Sanction Ransomware - How to remove

Sanction Ransomware is a deceptive virus that encrypts your personal files and demands paying 3 BTC in order to get the decryption key. It passes a message that there is no other way to get your files restored and gives 72 hours to make the payments. Obviously it scares a lot of users and reaches its goal as nobody wants to lose important files for good. However, computer users should know that even after paying Sanction Ransomware may remain on your system and provide no or fake decryption key. Therefore, we do not recommend paying anything for these cyber criminals.

At the moment. There is just one reliable methods to get your files back, which is by restoring them form a back up. Now you see how important it is to make your backups regularly. Below this article we provide a tutorial how to remove Sanction Ransomware using system restore. We also recommend scanning your system with a reputable anti-malware program, for example, Spyhunter or StopZilla.

About Sanction Ransomware

Once inside, Sanction Ransomware starts scanning your system looking for files to decrypt. Then it renames these files by adding .sanction extension. Once the files are successfully decrypted, Sanction Ransomware displays a message on your screen, saying that your files have been locked and the only way to unlock them is by sending 3 Bitcoins (which is more than $1000!) within 3 days. Here is how the warning looks like:

Your unique GUID for decrypt:
Send me some 3 bitcoin on adress:
After confirming the payment, all your files can be decrypted. If you do not make payment within 3 days, you will lose the ability to decrypt them.
Make your Bitcoin Wallet on: https://www.coinbase.com/ or hxxp://blockchain.info
How to buy /sell and send Bitcoin :
1)hxxps://support.coinbase.com/customer/en/portal/topics/796531-payment-method-verification/articles
2)hxxps://support.coinbase.com/customer/en/portal/topics/601090-buying-selling-bitcoin/articles
3)hxxps://support.coinbase.com/customer/en/portal/topics/601112-sending-receiving-bitcoin/articles
After the payment, enter the wallet from which paid, and email, in which contact you. After receiving the payment, we will contact you.

Unfortunately, even after making a payment, you will not know if you will get your files back. As you see in the message, it claims that after receiving the payment, the creators of Sanction Ransomware will keep in touch with you. However, usually you get know email at all and you just lose your Bitcoins.

It is strongly recommended to take a better care of your computer’s protection to avoid Sanction Ransomware and similar programs. You should also regularly do backups of your system to be able to restore it in case your files are locked.

Distribution Methods of Sanction Ransomware

Sanction Ransomware is usually distributed with spam emails. The program uses the same methods like more of the recent ransomware releases. You should be more careful with what emails you open, especially if they come from unknown senders or they go to spam folder. Also be careful when updating your software. Always get your updates from official sources instead of clicking on random software update popups. Beware that those can be fake.

If your files have already been locked by Sanction Ransomware, try restoring them for ma backup and remove Sanction Ransomware as soon as possible.

How to recover Sanction Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Sanction Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Sanction Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Sanction Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Sanction Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Sanction Ransomware tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Sanction Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.

Manual removal