There is a new computer virus that is spreading around and it is very dangerous. Not like there are ever benevolent viruses out there, but this one will cause major problems to ANYONE who has anything important to them on their computers.
My friend just got one called Saturn Ransomware, and like other ransomware, this virus will ENCRYPT ALMOST ALL OF YOUR DATA FILES ON YOUR COMPUTER. This one is very new, however, and there are no ways currently that will decrypt all your files back to how it was. All your files will end with a .saturn and become unopenable and unobtainable, like so.
It will then tell you that in order to DECRYPT YOUR FILES, you must go to their WEBSITE AND PAY $300 for a key to get your files back.
DO NOT PAY THEM.
I REPEAT.
DO NOT. PAY. THEM.
Whether or not they even GIVE YOU a key, it will only ENCOURAGE THEIR BEHAVIOUR AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT.
It will also turn your background into this fairly scary warning.
IT WILL ALSO ENCRYPT ALL BACKUPS TO RESTORE YOUR COMPUTER TO A PREVIOUS DATE.
IT ALSO ENCRYPTS FILES ON SECONDARY DRIVES. Meaning, there is NOTHING on your computer that is safe.
My friend, who just got the virus yesterday, lost many of his files, from school work to all his pictures he did not have on his phone, to game projects that he was currently working on (he’s a game programmer) and the only things he has as backup are anything on an external USB or hard drive that was not connected to their computer.
FURTHERMORE, Saturn Ransomware has recently put on their website that they are allowing people full access to the virus in order to SPREAD THE VIRUS.
In order to protect your computer and your files, remember to BACK UP IMPORTANT FILES, this is always good to do. Not just for virus protection, but for future endeavors or situations where your computer just dies.
REPEAT: BACK UP IMPORTANT FILES. (On an external hard drive)
DO NOT OPEN FISHY FILES from anywhere, including fishy friend links, creepy side links or popups, or just email attachments from people you may or may not even know.
To be extra safe, you can even scan your files for viruses using scanning software, if you want.
If anyone is wondering how my friend got it, my cat clicked a link while the computer was still on and he was sleeping….Woke up with everything encrypted….
If anyone has other information or ways of solving this or any other ransomware, help is always appreciated. C:
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