What is a .WERD file?
A .WERD file is a type of file that has been locked by a harmful computer program called Werd ransomware. This program is a kind of harmful software, known as ransomware, that gets onto your computer, usually through tricky emails that look safe but are not. These emails might have attachments like Word documents (.DOCX), compressed files (.RAR or .ZIP), or JavaScript files (.JS) that, when opened, secretly install the Werd virus on your computer. This is similar to a sneaky trick used in ancient stories, called a Trojan horse.
Once the Werd ransomware is on your computer, it starts to mess up your files by scrambling them so you can't open them as you normally would. It changes the names of your files by adding ".werd" at the end. So, if you had a picture called "holiday.jpg," it would turn into "holiday.jpg.werd." This affects many types of files you might have, like documents (.PDF), pictures (.PNG), videos (.AVI), and even backup files (.DB).
After locking your files, the virus leaves a note in a text file (usually named _readme.txt) in the folders where it has locked files. This note is like a message from the criminals behind the virus, telling you that your files are locked and asking you to pay them money, often in Bitcoin (a type of digital money), to get your files back. They usually ask for $980. The note also gives you an email address to contact them.
It's important to know that you can't just fix the files by changing their names back; they are encrypted, which means they are locked in a way that needs a special key to unlock. The only straightforward way to possibly get your files back without paying the ransom is by using a system restore, if you have a backup of your files from before they were locked. However, dealing with ransomware is tricky, and it's often recommended to seek help from professionals who deal with computer security.
Remember, paying the ransom does not guarantee that you will get your files back, and it also encourages the criminals to continue their harmful activities.
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