WANTTOCRY Ransomware (.WANT_TO_CRY File) — Removal Guide

The Wanttocry virus falls within the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of such sort encrypts all the data on your PC (photos, documents, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, creating the !want_to_cry.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.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Gridinsoft Anti-Malware 6-day trial available.
EULA | Privacy Policy | 10% Off Coupon

Subscribe to our Telegram channel to be the first to know about news and our exclusive materials on information security.

What is known about the Wanttocry virus?

Wanttocry appends its specific .want_to_cry extension to the title of each encrypted file. For instance, an image named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.want_to_cry”. Just like the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will become “table.xlsx.want_to_cry”, and so on.

In every directory that contains the encrypted files, a !want_to_cry.txt text document will be found. It is a ransom money memo. Therein you can find information on the ways of paying the ransom and some other remarks. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can get this decryptor after contacting Tox chat in TOR browser. That is basically the scheme of the felony.

Wanttocry Overview:

The !want_to_cry.txt file coming in package with the Wanttocry ransomware states the following:

All your data has been encrypted by --WantToCry-- r@n50mw@re

You can buy decryption of all files for 300 USD.

For this:

Visit hxxps://tox.chat/download.html

Download and install qTOX on your PC.

Open it, click \"New Profile\" and create profile.

Click \"Add friends\" button and search our contact -

963E6F7F58A67DEACBC2845469850B9A00E20E4000CE71B35DE789ABD0BE2F70D4147D5C0C91

Send a message with this string:

-

Send 3 test files. These should be files of no more than 20-30 MB each. We do not accept download links from third-party resources. We do not accept very large files, such as database files.

In response, we will send payment instructions and decrypted files. Payment is made in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency.

In the image below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Wanttocry looks like. Each filename has the “.want_to_cry” extension added to it.

An example of encrypted .want_to_cry files.

How did Wanttocry ransomware end up on my PC?

There are many possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

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

• If you open your mailbox and see letters that look like familiar notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose mailer is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a viral item enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even more dangerous to open any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan horse scheme. A Trojan is a program that gets into your PC pretending to be something else. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you want or an update for some program. But what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that corrupts your data. As the update package can have any name and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The best thing is to use the software companies’ official websites.
• As for the peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers 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. So you’d better be using trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded items with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is complete.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the Wanttocry virus will probably install Vidar Stealer on your machine to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.

Remove Wanttocry 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 Wanttocry 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 “Wanttocry” 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 Wanttocry 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.

Sometimes criminals would unblock several of your files to prove that they do have the decryption program. Since Wanttocry virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. However, the anti-ransomware tools are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.

Understandably, if the evildoers do the job of encrypting someone’s essential data, the desperate person will most likely comply with their demands. However, paying a ransom does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still risky. After getting the money, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports of hackers simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.

The best safety measure against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud storage or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be not enough. Your most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all happened. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your drives with the anti-malware utility after the system restoration.

Wanttocry 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, Dxen, Swift, Zenex, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Wanttocry are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is almost identical: files become inaccessible, their extensions changed, ransom notes are found in each directory containing encoded files.

Some fortunate victims were able to decrypt the arrested files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the hackers accidentally send the decryption code to the victims in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never expect such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a tamperers’ technology to pull the money out of their victims.

How to avert ransomware infiltration?

Wanttocry ransomware has no endless power, so as any similar malware.

You can defend yourself from its infiltration taking three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown senders with strange 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 more or less something you are expecting, check all elements of the suspicious email with caution. A fake email will always contain mistakes.
• Avoid using cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often distributed 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 ones, as trojans may also have the functionality you need. You can try to find information about this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal way is not to use such software.
• 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 shield for your system.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.want_to_cry” files?Are the “.want_to_cry” files accessible?

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.want_to_cry” files first. Then you will be able to open them.

🤔 The encrypted files are very important to me. How can I decrypt them quickly?

If the “.want_to_cry” 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. The rest of the methods require patience.

🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Wanttocry malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?

No way! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.

With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your PC off the actual threats. The ransomware that has attacked your PC is must be still functional and launching checks every so often to encode any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has been said above, the Wanttocry virus comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide malefactors with easy access to your PC in the future.

🤔 What to do if the Wanttocry malware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation key.

In such a case, you need to prepare a flash memory drive with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to do the cleaning. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encodes any new files created or imported into your PC. To stop this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential applications to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Some of the encrypted data can be found elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your important files through 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 post 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 disks might have all those files as well.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, mobile, external storage, etc.

USEFUL TIP: 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 tutorial below, you can learn how to use PhotoRec for such a restoration, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the virus with an antivirus program.

1. Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2024.