The Wanna decrypt0r virus belongs under the ransomware type of infection. A harmful program of this type encrypts all the data on your computer (photos, documents, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, creating the @Please_Read_Me@.txt files in each directory containing encrypted files.
What is known about the Wanna decrypt0rvirus?
โ๏ธ A scientifically correct designation for the Wanna decrypt0r is “a ransomware infection”.
Wanna decrypt0r will append its specific .WNCRY extension to the name of each encrypted file. For example, a file named “photo.jpg” will be altered to “photo.jpg.WNCRY”. In the same manner, the Excel table with the name “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.WNCRY”, and so forth.
In every directory containing the encoded files, a @Please_Read_Me@.txt text document will appear. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the tamperers. That is how they do it.
Wanna decrypt0r abstract:
| Name | Wanna decrypt0r Virus |
| Extension | .WNCRY |
| Ransomware note | @Please_Read_Me@.txt |
| Detection | Cydoor.Adware.Advertising.DDS, Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Blocker.pef, Win32/GenKryptik.GCGO |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .WNCRY extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Wanna decrypt0r virus |
In the screenshot below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Wanna decrypt0r looks like. Each filename has the “.WNCRY” extension appended to it.
That is how encrypted “.WNCRY” files look.
How did Wanna decrypt0r ransomware end up on my PC?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.
There are currently three most exploited methods for malefactors to have ransomware settled in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer file transfer.
If you access your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is strange to you, be wary of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a malicious item enclosed in 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 model1. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your PC disguised as something legal. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. However, what is unpacked reveals itself a harmful agent that encrypts your data. Since the installation file can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the files you’re downloading. The best way is to trust the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-peer networks like BitTorrent or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never guess what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the folder containing the downloaded files with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.
How to remove the Wanna decrypt0r virus?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Wanna decrypt0r virus will probably deploy the Azorult Spyware on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware2 can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.
Sometimes racketeers would decrypt several of your files to prove that they really have the decryption tool. Since Wanna decrypt0r virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software designers have not yet found a way to undo its work. However, the anti-ransomware instruments are frequently updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.
Understandably, if the hackers do the job of encrypting victim’s essential data, the hopeless person will probably fulfill their demands. However, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports of criminals simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.
The best safety measure against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud drive or at least on an external disk. Obviously, that might be insufficient. Your most crucial thing could be that file you were working upon when it all started. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the system restoration.
There are other ransomware products, besides Wanna decrypt0r, that work similarly. For instance, Nuis, Powd, Bowd, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Wanna decrypt0r are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: files become encoded, their extensions altered, ransom notes are created in each folder containing encrypted files.
Some lucky people were able to decode the blocked files with the help of the free software provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the criminals accidentally send the decoding key to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an extraordinary fail allows the user to restore the files. But of course, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a criminals’ instrument to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How ัan I avoid ransomware infection?
Wanna decrypt0r ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can defend your computer from its attack taking three easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown mailers with unknown 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 suspicious email carefully. A fake email will always contain mistakes.
- Avoid using cracked or untrusted programs. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as a part of cracked products, possibly as a โpatchโ to prevent the license check. Understandably, untrusted programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information on this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.
- And finally, to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect defense for your personal computer.
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 system.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click โYesโ 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 computer for Wanna decrypt0r 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 completed, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the โClean Nowโ button in right corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
๐ค How can I open “.WNCRY” files?Can I somehow access “.WNCRY” files?
Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.WNCRY” files you will not be able to access them.
๐ค What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?
Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.
๐ค You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Wanna decrypt0r 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 remove actual threats from your computer. The virus that has attacked your PC is must be still active and it scans your system every so often to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the initial attack. As it has already been said, the Wanna decrypt0r ransomware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can steal your account credentials and provide criminals with easy access to your system in the future.
๐ค What actions should I take if the Wanna decrypt0r virus has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.
If that happened, you need to prepare a flash memory card with a pre-installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. The point is that the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your PC. To suppress this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run upon system start. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
๐ค And what should I do now?
Many of the blocked files might still be within your reach
- 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 post those images back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try downloading them again.
- Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud storage might have all those files too.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, cellphone, memory stick, etc.
HINT: You can employ file recovery programs5 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encrypts the copies of your files, removing the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you can do it only after you eradicate the virus with an antivirus 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 sรฉcuritรฉ des systรจmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt fรผr Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Sรญochรกna;
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 WANNA DECRYPT0R Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: WANNA DECRYPT0R Virus
Description: WANNA DECRYPT0R Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .WNCRY 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’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
