How to Eliminate Sguard Ransomware (Crypto-Malware/Ransomware)

What is Sguard ransomware? And how does it execute its attack?

Sguard ransomware is a dangerous file-encrypting virus that can corrupt important data in a computer. It is designed to encrypt files and demands a ransom worth €600 in Bitcoins. According to researchers, this new crypto-malware is a new variant of GarrantyDecrypt ransomware. It uses a “.sguard” extension in marking its encrypted files and seems to follow the same pattern as other variants of GarrantyDecrypt.
The moment Sguard ransomware infiltrates the system, it connects it to a remote server. After that, it creates and downloads more malicious files and places them on system folders. It then proceeds to make modifications in the Windows Registry by modifying some existing registry keys like RunOnce as well as create new ones to allow it to run on every system boot automatically. It also employs two modules namely, data harvesting and stealth protection modules. The first module is used to gather information from the computer and use it for the second module which is the one that bypasses any security programs installed in the system that could interfere with the attack. It then scans the computer for files with specific formats such as:
.3dm, .3g2, .3gp, .7zip, .aaf, .accdb, .aep, .aepx, .aet, .ai, .aif, .as, .as.txt, .as3, .asf, .asp, .asx, .avi, .bmp, .c, .class, .cpp, .cs, .csv, .dat, .db, .dbf, .doc, .docb, .docm, .docx, .dot, .dotm, .dotx, .dwg, .dxf, .dxf.c, .efx, .eps, .fla, .flv, .gif, .h, .idml, .iff, .indb, .indd, .indl, .indt, .inx, .jar, .java, .jpeg, .jpg, .js, .m3u, .m3u8, .m4u, .max, .mdb, .mid, .mkv, .mov, .mp3, .mp4, .mpa, .mpeg, .mpg, .msg, .pdb, .pdf, .php, .plb, .pmd, .png, .pot, .potm, .potx, .ppam, .ppj, .pps, .ppsm, .ppsx, .ppt, .pptm, .pptx, .prel, .prproj, .ps, .psd, .py, .ra, .rar, .raw, .rb, .rtf, .sdf, .ses, .sldm, .sldx, .sql, .svg, .swf, .tif, .txt, .vcf, .vob, .wav, .wma, .wmv, .wpd, .wps, .xla, .xlam, .xll, .xlm, .xls, .xlsb, .xlsm, .xlsx, .xlt, .xltm, .xltx, .xlw, .xml, .xqx, .zip
After finding its targeted files, Sguard ransomware encrypts them AES cryptography. Following its encryption of the files, it appends .odin extension in every compromised file. You will then see a text file named “SGUARD-README.txt” which contains the following content:
“———————
! STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO USE NON-ORIGIN DECRYPTION TOOLS OR MODIFYING ENCRYPTED FILES – DATA WILL BE LOST !
———————
Your server have been attacked by an Unathorized user.
All your files have been encrypted with RSA private key to safe them from unathorized 3rd party access.
To RESTORE all your files back, please follow this few steps:
1. SecureServer service charges a payment for file decryption;
2. After payment being processed, provide us your server id-key;
3. Receive your unique decryption tool;
4. Run the decryption tool and successfully restore all your files back to normal state.
We guarantee:
100% Successful restoring of all files
100% Satisfaction guarantee
100% Safe and secure service
As a proof of our trusted decryption service, you can send us 1 file and get it decrypted for free.
———————
! STRICTLY FORBIDDEN TO USE NON-ORIGIN DECRYPTION TOOLS OR MODIFYING ENCRYPTED FILES – DATA WILL BE LOST !
! ONLY OUR DECRYPTION TOOL CAN RESTORE YOUR FILES !
———————
Contact us: [email protected]
Payment type: Bitcoin
Our wallet: 15Z7vDXHCtWdfVKZkD3sJWJEK6jeBznzT9
Sum: 600 EUR
Your server ID-KEY:
–
———————
For any questions: [email protected]
SecureServer Systems (c) 2019 / ProtonProject EU
===Key verify text===
-”
You must not, under any circumstance, contact the crooks behind Sguard ransomware, nor should you pay the ransom it may demand. In fact, it’s best if you cease any contact with these attackers and focus instead on restoring your encrypted files.
How does Sguard ransomware proliferate?
Sguard ransomware may proliferate using unprotected RDP configuration, exploit kits and malicious spam email campaign which is why you must always keep your computer protected by constantly updating the system and all the antivirus and security programs installed in it.
Eliminate Sguard ransomware from your computer using the given removal guide below.
Step 1: First, you have to stop the malicious process of Sguard ransomware by opening the Task Manager. To do that, simply tap Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard.
Step 2: Under the Task Manager, switch to the Processes tab and find a process named Sguard5.exe as well as any suspicious-looking process that takes up most of your CPU’s resources and is most likely related to Sguard ransomware.

Step 3: After that, close the Task Manager.
Step 4: Tap Win + R, type in appwiz.cpl and click OK or tap Enter to open Programs and Features under Control Panel.
Step 5: Under the list of installed programs, look for Sguard ransomware or anything similar and then uninstall it.

Step 6: Next, close Control Panel and tap Win + E keys to launch File Explorer.
Step 7: Navigate to the following locations below and look for Sguard ransomware’s malicious components such as Sguard5.exe, SGUARD-README.txt, [random].exe and other suspicious files, then delete all of them.

%TEMP%
%WINDIR%\System32\Tasks
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\
%USERPROFILE%\Downloads
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop

Step 8: 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-name], 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 9: Tap Win + R to open Run and then type in regedit in the field and tap enter to pull up Windows Registry.

Step 10: Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

Step 11: Delete the registry keys and sub-keys created by Sguard ransomware.
Step 12: Close the Registry Editor and empty the Recycle Bin.
Try to recover your encrypted files using the Shadow Volume copies
Restoring your encrypted files using Windows’ Previous Versions feature will only be effective if Sguard ransomware hasn’t deleted the shadow copies of your files. But still, this is one of the best and free methods there is, so it’s definitely worth a shot.
To restore the encrypted file, right-click on it and select Properties, a new window will pop-up, then proceed to Previous Versions. It will load the file’s previous version before it was modified. After it loads, select any of the previous versions displayed on the list like the one in the illustration below. And then click the Restore button.

Complete the removal process of Sguard ransomware by using a trusted and reliable program like [product-name]. Refer to the following guidelines on how to use it.
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 it.
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 Safe Mode 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 the program. Wait for the download to finish and then open the launcher to install the program.
Once the installation process is completed, run [product-code] to perform a full system scan.