Sage 2.0 ransomware decryption and removal tutorial

Stay on top of the threats emanating from Sage ransomware, implement proper damage mitigation measures and restore encrypted files without paying the ransom.

The ransom trojan called Sage poses just as much risk to home users and enterprises as the devastating Locky and Cerber strains. In fact, experts believe this infection is being operated by the same threat actors, which per se suggests that the extortion wave is steadily going to get higher over time. The ransomware encrypts all personal data on a plagued computer and concatenates the .sage extension to every item. In the upshot, a sample document Agenda.docx will assume the shape of an inaccessible entity named Agenda.docx.sage. It also leaves ransom notes called !Recovery_[random 3 characters].html inside folders with scrambled files and on the desktop. Furthermore, the virus sets a desktop wallpaper of its own that explicates the details of the attack to the victim and instructs them on steps to solve the problem.

The variant of this malicious program currently in rotation is Sage 2.0. This latest edition is spreading via spam generated by the so-called Pandex botnet. The rogue emails received by would-be victims contain ZIP attachments. The files extracted from these archives are in JS or DOC format. In the former scenario, a malign script launches the ransomware instantly. In the latter case, a trick with Microsoft Word macros comes into play, where users are alerted on unreadable content in the document that requires them to enable editing. Once the unsuspecting recipient turns on macros to be able to read what’s inside, the infection chain continues. Sage 2.0 ransomware then scours the computer’s local data media, as well as removable drives and network shares, for a hard-coded list of file extensions. Every match returned by this background scan is subject to uncrackable encryption.

This ransom trojan applies the ChaCha20 cryptographic algorithm to lock down the victim’s important documents, photos, images, videos, databases and a slew of other data. As a result, a unique decryption key is generated for each item, which is a very serious hurdle to recovery. Another specificity of this cipher is that the encryption can be performed without requesting any information from the infection’s Command and Control server. The only type of network traffic that the Sage ransomware generates is related to identification of the host system. For instance, it determines the machine’s location through the use of Google Maps API.

As soon as the encryption has been completed, the virus drops its ransom notes and replaces the desktop background with a warning image that says, “Attention! All your files were encrypted! All your important and critical files as well as databases, images and videos and so on were encrypted by software known as SAGE! SAGE 2.0 uses military grade elliptic curve cryptography and you have no chances restoring your files without our help! But if you follow our instructions we guarantee that you can restore all your files quickly and safely!” The ransom how-to tells the victim to install Tor Browser and visit their personal User Cabinet. This decryption service page notifies the infected user about the size of the ransom, which is a Bitcoin equivalent of $2000. This amount is claimed to be the special price that’s valid for 7 days. Afterward, the ransom doubles and reaches more than 4 BTC.

Those infected with Sage ransomware shouldn’t make hasty decisions. The ransom is the last resort to get the hostage .sage files back. Before giving in to the crooks, it’s strongly recommended to try all alternative recovery methods. For example, it makes sense to check whether shadow copies of the files are still available. If so, there are great techniques to leverage this restoration vector. Special data recovery software is worthwhile, too. So read the part below and give these options a shot.

Sage 2.0 ransomware automated removal and data recovery

When faced with ransomware like Sage 2.0, one of the best shortcuts in terms of removal is to use Combo Cleaner, a lightweight and incredibly effective application with PC security and optimization features under the hood. It detects and thoroughly deletes threats while giving you insights into the overall health of your computer.

This program’s protection power spans modules that forestall all known types of malware, including ransomware and browser hijackers, and take your online security to the next level by blocking phishing sites and other suspicious web pages. Follow these simple steps to eliminate the infection for good:

1. Download Combo Cleaner installer.

Download Sage 2.0 remover

^{Combo Cleaner scans your PC with no strings attached, but you’ll have to buy its fully functional version to remove the threats it detects. The disk optimization tools that find large files and duplicates are free to use.}

2. Open the CCSetup.exe file to get started. Several subsequent screens will allow you to make initial customizations so that the program works exactly as you need from the get-go.

3. The installation will be followed by an update of malware signatures. Once this process is through, click the Start Scan button in the left-hand sidebar.

4. Combo Cleaner will then check system locations that are most often polluted by Windows malware. The first scan can take a while to finish.

5. Combo Cleaner will display a system tray notification as soon as the scan is over. Click the Resolve found threats button to view the results.

6. The scan summary shows the names and types of the detected threats as well as their statuses and locations. Click the Remove all threats button and follow further on-screen prompts to get rid of these items.

Data recovery toolkit to the rescue

Some strains of ransomware are known to delete the original files after the encryption routine has been completed. As hostile as this activity appears, it can play into your hands. There are applications designed to revive the information that was obliterated because of malfunctioning hardware or due to accidental removal. The tool called Stellar Data Recovery features this type of a capability and therefore it can be applied in ransom attack scenarios to at least get the most important files back. So use the app to get an idea of what data can be restored and let it do the recovery job. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

2. Open the application, select the types of recoverable files to look for, and click Next.

3. Choose the areas you want the tool to recover from and click the Scan button.

4. Having scanned the specified locations, the program will display a notification about the total amount of recoverable data. Close the dialog and click the Recover button. This will hopefully help you get some of your valuable files back.

Sage 2.0 ransomware manual removal and file recovery

Some ransomware strains terminate themselves after completing the encryption job on a computer, but some don’t. Furthermore, the Sage 2.0 virus may prevent victims from using popular antimalware tools in order to stay on board for as long as possible. Under the circumstances, it may be necessary to utilize the Safe Mode with Networking or System Restore functionality.

Be advised that even after the ransomware is removed, files will still be encrypted and inaccessible. The malicious code cleanup part, however, is important because it keeps a relapse of the infection from occurring further on and eliminates all opportunistic malware.

Ways of non-ransom recovery of .sage files

Cracking the crypto used by this ransom Trojan is more of a science fiction thing rather than an attainable prospect for the masses. This is why the troubleshooting in predicaments of this sort is a matter of two approaches: one is to pay the ransom, which isn’t an option for many victims; and the other is to apply instruments that take advantage of the ransomware’s possible weaknesses. If the latter is your pick, the advice below is a must-try.

Ransomware Prevention Tips

To avoid Sage 2.0 ransomware and other file-encrypting infections in the future, follow several simple recommendations:

These techniques are certainly not a cure-all, but they will add an extra layer of ransomware protection to your security setup.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup. Another benefit of using the antimalware tool is that it will keep ransomware threats from intruding on your computer further on.

Download Sage 2.0 removal tool