Silenced Ransomware

At this point, we cannot know for sure that Silenced Ransomware will emerge as a serious threat because it is currently in development stages. However, it is clear that someone built this infection, and from what we have gathered, it is able to make demands, and it is set to encrypt files. This is a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately, file-encrypting and ransom-demanding infections are extremely common these days, and even if you do not face the threat we are discussing in this report, you could face Cetori Ransomware, Masodas Ransomware, Banta Ransomware, or one of the many other malicious threats alike. They all corrupt files and then terrorize victims to pay ransom payments. Unfortunately, the situations created by ransomware developers are never fair, and victims usually end up losing both files and money. We hope that there is time to protect the operating system still, but if you already need to remove Silenced Ransomware, we suggest that you continue reading.

Since Silenced Ransomware was not fully developed at the time of research, we can only speculate when it comes to the distribution of this malware. Ultimately, we do not know what kinds of methods the attackers could employ. That being said, no stone must be left unturned. If you have not installed the latest updates, do it as soon as possible. If you have recently received a strange email with a link or an attachment inside, delete it. If you have downloaded unfamiliar software – especially if it was introduced via a bundle – research it and, if necessary, remove it. If you have interacted with strange links, buttons, or ads, analyze your system for hidden malware. Basically, the attackers could use any security backdoor that exists, and it is your responsibility to close them all. If Silenced Ransomware managed to slither in, it should start encrypting files right away, and it should only encrypt them in the %USERPROFILE% directory. Of course, if most of your personal files are stored here, you would be in trouble. During the encryption, the infection should also add a unique extension (could be “.try”) to make it obvious which files were corrupted.

Besides encrypting files, Silenced Ransomware also might be able to mess with the running processes. According to our researchers, processes named “cmd,” “processhacker,” “regedit,” and “taskmgr” should be terminated by the infection. Unfortunately, this could make it much harder to delete Silenced Ransomware manually. Of course, before the victim would get to that, they would need to go through the message created by the attackers. It appears that an image file would be used to change the Desktop wallpaper, and this file should contain the ransom note. Based on the latest information, the note would demand a ransom of 0.05 Bitcoin in return for a decryption tool. Currently, that converts to around 550 USD, which is not a small sum at all. That being said, if files are important, and if backups do not exist to replace them, paying the ransom might seem like a good enough option. If victims decided to pay it, they would have to transfer it to a Bitcoin wallet and also send a message to the attackers’ email address. That being said, Silenced Ransomware is created by cybercriminals, and taking their promises seriously would, most likely, be a mistake.

In conclusion, if the Windows operating system is protected and guarded by reliable security software, Silenced Ransomware is unlikely to find a security crack through which it could slither in. To ensure that files are completely safe, creating backups (online or on external drives) is crucial too. If the threat manages to slither in, it does not matter whether or not you can replace the corrupted files, and it is most important to delete Silenced Ransomware. Since the infection might be able to disable Task Manager, Registry Editor, and Command Prompt, removing this threat manually might be tough. Just in case, we have created a guide that should help delete the infection yourself. Of course, we recommend using anti-malware software because you need your system protected, and this software can automatically remove all active infections. After the threat is eliminated, you can replace the corrupted files with backups, if they exist.

Silenced Ransomware Removal

1. Tap Win and R keys together to launch Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and click OK to launch Registry Editor.
3. Go to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
4. Delete the value named windows update.
5. Tap Win and E keys together to launch Windows Explorer.
6. Type %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ into the quick access field at the top and then tap Enter to access the directory.
7. Delete the malicious .exe file. Could be named windows update.exe.
8. Restore the preferred default wallpaper.
9. Empty Recycle Bin.
10. Use a legitimate malware scanner to check if your system is clean.