WannaCry – a ransomware cryptovirus, that has infected computers over the globe across 150 countries, is already being looked up to by criminals. Successfully delivering the biggest ransomware attack in history, there is no wonder cybercriminals have started developing imitations of the WannaCry virus. In case you get infected by a clone of the malware, you should read the article and see how you could try to potentially recover some of your data.
WannaCry Ransomware Infection
WannaCry ransomware uses different methods to infect users’ PCs, and thus its imitations could use any number of ways to infect computer systems. Those ways however wouldn’t be much different. Using multiple malware e-mail spam campaigns might be the main way of distribution or using a worm to continue the infection from one machine to another over a network. These methods are used by WannaCry 2.0 right now and are viable for maintaining believable copycat version of it. However, impostors might utilize other ways for infecting.
As you can see above, one of the WannaCry ransomware copycats has a malicious executable that launches a script that infects a computer. Such files could be delivered even through social media and file-sharing networks. Often, files like these are advertised as freeware that is helpful, but instead might serve as the entry point for an infection. Refrain from opening files right after you have downloaded them, especially if they are from an unknown source. You should always first scan the files with a security tool. Read the ransomware prevention tips in our forum section to educate yourself on how to prevent ransomware attacks in general.
Below we will look at a few imitations of WannaCry that have surfaced and were discovered by malware researchers. As they are all still in-development, there is not much information to go on.
WannaCry Impostor #1 – DarkoderCrypt0r
DarkoderCrypt0r is still in its development phase, but probably the closest to being released, if you compare it to the other impostors. After encrypting files on your Desktop, it will display the following window:
As you can see it uses the same design and ransom note as the newest variant of the WannaCry virus aka Wana Decrypt0r 2.0.
All files are encrypted with the .DARKCRY extension and it gives you three days to pay the ransom sum of 300 US dollars. Its executable will be named @DaKryEncryptor@.exe, similarly to the original ransomware. Interestingly enough, this one uses the code of HiddenTear, so it would be decryptable, if it is released.
WannaCry Impostor #2 – Wanna Crypt v2.5
The Wanna Crypt v2.5 is also in-development, but sill behind, as it only shows the following lock-screen:
As you can see, the design is the same, with minor changes to the lock icon, timers etc. The ransom sum is 600 US dollars right from the beginning.
The ransom note of both variants described above is the following:
Ooops, your files have been encrypted!
What Happened to My Computer?
Your important files are encrypted.Many of your documents. photos, videos, databases and other files are no longer
accessible because they have been encrypted. Maybe you are busy looking for a way to
recover your files. but do not waste your time. Nobody can recover your files without
our decryption service.Can I Recover My Files?
Sure. We guarantee that you can recover all your files safely and easily. But you have 1
not so enough time.
You can decrypt some of your files for free. Try now by clicking
But if you want to decrypt all your files, you need to pay.
You only have 3 days to submit the payment. After that the price will be doubled.
Also, if you don’t pay in 7 days, you won’t be able to recover your files forever.
We will have free events for users who are so poor that they couldn’t pay in 6 months.How Do I Pay?
Payment is accepted in Bitcoin only. For more information, click
Please check the current price of Bitcoin and buy some bitcoins. For more information.
click
And send the correct amount to the address specified in this window.
After your payment, clickBest time to check: 9:00am – 11:00am
GMT from Monday to Friday.
Once the payment is checked, you can start decrypting your files immediately.Contact
If you need our assistance, send a message by clicking. We strongly recommend you to not remove this software, and disable your anti-virus for a while, until you pay and the payment gets processed. If your anti-virus gets updated and removes this software automatically, it will not be able to recover your files even if you pay!
WannaCry Impostor #3 – WannaCrypt 4.0
WannaCrypt 4.0 is also in its early stages of development and does not encrypt data at this time. However, while it copies the design of the ransom message window, it has an additional feature, as you can see below:
The whole ransom payment instructions text is written in the Thai language as it is probably made by and intended for the individual user of Thailand. That language is not supported by the original WannaCry.
WannaCry Impostor #4 – Aron WanaCrypt0r 2.0 Generator v1.0
Last, but definitely not least is the Aron WanaCrypt0r 2.0 Generator v1.0. The idea behind it is to make it into a generator of custom WannaCry versions, as seen right down here:
As seen above, there are multiple customizations that can be done, in terms of images, color and text, but only limited to the lock screen.
WannaCry Impostor #5 – Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 (Wana Descrypt0r)
A copycat variant called Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 and Wana Descrypt0r written in the Indonesian language is also being spread. The malware’s executable file is called MS17-010.exe referring to the Microsoft patch, which the original WannaCry virus used as an entry point exploit. Here is how it looks like:
Fortunately, it doesn’t encrypt files for now.
WannaCry Impostor #6 – @kee
@kee is an imitator which doesn’t care about your files. It will encrypt them and show the following message window:
The ransom note is also inside a file called “Hello There! Fellow @kee User!.txt“.
It states that there is no way for you to receive the key, and afterward it will delete your files.
WannaCry Impostor #7 – WannaDecryptOr 2.0
WannaDecryptOr 2.0 is an imitation of the WannaCry ransomware virus, which is still in-development and shows a blank page in its window as seen from the picture here:
Your files will not get encrypted, but they could be in the near future.
WannaCry Impostor #8 – Wanna Subscribe 1.0
Not much information is found about the Wanna Subscribe 1.0 impostor, other than that it is written in Java and has the following gray-colored design:
The following extensions which are encrypted by the current WannaCry variant, could also be placed for its clones to seek and lock:
→.der, .pfx, .key, .crt, .csr, .pem, .odt, .ott, .sxw, .stw, .uot, .max, .ods, .ots, .sxc, .stc, .dif, .slk, .odp, .otp, .sxd, .std, .uop, .odg, .otg, .sxm, .mml, .lay, .lay6, .asc, .sqlite3, .sqlitedb, .sql, .accdb, .mdb, .dbf, .odb, .frm, .myd, .myi, .ibd, .mdf, .ldf, .sln, .suo, .cpp, .pas, .asm, .cmd, .bat, .vbs, .dip, .dch, .sch, .brd, .jsp, .php, .asp, .java, .jar, .class, .wav, .swf, .fla, .wmv, .mpg, .vob, .mpeg, .asf, .avi, .mov, .mkv, .flv, .wma, .mid, .djvu, .svg, .psd, .nef, .tiff, .tif, .cgm, .raw, .gif, .png, .bmp, .jpg, .jpeg, .vcd, .iso, .backup, .zip, .rar, .tgz, .tar, .bak, .tbk, .PAQ, .ARC, .aes, .gpg, .vmx, .vmdk, .vdi, .sldm, .sldx, .sti, .sxi, .hwp, .snt, .onetoc2, .dwg, .pdf, .wks, .rtf, .csv, .txt, .vsdx, .vsd, .edb, .eml, .msg, .ost, .pst, .potm, .potx, .ppam, .ppsx, .ppsm, .pps, .pot, .pptm, .pptx, .ppt, .xltm, .xltx, .xlc, .xlm, .xlt, .xlw, .xlsb, .xlsm, .xlsx, .xls, .dotx, .dotm, .dot, .docm, .docb, .docx, .doc
The WannaCry copycats might also be set to erase the Shadow Volume Copies from the Windows operating system by implementing the usage of the following command:
→vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet
Remove WannaCry Ransomware Impostors
If your computer got infected with some impostor of the WannaCry ransomware virus, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of the ransomware as fast as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the ransomware and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
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.
About the WannaCry Impostor Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this WannaCry Impostor how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files.
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the WannaCry Impostor ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project.
To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
References
1. How to Recognize Spam Emails with Ransomware
2. How Does Ransomware Encryption Work?
3. How to Decrypt Ransomware Files
4. Ransomware Getting Greedier and Bigger, Attacks Increase by 40%
5. 1 in 5 Americans Victim of Ransomware
- Guide 1: How to Remove WannaCry Impostor from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of WannaCry Impostor from Mac OS X.
How to Remove WannaCry Impostor from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove WannaCry Impostor
1. Hold Windows Key + R.
2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.
3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".
4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.
5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.
Step 2: Uninstall WannaCry Impostor 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:
1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.
2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.
3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by WannaCry Impostor 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 WannaCry Impostor there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.
3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.
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 WannaCry Impostor with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.
4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.
Video Guide for Automatic and Fast Removal
Step 5 (Optional): Try to Restore Files Encrypted by WannaCry Impostor.
Ransomware infections and WannaCry Impostor 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.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
Simply click on the link and on the website menus on the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Step 6: How to Restore Files Encrypted by Ransomware (Video Guide)
Get rid of WannaCry Impostor from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall WannaCry Impostor 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:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to WannaCry Impostor:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to WannaCry Impostor. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash
”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference.
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to WannaCry Impostor. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- 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 WannaCry Impostor 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:
1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as WannaCry Impostor. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
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 WannaCry Impostor.
Ransomware infections and WannaCry Impostor 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.
1. Download the recommended Data Recovery software by clicking on the link underneath:
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.
WannaCry Impostor FAQ
What is WannaCry Impostor ransomware and how does it work?
WannaCry Impostor 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 WannaCry Impostor ransomware infect my computer?
Via several ways.WannaCry Impostor 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 WannaCry Impostor 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 .WannaCry Impostor files?
You can't. At this point the .WannaCry Impostor 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 .WannaCry Impostor files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
One way to restore files, encrypted by WannaCry Impostor 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 ".WannaCry Impostor" files (Other Methods)?
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .WannaCry Impostor 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 WannaCry Impostor 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 WannaCry Impostor ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .WannaCry Impostor files.
Also, keep in mind that viruses like WannaCry Impostor 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.