How to remove RL Wana-XD Ransomware and decrypt .XD-99 files

What is RL Wana-XD Ransomware

RL Wana-XD is a ransomware infection that encrypts important data stored on a PC. To highlight it, the virus ads its own .XD-99 extension to all the affected filenames. For instance, a file like 1.pdf will change to 1.pdf.XD-99 and reset its original icon. As a result, victims will be no longer able to access the file and browse its content. To revert these implications, developers of RL Wana-XD offer their victims to read special decryption instructions inside of a text note (Readme.txt).

The text note is short, yet specific – developers claim the only way to return your data is to pay for unique decryption software and key. In order to do this, victims are guided to contact the swindlers through Wana-XD@bk.ru or RL000@protonmail.ch e-mail addresses. Unfortunately, keys used by RL Wana-XD Ransomware to encipher your data are often secure and stored in the ONLINE mode. This means manual decryption with the help of third-party tools is likely to give no fruit or manage to decode only some part of the data. Unless you have your personal ID ending with t1, third-party decryption will be less likely to help. At the same time, paying cybercriminals is always associated with risk as they can fool their victims and not send any promised decryption. This is why the best way to get away from this dilemma and recover your data for free is to use backup copies of files. If there are no such available on external storage or cloud service, you can still try some reputable instruments developed by third-party vendors. Note that you should delete the infection first and only then try to recover your data. You can get all the necessary instructions to do in the tutorial below.

How RL Wana-XD Ransomware infected your computer

As a rule, RL Wana-XD spreads its ransomware roots via infected email attachments (macros), torrent websites, unprotected RDP configuration, malicious ads, and other possible channels like that. It is quite common for many cybercriminals to send e-mail spam letters disguised as something legitimate or urgent. Such messages contain either malicious attachments (Word, Excel, PDF, EXE, JavaScript, etc.) or links redirecting to download pages. The content inside of such letters baits potential victims into opening the attached files and allowing further actions to install a virus. While meeting these requests, users think they are downloading files or software to check the Status of a mysterious parcel, Invoice Payments, and so forth. Unfortunately, not many e-mail services can brag about high-quality protection against such letters. This is why it is always important to stay on alert and not open suspicious content if any gets dropped into your mailbox. In addition to this, some users can become victims of ransomware and other infections while downloading torrents from P2P websites and other third-party resources. Otherwise, users click on ads leading to malicious pages with other click-bait techniques or executable scripts meant to install infections right to your system. We encourage you to follow our tutorial below and learn how to protect your system against threats like RL Wana-XD Ransomware in the future.

1. Download RL Wana-XD Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .XD-99 files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like RL Wana-XD Ransomware

RL Wana-XD Ransomware files:


Readme.txt
{randomname}.exe


RL Wana-XD Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .XD-99 files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .XD-99 files. Download it here:

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .XD-99 files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with RL Wana-XD Ransomware and removed from your computer you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .XD-99 files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there is no items in the list choose alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it and you will see screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the DropBox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like RL Wana-XD Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Dashboard

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Alert

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Blocked

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. RL Wana-XD Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.