What is SecretSystem Ransomware?
If your operating system is not protected, SecretSystem Ransomware could slither in without any warning. Although this infection is most likely to be introduced to you as a harmless spam email attachment, other methods of distribution could be used as well. Obviously, you have to recognize the vulnerabilities of your operating system, so that you could attend to them. If you ignore these vulnerabilities, malware could slither into your PC again and again, and we are certain that is not what you want. Once the ransomware finds its way in, it should encrypt your files and disable you from using your computer in a normal manner. Because the threat locks the screen using its own window (the one with a yellow background), you might have a hard time assessing the damage, and that is very important. When Anti-Spyware-101.com malware analysts were researching this infection, they found that it did not encrypt files at all. Now, we cannot claim that the threat has not encrypted your personal files – because it certainly is capable of doing so – but you have to check that. Needless to say, regardless of the outcome, you need to delete SecretSystem Ransomware, and we are here to help you with this task.
How does SecretSystem Ransomware work?
SecretSystem Ransomware uses a bogus Windows update screen to make you think that your operating system is updating. In reality, this is when then the ransomware is meant to encrypt your personal files, which include photos, media files, text files, documents, archives, and others. You can identify the encrypted files by checking the “.slvpawned” extension that is appended to them. As we have mentioned already, the ransomware is currently incapable of encrypting files, and there are two different reasons why this might be happening. In one scenario, SecretSystem Ransomware is still in development, and it will start encrypting files once it is fully developed. If you accidentally encounter the ransomware when it is not finished yet, it is possible that its creators are testing different distribution paths. In another scenario, the server used by the creators of this ransomware is down, and the encryption key cannot be accessed. In either case, we do not want to identify the ransomware as a dead or a weak infection because it could start attacking operating system in full force at any time. All in all, since there is a possibility that your files are NOT encrypted, we suggest checking that first before you start paying attention to the ransom demands.
The message that the developer of SecretSystem Ransomware has for you is represented via the screen-locking window. According to it, you have to create a Bitcoin Wallet, purchase 500 USD worth of Bitcoins, and transfer them to a specific Bitcoin Address. 500 USD is a lot of money, and you have to think very carefully if you want to give it to cyber criminals. As we discussed already, you have to check if your files were encrypted at all. Do not pay attention to messages indicating that your files would be erased if you restarted the computer or closed the ransom window. Of course, if your files are encrypted, paying the ransom might seem like your only option (that is if files are not backed up), but paying it is risky because it is unlikely that you would be provided with a decryption key you need in return.
How to delete SecretSystem Ransomware
You need to check if your files were encrypted, and you need to remove the malicious components of SecretSystem Ransomware. If the ransomware runs on startup – which did not happen in our case – you might need to operate via Safe Mode, and you can learn how to reboot your PC using the instructions below. These instructions also include a guide that shows how to remove SecretSystem Ransomware components, which is the most important task. Note that you do not need to get rid of this threat manually. In fact, it is much better if you install an anti-malware tool that could protect your operating system and patch the security vulnerabilities that we discussed at the beginning of this report. If you want to install this tool, choose Safe Mode with Networking instead of Safe Mode.
Removal Guide
Reboot Windows XP/Windows 7/Windows Vista:
- Restart the PC and then start tapping F8 as soon as BIOS loads.
- Using arrow keys on the keyboard choose Safe Mode and tap Enter.
Reboot Windows 8/ Windows 8.1:
- Open the Charm bar in Metro UI, click Settings, and then click Power.
- Tap the Shift key while clicking Restart.
- Move to the Troubleshoot menu and then to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings, click Restart button, and then choose F4 for Safe Mode.
Reboot Windows 10:
- Move to the Taskbar, click the Windows logo, and then choose Power.
- Hold down the Shift key and click Restart.
- Open the Troubleshoot menu and then select Advanced options.
- Move to Startup Settings, click Restart button, and then select F4 for Safe Mode.
Delete SecretSystem Ransomware
- Tap Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch Task Manager and click the Processes tab.
- Identify the {unknown name} malicious process, right-click it, and choose Properties.
- Copy the location of the malicious file.
- Tap Win+E to launch Windows Explorer.
- Paste the location of the {unknown name}.exe malicious launcher file (some of the potential locations include %USERPROFILE\Desktop, %USERPROFILE\Downloads, and %TEMP%).
- Right-click and Delete the launcher file.
- Tap Win+R to launch RUN.
- Enter regedit.exe and click OK to launch Registry Editor.
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
- Identify malicious {unknown name} value (might not exist), right-click it, and choose Delete.
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