Pezi ransomware (Virus Removal Instructions) - Bonus: Decryption Steps

What is Pezi ransomware?

Pezi ransomware is a dangerous computer infection that restricts access to personal files and blackmails victims

Pezi ransomware - a virus that creates issues with the system after locking commonly used files.

Pezi ransomware is a data locking infection that typically spreads via software cracks or pirated program installers that can be downloaded from insecure third-party sources such as Peer-to-peer networks. Once on the system, the cryptovirus performs full encryption of images, documents, video, audio files, archives, as well as other data, and then appends .pezi marker to them. As a result, users are unable to access their data, as they require a unique key that is stored on a remote server controlled by the attackers.

Once Pezi ransomware is done with encryption,^[1] it delivers the ransom note file in the form of _readme.txt. This message encourages people to pay the ransom of $490/$980 for file recovery (depending on how fast users contact criminals via the helpmanager@mail.ch or restoremanager@firemail.cc email).

While uninstalling malware from the system will not recover access to .pezi files, you should not rush to pay cybercriminals, as there are several alternative methods that could sometimes help you to restore data or at least a portion of it – Emsisoft's decryptor, built-in Windows resources, and third-party tools can all be used for the purpose.

Pezi ransomware is the 228th version of the DJVU virus family, which considered to be among the most prevalent cryptomalware strains currently in the wild. To find out what to do and what not to after being infected, please check all the tips and removal instructions provided below.

Pezi ransomware is the file-encrypting virus that restricts access to commonly used files and marks them using the .pezi extension, hence the given name of the ransomware. This is one of the newest versions and the family that belongs to STOP ransomware, so decryption is hardly possible. Previously, in 2019 many of the malware versions used offline IDs for encoding, so researchers managed to use that to their advantage and helped people to recover data with tools like STOPDecrypter.

Right now it is not possible because online IDs are in use for the most part. Users still can try the Emsisoft Djvu decrypter, but this is also the tool based on offline IDs. A quick indication might be t1 at the end of a victim's key displayed in the ransom note you receive. Unfortunately, there are not many other options for your files, so the best way to recover from the infection is to remove Pezi ransomware and replace affected data with safe copies from data backups.^[2]

If you do not have proper files backed up the recovery of encrypted Pezi ransomware files can create some issues. There are some data recovery programs, third-party applications, and system features that could help, but some of the changes that malware does on the machine can trigger issues with functions, programs, and security features.

Pezi virus might disable AV tools, file recovery functions, or even delete some crucial files in the system folders, alter registry entries. All the changes significantly affect the persistence of this threat and leave little to none possibilities for the victim to get their files recovered or malware safely removed.

However, you need to react to this infection and go straight to Pezi virus removal once you receive the following message:

ATTENTION!

Don’t worry, you can return all your files!
All your files like photos, databases, documents and other important are encrypted with strongest encryption and unique key.
The only method of recovering files is to purchase decrypt tool and unique key for you.
This software will decrypt all your encrypted files.
What guarantees you have?
You can send one of your encrypted file from your PC and we decrypt it for free.
But we can decrypt only 1 file for free. File must not contain valuable information.
You can get and look video overview decrypt tool:
https://we.tl/t-sBwlEg46JX
Price of private key and decrypt software is $980.
Discount 50% available if you contact us first 72 hours, that’s price for you is $490.
Please note that you’ll never restore your data without payment.
Check your e-mail “Spam” or “Junk” folder if you don’t get answer more than 6 hours.

To get this software you need write on our e-mail:
helpmanager@mail.ch

Reserve e-mail address to contact us:
restoremanager@firemail.cc

Your personal ID

Pezi ransomware is the threat that makes users frustrated when images, documents, audio, video files become locked and unopenable.

When the Pezi ransomware virus infects the machine, it searches the system for files in .doc, .docx, .xls, .pdf, and other most-commonly used formats to cause maximum damage to the victim. For that, a strong RSA encryption algorithm is used – it cannot be deciphered even by quantum computers. For that reason, once the files are encrypted, you can no longer open .pezi files, as a long key that consists of a long strain of randomly-assigned alphanumeric characters are required. To simply put it, imagine it as a Zip or Rar file that is password-protected, and the only ones who know the passwords are cybercriminals.

By providing test decryption service and restricting access to the most-commonly used files, Pezi ransomware authors ensure that you are more likely to pay up this way. However, experts^[3] do not recommend paying these criminals or even keeping contact with them. These people are targeting your money and valuable information, so anything related to cryptocurrency, blackmail, and cyber infections cannot give any positive results.

Pezi ransomware removal is the process that should help you get rid of the malware. Running an anti-malware tool and scanning the system fully can ensure that the virus is terminated as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this is not how you can recover your files because security software relies on cleaning the malware not repairing the damage.

Luckily there are some additional programs that can help with the damage the Pezi virus created. So once your system is again virus-free, find the best tool for you that can optimize the machine, recover files, or indicate damage. PC repair tool like FortectIntego can for great. You need to run the check on the system and repair drivers, registry entries, system files, or any needed parts. As for data recovery, check options below the article.

Ransomware gets injected into the computer silently

The installation of the ransomware payload might happen when the user is installing applications, freeware, or licensed versions of software, cracks, game cheats from torrent sites, pirating services. Various hacked sites and promotional material can trigger infections like trojans or worms that are known for causing ransomware infections.

Ransomware payload file can be disguised as an executable or different system file, so when you install anything it is common to receive such a file without paying much attention. Unfortunately, emails that pose as legitimate notifications from companies or services can include links to malicious sites or trigger direct stops of malware scripts with macro virus functions.

The best way to avoid these infections is by paying attention to various details, including sources that you use for software and other downloads. Pirating is never a good idea because you cannot be sure that all those senders are legitimate and not malicious people. The internet is full of scammers, so emails with financial information should only be trusted when sent from companies and services you use and rely on. Any suspicious email should be considered dangerous.

Move to Pezi ransomware termination as soon as possible

Pezi ransomware virus can run on the machine for a while and cause various issues right away or even damage the system first before your files get encrypted. This makes the process of virus elimination more difficult when the system is affected by the virus in various ways.

Pezi virus is the ransomware that is not decryptable unless offline IDs get used in encryption procedure.

The Pezi ransomware removal is the quickest when anti-malware tools get employed for the job. Once you run the AV detection engine-based application or security tool like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, you can check parts of the system where malware may hide its files and add other programs for the purpose of ensuring the persistence.

When you decide to remove Pezi ransomware completely from the system, you need to double-check before doing anything else. It is especially crucial when it comes to data recovery and system alterations. If you add the external device with file backups on the machine that is still affected by the ransomware, your data may get encrypted again. Repair system functions with FortectIntego and rely on the tips below before you try to restore encoded files yourself.