical data, the desperate person will probably comply with their demands. However, paying criminals does not necessarily mean that you're getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may send the wrong decryption code to the victim. There were reports about racketeers simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The best safety measure against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud drive or at least on an external drive. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most crucial thing could be that file you were working on when it all started. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the OS is rolled back.

Silentanonymous 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, Secles, Ebaka, Noose, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Silentanonymous are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: documents become encrypted, their extensions changed, and ransom notes are found in each folder containing encrypted files.

Some fortunate people were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware experts. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary failure allows the victim to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a tamperers' instrument to pull the money out of their victims.

How do I avoid ransomware infection?

Silentanonymous ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, nor as any similar malware.

You can defend your PC from ransomware attacks with several easy steps:

• Ignore any letters from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are waiting for (can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the suspicious letter. A fake email will always contain mistakes.
• Never use cracked or untrusted programs. Trojan viruses are often shared as an element of cracked software, possibly under the guise of a “patch” which prevents the license check. Understandably, potentially dangerous programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you need. Try searching for information on this program on the anti-malware forums, but the best way is not to use such software.
• And finally, to ensure the safety of the files you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a perfect armor for your personal computer.

FAQ

🤔 How can I open ".SILENTATTACK" files?Is it possible to open“.SILENTATTACK” files?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the ".SILENTATTACK" files you will not be able to access them.

🤔 I need to decrypt those “.SILENTATTACK” files ASAP. How can I do that?

If the “.SILENTATTACK” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. In case you haven't, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. All other solutions require time.

🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Silentanonymous virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?

Of course not. The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won't be deleted.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with actual threats. The virus that has infiltrated your system is probably still active and running scans from time to time to arrest any new files you might create on your PC after the initial attack. As it has already been said, the Silentanonymous 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 should I do if the Silentanonymous virus has blocked my computer and I can't get the activation key?

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to prepare a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encodes any new files created or brought into your machine. To stop this process - use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 And what should I do now?

Some of the blocked files can be located elsewhere.

• If you sent or received your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You might have shared photographs or videos with your friends or family members. Simply ask them to send those pictures back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files too.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, mobile, flash memory, etc.

HINT: You can use data recovery utilities¹ to get your lost data back since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but be advised: you can do it only after you eradicate the ransomware itself with an antivirus program.

1. Here are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2024.