Sadogo ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Sadogo ransomware is yet another file locking virus that started harvesting people's personal files in the middle of April 2020. Alike most viruses of its kind, it explores the system's vulnerabilities and tricks people into downloading it from their email accounts.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Sadogo ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The ransomware does not exhibit distinctive distribution methods. Based on victims' reports, it has been distributed via unprotected RDP servers mainly. However, experts revealed several social engineering techniques when the payload of Sadogo ransomware has been injected into fake FedEx emails. |
|---|---|
| Name | Sadogo |
| Type of virus | Ransomware |
| Family | Not specified |
| AV detection | Trojan.Encoder.31586, Trojan.Encoder.31587, Trojan.PWS.DanaBot.281, Trojan.GenericKDZ.66633,TR / AD.KpotSteal.ED, A Variant Of Win32 / GenKryptik.EITE, A Variant Of Win32 / GenKryptik.EITH, Trojan.MalPack.GS, Trojan.Snojan! 8.E387 (CLOUD), Trojan.GenKryptik! 8.AA55,Trojan.Snojan! 8.E387 (CLOUD), Trojan.GenKryptik! 8.AA55, Trojan.Gen.2, Downloader, TROJ_GEN.R002H0CDK20; no Microsoft detection name is known for this name |
| Ransom note | readme.txt |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 13 more facts
| Extension | .encrypted. The locked file subsequently looks like picture.jpg.encrypted |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Right after installation, the ransomware starts malicious processes at boot, initiates changes withing the Registries, and eliminates Windows Volume Shadow Copies[2]. After that, the virus compromises non-system files and appends .encrypted extension to each of them. Aside from locked files, a significant system's slowdowns can be noticed. |
| Data decryption | The virus is still under investigation. However, it is known that it uses RSA encryption, which is not possible to decrypt without a unique key. |
| Contact | Not recorded in our earlier report |
| Encrypted file extension | .encrypted |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | File-encrypting ransomware |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .encrypted |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 30 April 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.encrypted - Note file:
readme.txt
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Sadogo
- The help of a professional AV engine is required for Sadogo removal.
- Manual elimination is not possible.
- To restore the changes that the ransomware initiated on the system (except encrypted files) use a recovery tool, such as .
- It will fix corrupt registries, boot files, and others.
The Sadogo ransomware note
Dear user! Your computer is encrypted!
To decrypt your computer, you need to download the TOR browser at hxxps://www.torproject.org/download/
Install it and visit our website for further action hxxp://reco3zanpd2ijycv.onion/
Your ID: ****************
How to remove Sadogo ransomware
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove Sadogo and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Sadogo encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Copy
readme.txtand one or two files ending in.encryptedto a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For Sadogo, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while Sadogo still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Sadogo ransomware encrypts files with .encrypted extension and demands victims to purchase a General-Decryptor
Sadogo ransomware is yet another file locking virus that started harvesting people's personal files in the middle of April 2020.
Alike most viruses of its kind, it explores the system's vulnerabilities and tricks people into downloading it from their email accounts. Sadogo virus uses a combination of AES and RSA encryption algorithm to make files inaccessible and appends .encrypted file extension. Victims are presented with a readme.txt file, which demands to download Tor browser and navigate to a specialized Your network has been infected! website for more information.
Although the files encrypted by Sadogo are not destroyed, currently there is no way to unlock them without a master private RSA key created by ransomware developers. Nevertheless, paying the ransom is not a good idea since deals with criminals may end up with money loss or identity theft.
The content of a ransom readme.txt does not contain many details except the fact that files have been stolen and that the user has to pay a ransom in Bitcoins. The ransom note has two links, i.e. one for downloading the Tor browser and the other for visiting Sadogo ransom payment website.
The Sadogo ransomware devoted website is called Help for decrypt. Developers inform that all files found on the system have been encrypted and payment for the General-decryptor software is expected. The page contains information submission fields, where people have to enter:
Unfortunately, it's not clear yet how many Bitcoins criminals demand, but based on ransomware practice it may vary from 1 to 10 BTC. Anyway, Sadogo ransomware infection causes significant losses, both money and data.
Although the ransomware is new to the market, it's prevalence is increasingly growing. People keep reporting files locked by .encrypted Sadogo ransomware. Having this in mind, it's very important to keep a comprehensive anti-malware software installed on the system. Currently, 59 anti-virus engines successfully recognize this infection and can eliminate it.
If you are one of the victims before Sadogo removal make sure to make copies of the encrypted files. Any attempt to launch AV scanner or third-party data recovery tools can lead to a permanent data loss.
Once your file is copied, remove Sadogo ransomware virus by running a full AV scan. Do not fall for panic if your software is idle and cannot be launched. In this case, reboot your PC into Safe Mode since this environment terminates processes that are not essential for the Windows system's performance.
After that, we highly recommend installing recovery tool to fix Sadogo virus damage. Ransomware is known for severe changes within the Registries, entries in the System32 folder, process termination, and so on. Thus, a full system's recovery may prevent the system from ransomware-related crashes, BSODs, or errors.
- Name or company name
- Unique ID number
- E-mail address
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Bad actors behind ransowmare viruses use multiple strategies to distribute the payload
The most reliable way to keep the system virus-free is to have a powerful anti-malware software installed.
Regular updates are also recommended. Although PCs that lack protection are the main target for hackers and ransomware distributors, the techniques used to build file-locking viruses are advanced. Core files of the viruses are usually built on unrecognized scripts, thus allowing them to bypass AV security checks without being noticed.
Apart from automatic security utilities, people have to extremely cautious when browsing on the Internet. Social engineering strategies are widely used to trick people into cybercrimes. For example, rogue software updates urging people to update security software, Windows, Java, Flash Player, etc. contain drive-by-download ransomware installers.
However, email spam campaigns remain the most proliferate and successful virus distribution technique. Reputable companies are impersonated by criminals who create seemingly-trustful email messages and provoke potential victims to open infected e-mail attachments. In this case, the only way to stay safe is to double-check the email and scan its attachment for safety.
Last, but not least, we'd like to address the gaming community who are at the highest risk of ransomware attacks. Although illicit, game cracks are distributed freely on the Internet. These pieces of software allow people to hack licenses and use services for free or get free additional functionalities. However, cracks and keygens can easily be obtained by criminals for ransomware dissemination.
Anyway, relying on illicit content, pirated software, rogue websites or suspicious e-mails pose a high risk of getting your files encrypted. Therefore, you should always weigh the risk before doing something online.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Immediate Sadogo removal is recommended to prevent system crash and permanent file loss
Ransomware viruses are not undetectable.
AV engines are capable of recognizing and decontamination malicious processes and executables. Therefore, do not delay Sadogo removal. If you have an anti-virus program installed, launch its scanner and set it to perform a full analysis.
If, however, the scanner is blocked due to the malicious processes, you will have to restart the system in Safe Mode with Networking. A full system scan should be sufficient to remove Sadogo virus completely. If surprisingly, the tool find nothing dangerous on the system, it may be that the ransomware has terminated itself right after file encryption.
As we have mentioned before, make sure to take care of the encrypted files. Before Sadogo removal, transfer the files onto a USB flash or a virtual drive; otherwise, the data may be automatically removed without a possibility to get it back.
Those who have never been dealing with a file-encrypting virus, we've provide a tutorial on how to remove it. Besides, you will find a couple of methods suggesting alternative Sadogo ransomware decryption methods.
[GI=method-1]If the ransomware appears to be more aggressive than expected, restart your PC into Safe Mode with Networking as explained below.
[GI=method-2]Windows has a feature of Windows previous version. If this function has been enabled on your device, you may try to recover the last version before the ransomware attack.
If you have System Restore feature enabled, this method may save the day
Try to retrieve the most important files with Shadow Volume copies
Although most of the ransomware delete Shadow Volume copies right after the installation, it's not clear if Sadogo ransomware does that as well without trying.
No descriptor is currently available
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Make the next attack harmless
Sadogo could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .encrypted and no longer open) showed exactly which ones those were.
The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for Windows.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about Sadogo ransomware
How do I open .encrypted files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .encrypted ending shows that Sadogo encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for Sadogo. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
How did Sadogo get on my computer?
The way Sadogo spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .encrypted and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Is there a free Sadogo decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Sadogo no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "Sadogo decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
Did Sadogo steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Sadogo, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .encrypted and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before. Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Is Sadogo the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Can I just remove .encrypted from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .encrypted extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
Can I delete readme.txt?
Yes, the note itself is harmless text and deleting it does not affect your files. Keep at least one copy first, outside the infected PC. readme.txt contains your personal ID and the attackers' contact details, which identification services use to tell which family encrypted your files, and which a decryptor may need later.
Police reports also ask for it. Once you have saved a copy, you can remove the notes from every folder after the ransomware program has been removed and your files are restored or backed up.
Will Fortect remove Sadogo?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Sadogo, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- GeeksforGeeks: RSA Algorithm in Cryptography (read October 6, 2026)
- Red Canary: It's all fun and games until ransomware deletes the shadow copies (read October 6, 2026)
- Virus Total: 7f77.tmp.exe (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)