Widia Ransomware

Widia Ransomware is another screen-locker that tries to trick you into thinking that your files are encrypted. Blooper Ransomware and Elmers Glue Locker Ransomware are few other infections that act similarly. The easiest way to determine whether or not the ransomware you are facing is real is to look at your personal files. If your “documents, photos, databases and other important files” – as it is stated in the ransom note – are not encrypted, you should realize right away that you are being scammed. Unfortunately, this infection is more advanced, in a sense that it not only locks the screen but also disables Windows Explorer to prevent you from reviewing your files. While you can close the ransom note window using the Alt+Tab key combination (you can switch to Desktop to evade the screen-locking window), you cannot access your files. You cannot even restart Explorer because the Task Manager (as well as Registry Editor) is disabled as well. Needless to say, that can prevent you from removing Widia Ransomware.

Although Widia Ransomware poses as a ransomware, in reality, it is a screen-locker. Therefore, as soon as it is executed, it locks the screen, and a screen-size notification representing a ransom note appears. According to this note, you need a private decryption key to recover your files. To get this key, you are requested to pay money, but no specific sum is mentioned, which might give the scam away. All you get is a form asking to disclose your credit card number, your full name, card’s expiration date, and, of course, the security number. There is no information explaining how that would be used in regards to the decryption of your files, and that is very strange. In fact, our research team believes that maybe the malicious Widia Ransomware was created only to steal credit card information. Obviously, if you have disclosed this data, you need to call your bank and inform them about the situation. They should be able to help you protect your accounts from any illegal activity. If you have not disclosed private information yet, DON’T because that would not solve any of your problems.

Whether you choose to delete Widia Ransomware manually or using a legitimate anti-malware tool, you have to restart your PC in Safe Mode with Networking or Safe Mode first. The latter, of course, enables access to the Internet, so that you could install and run the chosen anti-malware software. If you do not know how to reboot your PC, you can use the instructions below. Unfortunately, there is no other way around it. The good news is that you are free to remove Widia Ransomware, and you will not have to deal with any consequences when you do. While the victims of real ransomware infections have to think how to decrypt their files – which, often, is impossible – you do not have that weighing on your shoulders. Of course, what should worry you is the state of your operating system’s security. Obviously, it is weak because the screen-locker has managed to invade. Whether it slithered in without your notice, or you executed it yourself by opening a corrupted spam email attachment, you have to start taking your virtual security more seriously.

When rebooting the computer, you have to decide which removal method you want to execute. If you want to install anti-malware software, it is not enough to reboot into Safe Mode. You have to go into Safe Mode with Networking. A reliable anti-malware tool should remove Widia Ransomware, as well as restore Windows Explorer. If you follow the instructions below, you will restore Task Manager, using which you can run any process you want. Note that some registry entries and files have random names, and so you have to be very careful when eliminating them. After all, you do not want to terminate processes and delete files that would make your operating system even more dysfunctional. If you do not think you can handle the task, employ trusted and up-to-date anti-malware software to take care of the removal of malware automatically. If you have concerns or questions that were not answered in this report, start a conversation in the comments section.

Widia Ransomware Removal

1. Reboot in Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking.
2. Launch RUN by tapping keys Win+R.
3. To launch Registry Editor, enter regedit.exe and click OK.
4. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System (or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System).
5. Double-click the value named DisableTaskMgr and change the value data to 0.
6. Double-click the value named EnableLUA and change the value data to 1.
7. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
8. Right-click and Delete the value named .*widia (the asterisk represents random characters).
9. Launch Windows Explorer by tapping keys Win+E.
10. Enter %WINDIR% into the bar at the top to access this directory.
11. Right-click and Delete these files:
    • oobelx.dt
    • oops.rr
    • wd0w.exe
    • .*widia.exe (the asterisk represents random characters)

How to reboot to Safe Mode/Safe Mode with Networking

Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7:

1. Restart the computer using the power button.
2. Start tapping the F8 key as soon as the BIOS screen loads.
3. Using arrows keys select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking and then tap Enter.

Windows 8 or Windows 10:

1. Access the Charm bar, click Settings, and then click Power if you are using Windows 8 or click the Windows logo on the Taskbar and click Power if you are using Windows 10.
2. Simultaneously tap the Shift key and click Restart.
3. Move to the Troubleshooting menu.
4. Select Advanced options, then Startup Settings, and, finally, click Restart.
5. Choose F4 or F5 depending on whether you want to reboot to Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking.

Widia Ransomware is another screen-locker that tries to trick you into thinking that your files are encrypted. Blooper Ransomware and Elmers Glue Locker Ransomware are few other infections that act similarly. The easiest way to determine whether or not the ransomware you are facing is real is to look at your personal files. If your “documents, photos, databases and other important files” – as it is stated in the ransom note – are not encrypted, you should realize right away that you are being scammed. Unfortunately, this infection is more advanced, in a sense that it not only locks the screen but also disables Windows Explorer to prevent you from reviewing your files. While you can close the ransom note window using the Alt+Tab key combination (you can switch to Desktop to evade the screen-locking window), you cannot access your files. You cannot even restart Explorer because the Task Manager (as well as Registry Editor) is disabled as well. Needless to say, that can prevent you from removing Widia Ransomware.

Although Widia Ransomware poses as a ransomware, in reality, it is a screen-locker. Therefore, as soon as it is executed, it locks the screen, and a screen-size notification representing a ransom note appears. According to this note, you need a private decryption key to recover your files. To get this key, you are requested to pay money, but no specific sum is mentioned, which might give the scam away. All you get is a form asking to disclose your credit card number, your full name, card’s expiration date, and, of course, the security number. There is no information explaining how that would be used in regards to the decryption of your files, and that is very strange. In fact, our research team believes that maybe the malicious Widia Ransomware was created only to steal credit card information. Obviously, if you have disclosed this data, you need to call your bank and inform them about the situation. They should be able to help you protect your accounts from any illegal activity. If you have not disclosed private information yet, DON’T because that would not solve any of your problems.

Whether you choose to delete Widia Ransomware manually or using a legitimate anti-malware tool, you have to restart your PC in Safe Mode with Networking or Safe Mode first. The latter, of course, enables access to the Internet, so that you could install and run the chosen anti-malware software. If you do not know how to reboot your PC, you can use the instructions below. Unfortunately, there is no other way around it. The good news is that you are free to remove Widia Ransomware, and you will not have to deal with any consequences when you do. While the victims of real ransomware infections have to think how to decrypt their files – which, often, is impossible – you do not have that weighing on your shoulders. Of course, what should worry you is the state of your operating system’s security. Obviously, it is weak because the screen-locker has managed to invade. Whether it slithered in without your notice, or you executed it yourself by opening a corrupted spam email attachment, you have to start taking your virtual security more seriously.

When rebooting the computer, you have to decide which removal method you want to execute. If you want to install anti-malware software, it is not enough to reboot into Safe Mode. You have to go into Safe Mode with Networking. A reliable anti-malware tool should remove Widia Ransomware, as well as restore Windows Explorer. If you follow the instructions below, you will restore Task Manager, using which you can run any process you want. Note that some registry entries and files have random names, and so you have to be very careful when eliminating them. After all, you do not want to terminate processes and delete files that would make your operating system even more dysfunctional. If you do not think you can handle the task, employ trusted and up-to-date anti-malware software to take care of the removal of malware automatically. If you have concerns or questions that were not answered in this report, start a conversation in the comments section.

Widia Ransomware Removal

Reboot in Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking.

Launch RUN by tapping keys Win+R.

To launch Registry Editor, enter regedit.exe and click OK.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System (or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System).

Double-click the value named DisableTaskMgr and change the value data to 0.

Double-click the value named EnableLUA and change the value data to 1.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.

Right-click and Delete the value name that has widia in its name (the rest of the name is random).

Launch Windows Explorer by tapping keys Win+E.

Enter %WINDIR% into the bar at the top to access this directory.

Right-click and Delete these files:

oobelx.dt

oops.rr

wd0w.exe

.*widia.exe (the asterisk represents random characters)

How to reboot to Safe Mode/Safe Mode with Networking

Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7:

Restart the computer using the power button.

Start tapping the F8 key as soon as the BIOS screen loads.

Using arrows keys select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking and then tap Enter.

Windows 8 or Windows 10:

Access the Cham bar, click Settings, and then click Power if you are using Windows 8 or click the Windows logo on the Taskbar and click Power if you are using Windows 10.

Simultaneously tap the Shift key and click Restart.

Move to the Troubleshooting menu.

Select Advanced options, then Startup Settings, and, finally, click Restart.

Choose F4 or F5 depending on whether you want to reboot to Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking.