AI_SARA GPT Virus 🔐 (.GPT Files) — [email protected]

The Ai_sara virus falls under the Dharma ransomware family. Ransomware of this type encrypts all the data on your PC (photos, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its specific extension to every file, leaving the AI_SARA.txt text files in every directory with the encrypted files.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

When we talk about the intrusion of unfamiliar programs into your computer’s work, the proverb “Forewarned is forearmed” describes the situation as accurately as possible. Gridinsoft Anti-Malware is exactly the tool that is always useful to have in your armory: fast, efficient, up-to-date. It is appropriate to use it as an emergency help at the slightest suspicion of infection.

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What is known about the Ai_sara virus?

☝️ Ai_sara is a Dharma family ransomware virus.

The pattern of renaming is the following: .GPT. During the encryption, a file named, for instance, “report.docx” will be changed to “report.docx.id-1E857D00-SARA.[AI_SARA].GPT”.

In each directory with the encrypted files, a AI_SARA.txt text document will be found. It is a ransom money note. Therein you can find information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to buy the decryption tool from the Ai_sara developers. You can get this tool after contacting [email protected], [email protected] by email. That is it.

Ai_sara Summary:

The AI_SARA.txt file accompanying the Ai_sara malware states the following:

Hello, human.
Contact me:
write email [email protected] or [email protected]

In the screenshot below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Ai_sara looks like. Each filename has the “.GPT” extension appended to it.

An example of encrypted .GPT files.

How did Ai_sara ransomware end up on my PC?

There is a huge number of possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most popular methods for evil-doers to have ransomware acting in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer file transfer.

• If you access your mailbox and see emails that look just like notifications from utility services companies, postal agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose “from” field is unknown to you, be wary of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a harmful file enclosed in them. Thus it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another thing the hackers might try is a Trojan virus scheme. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your PC disguised as something else. Imagine, you download an installer of some program you want or an update for some software. But what is unboxed reveals itself a harmful agent that encodes your data. As the update wizard can have any title and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the source of the things you’re downloading. The best way is to trust the software companies’ official websites.
• As for the peer file transfer protocols like torrent trackers or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is a good idea to scan the folder containing the downloaded items with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How to remove ransomware?

It is crucial to inform you that besides encrypting your files, the Ai_sara virus will probably install Vidar Stealer on your PC to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can derive your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Remove Ai_sara with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common Ransomware as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Ai_sara as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Ai_sara” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Ai_sara and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Often racketeers would decrypt few of your files so you know that they do have the decryption tool. As Ai_sara virus is a relatively recent ransomware, security software engineers have not yet found a way to reverse its work. However, the decoding tools are frequently upgraded, so the solution may soon be available.

Sure thing, if the evildoers succeed in encoding someone’s essential files, the hopeless person will most likely comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying a ransom gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After getting the money, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about ransomware developers just vanishing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The best solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud disk or at least on an external drive. Of course, that might be not enough. The most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all started. Nevertheless, it is something. It is also wise to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the system restoration.

There are other ransomware products, besides Ai_sara, that work similarly. Examples of those are Gaqq, Kiqu, Miqe, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Ai_sara are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become encrypted, their extensions changed, ransom notes emerge in every folder containing encrypted files.

Some fortunate victims were able to decrypt the blocked files with the aid of the free tools provided by anti-malware developers. Sometimes the racketeers mistakenly send the decoding key to the wronged in the ransom readme. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But obviously, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.

How do I avert ransomware injection?

Ai_sara ransomware has no superpower, neither does any similar malware.

You can protect yourself from ransomware attack within several easy steps:

• Never open any emails from unknown senders with strange addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (how can you win in a money prize draw without even taking part in it?). If the email subject is likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the suspicious letter carefully. A hoax email will surely have mistakes.
• Do not use cracked or untrusted software. Trojans are often spreaded as a part of cracked software, most likely under the guise of “patch” preventing the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are very hard to distinguish from trustworthy software, because trojans may also have the functionality you need. You can try to find information on this program on the anti-malware message boards, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.
• And to be sure about the safety of the files you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software will be a perfect defense for your system.

FAQ

🤔 Can I somehow access “.GPT” files?

Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.GPT” files first. Then you will be able to open them.

🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?

Hopefully, you have made a copy of those important files. Otherwise, you might try to employ System Restore. The only question is whether you have saved any Restore Points that would be helpful now. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 If GridinSoft deletes the Ai_sara malware, will it also delete my files that were encrypted?

Absolutely not! Your encrypted files are no threat to your PC.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will delete active viruses from your computer. The virus that has infiltrated your device is most likely still functional and running scans from time to time to arrest any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has been mentioned above, the Ai_sara ransomware comes with the company. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide criminals with easy access to your PC in the future.

🤔 What to do if the Ai_sara ransomware has blocked my PC and I can’t get the activation code.

In such an unfortunate situation, you need to have a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system launches and encodes any new files created or brought into your machine. To stop this function – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on running Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 And what should I do now?

Some of the blocked data can be located elsewhere.

• If you sent or received your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
• You may have shared photographs or videos with your friends or relatives. Simply ask them to give those images back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try to do it again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files as well.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old PC, a laptop, phone, external storage, etc.

USEFUL TIP: You can use data recovery programs² to retrieve your lost information since ransomware blocks the copies of your files, removing the authentic ones. In the tutorial below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you kill the ransomware itself with an anti-malware program.

1. My files are encrypted by ransomware, what should I do now?
2. Here are Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.