Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware

Although the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware appears to be a legitimate ransomware Trojan, it is a harmless copycat that was designed as a way to test peoples' online security habits originally. It is very unlikely that the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware has entered your computer, but if it has, then it is likely that someone is trying to teach you a lesson about preventing ransomware Trojan infections. The Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware is harmless and is merely designed to test whether people will open a suspicious file attachment (which could lead to a severe threat infection potentially).

The Roots of the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware

An admin at SysNative that goes by the online name Tom982 developed a copycat version of WannaCry named the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware to test whether his family could fall to a ransomware tactic. The Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware, designed to resemble WannaCry, is designed to display a message on the infected computer. WannaCry is a ransomware infection that has managed to affect hundreds of thousands of computers around the world in a very short time span. Due to the media attention that WannaCry received and the high- profile of many of its targets, it has become more necessary than ever to learn how to protect your computer from online threats.

How the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware Infection Works

The Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware is a tiny program that is merely designed to display a ransom image on the victim's Desktop. The Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware message is a screenshot of the ransom notification that is used in a WannaCry attack. The Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware displays this alarming image for about ten seconds and then switches it out, displaying instead a small text message that reads as follows:

'Fortunately for you, this is just a test (which you failed). You need to very careful opening unknown files, even from me. Call me.'

How the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware may Enter a Computer

To spread the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware to his family and friends, the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware developer created a fake Microsoft Word document, which had a double extension to hide its true nature (its extension would look something like '.docx.ex,' where the executable nature of the file would be hidden). When opening the file, a User Account Control message would appear, as tends to happen in the majority of these infections. When the victim clicks on OK to allow the file to load, it displays the fake ransom note on the victim's computer. Of course, this is a harsh way to teach people about ransomware and not recommended by PC security researchers. Despite their best of intentions, these educational ransomware Trojans tend to backfire in different ways. In the worst cases, a ransomware platform created for educational purposes or con artists creating threatening ransomware can modify proof of concept purposes easily. It is not difficult to think of a way in which con artists could adapt the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware to carry out actual tactics. By simply removing the portion with the text message, the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware could be turned into a functional scareware threat easily.

Protecting Yourself from the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware

Computer users should take care when opening any email attachment, even if it appears to have been sent by a trusted source. One must be especially careful with files that have double extensions like the fake Microsoft Word file that has been associated with the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware attack. Pay attention to User Account Control notifications like the one linked to the Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware because they are designed to prevent threats and untrustworthy code from running on your computer.

SpyHunter Detects & Remove Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Ransomware