How To Remove SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware (File Recovery Steps)

Learn Efficient Methods To Delete SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware

SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware is discovered to be a new vicious computer infection or a ransomware which is technically empowered to assail and encrypt all files stored on computer. Following successful intrusion and encryption of files, the SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware use to demand users to pay a specified ransom fee to its authors so as the decryption of files can be accomplished as per the requirements. Means, the SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware will probably block users to access their own files and enforce them to pay ransom if they intend their data access back. To learn more about the ransomware and how to remove SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware from a compromised computer, we highly suggest users to get through the article and its inclusions completely. Do follow the removal guidelines to fix infected computer as well.

Threat Specifications

Name: SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware
Type: Ransomware, cryptovirus
Description: SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware is discovered as a new vicious ransomware variant that works to lock your files stored on computer and demands you to remit a ransom fee to seek files’ recovery.
Symptoms: Files turn to be inaccessible, a ransom note will erupt to demand payment, and so on
Distribution: Malicious file downloads, spam/junk email attachments, freeware or shareware downloads, and so on
Removal (File Restoration): In order to learn how to delete SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware and restore affected files completely, we suggest you to follow here included guidelines or instructions.

Detailed information about SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware

Speaking about how SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware technically works, the ransomware once intrudes on targeted computers, it encrypts all stored files completely and injects a ransom note on computer. This note appears on screen each and every time the victims attempt to access their files. This ransom note demands the victims to contact hackers, pay them specified ransom amount, buy a decryption key, and use that key to restore encrypted files completely. Being more precise to this threat, the SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware use to encrypt files and append those data using its own extension called .Santa, and the dropped ransom note file is named as HOW_TO_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt which includes the following ransom message:

!!!SANTA_CRYPT RANSOMWARE!!!
Hello. All your files are encrypted. To decrypt your files – you must pay us.
Amount to pay depends on how fast you will email us.
Our email : [email protected]
Good luck!

Reading through the ransom note messages above, the SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware simply informs users that all of their files are now encrypted using a powerful enciphers and can be unlocked or decrypted using only the decryption key and tool offered by cyber crime master minds, once they get paid with the demanded ransom fee. In order to get more details regarding ransom fee size and so on, the victims are instructed to write an email to criminals, also they are suggested to mention unique ID assigned by ransomware through mail. Further, the ransom note warns users to try not tampering with encrypted files as it may lead to permanent corruption of files and severe data loss.

Although, most of the ransomware requires the users to contact hackers and pay the sum, still the victims are never recommended to do so. While speaking about SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware itself, it’s a decryptable ransomware and victims can contact security researcher named “Micahel Gillespie” to get further help in regarding of restoring files encrypted by SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware. Users can also check out the guidelines further mentioned in this article to try restoring their files through their own backup and removing SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware along with all its associated files permanently.

What’s suggested to remove SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware?

Although, the hackers claim to restore user’s file completely after demanded ransom amount is paid, however such claims are not reliable. Rather, the victims should get through some guidelines which will assist victims to detect and remove SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware along with all its files, processes and leftovers. But, choosing the manual solution or method in this specific case of ransomware, can be harder. So, to avail a hassle free removal of SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware and its associated elements from an infected computer, the user should be enough cautious while following some guidelines. To learn about the guidelines, refer to section below, or check the alternative method as well to try a solution which can clean malicious entries from system easily.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove SANTA_CRYPT Ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.