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What is Satan?
Similar to Ransom32, Satan is a ransomware-type virus offered as a Service (Raas). Following successful infiltration, Satan encrypts stored data using RSA-2048 and AES-256 cryptography. In addition, this virus appends the names of encrypted files with the ".stn" extension (for instance, "sample.jpg" is renamed to "sample.jpg.stn").
Following successful encryption, Satan places an HTML file ("HELP_DECRYPT_FILES.html") on the desktop.
Updated variants of this ransomware use .satan extension for encrypted files. As mentioned above, Satan's developers provide a service allowing prospective cyber criminals to make money by distributing this ransomware. In exchange, developers receive 30% of revenues generated by users.
To use Satan RaaS, users must create an account and provide the required information. Firstly, users must have a Bitcoin wallet used for ransom transactions. Secondly, they must specify a cost for decryption. They are then able to download a malicious executable file, which is used to infect victims' computers.
Satan's website also contains a number of other features (for example, transaction tracking, list of released Satan's versions, etc.). The aforementioned Satan HTML file (placed on the desktop) contains a ransom-demand message stating that files are encrypted and that restoring them without a unique key is impossible. Unfortunately, this information is accurate.
RSA-2048 is an asymmetric encryption algorithm and, thus, public (encryption) and private (decryption) keys are generated during file encryption. Cyber criminals store private keys on a remote server and victims are encouraged to pay ransoms to receive them by following instructions on Satan's decryption website (links are provided within the HTML file).
The cost of decryption is not consistent (distributors are able to change it), however, most ransomware-type viruses demand between $500 and 1500 in Bitcoins. It is also stated that the ransom must be paid within the given time frame, otherwise the price will increase. In any case, you should never trust cyber criminals.
Research shows that these people commonly ignore victims, despite payments made. Paying does not guarantee that your files will ever be restored and you might be scammed.
Therefore, never pay any ransom or attempt to contact these people. Unfortunately, there are no tools capable of cracking RSA-2048 and AES-256 encryption algorithms or restoring files compromised by Satan ransomware. Therefore, the only solution is to restore your files/system from a backup.
Screenshot of a message encouraging victims to pay a ransom to decrypt their compromised data:
There are hundreds of ransomware-type viruses with similar behavior to Satan. Examples include HakunaMatata, LambdaLocker, Karma, and many others. All encrypt files and make ransom demands. The only major differences are size of ransom and encryption algorithm (symmetric/asymmetric) used.
Ransomware-type viruses are often distributed using spam emails (malicious attachments), unofficial software download sources (peer-to-peer networks, freeware download and free file hosting websites, etc.), fake software update tools, and trojans.
Therefore, be cautious when opening files received from suspicious emails, and when downloading software from third party sources.
Keeping your installed applications up-to-date and using a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite is also essential. Be aware, however, that cyber criminals often exploit software bugs/flaws to infect the system. Therefore, never use any third party update tools.
Text presented within Satan HTML file (English):
What happened to my files ?
All of your personal files were encrypted using AES-256 and RSA-2048
What does this mean ?
This means that the content of your files have been changed, you will not be able to use them, it is basically the same as losing them forever. However, you can still get them back with our help.
How can I get my files back ?
As said before, your files have been encrypted, in order to decrypt them, you'll need the private key of the key pair that was generated when your files were encrypted. Decrypting your files is only possible with the private key and the decrypter.
If you really value your data, then you should not waste time and follow the instructions in the link below:
hxxps://satan6dll23napb5.onion.to/k9JEZbSz?lang=en
hxxps://satan6dll23napb5.onion.cab/k9JEZbSz?lang=en
hxxp://satan6dll23napb5.onion.tor2web.org/k9JEZbSz?lang=en
If the links above are not available, you should follow these steps instead:
1. Download and install the Tor Browser
2. After you've installed it, run the browser and wait for it to initialize
3. Type in the address bar: hxxp://satan6dll23napb5.onion/k9JEZbSz?lang=en
4. Follow the instructions on the page
Text presented within Satan HTML file (Portuguese):
O que aconteceu com os meus arquivos ?
Todos os seus arquivos pessoais foram criptografados usando AES-256 e RSA-2048
O que isso significa ?
Isso significa que o conteúdo dos seus arquivos foi alterado, você não será capaz de usá-los, isso é basicamente o mesmo que perdê-los para sempre. Entretanto, com nossa ajuda você ainda pode tê-los de volta.
Como posso ter meus arquivos de volta ?
Como dito antes, seus arquivos foram criptografados, para descriptografa-los, voc precisará da chave privada do par de chaves que foi gerado quando seus arquivos foram criptografados. Descriptografar os arquivos é apenas possível com a chave privada e o descifrador.
Se você realmente dá valor aos seus dados, você não deve desperdiçar tempo. Siga as instruções no link abaixo:
https://satan6dll23napb5.onion.to/k9JEZbSz?lang=pt
https://satan6dll23napb5.onion.cab/k9JEZbSz?lang=pt
http://satan6dll23napb5.onion.tor2web.org/k9JEZbSz?lang=pt
Se os links acima não estiverem disponíveis, siga os seguintes passos:
1. Baixe e instale o Tor Browser
2. Depois de instalado, execute-o e espere a sua inicialização
3. Digite na barra de endereço: http://satan6dll23napb5.onion/k9JEZbSz?lang=pt
4. Siga as instruções na página
Screenshot of Satan ransomware Tor website:
Text presented within this site:
Your personal files have been encrypted. In order to decrypt them you'll have to pay -- BTC
If the payment is not made until %LIMIT%, the cost for the private key will increase to -- BTC
How to get your files back
1. Register a bitcoin wallet
2. Purchase the amount of bitcoins needed
3. Send -- BTC to the address:
4. Wait for the transaction to be confirmed
The transactions are checked automatically every hour. After you've paid, come back here after at least one hour.
You've paid -- BTC. There are still -- BTC left.
Screenshot of files encrypted by Satan ransomware (random file name and ".stn" extension):
Screenshots of Satan RaaS (ransomware as a service) website:
Satan RaaS "Homepage" page:
Text presented within this page:
What is Satan?
Apart from the mythological creature, Satan is a ransomware, a malicious software that once opened in a Windows system, encrypts all the files, and demands a ransom for the decryption tools.
How to make money with Satan?
First of all, you'll need to sign up. Once you've sign up, you'll have to log in to your account, create a new virus and download it. Once you've downloaded your newly created virus, you're ready to start infecting people.
Now, the most important part: the bitcoin paid by the victim will be credited to your account. We will keep a 30% fee of the income, so, if you specified a 1 BTC ransom, you will get 0.7 BTC and we will get 0.3 BTC. The fee will become lower depending on the number of infections and payments you have.
Satan RaaS "Malwares" page:
Text presented within this page:
Ransom - Ransom in BTC (min 0.1) Use "." as decimal separator.
Multiplier - Used to multiply the ransom by X times after Y days.
Multiplier (Days) - Days before the ransom multiplier.
Note - Notes are private, and used only to keep track of your victims.
Proxy - Read about how to set up a gateway proxy here.
Do not upload your malware to VirusTotal and/or any other online scanner.
The malware does not run inside virtual machines, if you wish to test it, you must do it in a physical computer. Don't forget to run the test with the command-line argument -r to avoid having the binary deleted.
Satan RaaS "Droppers" page:
Text presented within this page:
Making a dropper
1. Use one of the xor functions below to encrypt your ransomware.
2. Upload the encrypted ransomware to your web server.
3. In the form below, enter the url to the file, the key you used to encrypt and click on "Generate".
4. Follow the usage instructions
Satan RaaS "Translate" page:
Text presented within this page:
Translation guidelines
1. All fields must be filled.
2. Anything between "%" should be only copied and not translated.
3. The field "English" should be filled with the name of the language you're translating (e.g Deutsch, Español).
4. The characters used must be UTF-8 supported.
5. Only one translation is allowed per day.
The translations are manually checked and added once a day. Duplicates are ignored.
Satan RaaS "Account" page:
Satan RaaS "Notices" page:
Satan RaaS "Messages" page:
Satan ransomware removal:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Removal and file recovery procedure
If your files are encrypted with a new extension and a ransom note has appeared, you've been hit by ransomware. Don't pay. The procedure below works in order: contain the infection, identify the variant, remove the ransomware itself (so anything you restore doesn't get re-encrypted), and try to recover files using free decryption tools, Windows Volume Shadow Copies, or backups. Run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner to remove the infection - then move on to file recovery.
Common ransomware behaviors
VisibleEncrypts your files and renames them
The ransomware reads each file, encrypts the contents with the attacker's public key, and writes the encrypted bytes back to disk. Most variants also rename the file by appending a new extension - .net, .locked, .crypt, .lockbit, .djvu, etc. Without the matching private key, the encrypted files cannot be opened normally. Recovery depends on a free decryption tool, a recoverable Volume Shadow Copy, or a clean backup.
VisibleDrops a ransom note in every encrypted folder
A text or HTML file (usually named HOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt, README.txt, _readme.txt, or similar) is placed in every folder that contains encrypted files. The note explains the situation, lists a payment amount in cryptocurrency, gives a deadline, and provides a contact email or .onion site. Save the note - don't delete it. Its exact wording, the email address, and the bitcoin wallet are how you identify the variant in the next phase.
VisibleReplaces the desktop wallpaper
Many ransomware variants change the Windows wallpaper to a black or red image with the ransom message and instructions. The wallpaper is just a visual scare tactic - it doesn't add any actual capability and reverts to normal once the ransomware is removed. Photograph it before removal in case the contact details are useful for variant identification or for reporting to authorities.
HiddenDeletes Volume Shadow Copies
One of the first things modern ransomware does after launching is run vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet to wipe Windows' built-in Volume Shadow Copies - the snapshots that Previous Versions and System Restore rely on. Some ransomware doesn't fully succeed (especially on systems where the user lacks full admin rights), leaving partial shadow copies recoverable. Phase 4 step 11 covers how to check what survived.
HiddenDisables Windows Defender and other security tools
Before encrypting, the ransomware tries to silence anything that could alert you or block it - Windows Defender real-time protection, third-party antivirus services, backup agents (Veeam, Acronis), and sometimes the Windows Event Log service. It often modifies Group Policy or registry keys to keep these off after reboot. Phase 3 step 9 explicitly turns Tamper Protection back on so the next ransomware attempt can't repeat the trick.
HiddenSpreads laterally to other PCs on the network
Network-aware ransomware (LockBit, Conti, BlackCat, Akira families) doesn't stop at the first machine. It scans for SMB shares, mapped drives, and other PCs on the same network, then encrypts whatever it can reach. On Windows domains, a single compromised user with admin rights can lead to all-domain encryption. This is why Phase 1 step 2 disconnects the network as the very first action - it stops the spread immediately.
HiddenSteals data before encrypting (double extortion)
Modern ransomware (LockBit, BlackCat / ALPHV, Akira, Cl0p, Royal) almost always exfiltrates data before encrypting. The attacker then runs a "double extortion" play: pay the ransom for decryption, plus pay again to prevent the stolen data from being leaked on the group's leak site. Paying the first ransom does not get the leaked data back - assume that anything the ransomware could read was uploaded. This is one more reason not to pay: the data is already out.
Don't pay the ransom
Paying the ransom does not guarantee you'll get your files back. Major ransomware response studies consistently show that a meaningful percentage of paying victims either receive a non-working decryptor, only partial decryption, or no decryptor at all. Beyond that:
- Paying confirms you as a willing target - re-attack rates within 12 months are high
- Several ransomware groups have been sanctioned (US OFAC, UK OFSI). Paying these groups may be illegal under sanctions law in your country
- The ransom funds the next attack - on you or someone else
- Modern ransomware almost always exfiltrates data first, so paying doesn't get the leaked data back. Assume anything the malware could read was uploaded
- Decryptors, even when they work, often leave files corrupted because the encryption itself was buggy or rushed
The path below tries every legal, free recovery option first. Pay only as an absolute last resort, after consulting a lawyer and your country's cyber crime authority.
Disconnect from the network and log out of cloud storage
Pull the Ethernet cable and turn off Wi-Fi on the affected PC. If multiple computers share the network, do the same on every machine you suspect could be affected, including any servers and NAS units.
Then sign out of cloud storage clients (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud) from their app settings. If you can, pause the sync. Some ransomware uses the running sync client to push encrypted versions over your clean cloud copies.
Modern ransomware spreads laterally across SMB shares, mapped drives, RDP, and reachable network neighbors. Disconnecting stops the spread the moment you do it. Logging out of cloud sync clients prevents the ransomware from encrypting the cloud copies of your files via the sync API.
Unplug external drives and USB storage
Safely eject any external drives, USB sticks, SD cards, and network-attached storage shares - then unplug them. If a drive was connected when the ransomware ran, the files on it may already be encrypted, but unplugging stops further damage.
Critically: don't reconnect any drive (including your most recent backup) to this PC until the ransomware is removed in Phase 3. Reconnecting an external backup to an actively-infected PC is the most common way that backup gets encrypted too.
Save the ransom note and a sample encrypted file
Copy the ransom note and one small encrypted file (under 1 MB) to a USB stick, or photograph the note with your phone. You'll need both for the variant identification step.
The ransom note is usually one of:
- A
.txtfile in every encrypted folder (typicallyHOW_TO_DECRYPT.txt,README.txt, or_readme.txt) - An
.htmlfile with the same purpose - A changed desktop wallpaper - photograph it
- A lock-screen interrupt that runs at startup - rarer
Don't delete the note. Variant identification depends on its exact wording, the contact email, and the bitcoin wallet address. The note is also evidence if you report to authorities.
Identify the variant with ID Ransomware
From a clean device (your phone is fine, or another PC that wasn't on the affected network), visit id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com. Upload the ransom note and the sample encrypted file. The site identifies the variant family and tells you whether a free decryptor exists.
ID Ransomware is run by the Malware Hunter Team. Files you upload are kept private - they're used for analysis, not published. If you're concerned about uploading data anyway, you can paste the contact email and bitcoin wallet from the note - those are often enough for identification.
The ransomware itself must be removed before any file recovery. If it's still active, anything you restore in Phase 4 gets re-encrypted within minutes.
Boot to Safe Mode with Networking and download the scanners
Safe Mode loads only the minimal Windows drivers, which prevents most ransomware from auto-running while you set up the scanners.
Windows 11: open , click Restart now next to Advanced startup. After the restart, click , then press 5 or F5.
Windows 10: click the Windows logo, hold Shift, click the Power icon and choose Restart. From the Choose-an-option screen, click , then press F5.
Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in step 8) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in step 9). Save both installers to your Desktop, then disconnect Wi-Fi again before scanning.
Run Microsoft Defender Offline
Reboot to normal Windows. Open . Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads.
Some ransomware variants drop bootkit components or kernel hooks that hide from any scanner running on the same Windows session that's already infected. A pre-boot offline scan sees the disk before the malware can load itself.
VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.
Download Combo CleanerRun a full Combo Cleaner scan
Run the installer you downloaded in step 6 and start a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete, review what it detected, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner quarantines the ransomware executable and the registry / scheduled-task entries that re-launch it on reboot.
Run Microsoft Safety Scanner and re-enable Defender
Run Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe) as a second-opinion full scan. The binary expires every 10 days so the copy you downloaded has the latest signatures.
Once it finishes, open and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Many ransomware variants disable Defender during the attack - this is where you switch it back on so the next attempt can't repeat the trick.
Different scanning engines catch different threats. Running an additional Microsoft scan after Combo Cleaner is the most underused verification step in malware removal - and free.
Try the steps in order. The first decryptor that works ends the recovery process - no need to do all four.
Check the No More Ransom Project for a free decryptor
Visit nomoreransom.org and search the Decryption Tools list for the variant name returned by ID Ransomware. The project is run by Europol, the Dutch Police, and security vendors - everything listed is legitimate and free.
If a decryptor exists, download it onto a clean PC, copy it across, and follow its instructions exactly. Decryptors usually want you to point them at a sample encrypted file plus its known unencrypted version (sometimes any image you previously had a backup of works).
Free decryptors exist for parts of the STOP/Djvu, GandCrab, REvil, Avaddon, Conti and Hive families, among others. Most modern variants don't have public decryptors - if yours isn't listed, that's expected; move to the next step.
Try Windows Volume Shadow Copies
Windows automatically creates Volume Shadow Copies of files when System Restore points are made or scheduled backups run. Most ransomware tries to wipe these (vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet), but the deletion sometimes fails partially - especially if the running user doesn't have full admin rights. When it does fail, snapshots survive that contain pre-encryption versions of your files.
First, check what's there. Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
vssadmin list shadows
If you see entries listed, shadow copies survived. To restore from them:
- Built-in: right-click any folder → Properties → Previous Versions tab. Pick a snapshot dated before the infection and restore.
- Better tool for browsing: install Shadow Explorer (free). It shows all snapshots as a normal file tree and lets you copy out only the files you want.
Shadow Copies recover the original files exactly, with no risk of decryption errors. If they survived, this is faster and cleaner than running a decryptor on the encrypted set.
Restore from cloud or external backup
If you have a backup that pre-dates the infection, this is the cleanest recovery available. Important precautions:
- Don't reconnect a backup drive until Phase 3 is complete. If the ransomware is still active, plugging in the backup encrypts it too.
- For cloud backups (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud), use the Version History feature to roll individual files back to pre-encryption versions.
- OneDrive specifically has a "Restore your OneDrive" feature: if it detected mass file changes, you can roll back the entire account up to 30 days. Sign in at OneDrive on the web, click the Settings gear, and choose Restore your OneDrive. Microsoft 365 subscribers also get ransomware detection alerts; non-subscribers get one free recovery.
- Verify the restored files open correctly before you delete the encrypted set. Test a few documents, photos, and any database / project files.
Try Recuva as a last-resort recovery
Recuva is a long shot, not a primary recovery tool. Most modern ransomware encrypts files in place - it reads the original, encrypts the data, and writes the encrypted bytes back to the same disk location. In that case, the original isn't deleted, just rewritten - and Recuva has nothing to find.
But for older or simpler variants that deleted originals before creating encrypted copies (rather than encrypting in place), Recuva can sometimes pull the originals from unallocated disk space. Worth trying as a last resort, especially before you use the disk much further.
If you try it:
- Stop using the disk as much as possible - every disk write reduces recovery odds
- Run Recuva from a USB stick, not from the affected disk
- Use Deep Scan mode (slower but the only mode worth running for this scenario)
Don't skip the steps above expecting Recuva to bail you out. It works in maybe 5-20% of cases, depending on the variant and how soon you try.
Report the attack to authorities
Even if your files aren't recovered, your report helps authorities track variants, attribute groups, and warn future victims. In some jurisdictions (especially the US and UK) early reporting can sometimes help recall a wired ransom payment via banking partners.
Save the report number - banks, insurers, and credit bureaus will ask for it. If you operate a business, you may also have legal disclosure obligations (GDPR in the EU, state breach laws in the US) that run on a 72-hour clock.
Plan 3-2-1 backups going forward
The single best defense against ransomware is a tested backup. Use the 3-2-1 rule:
- 3 copies of your data
- 2 different storage media (e.g., internal drive + external drive)
- 1 offline / air-gapped copy (an external drive that isn't always connected)
Recommended cadence:
- Daily: cloud sync (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive) - convenient, but vulnerable if the ransomware reaches the sync folder. The Version History feature is what saves you
- Weekly: external drive that you connect briefly, then disconnect - the air-gap is what protects against ransomware
- Monthly: a second external drive stored off-site (different physical location) - protects against fire, theft, flood
Test the backup at least once. Open a few files from it, check sizes match, restore one to a different folder. An untested backup isn't a backup - it's a hope.
Patch the entry point and monitor for 30 days
Most reinfections happen via the same vector that worked the first time. Until you've patched the entry point, watch for:
- Unusual disk activity, unexpected file modifications, or unfamiliar processes in Task Manager
- Unexpected reboots or new accounts you didn't create
- Defender or your antivirus turning itself off again
Common entry vectors and what to do about each:
- Phishing email with a malicious attachment - review email filters and train yourself / staff to recognise the patterns - see pcrisk's Phishing/Scam reference
- Exposed RDP with weak passwords - disable Remote Desktop from if you don't need it. If you do, put it behind a VPN and require a long password plus MFA
- Unpatched VPN appliances or public-facing apps - check the vendor's advisories page and apply the latest firmware
- Cracked / pirated software - was the most common vector for STOP/Djvu in particular. Don't run software from torrent sites
Run a Combo Cleaner scan weekly for the first month. Update Windows, browsers, and applications aggressively.
Important: Removing a ransomware infection requires a full system scan, not a manual file delete. If you're not confident with the manual procedure, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there - that combination removes the vast majority of consumer ransomware variants. Then move to Phase 4 for file recovery, or to Phase 5 if your files are unrecoverable and you need to start fresh from a clean Windows install.
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Tomas Meskauskas
Expert security researcher, professional malware analyst
I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats.
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