Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it
WanaDecryptor 2.0 virus function an alternative version of WannaCry or a subsequent version of Wana Decrypt0r . Those, who have been away for the weekend, and are not aware of the recent ruckus caused by this malware, should bear in mind that this file-encrypting threat targets outdated Windows OS systems.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
Before you restore backups, a full scan can confirm the program that added .wncry is gone.
Do it yourself · free Remove Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Ransom note | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .wncry |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 9 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Encrypted files | .wncry |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 15 May 2017 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What to search your PC and browser for
- File extension:
.wncry
How Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus behaves
From our report of May 2017 · not reviewed since
WanaDecryptor 2.0 virus continues frightening the cyber space
WanaDecryptor 2.0 virus function an alternative version of WannaCry or a subsequent version of Wana Decrypt0r .
Those, who have been away for the weekend, and are not aware of the recent ruckus caused by this malware, should bear in mind that this file-encrypting threat targets outdated Windows OS systems. Specifically, the ransomware exploits the EternalBlue or CVE-2017-0145 vulnerability. In its presence, the malware is able to enter the device via backdoor and thus encrypt files. It is disguised under Microsoft Security Center (2.0) messages.
At the moment, there is no information about the used encryption strategy. A wide range of file formats is targeted. After the encryption, the corrupted data contains .wncry file extension. The weekend rampage resulted in 150 countries infected.
On Friday, May 12th, the virus made its appearance after assaulting National Health Service in Britain, international shipping agency FedEx, Russian Interior Ministry, etc. Within hours, other well-known companies, in Spain, Japan, Germany, the US have reported the attacks. Little did the world new that the data stolen by Shadow Brokers from National Security would lead to this massive cyber attack after a few months.
When the malware got loose on Friday, cyber security specialists have issued urgent updates for the virtual community. Luckily, an anonymous user under the Twitter name MalwareTech has managed to find a "kill switch" in the programming code and terminate the malware for a while.
Though he bought time for IT experts to come up with a strategy, the crooks have quickly found a way how to patch the weakness. On Monday, 15 May, new versions have sprung to life. Thus, despite how menacing this virus is, users are encouraged not to give in to terror and concentrate on WanaDecryptor 2.0 removal. One of the possible options to do that is to run or .
There are already dozens of samples of the malware. You can notice Korean, Chinese, German, Russian, Canadian, Argentinian variations of the malware . The very ransom note does not differ from other virus examples. The ransom note of WanaDecryptor 2.0 malware, which is named "Ooops, your files have been encrypted!" reveals a clock with elapsing time.
In order to retrieve files, victims are instructed to transmit $300 in bitcoins. However, there are very few chances to recover files even after remitting the payment. The perpetrators do not provide any service which decrypts one or two files for free. Instead of nurturing hopes of retrieving files, it would be better to remove Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 right away.
While the virtual community struggles to tame the virus, IT experts investigate the origin and possible source of Wana Decrypt0r malware. The malware presents an eloquent message written in fluent English. What is more, its scale suggests that the developers employ an enormous or even several botnets to spread terror with the malware .
However, recent findings reveal interesting information, that the original version might have originated in Malaysia. The initial version of the malware has been discovered by a company director in Malaysia after he noticed the infection in the laptop .
From our report of May 2017 · not reviewed since
Distribution strategies of the malware
Users should take immediate action to update their operating systems as time is a fatal factor preventing Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 hijack.
Botnets might be responsible for the cyber campaign of the virus. Furthermore, the malware would not have been such destructive if not for its worm-like features. Once settled on the system, it scans the network or server. Thus, this feature explains how Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware was able to spread so rapidly within such short period.
Thus, users should make a rush and install a recent Windows update and update security applications. Since the malware affected Fedex company, users should be cautious of possible fake spam emails supposedly sent from this company. Though current distribution technique is much useful, cyber villains may divert to this distribution method as well.
How to remove Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and identify the family
Find the ransom note, usually a
.txt,.htmlor .hta file in every folder or on the desktop, and copy it with one or two encrypted files to a USB stick.From another device, upload them to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note and the file extension. Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note for the report.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of May 2017 · not reviewed since
Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 elimination options
If this misfortune has seized the computer and encrypted files, the first thing you should do is run anti-malware program.
It will help you remove Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 virus. In case, the threat completely deprived you of the right to control the device, the following instructions might come in handy.
Note that malware elimination application does not decrypt files. For that purpose, make use of the below guidelines entitled as "Bonus: Recover your data." These methods will be only effective when you complete Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 removal.
[GI=method-2]If the first method failed to regain control of the system, you may opt for this method. Note after you restore the system to the last autosaved system image, some files or apps, downloaded during the last system restore point and the present, might be lost.
This universal tool is designed for recovering files after a system crash. On the other hand, it might prove to be effective in decrypting files affected by Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 as well.
The Possibilities of Shadow Explorer
The main benefit of this tool is data recovery based on shadow volume copies. This method is effective only if the malware does not delete them automatically in advance.
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Make the next attack harmless
Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .wncry and no longer open) showed exactly which ones those were. The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for Windows.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus
How do I open .wncry files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .wncry has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
When will a decryptor for Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus be released?
Nobody can promise a date. When we last checked, on 6 October 2026, no free decryptor is known. Decryptors usually appear after one of three events:
- police seize the attackers' servers and keys
- the authors leak or publish the master keys
- researchers find a mistake in how the ransomware generates keys
Some families got a tool within weeks, others never. Keep the encrypted files and the note on an external drive, check No More Ransom every few months, and follow news about the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus family. A decryptor may need an original file, so keep any unencrypted copies too.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
How did Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus get on my computer?
The way Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened.
On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password. Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .wncry and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
Did Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .wncry and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before.
Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Is Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
My files got .wncry overnight. What happened?
Ransomware often runs at night or when the PC is idle, so the encryption finishes before anyone notices. It usually entered earlier through a cracked program, a fake installer, an e-mail attachment or remote desktop with a weak password.
The .wncry extension marks every file it reached. Start by disconnecting the PC from the network, then identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check for a decryptor, and look for copies in backups and OneDrive before you consider anything else.
If I delete Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus, do my files come back?
Unfortunately not. Deleting the program only ends the attack; every file that already has the .wncry ending stays encrypted, because decryption needs a key that only the attackers hold.
That is why this guide separates removal from recovery. First make sure Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus is gone with an offline scan, then work through the recovery list:
- backups
- OneDrive history
- Previous Versions
- copies on other devices and
- if one exists
- a decryptor
Do not rename or edit the encrypted files in the meantime, and keep them even if nothing works today.
Will Fortect remove Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Heathcare Informatics: BREAKING: As Wanna Decryptor 2.0 Spreads Damage Globally, Washington Post Reports on Discovery of a "Kill Switch" That Could Stop It (read October 6, 2026)
- TheNextWeb: How one guy stopped the WannaCry ransomware in its tracks after it spread to 150 countries (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- SecureList: WannaCry ransomware used in widespread attacks all over the world (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)