VIAM Virus
VIAM is the name presented in the ransom message of a data locker cryptovirus. VIAM ransomware has been created to interfere with essential system settings. It is capable of disrupting PC security and encoding personal files. The reason why it leaves corrupted files inaccessible is the strong cipher algorithm it is programmed to use for the encryption process. Once being encrypted by the VIAM virus, files will appear with changes in their names too. Every file corrupted by VIAM ransomware will display the extension .viamwasted after its original name. In addition, the ransomware will create ransom notes for all encrypted files. The names of those notes include again the original file name and the extension .viamwasted_info.
Paying hackers is highly inadvisable as there is no guarantee that they will act as promised. Check out more details about VIAM ransomware and find out how to remove it completely from the infected PC.
VIAM Summary
| Name | VIAM also known as Win32:DangerousSig [Trj], Trojan.Mint.Zamg.O, A Variant Of Win32/Kryptik.HGSP, GenericRXMG-NI!BA33C83C4252, Trojan:Win32/WastedLocker.CB |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | A data locker ransomware that encodes valuable files with sophisticated cipher algorithm and demands a ransom fee for their decryption. |
| Symptoms | Important files are locked and renamed with .viamwasted extension. Hackers attempt to blackmail you into paying a ransom for a decryption tool. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Infected Software Installers |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss VIAM. |
| Data Recovery Tool | Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive. |
VIAM Ransomware (.viamwasted Files)
As a ransomware infection, VIAM lands on computer operating systems without revealing its true essence. This is possible via spam emails that contain malicious attachments or links to corrupted web pages. URL addresses that open hacked sites that host the ransomware payload may also be found on popular social media channels and forums.
Email attachments that may disguised as one of the following files with the goal to trick you to download and run the VIAM ransomware on your PC:
- Invoices coming from reputable sites, like PayPal, eBay, etc.
- Documents from that appear to be sent from your bank.
- Online order confirmation notes.
- Receipts for purchases.
- Others.
To prevent falling victim to ransomware and other malware infections, we recommend that you maintain a licensed copy of a reliable anti-malware program and check the security status of every file you download before opening it with the help of this program.
As a data locker ransomware, VIAM has one primary goal and it is to extort a ransom payment from its victims. In order to become able to force people to transfer money to hackers, the virus performs a data encryption process. During this process VIAM scans system drives for specific files that are most likely to keep valuable personal data and encodes them with a strong encryption algorithm. The outcome may be all of the following files being locked by the ransomware:
- Audio files
- Video files
- Document files
- Image files
- Backup files
- Banking credentials, etc
To make corrupted files more recognizable, VIAM ransomware changes their names as well. So all corrupted files will appear with the extension .viamwasted appended to their original names. A specific trait of this threat is that it does not create one single ransom note as usual, but a note for every file it encodes. Eventually, lots of ransom notes will appear next to each of the encoded file. These notes will again keep the original file name but have the extension .viamwasted_info.
The content of each ransom note file contains information about the infection as well as the contact details of hackers who stand behind the attacks. They aim to blackmail you into paying a ransom fee for the recovery of .viamwasted files.
Here is a copy of the text message in every ransom note:
VIAM.
Your network has been penetrated.
All files on each host in the network have been encrypted with a strong algorythm.
Backups were either encrypted or deleted.
Do not rename or move the encrypted files.
To get the files back contact us at: 43780@PROTONMAIL.CH or 18002@AIRMAIL.CC
Store the encryption key:
–
Although hackers may promise you to send back an efficient decryption tool for .viamwasted files, we recommend that you avoid contacting them at all. There is no guarantee if their tool will be able to decrypt encoded files or leave them broken. Furthermore, even if you pay the ransom you could never receive any answer from them.
The recovery of your files is of paramount importance for you we are sure about it. But we want to prevent you from falling victim to these nasty fraudsters once again. So your best move is to remove the ransomware from the infected system and back up all encrypted files. It is very likely that security researchers will develop a free decryption tool for VIAM ransomware and release it in the wild. Meanwhile, you can try to restore some of the files with some alternative methods. Check out our removal guide to find suggestions.
Remove VIAM Ransomware Virus
VIAM ransomware is a threat with highly complex code designed to corrupt both system settings and valuable data. So the only way to use your infected system in a secure manner again is to remove all malicious files and objects created by the ransomware. For the purpose, you could use our removal guide that reveals how to clean and secure your system step by step. In addition, the steps below will present you with several alternative data recovery approaches that may be helpful in attempting to restore files encrypted by Scarab VIAM ransomware. We remind you to back up all encrypted files to an external drive before the recovery process.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online security.
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Attention! SensorsTechForum strongly recommends that all malware victims should look for assistance only by reputable sources. Many guides out there claim to offer free recovery and decryption for files encrypted by ransomware viruses. Be advised that some of them may only be after your money.
As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources.
How to recognize trustworthy sources:
- Always check "About Us" web page.
- Profile of the content creator.
- Make sure that real people are behind the site and not fake names and profiles.
- Verify Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter personal profiles.
How to Remove VIAM from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove VIAM
Step 2: Uninstall VIAM and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by VIAM on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by VIAM there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Step 4: Scan for VIAM with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by VIAM.
Ransomware infections and VIAM aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Get rid of VIAM from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall VIAM and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove VIAM via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by VIAM.
Ransomware infections and VIAM aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations.
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
VIAM FAQ
What is VIAM ransomware and how does it work?
VIAM is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files.
Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithm how to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
How does VIAM ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.VIAM Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing e-mails, containing virus attachment.
This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users.
After you download and execute this attachment, a drive-by download occurs and your computer is infected with the ransomware virus.
Another way, you may become a victim of VIAM is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
How to open .VIAM files?
You can't. At this point the .VIAM files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted.
Decryptor did not decrypt my data. What now?
Do not panic and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .VIAM files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by VIAM ransomware is to use a decryptor for it. But since it's a new virus, advised that the decryption keys for it may not be out yet and available to the public. We will update this article and keep you posted as soon as this decryptor is released.
How Do I restore ".VIAM" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .VIAM files.
These methods are in no way 100% guarantee that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
How do I get rid of VIAM ransomware virus?
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti malware software. It will scan for and locate VIAM ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .VIAM files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like VIAM ransomware also install Trojans and keyloggers that can steal your passwords and accounts. Scanning your computer with an anti-malware software will make sure that all of these virus components are removed and your computer is protected in the future.
What to Do If nothing works?
There is still a lot you can do. If none of the above methods seem to work for you, then try these methods:
- Try to find a safe computer from where you can can login on your own line accounts like One Drive, iDrive, Google Drive and so on.
- Try to contact your friends, relatives and other people so that they can check if they have some of your important photos or documents just in case you sent them.
- Also, check if some of the files that were encrypted it can be re-downloaded from the web.
- Another clever way to get back some of your files is to find another old computer, a flash drive or even a CD or a DVD where you may have saved your older documents. You might be surprised what will turn up.
- You can also go to your email account to check if you can send any attachments to other people. Usually what is sent the email is saved on your account and you can re-download it. But most importantly, make sure that this is done from a safe computer and make sure to remove the virus first.
More tips you can find on our forums, where you can also asks any questions about your ransomware problem.
How to Report Ransomware to Authorities?
In case your computer got infected with a ransomware infection, you can report it to the local Police departments. It can help authorities worldwide track and determine the perpetrators behind the virus that has infected your computer. Below, we have prepared a list with government websites, where you can file a report in case you are a victim of a cybercrime:
Cyber-security authorities, responsible for handling ransomware attack reports in different regions all over the world:
- Germany - Offizielles Portal der deutschen Polizei
- United States - IC3 Internet Crime Complaint Centre
- United Kingdom - Action Fraud Police
- France - Ministère de l'Intérieur
- Italy - Polizia Di Stato
- Spain - Policía Nacional
- Netherlands - Politie
- Poland - Policja
- Portugal - Polícia Judiciária
- Greece - Cyber Crime Unit (Hellenic Police)
- India - Mumbai Police - CyberCrime Investigation Cell
- Australia - Australian High Tech Crime Center
Reports may be responded to in different timeframes, depending on your local authorities.
