What is a .PTRZ file?
A .ptrz file is a type of file that has been taken over and locked by a harmful software called PTRZ ransomware. This ransomware changes the name of the file to end with .ptrz and makes it so you can't open or use the file as you normally would. The original file could be anything like a document, photo, video, or another type of file. Unfortunately, once a file has been encrypted by PTRZ ransomware, there isn't currently a known method to unlock and return the file to its original form.
How to Open: Opening a .ptrz file isn't straightforward because it's encrypted. The main approach to dealing with these files involves trying to restore your system to a previous state before the ransomware attack happened, using system restore tools. However, this might not recover the encrypted files themselves but can help in removing the ransomware from your system.
More Information: PTRZ ransomware started affecting computers in October 2023. It is a version of the STOP Djvu ransomware, which is widely spread by cybercriminals. This ransomware typically encrypts files, changes their extensions to .ptrz, and leaves a ransom note named _readme.txt. This note usually has details on how you can pay a ransom to supposedly get your files back.
How Computers Get Infected: PTRZ ransomware often comes hidden in software that seems safe but actually contains harmful programs like adware or malware. If you've recently downloaded and installed software from a source that isn't completely trustworthy, that might be how your computer was infected with PTRZ ransomware.
Verification
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