What is & How does it work?

Sanction is malware that encrypts files on the infected computer and demands a ransom for the decryption key. Attackers may spread the ransomware through email attachments, websites that host malicious ads or code, or drive-by download attacks. Once installed, Sanction will scan the computer for certain file types and encrypt them using a strong encryption algorithm. It will then display a ransom note instructing the victim on how to pay the ransom and decrypt their files.

History

Sanction Ransomware was first discovered in December 2016. It is believed to be a variant of the Locky Ransomware, as it uses a very similar encryption method and a ransom note.

How to protect yourself?

This ransomware can be very difficult to detect and remove, as it may masquerade as a legitimate file or program. To protect your computer from it and other malware, you should use a reputable antivirus or anti-malware program. Also, you should avoid opening email attachments from unknown senders, and be cautious when downloading files from the Internet.Backup your data! As ransomware can encrypt your files and make them inaccessible, it is important to have a backup of your data. That way, if you do become a victim of this ransomware, you can restore your files from the backup.

How do I know if I am infected?

If you are infected with Sanction ransomware, you will see:

• A ransom note named Sanction.html or Sanction.bmp on your desktop
• Your files will have the .Sanction extension added to them (for example, yourpicture.jpg would become yourpicture.jpg.Sanction)
• Your computer's background may be changed to solid color with the Sanction logo and ransom instructions

How much is the ransom?

Sanction will demand a ransom of 1.5 Bitcoins, which is currently equivalent to about $1,000. But the ransom could change depending on the current value of Bitcoins.Also, Sanction will give you only 72 hours to pay the ransom, after which the price will double. If you still don't pay after that, your files will be permanently encrypted and you will not be able to decrypt them.Anyway, like all ransomware, we recommend that you do NOT pay the ransom. There is no guarantee that your files will be decrypted if you do, and paying only encourages these criminals to continue their attacks.

What should I do?

If you are infected with Sanction ransomware, you should:

• Disconnect your computer from the Internet to prevent the ransomware from encrypting more files or spreading to other computers.
• Scan your computer with a reputable anti-malware program to remove the ransomware. We recommend researching before you install any program to make sure it is legitimate and effective.
• Restore your files from a backup, if you have one.

Public decryption tool

At this time, there is no known public decryption tool for Sanction Ransomware. However, you may be able to use a data recovery program to recover some of your files.We recommend using SalvageData data recovery software.

I have paid the ransom. What now?

If you have paid the ransom, we recommend that you change all your passwords and security questions as soon as possible. Also, you should scan your computer with a reputable anti-malware program to remove any remaining malware. Finally, we recommend that you backup your data regularly to avoid losing it in the event of an attack.

Contact a data recovery service

If you do not want to pay the ransom, and you can't remove the ransomware and decrypt your files, using the methods above, you can try contacting a data recovery service.SalvageData is a professional data recovery company that can help you recover your files. We have a high success rate in recovering ransomware-encrypted files, and we offer a free evaluation to see if we can recover your files before you pay anything.

Pricing

The price for our services starts at $499 and depends on the type of files you need recovered, the size of your data, and the complexity of the recovery.We understand how difficult it is to deal with data loss, and we are here to help. Contact us today to see how we can help you recover your data.

How to contact us?

You can contact SalvageData by:Visiting our website: https://www.salvagedata.com/Calling us at +1 (800) 972-3282Emailing us at info@salvagedata.comOr, if you prefer, you can go to the nearest SalvageData office. We have locations in:Los Angeles, CANew York, NYHouston, TXChicago, ILSan Francisco, CAAtlanta, GAMiami, FLDallas, TXSan Jose, CAClick here to find the nearest office to you.