What is a .SAGE file?
A .SAGE file can mean two very different things depending on the context. Firstly, it can be a file related to the SageMath programming language. In this case, a .SAGE file contains code written in SageMath, which is a system for algebra and geometry experimentation via Python. Developers and mathematicians write these files using code editors. They can then run or execute this code using the SageMath program to perform complex mathematical calculations or simulations. You can open and edit these files with programs like SageMath itself, Microsoft Visual Studio Code, or any basic text editor. However, it's important to note that GitHub Atom, another program that could open these files, has been discontinued.
Secondly, and quite differently, a .SAGE file extension might indicate a file that has been encrypted by Sage ransomware. This is a type of malicious software that, once it infects your computer, locks access to your files by encrypting them and demands payment (ransom) to unlock them. It targets various file types, including documents, images, videos, and databases, and changes their extensions to .sage. It also deletes certain system files to prevent easy recovery and displays a ransom note as a way to contact the attackers for payment instructions. This ransomware variant first appeared in late 2016 and has had updates, like Sage 2.0 in early 2017.
Computers can get infected by Sage ransomware through deceptive emails that appear harmless but contain dangerous attachments. These emails might lack a subject line and include a .ZIP file. Inside this ZIP file is another ZIP, which contains a .JS (JavaScript), .DOC, or .DOCX (Word document) file. Opening and running the script or macro in these files can trigger the ransomware infection.
It's crucial to understand the difference between these two uses of the .SAGE extension to avoid confusion. For the programming language files, using the mentioned software to open and edit them is straightforward. However, if your files have been encrypted by Sage ransomware, using software to decrypt them without paying the ransom is recommended, although recovery might not always be possible. Always ensure to have a good antivirus program and be cautious with email attachments to prevent such infections.
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