SAURON Ransomware (@adm_helproot)

Malware analyst S!Ri was the one who originally recognized the Sauron virus, which falls under the ransomware type of malicious agent. Harmful software of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel sheets, audio files, videos, etc) and adds its own extension to every file, creating the #HowToRecover.txt text files in every directory containing 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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Sauron virus: what is known so far?

The renaming will be executed according to this pattern: .Sauron. As a part of encryption, a file entitled, for instance, “report.docx” will be changed to “report.docx.[ID-35AEE360].[adm.helproot@gmail.com].Sauron”.

In every folder that contains the encoded files, a #HowToRecover.txt file will be found. It is a ransom money note. It contains information about the ways of paying the ransom and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains instructions on how to buy the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can get this tool after contacting adm.helproot@gmail.com, @adm_helproot (Telegram) through email. That is it.

Sauron Overview:

The #HowToRecover.txt document accompanying the Sauron ransomware provides the following frustrating information:

Your Files Have Been Encrypted!
Attention!


All your important files have been stolen and encrypted by our advanced attack.
Without our special decryption software, there\'s no way to recover your data!


Your ID: [ - ]


To restore your files, reach out to us at: adm.helproot@gmail.com
You can also contact us via Telegram: @adm_helproot


Failing to act may result in sensitive company data being leaked or sold.
Do NOT use third-party tools, as they may permanently damage your files.


Why Trust Us?


Before making any payment, you can send us few files for free decryption test.
Our business relies on fulfilling our promises.


How to Buy Bitcoin?


You can purchase Bitcoin to pay the ransom using these trusted platforms:


hxxps://www.kraken.com/learn/buy-bitcoin-btc
hxxps://www.coinbase.com/en-gb/how-to-buy/bitcoin
hxxps://paxful.com

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

That is how encrypted “.Sauron” files look.

How did Sauron ransomware end up on my PC?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware infiltration.

There are currently three most exploited ways for tamperers to have ransomware planted in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan introduction and peer networks.

• If you access your mailbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services companies, delivery agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, be wary of opening those letters. They are very likely to have a malicious item enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even more dangerous to download any attachments that come with emails like these.
• Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan file scheme. A Trojan is a program that infiltrates into your computer disguised as something legal. For instance, you download an installer of some program you need or an update for some program. But what is unboxed turns out to be a harmful agent that compromises your data. Since the update wizard can have any title and any icon, you’d better be sure that you can trust the source of the stuff you’re downloading. The best thing is to use the software developers’ official websites.
• As for the peer networks like torrent trackers or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Internet. You can never guess what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is finished.

How do I get rid of ransomware?

It is important to note that besides encrypting your files, the Sauron virus will probably deploy Vidar Stealer on your machine to get access to credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). That spyware can extract your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Remove Sauron 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 Sauron 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 “Sauron” 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 Sauron 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.

Sometimes criminals would unblock few of your files to prove that they really have the decryption program. Since Sauron virus is a relatively new ransomware, safety measures designers have not yet found a method to reverse its work. However, the anti-ransomware tools are constantly upgraded, so the solution may soon arrive.

Understandably, if the malefactors succeed in encrypting someone’s critical data, the hopeless person will probably comply with their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may send a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports of racketeers just disappearing after getting the ransom without even writing back.

The best solution against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your essential files in the cloud disk or at least on an external disk. Obviously, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that one you were working upon when it all happened. But at least it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the system restoration.

There are other ransomware products, besides Sauron, that work similarly. Examples of those are Niko, Moon, The, and some others. The two basic differences between them and the Sauron are the ransom amount and the encoding method. The rest is almost identical: documents become encoded, their extensions changed, ransom notes are created in each directory containing encrypted files.

Some fortunate victims were able to decrypt the blocked files with the help of the free tools provided by anti-malware experts. Sometimes the criminals mistakenly send the decoding code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the injured part to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a bandits’ technology to lay their hands on the money of their victims.

How do I avert ransomware attack?

Sauron ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.

You can protect your computer from its injection within several easy steps:

• Ignore any letters from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has nothing to do with something you are expecting (how can you win in a lottery without even taking part in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are waiting for, check all elements of the dubious email carefully. A fake letter will always contain a mistake.
• Never use cracked or unknown programs. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. But dubious programs are difficult to tell from reliable ones, because trojans may also have the functionality you need. Try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such software.
• And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, check them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a powerful defense for your personal computer.

FAQ

🤔 Are the “.Sauron” files accessible?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.Sauron” files you will not be able to access them.

🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.Sauron” files ASAP. How can I do that?

It’s good if you have fаr-sightedly saved copies of these important files elsewhere. In case you haven’t, there is still a chance that you do have a Restore Point from some time ago to roll back the whole system to the moment when it had no virus yet, but already had your files. The rest of the methods require patience.

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

Absolutely not! Unlike the ransomware program itself, the encrypted files do not jeopardize your system.

With the help of GridinSoft Anti-Malware, you can clean your computer off the actual viruses. The virus that has infected your device is most likely still active and running scans from time to time to encode any new files you might create on your computer after the infection. As it has already been said, the Sauron malware does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide malefactors with easy access to your system after some time.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Sauron ransomware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.

In such a case, you need to have a memory stick with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to perform the procedure. You see, the ransomware runs automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or imported into your system. To suppress this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the vital applications to run automatically. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.

🤔 And what should I do now?

Many of the encrypted files might still be at your disposal

• If you exchanged your important files through 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 post those images back to you.
• If you have initially got any of your files from the Internet, you can try downloading them again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud disks might have all those files too.
• Maybe you still have the needed files on your old computer, a portable device, phone, external storage, etc.

HINT: You can use data recovery programs¹ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but remember: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the ransomware itself with an anti-malware program.

1. Here are Top 10 Data Recovery Software Of 2024.