Kill Sigrun 1.0 Ransomware (Crypto-Malware/Ransomware)

What is Sigrun 1.0 ransomware? And how does it carry out its attack?

Sigrun 1.0 ransomware is a new and improved version of Sigrun ransomware which was released in the middle of May 2018. And now it seems like its developers decided to enhance this threat as it was once again spotted in the first week of June 2018. Although it’s a new version, nothing much has actually changed. Just like its predecessor, it avoids infecting Russian users by checking the registry path, “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Keyboard Layout\Preload” to see if it is set to the Russian layout or not. And if it is using a Russian layout, it will spare the computer, otherwise, it will immediately initiate its attack.
During the execution of its attack, it will scan the computer for files to lock and skip anything that matches certain file extensions, filenames as well as files located in specific folders. According to security experts, it skips the following folders, files, and file extensions:
\ProgramData\, \IETldCache\, \Boot\, \Program Files\, \Tor Browser\, \All Users\, \Local Settings\, \Windows\, desktop.ini, autorun.inf, ntuser.dat, iconcache.db, bootsect.bak, boot.ini, ntuser.dat.log, thumbs.db, ntldr, NTDETECT.COM, Bootfont.bin, A:\, SQL, .ani , .cab , .cpl , .cur , .diagcab , .diagpkg , .dll , .drv , .hlp , .ldf , .icl , .icns , .ico , .ics , .lnk , .key , .idx , .mod , .mpa , .msc , .msp , .msstyles , .msu , .nomedia , .ocx , .prf , .rom , .rtp , .scr , .shs , .spl , .sys , .theme , .themepack , .exe , .bat , .cmd , .sigrun_key , .sigrun , .admin
It then begins to encrypt its targeted files after it segregates the aforementioned folders, files and filenames from getting encrypted. After the encryption, Sigrun 1.0 ransomware adds the .sigrun extension to each one of the encrypted files. Following the encryption, it creates two ransom notes such as “RESTORE-SIGRUN.txt” and “RESTORE-SIGRUN.html” – the latter contains the following content:
“SIGRUN 1.0 RANSOMWARE
All your important files are encrypted
Your files has been encrypted by sigrun ransomware with unique decryption key.
There is only one way to get your files back: contact us, pay and get decryptor software.
We accept Bitcoin and Dash, you can find exchangers on https://www.bitcoin.com/buy-bitcoin and https://www.dash.org/exchanges/ and others.
You have unique idkey (in a yellow frame), write it in a letter when contact with us.
Also, you can decrypt 3 files for the test, its guarantee what we can decrypt your files.
IDKEY:
>>> [id_key] <<<
Contact information:
email: [email protected]”
At the time of writing, the files encrypted by Sigrun 1.0 ransomware cannot be decrypted for free unless you are a Russian user and the developer decides to help you. So if you’re not a Russian user, the best thing you can do is not to pay the ransom demanded but to use whatever backup copies you have of your files until such time that security experts are able to come up with a free decryptor. But before you do any of that, you need to kill the process of this dangerous file-encrypting threat first before it can do further damage to your unscathed files.
How does Sigrun 1.0 ransomware proliferate?
Spam emails remain to be the most commonly used method in spreading ransomware threats including Sigrun 1.0 ransomware. Crooks use an obfuscated file that carries the malicious payload. Once this file is opened, it will run the malicious payload into the system to install Sigrun 1.0 ransomware. This is why you have to be extra careful in opening any kind of attachments from your email no matter who sent them as crooks tend to disguise these emails to lure users like you into opening them and downloading the attachment.
Follow the removal instructions below carefully to kill Sigrun 1.0 ransomware from your PC.
Step 1: Open the Windows Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc at the same time. Proceed to the Processes tab and look for suspicious processes that can be related to the Sigrun 1.0 Ransomware.

Right-click on the processes then click Open File Location and scan them using a powerful and trusted antivirus like [product-name]. After opening their folders, end their processes and delete their folders. If the virus scanner fails to detect something that you know is suspicious, don’t hesitate to delete it.
Step 2: Open Control Panel by pressing Start key + R to launch Run and type appwiz.cpl in the search box and click OK.

Step 3: Look for Sigrun 1.0 ransomware or any malicious program and then Uninstall it.

Step 4: Hold down Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer.
Step 5: Go to the directories listed below and then look for the corrupted files created by Sigrun 1.0 ransomware such as its malicious payload that may be a document or an executable file named randomly as well as the files named “RESTORE-SIGRUN.txt” and “RESTORE-SIGRUN.html” then delete all of them.

C:\Users\(your pcname)\AppData\Roaming
%TEMP%.
%USERPROFILE%\Downloads
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop

Step 6: Close the File Explorer.
Before you proceed to the next steps below, make sure that you are tech savvy enough to the point where you know exactly how to use and navigate your computer’s Registry. Keep in mind that any changes you make will highly impact your computer. To save you the trouble and time, you can just use [product-code], this system tool is proven to be safe and excellent enough that hackers won’t be able to hack into it. But if you can manage Windows Registry well, then, by all means, go on to the next steps.
Step 7: Tap Win + R to open Run and then type in regedit in the field and tap enter to pull up Windows Registry.

Step 8: Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKCU\SOFTWARE
HKCU\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node

Step 9: Delete the registry keys and sub-keys created by Sigrun 1.0 ransomware.
Step 10: Close the Registry Editor and empty your Recycle Bin.
Follow the advanced instructions below to completely remove Sigrun 1.0 ransomware as well as all the files it left behind from your computer.
Perform a full system scan using [product-code]. To do so, follow these steps:

Turn on your computer. If it’s already on, you have to reboot
After that, the BIOS screen will be displayed, but if Windows pops up instead, reboot your computer and try again. Once you’re on the BIOS screen, repeat pressing F8, by doing so the Advanced Option shows up.

To navigate the Advanced Option use the arrow keys and select Safe Mode with Networking then hit
Windows will now load the SafeMode with Networking.
Press and hold both R key and Windows key.

If done correctly, the Windows Run Box will show up.
Type in the URL address [product-url] in the Run dialog box and then tap Enter or click OK.
After that, it will download [product-name]. Wait for the download to finish and then open the launcher to install the program.
Once the installation process is completed, run the program to perform a full system scan.