Remove Santa_Crypt Ransomware (.$anta File Recovery)

Santa_Crypt ransomware or $anta is a crypto-virus that infects the computer and proceed with the decryption of user’s files. Normally it targets data such as OpenOffice, MSOffice, archives, images, photos, databases, drawings, and so on. This virus is able to lock the mentioned files with advanced technique as a way to deny user’s access. Along the way, Santa_Crypt also appends .$anta file extension to infected files. As what goes with all ransomware attacks, Santa_Crypt ransomware demands payment from victims if they want to recover the entire .$anta encrypted files.

More about Santa_Crypt Virus

Through spam email messages, computer user may get the virus by executing the malicious file attachment. Other methods of virus propagation includes software exploit, web injections, cracked programs, and malicious software updates especially those that are presented when visiting suspicious websites engaging in software piracy.

Once computer user executes the file, this will give Santa_Crypt clear access to the system and as such, it immediately drops several malicious files especially on System folder. Next, Santa_Crypt searches the local drive for target files and encrypts them with complex algorithm that will make it inaccessible. During the encryption process, the virus also appends a .$anta file extension. So, the common files pics.jpg will become pics.jpg.$anta after the full encryption. In order for victim’s to regain access to encrypted files, attackers are demanding ransom payment. For procedures to proceed with the recovery, attackers are asking users to contact them on specific email address. Here is an excerpt from the ransom note called HOW_TO_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt.

!!!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.”
Good luck!

Image of Santa_Crypt note

Technical Details
Threat Name Santa_Crypt Ransomware
Threat Type Crypto-virus, File Locker, Encryption Virus
File Extension .$anta
Ransomware Note File HOW_TO_RECOVER_MY_FILES.txt
Discovered by @PolarToffee
Virus Alias Ad-Aware: Trojan.GenericKD.31498667
AegisLab : Hacktool.Win32.Gamehack.3!e
AhnLab-V3 : Trojan/Win32.Agent.C2919576
Alibaba : Trojan:Win32/Skeeyah.491b8e09
ALYac : Trojan.Ransom.Filecoder
Avast : Win32:Trojan-gen
AVG : Win32:Trojan-gen
Avira : TR/FileCoder.juiaz
BitDefender : Trojan.GenericKD.31498667
Comodo : Malware@#zw769qbeiwog
Emsisoft : Trojan.GenericKD.31498667 (B)
eScan : Trojan.GenericKD.31498667
ESET-NOD32 : Win32/Filecoder.Autoit.Y
F-Secure : Trojan.TR/FileCoder.juiaz
Fortinet : W32/Encoder.BEZ!tr
Ikarus : Trojan-Ransom.Autoit
Kaspersky : Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Encoder.bez
McAfee : Generic.bun
McAfee-GW-Edition : BehavesLike.Win32.TrojanAitInject.tc
Microsoft : Trojan:Win32/Skeeyah.A!bit
Panda : Trj/WLT.E
Sophos AV : Mal/Generic-L
Symantec : Trojan.Gen.2
TrendMicro : Ransom_Encoder.R002C0DIM20
VIPRE : Win32.Malware!Drop
Webroot : W32.Trojan.Gen

For complete details including full detection list, hash file, file names, and technical behavior (registry actions, shell commands, and processes) of Santa_Crypt ransomware, please refer to this VirusTotal page.

Backup your files

One important step before proceeding with the procedures below is to backup your files. Ransomware are not the same. Each has its unique sets of payloads aside from encrypting the files with complex method. Others tend to delete the infected files after certain period, while others keep them concealed on hidden places. In addition, ransomware decryption tools are not guaranteed to be perfect, there are instances that files suffer from damages during the decryption process.

So, create a backup copy of your entire Santa_Crypt encrypted files right now.

Santa_Crypt Ransomware Removal Guide

First thing to do is remove the Santa_Crypt virus before attempting the decryption. Remember that as long as the ransomware is active, it will repeatedly encrypt the files on the compromised computer.

Infection of Santa_Crypt ransom virus is dangerous to the system because it can inject files that runs each time Windows starts. To prevent the malicious files from loading, Windows operating system must run with minimal process and it can be done through SafeMode With Networking.

Quick Fix - Scan the PC with Combo Cleaner for Windows

Combo Cleaner is a trusted PC security and optimization tool equipped with powerful virus and malware detection engine. This program can get rid of ransomware like Santa_Crypt through this procedure.

1. Download the application from the following page:

2. Save the file to your preferred location.

3. Double-click the downloaded file CCSetup.exe and install with the default settings.

CC for Windows Installation

4. At the end of the setup process, click Finish to run Combo Cleaner.

5. The tool will update the signature file, please wait for this process to complete.

6. To begin checking for threats like Santa_Crypt ransomware, click on the Start Scan button. Wait for this scan to finish.

CC for Windows Start Scan

7. At the end of the scan process, click on Remove all threats to delete Santa_Crypt ransomware including all malicious objects from the computer.

Free features of Combo Cleaner for Windows include Disk Cleaner, Big Files finder, Duplicate files finder, and Uninstaller. To use antivirus, privacy scanner, and to delete identified threats, users have to upgrade to a premium version.

Please continue with the succeeding removal procedures if your are comfortable to manually get rid of the threat and malicious items linked with it.

Step 1 : Start Windows in Safe Mode With Networking

The method of running Windows in Safe Mode before running a virus scan is effective in getting rid of Santa_Crypt. This process can prevent most viruses and malware from loading, making it easier to detect and remove them.

1. On the Windows Search bar, please type msconfig.

Screenshot of MSConfig Command

2. Select and open System Configutation on the list of found results.

3. Once you are in the System Configuration window, go to the Boot tab.

Screenshot of SafeBoot

4. Under the Boot Options area, please check Safe Boot and select Network. This will allow Windows to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.

5. Lastly, click on Apply and OK to save the changes.

6. Please restart Windows.

Do not forget to restore the normal boot process of Windows after running the virus scan. Simply repeat the method above, and this time, uncheck the Safe Boot option to run Windows normally.

Step 2 : Scan the Computer with Sophos Antivirus

Ransomware files are placed deeply into the system and on various locations, thus, thorough scanning is vital to totally remove Santa_Crypt virus. Aside from our suggested tool, you may also run your own security program.

To remove Santa_Crypt ransomware automatically, scanning the computer with this efficient anti-malware tool is suggested. This scanner does not just uncover known threats like viruses or malware, it is also effective in discovering hazardous ransomware like Santa_Crypt.

1. Download Sophos Virus Removal Tool from the link below. Save the file on your computer where you can easily access it.

2. Once the download completes, browse the location of the file. Double-click to run the program and begin the install process.

3. On first windows of installation wizard, click Next to continue. Then, it will display the program’s License Agreement. You need to Accept the terms in order to proceed. If Windows prompts for User Account Control, please click Yes to proceed.

Screenshot of Sophos EULA Page

4. On succeeding windows, click Next or Continue to carry on with the installation. After completing the installation process, Launch Sophos Virus Removal Tool.

5. Internet connection is required when running this virus scanner in order to download important updates. Make sure that everything is up-to-date to effectively remove Santa_Crypt ransomware and other relevant viruses.

6. Click the Start Scanning button to inspect the computer. This will check the system for presence of malicious objects, malware, and viruses. The tool reveals items that were found linked to Santa_Crypt ransomware and other suspicious entities. Be sure to remove all identified threats.

Screenshot of Sophos Virus Scan

The above procedures should have totally eliminated Santa_Crypt ransomware. However, if you found that there are still remnants of the virus, please proceed to succeeding procedures below.

Step 3 : Double Check with Windows Security Apps

Microsoft Windows has a built-in security application that you can use to double-check if your computer is still infected with Santa_Crypt. For Windows 10/11 users, please run Windows Security.

Windows 10 / 11 Instructions:

Windows Security is a free tool that was built to help you remove Santa_Crypt, viruses, and other malicious items from Windows 10/11 systems. Follow these procedures to scan your computer with the tool:

1. Tap or click the Search charm, search for Windows Security, and then open the application.

Image of Windows Security Search

2. On the Home tab, click Virus and threat protection from the sidebar.

3. On the main window, click on Scan Options. Then, click on Full Scan button.

Image of Scan Options

4. Lastly, click on the Scan now button to start scanning for the presence of Santa_Crypt. The process may take a while to complete.

5. After the scan, Delete/Quarantine identified threats, whether they were relevant to Santa_Crypt or not. You may now restart Windows to complete the virus removal process.

For older versions of Windows, you can scan the computer for free with the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT 64-Bit). It is a stand-alone virus scanner tool that targets prevalent malware groups.

Recover Files from Santa_Crypt Ransomware Infection

On this section, we will provide ways to decrypt files infected with Santa_Crypt ransomware. Aside from dedicated decryption software and common tools, other options for file recovery are provided. As much as we can, we will update this area whenever there is new and more suitable decryption tool was made available.

Decrypting Santa_Crypt infected files with Emsisoft Tools

This service from Emsisoft is helpful in unlocking encrypted files without paying the ransom. The page provides the list of ransomware decryption tools. All you have to do is look for the specific tool and start recovering the Santa_Crypt encrypted file.

Option: Use ShadowExplorer to restore files encrypted by Santa_Crypt Ransomware

ShadowExplorer depends on the presence of System Protection on every drive from which you wish to retrieve data. Furthermore, it is crucial that System Protection is enabled prior to any event that requires file recovery. It is worth noting that Windows automatically enables System Protection solely on the system partition (C). 

ShadowExplorer is taking advantage of shadow copy created by Windows system. This tool allows you to retrieve older version of files before it was encrypted by Santa_Crypt ransomware.

1. Download ShadowExplorer from the official web site.

2. Install the program with the default settings.

3. The program should run automatically after installation. If not, double-click on ShadowExplorer icon.

4. You can see the drop-down list on top of the console. Please select proper drive and the most recent point-in-time shadow copies of files you wish to restore prior to Santa_Crypt ransomware infection.

Screenshot of ShadowExplorer

5. Right-click on the Drive, Folder, or File you wish to restore and click Export...

6. Lastly, ShadowExplorer will prompt for location where you want to save the copy of recovered files.

How to protect the computer from Santa_Crypt ransomware?

After the removal of the ransomware, it is important to prevent similar incident from happening again. In order to protect the computer effectively, computer user must know how Santa_Crypt ransomware was able to infect the computer. To minimize the possible infection, staying away from the common sources of this virus is crucial.

How Santa_Crypt ransomware can infect your computer?

The method of infecting the computers was found to be similar as other common viruses. Though, ransomware like Santa_Crypt is seen to have efficient deployment via spam email messages, web injectors, malicious software installers, misleading online advertisements, and through another virus infection.

Once the virus is executed, it immediately infects the system. Then, Santa_Crypt ransomware communicates to remote server so that unique key can be generated for the specific computer. After acquiring the key, it starts to decrypt target files using a complex method that is almost unbreakable. On the last stage of the attack, Santa_Crypt ransomware demands for ransom money as payment for the decryption tool. To further understand the attack scheme, we have included an infographic below.

Infographic image of ransomware attack stages
You can print, download, or share the infographic by clicking the image.

Securing the computer against ransomware attack

Do a Regular File Back-up - Always backup your data on a separate storage devices such as external hard drives, optical discs, or online backup services.

Keep Your Software Updated - Make sure that you have the latest software updates especially on the operating system. Recent updates often contain vital security patches to help protect the computer against all forms of threats.

Install a Security Program - Protect the computer with effective anti-virus application using efficient real-time scanning. Regularly run a complete scan to check the computer for presence of malware.

Protect your files with Controlled Folder Access (Windows 10/11)

For Windows 10/11 users, aside from protecting the computer using anti-virus or anti-malware programs, one way to protect against ransomware attack is by using Controlled Folder Access. This feature of Windows Defender Security Center may not prevent the Santa_Crypt ransomware infection, but it can protect the folder and files in general. Follow the steps to enable Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10/11.

1. Go to Windows Taskbar and search for Windows Defender Security Center.

2. Open Windows Defender Security Center and click on Virus & Threat Protection icon.

Virus and Threat Protection

3. On next window, please click on Ransomware Protection.

4. Under Controlled Folder Access section, switch the slider to On. That will enable the feature and protect the folder against Santa_Crypt virus or any type of ransomware.

Controlled Folder Access

5. Click on Protected Folders link to include additional folders. Make sure that folders where important files are located should be included in the list.

Include Your Protected Folder

Troubleshooting Guide

Certain programs maybe blocked by Controlled Folder Access feature. To fix the issue, simply have the specific program to be white listed.

1. Under Protected Folders, click Allow an app through controlled folder access.

2. Next, click the Add an allowed app and include the target executable file.

This Controlled Folder Access feature is one way to protect files against Santa_Crypt ransomware. Other important things to do in keeping files safe against ransomware is through early prevention like keeping programs updated, install an efficient security program, an do regular file backup on a separate media drive.

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