Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware

Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware is one of the most destructive infections to emerge this year, and it has hit with full force. Successful attacks have been recorded in over 150 countries, and the cyber criminals behind this infection have already managed to snatch over 90,000 USD. The ransom payments are collected in Bitcoins, and at the time of research, it was counted that 48.80 Bitcoins were transferred to the Bitcoin Addresses that are linked to cyber criminals. This ransomware is so successful because it is capable of slithering into the targeted operating system without the victim’s input. While most infections of this kind, including the latest ones, Fatboy Ransomware and Ctf Ransomware, are usually executed by the user who opens a corrupted spam email attachment, the devious ransomware we are discussing uses a known Windows vulnerability. To learn more about the infiltration of this infection, you need to keep reading. In this report, we also discuss the removal of Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware, which is a crucial task.

Although the infection is officially known by the name “Wana Decrypt0r” (that is the name you see on the ransom note), some sources identify it as WanaCrypt0r Ransomware or WannaCry Ransomware. In any case, if you have been introduced to a window entitled “Ooops, your files have been encrypted!,” you must have become a victim of this devious threat. Although it looks like it is primarily targeted at bigger companies and organizations, including FedEx, NHS, and Nissan, regular users can be hit as well. That is because this infection can target any operating system with a specific vulnerability. We are talking about the SMB vulnerability that Microsoft has patched back in March 2017. If one skips the security update that carries the patch, the operating system is left vulnerable. An exploit by the name “Eternalblue” allows a malicious worm to slither into a computer using an SMB port, and this worm is responsible for the execution of the devious Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware (the .exe file is stored in a password-protected ZIP file that the worm executes). Kill switches have been found and created to stop the worm from executing the infection, but operating systems all over the world were infected before that.

The devious Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware is adapted to target operating systems in different regions because of the many languages that it can use. According to our analysis, the ransom note can be represented in at least 27 languages, including Chinese, Spanish, and English, which are the most widely used. Before encrypting your files, the ransomware executes commands and terminates processes without your permission or notice. The threat is even capable of deleting Shadow Volume Copies to prevent you from recovering your files after they are encrypted. It was also found that if data is set up to automatically synchronize with cloud storage, the stored files can be encrypted as well. Basically, Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware ensures that you cannot recover your files so that the only option you have is to pay the ransom. The demands to pay this ransom show up right after the threat encrypts your files and attaches unique extensions (e.g., “WNCRYT” and “.WNCRY”) to their names.

Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware uses two files to provide you with information, and both of them should be copied to every folder where the files are encrypted. One of these files is called “@WanaDecryptor@.exe”, and it displays the “Wana Decrypt0r 2.0” window. The other one is “@Please_Read_Me@.txt”, and both of these files represent the same demands. According to them, you need to transfer 300 USD in Bitcoins to the shown Bitcoin Address within 3 days. After that, the sum doubles up, and if you do not pay that in 7 days, you lose the chance of recovering your files altogether. Is this information accurate? It might be, but that does not mean that we recommend paying the ransom. The chances of you getting a decryptor after you pay the ransom are very slim. If you decide to take the risk, remember that losing money is a possibility.

Deleting Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware is very important, and the sooner you do that, the better. Speaking of removal, it is strongly suggested that you employ anti-malware software. This infection is quite complex, and there are many moving parts. The guide below should help you delete the ransomware yourself, but you need to look at the bigger picture. What if you cannot fully eliminate this threat? What if there are other infections that require removal? What if you cannot protect your operating system from malware? And we already know that you cannot if the ransomware has slithered in. If you utilize trusted anti-malware software, you will not need to worry about the elimination of malicious components or the protection of your operating system. Of course, that is not all you need to do. You also have to install the latest security updates, as well as back up your files (if you are able to salvage any) onto external drives.

Wana Decrypt0r Ransomware Removal

1. Delete all suspicious files (if you cannot identify them, use a malware scanner).
2. Delete the ransom files called @WanaDecryptor@.exe and @Please_Read_Me@.txt.
3. Launch Windows Explorer by tapping keys Win+E on the keyboard.
4. Type %WINDIR% into the bar at the top and then tap Enter.
5. Delete the file named tasksche.exe.
6. Type %ALLUSERSPROFILE% into the bar at the top and tap Enter. Windows XP users need to enter %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data to access the same directory.
7. Delete the folder with a random name if it contains a malicious file called tasksche.exe.
8. Install the latest Windows security update.
9. Perform a full system scan to check for malicious leftovers.