WannaPeace Ransomware – How to Remove and Restore _enc Files

This article has been created in order to help you by showing how to remove the WannaPeace ransomware virus from your computer and how to recover _enc encrypted files.

A new ransomware infection, known as WannaPeace has been detected by malware researchers. The virus aims to encrypt the files on the computers infected by it by using AES algorithm on them. After the WannaPeace ransowmare finishes, the encryption the files are renamed with _enc included in their filename. The ransomware then drops a ransom note, named WannaPEace which demands victims to pay a hefty ransom fee in BitCoin in order to retrieve access to their files.

Threat Summary

Name	WannaPeace
Type	Ransomware, Cryptovirus
Short Description	Aims to encrypt the files, using the AES cipher and then demands victims to pay heavy ransom in order to get them decrypted.
Symptoms	Files are encrypted with an added _enc file suffix to their names. A ransom note, imitating WannaCry appears on the infected PC.
Distribution Method	Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by WannaPeace Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss WannaPeace.
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.

WannaPeace Ransomware – Distribution Methods

In order to infect unsuspecting victims, the WannaPeace ransomware uses similar distribution methods of it’s malicious files like other ransom viruses do. The infection may use Windows Exploit kits embedded in an infection file, which infects computers by being sent to the victims, tricking them into thinking that the file is legitimate. One such example is malicious e-mail spam messages, also known as malspam, which carry either e-mail attachments or web links, leading to the malicious files. The often used e-mails, deceive you into thinking that the ransomware infection file is a legitimate:

• Invoice.
• Receipt.
• Purchase order information file.
• Banking activity statement.
• Letter of complain.
• Other important documents.

Once you open the malicious file, it immediately causes the infection to commence and the payload of WannaPeace is dropped and executed on your computer silently.

In addition to via e-mail, the malicious file, carrying WannaPeace may also be disguised as a file that is a legitimate installation file, software license activator, game patch or crack or other fake executable uploaded online.

WannaPeace – More Information

Being as yet another WannaCry impostor, the ransomware virus aims to download it’s payload on your computer after it infects it. The payload may consist of files with different names, such as:

• Randomly generated file names (a-z, 0-9, A-Z).
• Fake file names of legitimate Windows processes (for example svchost.exe).
• Filenames, pretending to be programs installed on your PC.

The payload is usually located in the following commonly targeted Windows directories:

• %AppData%
• %Local%
• %Temp%
• %Roaming%
• %LocalLow%

After the payload has been dropped on the victim’s computer, the ransomware may engage in different activities, such as set it’s ransom note file to be automatically displayed to the victim:

In addition to this, WannaPeace ransomware may also attack the following Windows Registry Entries on the victim’s computer:

→ 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
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\Background
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\ScreenSaveTimeOut
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop

After having done this, the WannaPeace ransomware virus may begin to delete the backed up files or shadow volume copies on the infected machine by running scripts which trigger commands as an administrator in the Windows Command Prompt. The commands are often the following:

→ process call create “cmd.exe /c vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet & bcdedit.exe /set {default} recoveryenabled no & bcdedit.exe /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailures”

WannaPeace Ransomware – Encryption Process

In order to encrypt the files on the infected system, the WannaPeace ransomware virus uses the AES encryption algorithm to render the files on the computers that have been infected by it no longer able to be opened. This results in a unique key for decryption to be generated which is also asymmetric and the cyber-criminals are the only ones who remain in power to provide the key and decrypt your files. The usually targeted files by this ransomware virus are reported to be the following:

“PNG .PSD .PSPIMAGE .TGA .THM .TIF .TIFF .YUV .AI .EPS .PS .SVG .INDD .PCT .PDF .XLR .XLS .XLSX .ACCDB .DB .DBF .MDB .PDB .SQL .APK .APP .BAT .CGI .COM .EXE .GADGET .JAR .PIF .WSF .DEM .GAM .NES .ROM .SAV CAD Files .DWG .DXF GIS Files .GPX .KML .KMZ .ASP .ASPX .CER .CFM .CSR .CSS .HTM .HTML .JS .JSP .PHP .RSS .XHTML. DOC .DOCX .LOG .MSG .ODT .PAGES .RTF .TEX .TXT .WPD .WPS .CSV .DAT .GED .KEY .KEYCHAIN .PPS .PPT .PPTX ..INI .PRF Encoded Files .HQX .MIM .UUE .7Z .CBR .DEB .GZ .PKG .RAR .RPM .SITX .TAR.GZ .ZIP .ZIPX .BIN .CUE .DMG .ISO .MDF .TOAST .VCD SDF .TAR .TAX2014 .TAX2015 .VCF .XML Audio Files .AIF .IFF .M3U .M4A .MID .MP3 .MPA .WAV .WMA Video Files .3G2 .3GP .ASF .AVI .FLV .M4V .MOV .MP4 .MPG .RM .SRT .SWF .VOB .WMV 3D .3DM .3DS .MAX .OBJ R.BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL .DMP .DRV .ICNS .ICO .LNK .SYS .CFG”

After the encryption process is complete, the files are appended the _enc intefix between their names and the file extension and they begin looking like the image below:

Remove WannaPeace Ransomware and Try to Restore Encrypted Files

To remove this ransomware infection completely from your computer, we recommend that you follow the removal instructions down below. They are specifically created in order to help you by explaining how to isolate the virus and delete it manually or simply remove it automatically. For maximum effectiveness, security experts strongly advise to use an advanced anti-malware tool in order to remove the WannaPeace ransomware automatically from your computer system and protect it against future threats.

In the event that your files have been encrypted by this ransomware infection, recommendations are to try and restore them using the alternative file recovery instructions which we have posted down below in step “2. Restore files encrypted by WannaPeace” below.

Manually delete WannaPeace from your computer

Note! Substantial notification about the WannaPeace threat: Manual removal of WannaPeace requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.

1. Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove WannaPeace files and objects

Boot Your PC Into Safe Mode

1. For Windows 7,XP and Vista. 2. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. Fix registry entries created by WannaPeace on your PC.

For Windows XP, Vista, 7 systems:

1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu.
2. Select one of the two options provided below:

– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.

– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.

3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.

4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account

While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.

Step 1: Open the Start Menu

Step 2: Whilst holding down Shift button, click on Power and then click on Restart.
Step 3: After reboot, the aftermentioned menu will appear. From there you should choose Troubleshoot.

Step 4: You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu you can choose Advanced Options.

Step 5: After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.

Step 6: Click on Restart.

Step 7: A menu will appear upon reboot. You should choose Safe Mode by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart.

Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries of your computer to change different settings. This is why manual clean up of your Windows Registry Database is strongly recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit lenghty, we recommend following our instructive article about fixing registry entries.

2.Find malicious files created by WannaPeace on your PC

Find malicious files created by WannaPeace

1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10. 2. For Windows 7,XP and Vista.

For Newer Windows Operating Systems

Step 1:

On your keyboard press  + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.

Step 2:

Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.

Step 3:

Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC’s screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be “fileextension:exe”. After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:

N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navination box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn’t found it yet.

For Older Windows Operating Systems

In older Windows OS’s the conventional approach should be the effective one:

Step 1:

Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.

Step 2:

After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.

Step 3:

After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.

Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.

Automatically remove WannaPeace by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

1. Remove WannaPeace with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data

Remove WannaPeace with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove WannaPeace.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove WannaPeace. Back up your data to secure it against infections and file encryption by WannaPeace in the future.

Step 1:Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is highly recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter.

Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to automatically update.

Step1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Scan Computer Now’ button.

Step2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any WannaPeace files, click on the ‘Fix Threats’ button to remove them automatically and permanently.

Step3: Once the intrusions on your PC have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart it.

Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup .

SOS Online Backup

2. Restore files encrypted by WannaPeace

Restore Files Encrypted by WannaPeace

Ransomware infections like WannaPeace aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to directly decrypt. This is why we have suggested several alternative methods that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that they may not be 100% effective but they may help you little or a lot in some situations.

Method 1: Scanning your drive’s sectors by using Data Recovery software.
Another method of restoring your files is by trying to bring back your files via data recovery software. Here are some suggestions for preferred data recovery software solutions:

• Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery Technicians License(Pro version with more features)
• Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery
• Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery

Method 2: Trying Kaspersky and EmsiSoft’s decryptors.
If the first method does not work, we suggest trying to use decryptors for other ransomware viruses, in case your virus is a variant of them. The two primary developers of decryptors are Kaspersky and EmsiSoft, links to which we have provided below:

• Kaspersky Decryptors
• Emsisoft Decryptors

Urgent! It is strongly advisable to first remove the WannaPeace threat before attempting any decryption, since it may interfere with system files and registries. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using an advanced malware removal tool.

Method 3: Using Shadow Explorer

To restore your data in case you have backup set up, it is important to check for shadow copies in Windows using this software if ransomware has not deleted them:

• Shadow Explorer

Method 4: Finding WannaPeace decryption key while it communicates it via a network sniffing software.

Another way to decrypt the files is by using a Network Sniffer to get the encryption key, while files are encrypted on your system. A Network Sniffer is a program and/or device monitoring data traveling over a network, such as its internet traffic and internet packets. If you have a sniffer set before the attack happened you might get information about the decryption key. See how-to instructions below:

Instructions on How to Find Decryption Key for Files Encrypted By Ransowmare

Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools

Remove WannaPeace Using Other Alternative Tools

STOPZilla Anti Malware

1. Download and Install STOPZilla Anti-malware to Scan for And Remove WannaPeace.
Step 1: Download STOPZilla by clicking here.
Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards.

Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it.
Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button.

Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again.

Step 6: Review and click on the ‘Install’ button.

Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button.

2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all WannaPeace associated files completely.
Step 1: Launch STOPZilla if you haven’t launched it after install.
Step 2: Wait for the software to automatically scan and then click on the ‘Repair Now’ button. If it does not scan automatically, click on the ‘Scan Now’ button.

Step 3: After the removal of all threats and associated objects, you should Restart your PC.

Vencislav Krustev

A network administrator and malware researcher at SensorsTechForum with passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cyber security. Strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.

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