This article aims to help you by showing you how to remove the Santa Encryptor ransomware virus and how to attempt and restore files that have been encrypted by it on your computer without having to pay the ransom.
As the Winter holidays approach, new Christmas-themed ransomware viruses have begin appearing. One of them is a ransomware variant, which displays a lock screen message, called Santa Decryptor. The malware aims to encrypt the files on the computers compromised by it and then set a demand of $150 in BTC for the victim to pay in order to retrieve his encrypted files. The virus also aims to perform various different malicious activities on the computers infected by it and if you encounter it, it’s removal is strongly advisable, preferably by using the information in this article.
Threat Summary
| Name | Santa Encryptor |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | Encrypts files and then demands $150 to get them decrypted once again. |
| Symptoms | Files are encrypted and a lock screen, named “Santa Encryptor” is displayed which extorts victims to pay the sum of $150. It also gives a deadline to transfer the funds in the form of BitCoin. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Santa Encryptor. |
| Data Recovery Tool | Windows Data Recovery by Stellar Phoenix Notice! This product scans your drive sectors to recover lost files and it may not recover 100% of the encrypted files, but only few of them, depending on the situation and whether or not you have reformatted your drive. |
How Does Santa Encryptor Infect
The infection methods used by Santa Encryptor may be more than one and they consist of multiple different tools, for example:
- Obfuscator which conceals the malicious file from protection software.
- Intermediary infection file which causes the initial infection and drops the payload.
- Various spamming bots and spam software.
All of these tools may be used in order to spread the malicious files of Santa Encryptor via more than one ways. The main one may be sending malicious spam e-mails to the victims in the form of legitimate e-mails. The e-mails often contain either a malicious e-mail attachment or a malicious file that is linked via a third-party site. The body often contains deceitful messages, that present the malicious attachment as:
- Invoice.
- Receipt.
- Banking statement.
- Order confirmation letter.
Santa Encryptor Ransomware – More Information
When infeciton takes place with Santa Encryptor ransomware, the virus aims to drop it’s payload on the victim’s computer. This results in the malicious files being dropped in the following Windows folders:
- %AppData%
- %Local%
- %LocalLow%
- %Roaming%
- %Temp%
In addition to this, the Santa Encryptor also drops it’s ransom note file which appears like the following:
Text from image:
Oop’s Your File’s Have Been Encrypted!
What Happened To Your PC?
Your Important File’s Have Been Encrypted
Many Of Your Documents, Photos, Databases And Other File’s Are No Longer Accessible.
Because They Have Been Encrypted Using AES-256
How Can I Decrypt My File’s?
Your Lucky Santa Is Here To Help You To Decrypt Your File’s
With the Power Of Christmas Spirit! Santa Needs You To Send $150 Worth Of Bitcoin To
The Given Bitcoin Address Below
How Do I Pay?
Their Are A Few Links For You To Buy The Bitcoin,
Send $150 Worth Of Bitcoin To The Given Address To Decrypt Your File’s
—
Send $150 Worth Of Bitcoin To This Address:
Among the malicious activities of Santa Encryptor ransomware may also be to delete the shadow volume copies of the infected computer, even though at the time of writing this, the malware is still in development stage. The command used to perform this may be activated via a batch script (.bat) as an administrator and use Windows Command Prompt to enter the following parameters, depending on what the virus aims to do:
→ vssadmin delete shadows /for= In addition to deleting the shadow volume copies, the Santa Encryptor ransomware may also disable the system recovery service via the following commands: → bcdedit.exe /set {default} recoveryenabled no 7 The way the virus scans for and locates the files on your computer is that it is pre-configured to look for their file extensions, for example it may scan for and detect the following files: → “PNG .PSD .PSPIMAGE .TGA .THM .TIF .TIFF .YUV .AI .EPS .PS .SVG .INDD .PCT .PDF .XLR .XLS .XLSX .ACCDB .DB .DBF .MDB .PDB .SQL .APK .APP .BAT .CGI .COM .EXE .GADGET .JAR .PIF .WSF .DEM .GAM .NES .ROM .SAV CAD Files .DWG .DXF GIS Files .GPX .KML .KMZ .ASP .ASPX .CER .CFM .CSR .CSS .HTM .HTML .JS .JSP .PHP .RSS .XHTML. DOC .DOCX .LOG .MSG .ODT .PAGES .RTF .TEX .TXT .WPD .WPS .CSV .DAT .GED .KEY .KEYCHAIN .PPS .PPT .PPTX ..INI .PRF Encoded Files .HQX .MIM .UUE .7Z .CBR .DEB .GZ .PKG .RAR .RPM .SITX .TAR.GZ .ZIP .ZIPX .BIN .CUE .DMG .ISO .MDF .TOAST .VCD SDF .TAR .TAX2014 .TAX2015 .VCF .XML Audio Files .AIF .IFF .M3U .M4A .MID .MP3 .MPA .WAV .WMA Video Files .3G2 .3GP .ASF .AVI .FLV .M4V .MOV .MP4 .MPG .RM .SRT .SWF .VOB .WMV 3D .3DM .3DS .MAX .OBJ R.BMP .DDS .GIF .JPG ..CRX .PLUGIN .FNT .FON .OTF .TTF .CAB .CPL .CUR .DESKTHEMEPACK .DLL .DMP .DRV .ICNS .ICO .LNK .SYS .CFG” In addition to this, the ransomware may also whitelist some of the files on the infected computer, which are crucial to the proper operation of your Windows OS. In the event that your computer becomes infected with Santa Encryptor ransomware, we strongly suggest that you begin to isolate this malware prior to removing it. One suggestible method to do this is if you follow the removal instructions in the article below. They are divided in manual or automatic removal instructions. In case you lack the experience to remove Santa Encryptor manually, security experts recommend to perform the removal process automatically prefferably by downloading an advanced anti-malware software which will help make sure that the Santa Encryptor virus is removed from your PC completely and you remain protected against future intrusions of such type. If you want to try and restore files that have been encrypted by this ransomware virus, you can attempt to use the alternative methods for malware removal in step “2.Restore files, encrypted by Santa Encryptor” below. They are specifically designed to help you to restore as many files as possible without having to pay the ransom to the cyber-criminals even though they are not with 100% guarantee success rate. Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security. Follow Me: Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that: The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following: You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Santa Encryptor there. This can happen by following the steps underneath: Method 1: Use STOP Decrypter by Emsisoft. Not all variants of this ransomware can be decrypted for free, but we have added the decryptor used by researchers that is often updated with the variants which become eventually decrypted. You can try and decrypt your files using the instructions below, but if they do not work, then unfortunately your variant of the ransomware virus is not decryptable. Follow the instructions below to use the Emsisoft decrypter and decrypt your files for free. You can download the Emsisoft decryption tool linked here and then follow the steps provided below: 1 Right-click on the decrypter and click on Run as Administrator as shown below: 2. Agree with the license terms: 3. Click on "Add Folder" and then add the folders where you want files decrypted as shown underneath: 4. Click on "Decrypt" and wait for your files to be decoded. Note: Credit for the decryptor goes to Emsisoft researchers who have made the breakthrough with this virus. Method 2: Use data recovery software Ransomware infections and Santa Encryptor aim to encrypt your files using an encryption algorithm which may be very difficult to decrypt. This is why we have suggested a data recovery method that may help you go around direct decryption and try to restore your files. Bear in mind that this method may not be 100% effective but may also help you a little or a lot in different situations. Simply click on the link and on the website menus on the top, choose Data Recovery - Data Recovery Wizard for Windows or Mac (depending on your OS), and then download and run the tool.
Santa Encryptor is a ransomware infection - the malicious software that enters your computer silently and blocks either access to the computer itself or encrypt your files. Many ransomware viruses use sophisticated encryption algorithms to make your files inaccessible. The goal of ransomware infections is to demand that you pay a ransom payment to get access to your files back.
Ransomware in general is a malicious software that is designed to block access to your computer or files until a ransom is paid. Ransomware viruses can also damage your system, corrupt data and delete files, resulting in the permanent loss of important files.
Via several ways.Santa Encryptor Ransomware infects computers by being sent via phishing emails, containing virus attachment. This attachment is usually masked as an important document, like an invoice, bank document or even a plane ticket and it looks very convincing to users. Another way you may become a victim of Santa Encryptor is if you download a fake installer, crack or patch from a low reputation website or if you click on a virus link. Many users report getting a ransomware infection by downloading torrents.
You can't without a decryptor. At this point, the .Santa Encryptor files are encrypted. You can only open them once they are decrypted using a specific decryption key for the particular algorithm.
Do not panic, and backup the files. If a decryptor did not decrypt your .Santa Encryptor files successfully, then do not despair, because this virus is still new.
Yes, sometimes files can be restored. We have suggested several file recovery methods that could work if you want to restore .Santa Encryptor files. These methods are in no way 100% guaranteed that you will be able to get your files back. But if you have a backup, your chances of success are much greater.
The safest way and the most efficient one for the removal of this ransomware infection is the use a professional anti-malware program. It will scan for and locate Santa Encryptor ransomware and then remove it without causing any additional harm to your important .Santa Encryptor files.
In case your computer got infected with a ransomware infection, you can report it to the local Police departments. It can help authorities worldwide track and determine the perpetrators behind the virus that has infected your computer. Below, we have prepared a list with government websites, where you can file a report in case you are a victim of a cybercrime: Cyber-security authorities, responsible for handling ransomware attack reports in different regions all over the world: Germany - Offizielles Portal der deutschen Polizei United States - IC3 Internet Crime Complaint Centre United Kingdom - Action Fraud Police France - Ministère de l'Intérieur Italy - Polizia Di Stato Spain - Policía Nacional Netherlands - Politie Poland - Policja Portugal - Polícia Judiciária Greece - Cyber Crime Unit (Hellenic Police) India - Mumbai Police - CyberCrime Investigation Cell Australia - Australian High Tech Crime Center Reports may be responded to in different timeframes, depending on your local authorities.
Yes, you can prevent ransomware. The best way to do this is to ensure your computer system is updated with the latest security patches, use a reputable anti-malware program and firewall, backup your important files frequently, and avoid clicking on malicious links or downloading unknown files.
Yes, in most cases ransomware will steal your information. It is a form of malware that steals data from a user's computer, encrypts it, and then demands a ransom in order to decrypt it. In many cases, the malware authors or attackers will threaten to delete the data or publish it online unless the ransom is paid.
Yes, ransomware can infect WiFi networks, as malicious actors can use it to gain control of the network, steal confidential data, and lock out users. If a ransomware attack is successful, it could lead to a loss of service and/or data, and in some cases, financial losses.
No, you should not pay ransomware extortionists. Paying them only encourages criminals and does not guarantee that the files or data will be restored. The better approach is to have a secure backup of important data and be vigilant about security in the first place.
If you don't pay the ransom, the hackers may still have access to your computer, data, or files and may continue to threaten to expose or delete them, or even use them to commit cybercrimes. In some cases, they may even continue to demand additional ransom payments.
Yes, ransomware can be detected. Anti-malware software and other advanced security tools can detect ransomware and alert the user when it is present on a machine. It is important to stay up-to-date on the latest security measures and to keep security software updated to ensure ransomware can be detected and prevented.
Yes, ransomware criminals do get caught. Law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, Interpol and others have been successful in tracking down and prosecuting ransomware criminals in the US and other countries. As ransomware threats continue to increase, so does the enforcement activity. The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Santa Encryptor how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific malware and restore your encrypted files. Our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, and as such, we receive daily updates on the latest malware and ransomware definitions. Furthermore, the research behind the Santa Encryptor ransomware threat is backed with VirusTotal and the NoMoreRansom project. To better understand the ransomware threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details. As a site that has been dedicated to providing free removal instructions for ransomware and malware since 2014, SensorsTechForum’s recommendation is to only pay attention to trustworthy sources. How to recognize trustworthy sources:
bcdedit.exe /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailuresSanta Encryptor – Encryption Process
The malware may begin to perform encryption procedure on the files via the XOR encryption algorithm which is a bit outdated and more simplistic as well as easier to crack, but still it renders the files no longer openable. The targeted files by Santa Encryptor are reported to be the following types:
Remove Santa Encryptor Ransomware and Restore Encrypted Files
Ventsislav Krastev
Step 1: Scan for Santa Encryptor with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Ransomware Automatic Removal - Video Guide
Step 2: Uninstall Santa Encryptor and related malware from Windows
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully delete most unwanted and malicious programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Santa Encryptor on your computer.
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.Step 4: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Santa Encryptor
Step 5: Try to Restore Files Encrypted by Santa Encryptor.
Santa Encryptor-FAQ
What is Santa Encryptor Ransomware?
What Does Santa Encryptor Ransomware Do?
How Does Santa Encryptor Infect?
How to Open .Santa Encryptor files?
What to Do If a Decryptor Does Not Work?
Can I Restore ".Santa Encryptor" Files?
How To Get Rid of Santa Encryptor Virus?
Can I Report Ransomware to Authorities?
Can You Stop Ransomware from Encrypting Your Files?
Can Santa Encryptor Ransomware Steal Your Data?
Can Ransomware Infect WiFi?
Should I Pay Ransomware?
What Happens If I Don't Pay Ransom?
Can a Ransomware Attack Be Detected?
Do Ransomware Criminals Get Caught?
About the Santa Encryptor Research
How did we conduct the research on this ransomware?
