WininiCrypt Ransomware Removal Guide

If you open unfamiliar spam emails, interact with random links or installers, download software bundles, and do other risky things, WininiCrypt Ransomware could slither in very quickly. Malware distributors are always looking for inconspicuous ways to spread dangerous infections, and so you need to be on top of your virtual security to ensure that your own operating system does not get infected. If it does, you might have to wave your files goodbye because the malicious ransomware might encrypt them without an option to recover them. Have you set a system restore point? The infection is capable of deleting shadow volume copies using a special command, and so that option might be out of question. Is there any other way to recover files? Unfortunately, that is unlikely. Hopefully, you are reading this report not because you want to delete WininiCrypt Ransomware but because you are looking for a way to keep your operating system guarded against this threat. In either case, we have some tips for you.

AES and RSA encryption algorithms are used for the encryption process. Our researchers have found that the AES algorithm is used to encrypt files, and the RSA algorithm is used to encrypt the encryptor itself. That is not the only tricky thing about WininiCrypt Ransomware. When analyzing the infection, it was found that it does not fully work, and it is believed that that is due to the C&C server being down. The tricky thing is that this server could be brought back up again at any point, which is why we do not fully know if the threat is active or not. All in all, the potential is there, and the devious WininiCrypt Ransomware could truly be a serious threat. Were your files encrypted by this malware? This could be the case by the time you are reading this. As you can see, there are many questions regarding this threat, and, unfortunately, not all of them can be answered at this time. We cannot answer a question regarding the creator of this infection either. Although the ransom message it uses has the same interface as the ransom messages used by GlobeImposter 2.0 Ransomware and Globe Ransomware, we do not know if these threats are related. What we do know is that all of them are dangerous and all require removal.

The ransom message is represented via a file named “HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html,” and it seems like this is the only file that WininiCrypt Ransomware creates. According to this file, you need to email cyber crooks at cho.dambler@yandex.com to get information about the decryption of files. The message also includes instructions on how to purchase Bitcoins, which indicates that a ransom will be requested if you contact the developer of this infection. You are offered to decrypt one file for free, but keep in mind that this proves nothing. Even if the file you wish decrypted is recovered, you might gain nothing from paying the ransom. Unfortunately, that is the reality that most ransomware victims face. Needless to say, following the instructions and fulfilling the desires of malicious parties is always risky, and you need to be smart about the promises that are made. If you want to take a risk, we recommend that you do not use your normal email address for communication.

Why are you not using anti-malware software to keep malicious infections away? Are you hesitant to invest money? Clearly, if you do not invest here, you lose elsewhere. Hopefully, your files are not encrypted, and you do not need to ponder paying a ransom, but that is a real situation that many users have to deal with. If WininiCrypt Ransomware is already active on your PC, you can use anti-malware software to remove it, after which, it will continue guarding the operating system. If you do not use special software, you will need to remove WininiCrypt Ransomware manually, and that is tricky, considering how unpredictable this threat is. You also have to make sure you install all security updates in time because un-patched vulnerabilities are always targeted by cyber crooks. As mentioned at the beginning, malware can spread in all kinds of ways, and so you need to be careful as well. One last thing we advise doing is setting up a file backup, so that your files are safe even if your operating system is under attack.

How to delete WininiCrypt Ransomware

1. Find the {unknown name}.exe launcher of the ransomware.
2. Delete it, as well as any other suspicious files.
3. Do not forget to Delete the HOW_TO_BACK_FILES.html file. 
4. Empty Recycle Bin and then immediately perform a full system scan.