Remove WISZ Ransomware Virus (+DECRYPT .wisz Files)

Wisz virus is a sort of computer virus that infiltrates your PC, encrypts your files, and then asks you to pay money for file decryption. Besides these unwanted activities, that virus also modifies some important settings and can even disable your antivirus program.

Wisz ransomware – what is it?

Wisz malware can correctly be described as a STOP/Djvu malware family. That sort of computer virus is targeted at single users. This feature supposes that Wisz does not bring any type of additional malware, which sometimes helps ransomware of various other families to take control of your PC. Since most users do not have anything valuable on their PCs, there is no reason to infiltrate additional malware that increases the risk of failure of the whole ransomware operation.

The typical signs of this ransomware activity are the appearance of .wisz files in your folders, instead of the files you used to have. The photo.jpg turns into photo.jpg.wisz, report.xlsx – into report.xlsx.wisz and so on. You are not able to suspend this action, and can’t open those documents – they are encrypted with a pretty strong algorithm.

You can also spectate various other signs of virus activity. Suddenly disabled Microsoft Defender and inability to open the popular anti-malware forums or web pages, where the malware removal and decryption guides are posted. You will see how it works in the paragraph below. The malware removal and decryption guide are also available – check below how to wipe out Wisz ransomware and get the .wisz files back.

How did Wisz ransomware encrypt my files?

After the malware injection, the Wisz virus starts a connection with its command and control server. This server is commanded by virus maintainers – people who manage the spreading of this malware. Another activity which is conducted by these crooks is answering the emails of sufferers, who wish to decrypt their files.

The documents are encrypted with one of the strongest encryption algorithm – AES-256. The digit in the name of this algorithms means the power of two – 2^256 for this case. 78-digit number of possible decryption password variations – it is not real to brute force it. As analysts say, it will need more time than the Earth can estimate to exist, even in case if you use the most powerful computer system. In each folder that keeps the encrypted documents, Wisz virus leaves the _readme.txt file with the following contents:

ATTENTION!

Don't worry, you can return all your files!

All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.

What guarantees you have?

You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.

You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:

https://we.tl/t-WJa63R98Ku

Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that's price for you is $490.

Please note that you'll never restore your data without payment.

Check your e-mail "Spam" or "Junk" folder if you don't get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:

support@fishmail.top

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:

datarestorehelp@airmail.cc

Your personal ID:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nevertheless, you can still open some of your files. The Wisz malware ciphers only the initial 150 KB of each file, but the rest of this file can be accessed. Primarily, it works best with audio/video files, which are definitely bigger than 150 kilobytes. Not every media player is capable of open these files – WinAmp is the best option, since it is free and well-tested. First seconds of every recording will be silent – this part is encrypted – but the rest of the document will be accessible like nothing happened.

Is Wisz ransomware dangerous for my PC?

As it was mentioned several paragraphs before, ransomware is not only about encrypting the files. Wisz virus makes the changes in your computer in order to prevent searching the virus removal and file decryption guides. Wisz virus does not establish the software obstacle – it just changes the settings, primarily – networking and security configurations.

Among the networking settings, the most changed item is the HOSTS file. This text file contains the DNS-address instructions, which are used by the browsers while requesting to the website server. If you add a specific DNS-address for the certain website, your web browser will connect that website through that DNS next time. Ransomware modifies that file, adding the non-existent DNS, so any of the web browsers will show you the “Unable to resolve the DNS-address” error.

Other changes done by the ransomware are targeted on prevention of fast spotting of itself, and also preventing the installation of the majority of security tools. Wisz malware implements some modifications in Group Policies – the system configuration interface which gives you the right to modify the abilities of each application. In such a way, the virus blocks the Microsoft Defender and various other security programs, and also disables the launch of antivirus installation files.

How did I get infected?

Throughout the whole term while STOP/Djvu family existed, it was using dubious software as the main method of ransomware injection. Under the term of questionable programs I mean programs that are already not controlled by the maintainer and spread through the file sharing websites. These apps may be cracked, to make them usable without purchasing any license. One more example of such a program type is different hacking tools – cheat engines, keygens, Windows activation tools and so on.

Such software may be spread in different ways – through the website that offers a downloading link, or through the peering networks – ThePirateBay, eMule and so on. All these sources are known as the biggest computer piracy resources. Folks use these pages to get a wide range of programs or games for free, even if these apps must be purchased. Nobody can stop the users who crack these apps from adding malware of some sort to the files of the hacked app. Hacktools, however, are created for outlaw purposes, so their developers can easily insert the virus under the guise of some program element.

These hacked apps, regardless of their source, are one of the most often carriers for various malware, and definitely the most popular one for Wisz malware. It is better to avoid using of it, and not only because of ransomware injection risks. Avoiding the license buying is an illegal action, and both hackers and folks who make use of cracked apps fall under the charge of piracy.

How do I remove Wisz ransomware?

The Wisz virus is very hard to delete manually. In fact, because of the amount of modifications it makes in your PC, it is almost unreal to spot them all and repair. The best option is to use antivirus programs. But which one to choose?

You can spectate the advices to make use of Microsoft Defender, which is already inside of your computer. But as it was mentioned before, most of STOP/Djvu ransomware examples block it even before the encryption process. Making use of the third-party program is the only solution – and I can advice you the GridinSoft Anti-Malware as a solution for that case. It has impressive detection abilities, so the ransomware will not be missed. It is also capable of system repairing, which is heavily needed after the Wisz virus attack.

To remove Wisz malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software.

After the ransomware removal, you can go to file decryption. Malware removal is needed to prevent the repeating ciphering of your files: while Wisz ransomware is active, it will not pass any unencrypted file.

How to decrypt the .wisz files?

There are two ways to recover your files after a Wisz ransomware attack. First one and the most popular is file decryption. It is conducted with a special program, designed by Emsisoft, and named Emsisoft Decryptor for STOP/Djvu. This program is free. Analysts update its decryption keys databases as often as possible, so you will definitely get your files back, sooner or later.

Another way to get your files back is to try to recover them from your physical disks. Since ransomware deletes them and substitutes with a ciphered copy, the residue of the files are still stored on the disk drive. After the removal, the information about them is wiped from the file system, but not from a disk drive. Special apps, like PhotoRec, are able to recover these files. It is free, too, and may also be used for file recovery in case when you have deleted some files unintentionally.

Decrypting the .wisz files with Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu

Download and install Emsisoft Decrypter tool. Agree with its EULA and continue to the interface.

The interface of this program is extremely easy. All you have to do is to select the folder where the encrypted files are stored, and wait. If the program has the decryption key which corresponds to your ransomware case – it will decrypt it.

During the use of Emsisoft Decrypter for STOP/Djvu, you may observe various error messages. Don’t worry, that does not mean that you did something wrong or a program does not work properly. Each of these errors refer to a specific case. Here is the explanation:

Error: Unable to decrypt file with ID: [your ID]

The program does not have a corresponding key for your case. You need to wait for some time until the key database will be updated.

No key for new variant online ID: [your ID]

Notice: this ID appears to be an online ID, decryption is impossible.

This error means that your files are encrypted with an online key. In such a case, the decryption key is unique and stored on the remote server, controlled by crooks. Unfortunately, the decryption is impossible.

Result: No key for new variant offline ID: [example ID]

This ID appears to be an offline ID. Decryption may be possible in the future.

Ransomware uses the offline key to encrypt your files. This key is not unique, so you likely have it in common with another victim. Since offline keys must be collected, too, it is important to keep calm and wait until the analysts team finds one which will fit your case.

Remote name could not be resolved

This error indicates that the program has problems with DNS on your computer. That’s a clear sign of malicious alterations in your HOSTS file. Reset it using the official Microsoft guide.

Recovering the .wisz files with PhotoRec tool

PhotoRec is an open-source tool, which is designed to recover the deleted or lost files from the disk. It checks each disk sector for the remains of deleted files, and then tries to recover them. That app is able to recover the files of more than 400 different formats. Because of the described feature of ransomware encryption mechanism, it is possible to use this tool to get the original, unencrypted files back.

Download PhotoRec from the official website. It is absolutely free, however, its developer warns that he does not guarantee that this program will be 100% effective for file recovery purposes. Moreover, even paid apps can barely give you such a guarantee, because of the chain of random factors that can make the file recovery harder.

Unzip the downloaded archive to the folder you like. Don’t worry because of its name – TestDisk – this is the name of the utility developed by the same company. They decided to spread it together since PhotoRec and TestDisk are often used together. Among the unzipped files, search for qphotorec_win.exe file. Run this executable file.

Before you can start the recovery process, you need to specify several settings. In the drop-down list, choose the logic disk where the files were stored before the encryption.

Then, you need to specify the file formats you need to recover. It may be difficult to scroll all 400+ formats, luckily, they are sorted by alphabetical order.

Finally, name the folder you want to use as a container for recovered files. The program will likely dig out a lot of useless files, which were deleted intentionally, so desktop is a bad solution. The best option is to use the USB-drive.

After these easy manipulations, you may just press the “Search” button (it turns active if you specified all required parameters). The recovery process may take several hours, so keep patient. It is recommended not to use the computer during this term, since you may overwrite some files you are intending to recover.

Frequently Asked Questions