How to remove Sbpg ransomware

Sbpg ransomware comes from the notorious Djvu/STOP malware family and is classified as a file-encrypting infection. It’s a dangerous malware infection because once it encrypts files, it won’t necessarily be possible to recover them. Copies of files in backup is always a good recovery option but not all users have the habit of regularly backing up files. When there is no backup, it’s often not possible to recover files. The cybercriminals operating the ransomware do have a decryptor but they will not give it to you for free. They will demand that you pay $980 in ransom.

 

 

Sbpg ransomware is essentially identical to other ransomware versions that come from the Djvu/STOP ransomware family. Previous versions include Miia, Loov, Nnqp, Hudf, and many others. It’s possible to differentiate between the many versions by the extensions they add to encrypted files. This ransomware adds .sbpg, hence why it’s known as Sbpg ransomware. This extension will be added to all your personal files, including photos, videos, documents, etc. As an example, image.jpg would become image.jpg.sbpg. None of the files with this extension will be openable unless you first use a decryptor them. But the only people with a decryptor are the people operating this ransomware.

When the ransomware is initiated, it will begin file encryption right away. To distract you from what’s happening, the ransomware will display a fake Windows Update window on your screen. And when it’s done with file encryption, the ransomware will drop a _readme.txt ransom note in all folders that contain encrypted files. The note is pretty generic and mostly identical to the ones dropped by other ransomware in this family. It explains that files have been encrypted and how you can recover them. Unfortunately, the note is correct in saying that you can only decrypt files with their decryptor. At least at this time. The malicious actors will offer you the decryptor for $980 but it may be possible to get a 50% discount if you contact them within the first 72 hours. While the decision of whether to pay is yours to make, we feel it’s necessary to warn you that it will not necessarily lead to file decryption. Take into account that you are dealing with cybercriminals, and it’s doubtful they will feel obligated to help you even after you pay. And considering that the reason ransomware is such a big issue is that victims pay the ransom, we always recommend against giving in to the demands.

Unfortunately, if you do not have copies of your files in a backup, you will not necessarily be able to recover them. To decrypt the files, you need the decryptor. But a free one is not currently available. While malware researchers and cybersecurity specialists often help victims decrypt files, in this case, it’s quite difficult. Mainly because Sbpg ransomware uses online keys to encrypt files. That means each victim has a unique key, and without those keys, developing a universal decryptor is not possible. However, it’s not uncommon for ransomware operators to release the keys when they decide to close shop so you may get lucky in the future. All you can really do at the moment is back up the encrypted files and wait for a free decryptor.

If you do have a backup, there should be no issue with file recovery, provided you first remove Sbpg ransomware from your computer. We highly recommend using anti-virus software to delete Sbpg ransomware because otherwise, some parts of the ransomware will remain. And if you connect to your backup while ransomware is still present, your backed-up files would become encrypted as well.

Ransomware distribution

In many cases, users pick up ransomware via malicious email attachments. Malicious actors use the email addresses they purchase from hacker forums to distribute their malware. The emails carrying malware are usually quite obvious because they’re low-effort. Senders pretend to be from companies whose services users use but the emails address users with generic terms (“User”, “Member”, “Customer”) and are full of obvious grammar/spelling mistakes. When you receive an email from a company whose services you actually use, you will always be addressed by name. Otherwise, the email would look unprofessional. And obviously, the email would be free of grammar/spelling mistakes for the same reason. Though we should mention that some malicious spam emails are more sophisticated. So it’s highly recommended to use anti-virus software or VirusTotal to scan all unsolicited email attachments before opening them.

It’s also very common to find malware in torrents. Torrent sites are usually quite badly regulated, which allows malicious actors to upload malware without much difficulty. Most often, malware is in torrents for popular content like movies, TV series, video games, software, etc. For example, when a new Marvel movie is released, torrent sites get filled with fake torrents with malware in them. Keep in mind that when torrenting copyrighted content, you’re not only essentially stealing but also jeopardizing your computer/data.

You can pick up malware in a variety of other ways, including downloading programs from unreliable sources, as well as clicking on ads. To avoid infections, it’s a good idea to develop healthy browsing habits. It’s also recommended to always have anti-virus software monitoring your computer for incoming threats.

Sbpg ransomware removal

Because ransomware is a rather complicated malware infection, you should not attempt to remove Sbpg ransomware manually because you could end up causing even more issues. Instead, you should use anti-virus software. When you are sure the ransomware has been removed, you can start file recovery. Keep in mind that if ransomware is still present when you connect to your backup, your files in backup could become encrypted as well.

If you do not have a backup, we recommend backup up your encrypted files and waiting for a free decryptor to become available. You can currently find a free Djvu/STOP decryptor developed by Emsisoft but it’s unlikely to work with Sbpg ransomware and most of the recent malware from this family. Nonetheless, it’s not impossible that a decryptor will be released in the future.