WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus: what it is and how to remove it
WannaCry 2.0 is an updated version of WannaCry ransomware that has already affected more than 200,000 unpatched and unsupported Windows OS users in 150 countries. The latest version has only one new significant feature that differs it from the previous version.
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.
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WannaCry 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 | .wnry |
| 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 | WannaCry 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 | .wnry |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 16 May 2017 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.wnry
From our report of May 2017 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus
- .lay6 .sqlite3 .sqlitedb .accdb .java .class .mpeg .djvu .tiff .jpeg .backup .vmdk .sldm .sldx .onetoc2 .vsdx .potm .potx .ppam .ppsx .ppsm, .pptm .pptx .xltm .xltx .xlsb .xlsm .xlsx .dotx .dotm .docm .docb .docx.
How WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus behaves
From our report of May 2017 · not reviewed since
WannaCry 2.0 continues attacking unpatched and unsupported Windows OS
WannaCry 2.0 is an updated version of WannaCry ransomware that has already affected more than 200,000 unpatched and unsupported Windows OS users in 150 countries.
The latest version has only one new significant feature that differs it from the previous version. It no longer has "kill switch" function. Malware researcher, known as MalwareTech, managed to find and use "kill switch" function to slow down the distribution of the original version of ransomware.
Thus, cybercriminals quickly updated the virus and continued to launch attacks using Windows SMB, or EternalBlue, exploit. A group of hackers called "Shadow Brokers" have stolen this exploit from US National Security Agency (NSA) and published it online on April 14, 2017.
Thus, cyber criminals took advantage of this situation and managed to create worldwide chaos. On the affected device, WannaCry 2.0 ransomware makes entries in Windows Registry and loads encrypted DLL file and initiates data encryption. Malware appends .wnry file extension to each of the targeted files:
Following data encryption, WannaCry 2.0 drops a ransom note called "@Please_Read_Me@.txt" and opens a program window informing about encrypted files. The ransom-demanding message claims that users need to transfer $300 to the provided Bitcoin wallet address within three days. However, on Monday, May 15th, some versions of malware started asking for $600 in exchange for decryption key.
Further instructions stay the same. If victims fail to meet the deadline, the size of the ransom will double. The last and worst scenario is permanent data loss. There's no surprise that cyber criminals apply threatening strategies to encourage victims to pay the ransom.
However, they pretend to be generous for "poor" computer users and make an exception. However, such generosity shouldn't trick you and believe in good. Cyber criminals are unreliable people who managed to install a malicious program on your device in order to swindle your money.
Thus, you should remove WannaCry 2.0 immediately using reputable malware removal program, such as . While ransomware resides on the computer, it opens a backdoor for other cyber threats and might poses damage to your private information. Thus, you should not focus on data recovery and pay attention to the security.
WannaCry started attacks on Friday, May 12th, 2017. Together with other variants, such as WannaCryptor, WanaCrypt0r, Wana Decrypt0r or WanaCrypt0r 2.0, it has already attacked such companies, as FedEx or Renault, numerous governmental organizations, for instance, Chinese public security bureau or Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, telecommunication companies such as Portugal Telecom and Telefónica, and many other businesses and home computer users.
The number of attacks continues growing. Computer users are recommended to install Windows updates in order to avoid WannaCry 2.0 and its other versions. Such updates are available since March 14, 2017.
However, Microsoft has already released special updates for unsupported operating systems such as Windows XP, Windows 2003, Vista, etc. Thus, if you haven't suffered from this hazardous cyber threat, you should update OS, as well as other software installed on your computer, immediately.
Warning: However, if you became a victim of ransomware, please do not pay the ransom for any reason and focus on WannaCry removal.
From our report of May 2017 · not reviewed since
Ransomware distribution methods and prevention tips
As we already explained, WannaCry 2.0 malware aims at old and unpatched versions of Windows operating system:
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
- Windows 8
- Server 2003
- 2008
It hijacks the system using EternalBlue exploit kit and continues spreading like a worm. Thus, it can infect other vulnerable devices that are connected to the same network. In order to protect the computer from this cyber threat, users need to install updates that fix SMB vulnerability in Windows OS.
Microsoft also provided updates from unsupported Windows versions and encourage people to take advantage of it. Meanwhile, Windows 10 users should not worry about this issue. However, feeling safe and sound on the web is not recommended. WannaCry 2.0 hijack might also occur when users click on a malicious email attachment.
Malware payload is widely distributed with the help of phishing emails. Thus, users should also be careful and do not rush opening any PDF or Word file sent from the unknown sender. Recently, the major security software developers upgraded their products. Thus, such programs are capable of detecting the current versions of malware.
How to remove WannaCry 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 WannaCry 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
WannaCry 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 WannaCry 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 WannaCry 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
WannaCry 2.0 removal and data recovery options
Infiltration of WannaCry 2.0 might be a hazardous experience for people who do not backup their files.
Data recovery is impossible without private decryption key that is held in unknown hackers' servers. Security experts are working on safe decryption software in order to help victims and discourage them from paying the ransom. Therefore, we want to ask you to focus on the most important task - WannaCry 2.0 removal.
Once the virus is wiped out from the system, you can look up for alternative recovery methods or wait for safe decryption tool. Virus elimination requires scanning the computer with malware removal program, for instance, or . However, before that, you may need to reboot the computer to the Safe Mode with Networking.
[GI=method-1]If WannaCry 2.0 prevents from installing, updating or accessing security software and perform automatic removal, you need to reboot the computer to the Safe Mode with Networking and try again.
[GI=method-2]System Restore method also helps to disable the virus and allows performing automatic removal with the help of malware elimination software.
This professional software has already helped thousands of people who have suffered from ransomware attack. Thus, you should give this tool a try too.
Try Windows Previous Versions feature
This feature allows traveling back in computer's time and accessing previously saved version of the encrypted files. However, there's one condition for using this method - an activated System Restore function before WannaCry 2.0 ransomware attack.
If malware fails to delete Shadow Volume Copies of the targeted files, you could try ShadowExplorer for data recovery.
WannaCry 2.0 decryptor is not available yet
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
WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .wnry 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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus
How do I open .wnry files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .wnry 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 WannaCry 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 WannaCry 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 WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus get on my computer?
The way WannaCry 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 .wnry 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 WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .wnry 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 WannaCry 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.
Will .wnry spread to my other drives?
It can. Ransomware encrypts every drive and network share it can reach while it runs, so external disks, USB sticks and shared folders connected during the attack may also have files ending in .wnry. Disconnect everything now, then check each device from a clean computer.
Do not plug a backup drive into the infected PC until the ransomware has been removed with an offline scan. Cloud folders such as OneDrive sync the encrypted versions, but they keep earlier versions you can usually restore.
If I delete WannaCry 2.0 ransomware virus, do my files come back?
Unfortunately not. Deleting the program only ends the attack; every file that already has the .wnry 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 WannaCry 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 WannaCry 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 WannaCry 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
- The Verge: The WannaCry ransomware attack has spread to 150 countries (read October 6, 2026)
- Wired: How an accidental 'kill switch' slowed Friday's massive ransomware attack (read October 6, 2026)
- Engadget: 'Shadow Brokers' dump of NSA tools includes new Windows exploits (updated) (read October 6, 2026)
- Zscaler: WannaCry 2.0 ransomware attacks continue.. (read October 6, 2026)
- Fox-IT International Blog: Massive outbreak of ransomware variant infects large amounts of computers around the world (read October 6, 2026)