The Wannafriendme 2 virus belongs under the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of this type encrypts all user’s data on the computer (images, documents, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its extra extension to every file, leaving the README.txt files in each folder containing encrypted files.
What is known about the Wannafriendme 2virus?
☝️ A scientifically correct designation for the Wannafriendme 2 would be “a ransomware-type infection”.
Wannafriendme 2 will add its own .iRazormind extension to the title of each encoded file. For instance, an image entitled “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.iRazormind”. Just like the Excel sheet named “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.iRazormind”, and so on.
In every directory containing the encoded files, a README.txt file will be found. It is a ransom money note. It contains information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to purchase the decryption tool from the Wannafriendme 2 developers. That is it.
Wannafriendme 2 abstract:
| Name | Wannafriendme 2 Virus |
| Extension | .iRazormind |
| Ransomware note | README.txt |
| Detection | Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.PBZ!MTB, Ransom.BitRansomware, Trojan:Win32/RacoonStealer.RPC!MTB |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) have a .iRazormind extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Wannafriendme 2 virus |
In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Wannafriendme 2 looks like. Each filename has the “.iRazormind” extension appended to it.
An example of encrypted .iRazormind files.
How did my machine catch Wannafriendme 2 ransomware?
There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.
Nowadays, there are three most exploited methods for hackers to have ransomware planted in your system. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer-to-peer file transfer.
If you open your inbox and see letters that look just like 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 most likely to have a viral item enclosed in them. Thus it is even riskier to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan virus scheme1. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your PC disguised as something else. For instance, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some software. But what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful agent that encodes your data. Since the installation package can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the stuff you’re downloading. The best thing is to use the software developers’ official websites.
As for the peer networks 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 websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is done.
How do I get rid of the Wannafriendme 2 virus?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Wannafriendme 2 virus will probably install the Azorult Spyware on your PC to seize your credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Sometimes tamperers would unblock few of your files to prove that they really have the decryption program. As Wannafriendme 2 virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software developers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the decoding tools are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.
Sure thing, if the malefactors succeed in encrypting victim’s critical data, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. Despite that, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still risky. After receiving the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports of criminals just 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 disk or at least on an external storage. Surely, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that one you were working on 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 is rolled back.
There are other ransomware products, besides Wannafriendme 2, that work similarly. For instance, Bbyy, Bbzz, Hkgt, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Wannafriendme 2 are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is the same: documents become blocked, their extensions changed, ransom notes emerge in every folder containing encrypted files.
Some fortunate victims were able to decrypt the arrested files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-ransomware experts. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decoding key to the victims in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the victim to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a criminals’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.
How to avert ransomware infection?
Wannafriendme 2 ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.
You can armour your computer from ransomware injection taking several easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown mailboxes with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (how can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, scrutinize all elements of the suspicious letter with caution. A hoax letter will always have mistakes.
- Do not use cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often spreaded as an element of cracked software, most likely under the guise of “patch” preventing the license check. Understandably, dubious programs are very hard to distinguish from reliable software, because trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. You can try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.
- And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect defense for your PC.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft2
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft3.
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 system for Wannafriendme 2 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.
FAQ
🤔 How can I open “.iRazormind” files?Can I somehow access “.iRazormind” files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.iRazormind” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.iRazormind” files ASAP. How can I do that?
If the “.iRazormind” 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. All other solutions require time.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Wannafriendme 2 virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?
Of course not. Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.
With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your system off the actual threats. The virus that has infiltrated your system is must be still functional and it scans your system every so often to encrypt any new files you might create on your PC after the infection. As it has already been said, the Wannafriendme 2 ransomware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide hackers with easy access to your PC after some time.
🤔 What should I do if the Wannafriendme 2 virus has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.
If that happened, you need to prepare a flash memory drive with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. You see, the ransomware starts automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your system. To suppress this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run upon system boot. 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 through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
- You may have shared images or videos with your friends or family members. Just ask them to give those images 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.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, mobile, memory stick, etc.
USEFUL TIP: You can employ file recovery programs4 to retrieve your lost information since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the ransomware itself 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 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 WANNAFRIENDME 2 Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: WANNAFRIENDME 2 Virus
Description: WANNAFRIENDME 2 Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .iRazormind 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.
- 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 Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
