.Sarut Ransomware in Depth
When it comes to data protection, few methods are more reliable than file encryption. This method is based on a very complex encoding process which makes the selected files inaccessible for anyone who doesn’t have the special decryption key for their access. If a piece of data is protected by encryption, you basically cannot open it or use it without applying the corresponding decryption key. This is exactly why the file encryption is regarded as a nearly unbreakable data protection method, which has found its implementation in various sectors (such as online banking, digital communication, medical administration, insurance and more) where digital information should be kept safe from unauthorized access.
Its usefulness, however, has been used as the basis for a nasty blackmailing scheme thanks to a special type of malware known as Ransomware. Employing this same unbreakable data protection algorithm, people with criminal intentions have created malicious programs which can secretly apply complex encryptions (.Sarut) to all the files stored on the infected computer and then tell the victims to pay a ransom in order to obtain the decryption key for their personal files. In the cyber community, these malicious programs are known as Ransomware cryptoviruses and, on this page, we will tell you more about one of their latest representatives – cryptovirus called .Sarut.
How Dangerous is .Sarut Ransomware?
The first job of an infection like .Sarut once it gets inside your system is to carefully scan the HDD storage for files that could potentially be important to you. These could be, for instance, personal documents, images, video and audio collections, archives and other information which the users would be willing to pay for if they lost their access to the said files. The next thing the .Sarut Ransomware does is it encrypts each and every one of these files without giving itself away. For that, the malware typically runs in the background without showing any specific or visible symptoms. When all the targeted data gets locked and the encryption process completes, a unique decryption key is generated on the server of the criminals who are in control of the infection. At the same time, a ransom-demanding notification gets displayed on the screen of the attacked computer which asks the victims to pay a certain amount of money (usually requested in BitCoins) in exchange for the decryption key. If the payment is not issued within the given deadline, the crooks threaten to permanently destroy the key and thus make the encrypted data inaccessible for good.
Can i Remove .Sarut myself?
It could be extremely difficult to deal with the consequences of the attack caused by cryptoviruses like .Sarut, .Dutan, .Roldat, .Kiratos because the moment they lock up your files, there is very little you could do to retrieve them. On top of that, the active malware in the system could make your machine unsafe for new data as it may get encrypted as well. Still, you should not get discouraged and let the panic take over because, in the removal guide below, our “How to remove” team have done their best to assemble a guide that has helpful instructions for Ransomware removal and file-recovery. We suggest you give the guide a try instead of rushing with the payment of the ransom because, even if you send your money to the crooks, there is absolutely no guarantee that they will send you the decryption key for your files.
SUMMARY:
| Name | .Sarut |
| Type | Ransomware |
| Danger Level | High (Ransomware is by far the worst threat you can encounter) |
| Symptoms | Very few and unnoticeable ones before the ransom notification comes up. |
| Distribution Method | From fake ads and fake system requests to spam emails and contagious web pages. |
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Remove .Sarut Ransomware Virus
1: Preparations
Note: Before you go any further, we advise you to bookmark this page or have it open on a separate device such as your smartphone or another PC. Some of the steps might require you to exit your browser on this PC.
2: Task Manager
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to enter the Task Manager. Go to the Tab labeled Processes (Details for Win 8/10). Carefully look through the list of processes that are currently active on you PC.
If any of them seems shady, consumes too much RAM/CPU or has some strange description or no description at all, right-click on it, select Open File Location and delete everything there.
Also, even if you do not delete the files, be sure to stop the process by right-clicking on it and selecting End Process.
3: IP related to .Sarut
Go to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. Open the hosts file with notepad.
Find where it says Localhost and take a look below that.
If you see any IP addresses there (below Localhost) send them to us here, in the comments since they might be coming from the .Sarut.
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4: Disable Startup programs
Re-open the Start Menu and type msconfig.
Click on the first search result. In the next window, go to the Startup tab. If you are on Win 10, it will send you to the Startup part of the task manager instead, as in the picture:
If you see any sketchy/shady looking entries in the list with an unknown manufacturer or a manufacturer name that looks suspicious as there could be a link between them and .Sarut , disable those programs and select OK.
5: Registry Editor
Press Windows key + R and in the resulting window type regedit.
Now, press Ctrl + F and type the name of the virus.
Delete everything that gets found. If you are not sure about whether to delete something, do not hesitate to ask us in the comments. Keep in mind that if you delete the wrong thing, you might cause all sorts of issues to your PC.
6: Deleting potentially malicious data – .Sarut
Type each of the following locations in the Windows search box and hit enter to open the locations:
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
%Temp%
Delete everything you see in Temp linked to .Sarut Ransomware. About the other folders, sort their contents by date and delete only the most recent entries. As always, if you are not sure about something, write to us in the comment section.
7: .Sarut Decryption
The previous steps were all aimed at removing the .Sarut Ransomware from your PC. However, in order to regain access to your files, you will also need to decrypt them or restore them. For that, we have a separate article with detailed instructions on what you have to do in order to unlock your data. Here is a link to that guide.
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