How to remove Senator Ransomware and decrypt .SENATOR files

What is Senator Ransomware

Senator Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts files on a victim’s computer, rendering them inaccessible until a ransom is paid. This ransomware is part of a broader category of malware that has been increasingly prevalent in cyberattacks across various sectors. Understanding the mechanics of Senator Ransomware, including its infection process, the encryption it uses, the ransom notes it generates, and the potential for decryption, is crucial for both prevention and remediation. A distinctive feature of Senator Ransomware is its method of renaming the encrypted files. It appends an email address, a victim’s ID, and the .SENATOR extension to the filenames. For example, a file originally named document.docx would be renamed to something like document.docx.[email_address].[victim_ID].SENATOR after encryption. This renaming convention is a clear indicator of Senator Ransomware’s presence on the system. Senator Ransomware drops a ransom note named SENATOR ENCRYPTED.txt in the directories containing the encrypted files. This note is intended to communicate with the victims, providing them with instructions on how to proceed. It typically includes the ransom amount, expected in cryptocurrency, and detailed instructions on how to contact the attackers through various communication methods, including Session messenger, Telegram, or email. The note is designed to coerce the victim into paying the ransom in exchange for the decryption key.

As of the information available, there are no specific decryption tools mentioned for Senator Ransomware, which suggests that decryption without the attackers’ cooperation might be difficult or impossible. This is a common situation with many modern ransomware strains, where decryption tools are only available if security researchers discover flaws in the ransomware’s implementation or if the attackers themselves release the keys. However, you can attempt recovery techniques described in this article to gain access to some of the lost data.

How Senator Ransomware infects computers

Senator Ransomware, once executed on a system, begins to encrypt files across the computer. It targets a variety of file types, which can include documents, images, databases, and more. The encryption process is designed to be secure, preventing victims from accessing their own files without the unique decryption key held by the attackers. To protect against Senator Ransomware and other similar threats, it is crucial to implement strong cybersecurity practices. These include:

• Regularly updating software and operating systems to patch vulnerabilities.
• Educating users on the dangers of phishing emails and malicious attachments.
• Utilizing reputable antivirus and anti-malware solutions with real-time protection.
• Maintaining regular backups of important data in secure locations, preferably offline or in the cloud with versioning capabilities.

1. Download Senator Ransomware Removal Tool
2. Get decryption tool for .SENATOR files
3. Recover encrypted files with Stellar Data Recovery Professional
4. Restore encrypted files with Windows Previous Versions
5. Restore files with Shadow Explorer
6. How to protect from threats like Senator Ransomware

Senator Ransomware files:


SENATOR ENCRYPTED.txt
{randomname}.exe


Senator Ransomware registry keys:

no information

How to decrypt and restore .SENATOR files

Use automated decryptors

Download Kaspersky RakhniDecryptor

Use the following tool from Kaspersky called Rakhni Decryptor, that can decrypt .SENATOR files. Download it here:

There is no purpose to pay the ransom because there is no guarantee you will receive the key, but you will put your bank credentials at risk.

Dr.Web Rescue Pack

Famous antivirus vendor Dr. Web provides free decryption service for the owners of its products: Dr.Web Security Space or Dr.Web Enterprise Security Suite. Other users can ask for help in the decryption of .SENATOR files by uploading samples to Dr. Web Ransomware Decryption Service. Analyzing files will be performed free of charge and if files are decryptable, all you need to do is purchase a 2-year license of Dr.Web Security Space worth $120 or less. Otherwise, you don’t have to pay.

If you are infected with Senator Ransomware and removed from your computer, you can try to decrypt your files. Antivirus vendors and individuals create free decryptors for some crypto-lockers. To attempt to decrypt them manually, you can do the following:

Use Stellar Data Recovery Professional to restore .SENATOR files

1. Download Stellar Data Recovery Professional.
2. Click Recover Data button.
3. Select the type of files you want to restore and click Next button.
4. Choose the location where you would like to restore files from and click Scan button.
5. Preview found files, choose ones you will restore and click Recover.

Using Windows Previous Versions option:

1. Right-click on infected file and choose Properties.
2. Select Previous Versions tab.
3. Choose a particular version of the file and click Copy.
4. To restore the selected file and replace the existing one, click on the Restore button.
5. In case there are no items in the list, choose an alternative method.

Using Shadow Explorer:

1. Download Shadow Explorer program.
2. Run it, and you will see a screen listing of all the drives and the dates that shadow copy was created.
3. Select the drive and date that you want to restore from.
4. Right-click on a folder name and select Export.
5. In case there are no other dates in the list, choose an alternative method.

If you are using Dropbox:

1. Login to the Dropbox website and go to the folder that contains encrypted files.
2. Right-click on the encrypted file and select Previous Versions.
3. Select the version of the file you wish to restore and click on the Restore button.

How to protect computer from viruses, like Senator Ransomware, in future

1. Get special anti-ransomware software

Use ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Dashboard

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Alert

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware Blocked

Famous antivirus brand ZoneAlarm by Check Point released a comprehensive tool, that will help you with active anti-ransomware protection, as an additional shield to your current protection. The tool provides Zero-Day protection against ransomware and allows you to recover files. ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is compatible with all other antiviruses, firewalls, and security software except ZoneAlarm Extreme (already shipped with ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware) or Check Point Endpoint products. The killer features of this application are: automatic file recovery, overwrite protection that instantly and automatically recovers any encrypted files, file protection that detects and blocks even unknown encryptors.

2. Back up your files

As an additional way to save your files, we recommend online backup. Local storage, such as hard drives, SSDs, flash drives, or remote network storage can be instantly infected by the virus once plugged in or connected to. Senator Ransomware uses some techniques to exploit this. One of the best services and programs for easy automatic online backup is iDrive. It has the most profitable terms and a simple interface. You can read more about iDrive cloud backup and storage here.

3. Do not open spam e-mails and protect your mailbox

Malicious attachments to spam or phishing e-mails are the most popular method of ransomware distribution. Using spam filters and creating anti-spam rules is good practice. One of the world leaders in anti-spam protection is MailWasher Pro. It works with various desktop applications and provides a very high level of anti-spam protection.