How to remove Wnbe ransomware

Wnbe ransomware locks users' personal files with encryption algorithms and asks for payment

The second quarter of 2021 saw the highest volumes of ransomware attacks ever. It's when cybercriminals use malware that encrypts users' personal files to extort money. Malicious actors promise to the victims to recover their files by giving them a decryption tool or software if they send them payment in cryptocurrencies.^[1]

Wnbe ransomware is one of the most recent versions of the virus. When it gets into the system, it immediately starts the encryption^[2] process. All the personal files immediately get appended with the .wnbe extension and turned into white page icons. This makes the files impossible to view and use.

For example, if the file was previously named picture.jpg, after encryption is finished, it would look like this – picture.jpg.wnbe. It is usually at this stage when users notice that something is wrong with their machine. Shortly after that, a ransom note read_instructions.txt is generated. This text document contains a message from threat actors.

The ransom note

Here you can read the full message from Wnbe file locking virus developers:

Oops! Your Files has been hijacked!

All your files have been encrypted

Your computer was infected with Wannabe Ransomware. Your files have been encrypted and you won't be able to decrypt them without our help.What can I do to get my files back?You can buy our special decryption software, this software will allow you to recover all of your data and remove the ransomware from your computer.The price for the software is $26.65. Payment can be made in Bitcoin only.

How do I pay, where do I get Bitcoin?

Purchasing Bitcoin varies from country to country, you are best advised to do a quick google search yourself to find out how to buy Bitcoin.

Many of our customers have reported these sites to be fast and reliable:

Coinmama – https://www.coinmama.com

Bitpanda – https://www.bitpanda.com

Payment information amount: 0.00043 BTC

Bitcoin Adress: qq93l03pfgj65sqt043nqplzrtjp4v0565eq833usq

If you're finished paying the amount please send us your proof that you paid in the provided email below in order for us to send the decryption tool to your email address.

Email Address: anenomous31@gmail.com

In this note, people learn about why their files suddenly changed. Cybercriminals provide their Bitcoin wallet address, contact information, and a couple of suggestions where people can buy cryptocurrency. Unlike many other ransom notes, this one does not really contain any scare tactics. Usually, fraudsters place a time limit in which the victim has to contact them, or else the ransom amount rises.

We strongly advise against contacting cybercriminals. Even though in this case, the ransom amount they ask for is small, you will support this growing illegal industry which leads to more victims. Besides that, crooks cannot be trusted. They are not required to send you the decryption tool even if you pay them, so you do not only risk losing your files but your money too.

Use anti-malware tools to eliminate the threat

The critical thing to do is disconnect the affected machine from the local network. For home users, disconnecting the ethernet cable should do the job. If this happened at your workplace, doing that might be complicated, so we have instructions for corporate environments at the bottom of this post.

If you try to recover your data first, it can result in permanent loss. It can also encrypt your files the second time. It will not stop until you remove the malicious files causing it first. You should not attempt removing the malicious program yourself unless you have experience.

Use anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to scan your system. This security software should find all the related files and entries and remove them automatically for you. In some cases, malware is not letting you use antivirus in normal mode, so you need to access Safe Mode and perform a full system scan from there:

Windows 7 / Vista / XP

1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing the 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.
3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Windows 10 / Windows 8

1. Right-click on the Start button and select Settings.
   
2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
4. Now scroll down to find the Advanced Startup section.
5. Click Restart now.
6. Select Troubleshoot.
7. Go to Advanced options.
8. Select Startup Settings.
9. Click Restart.
10. Press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

Prevent Windows reinstallation by fixing system damage

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a complete Windows reinstall is required, are expected after malware infection. These types of infections can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged by malware, antivirus software is not able to repair it. 

This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this maintenance tool, you could avoid Windows reinstallation.

• Download the application by clicking on the link above
• Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
  
• If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
• Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
• The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
• Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
• You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
• If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.

Try recovering your files

Many people think that they can fix their files with anti-malware tools, but that is not what they are designed for. All the security tools can do is detect suspicious processes in your system and eliminate malicious files. The truth is, the files can be restored only with a decryption key or software that only the cybercriminals have.

If you did not back up your data previously, you possibly lost your files forever. You can try using data recovery software, but third-party programs cannot always decrypt the files. We suggest at least trying this method. Before proceeding, you have to copy the corrupted files and place them in a USB flash drive or another storage. And remember – only do this if you have already removed the Wnbe ransomware.

Before you begin, several pointers are essential while dealing with this situation:

• Since the encrypted data on your computer might permanently be damaged by security or data recovery software, you should first make backups of it – use a USB flash drive or another storage.
• Only attempt to recover your files using this method after you perform a scan with anti-malware software.

Install data recovery software

1. Download Data Recovery Pro.
2. Double-click the installer to launch it.
3. Follow on-screen instructions to install the software.
4. As soon as you press Finish, you can use the app.
5. Select Everything or pick individual folders where you want the files to be recovered from.
6. Press Next.
7. At the bottom, enable Deep scan and pick which Disks you want to be scanned.
8. Press Scan and wait till it is complete.
9. You can now pick which folders/files to recover – don't forget you also have the option to search by the file name!
10. Press Recover to retrieve your files.

Ways ransomware is spread online and how to minimize the risk of infection

Because Wnbe ransomware is relatively new, it is unknown what particular methods are used to spread it. But there are some general ways cybercriminals do it. Typically, the malicious code gets introduced by an executable file (.exe) that may have been in a zip folder, embedded within Microsoft Office document’s macros, or disguised as fax or other viable attachment. This usually happens because of user error and ignorance of security risks.

Another very popular technique is using torrent sites. Many people like to install something called “cracked” software^[3] because they do not want to pay for licenses. Little do they know that sites distributing these programs are breeding grounds for PUPs and malware. They are unregulated and unsafe. Almost all downloads contain some kind of malicious file, so they should definitely not be trusted.

The most common distribution way is for hackers to use OS or software vulnerabilities. That is why it is vital to keep everything updated. Software developers often release security updates for newly found vulnerabilities, so you can be exposed if you do not do that. 

One more good thing to know is not to believe everything you see. Threat actors use various phishing^[4] techniques to lure you in. This can be an email attachment, as we mentioned above, or a malicious URL. Fraudsters can use your friend list to make it look more legitimate, so it is best to double-check with the person through another platform before opening anything because you can potentially put your entire local network in danger.