Pezi Ransomware - How to remove

Pezi is ransomware that affects Windows PCs and spreads on unreliable file download sites. It uses cryptography to break files and asks for money to fix them. Pezi also installs a trojan and blocks a few websites. If your files got “.pezi” attached to their names and refuse to open, then Pezi is to blame.

To remove Pezi, it’s enough to use an antivirus program. Restoring the files that Pezi encrypted is more complicated and depends on unique circumstances. The good news is that you have options for recovering the files that Pezi broke, even if you didn’t have a backup.

Details on Pezi ransomware:

Classification	Ransomware, trojan.
How Pezi ransomware works	Deletes backups and breaks the antivirus program, encrypts and renames files, installs additional malware.
How to remove Pezi	Unblock sites that Pezi ransomware blocked, use antivirus programs (like Spyhunter) to remove malware, change your passwords.
How to restore files	Use your backup, try the free decrypter, try data recovery, look for files that the ransomware failed to encrypt, use methods of removing data corruption to manually restore some of the files.

What is Pezi ransomware

Pezi is ransomware from the Djvu family. It is related to Covm, Koti, and other Djvu infections.

Unlike most ransomware that targets businesses and organizations, Pezi infects PCs of individual users. It’s a global threat. Pezi gets downloaded from pirating websites. Installers infected with Pezi get uploaded online, available for free. These installers might be for cracked games, office suites, and other commercial software. Once downloaded, they install Pezi ransomware and an info-stealing trojan.

Pezi ransomware then starts working:

• It blocks a list of websites that have to do with cybersecurity, such as our site. This makes it difficult for victims to find information online.
• Pezi might show a fake Windows Update window and other pop-ups to distract the victim.
• It deletes backups, shadow copies, and tries to break the antivirus application.
• Then, Pezi encrypts files: documents, media, etc.
• The encrypted files also have their names changed to include a second extension, “pezi”.
• Ransom notes called “_readme” are created and placed inside many folders, each with the same message asking for up to $980 in ransom.

Pezi uses cryptography to break files. Cryptography is a legitimate way to hide information. For example, you can password-protect your files and folders by encrypting them. But Pezi infects your computer, encrypts all the files, then refuses to give you the password. This leaves the files, essentially, corrupted.

On top of that, it brings Azorult, an info-stealing trojan, with it. This trojan can steal your credentials, possibly resulting in hacked accounts, and install adware that injects ads into your browser.

How to remove Pezi ransomware

Unblock websites that Pezi blocked by fixing your hosts file.

Then fix your antivirus program or use a new one (such as Spyhunter) to scan your device and remove Pezi, Azorult, and other malicious files and programs. No need to delete the files that Pezi encrypted – they are not dangerous. But be sure to delete the file that initially brought Pezi over to avoid reinfecting your computer.

Change your passwords if there’s a chance that Azorult stole them. Make sure that 2-step verification is turned on where possible.

How to restore the files

If you don’t have a backup to restore your files from, then make a backup of the encrypted Pezi files. Before touching them or making any changes, make sure to have copies of the files marked with the “pezi” extension. Even a small change can render a file undecryptable.

Pezi uses cryptography that can’t be broken. Some scammers and dishonest companies claim that they can fix and restore the files, but many simply pay the ransom to the criminals and charge you even more money for it. Stay away from anyone making unrealistic promises or asking you to pay without giving you proof.

Avoid contacting the criminals behind Pezi. They provide their contact emails ([email protected], [email protected]) to encourage victims to write to them. They make it easy for you to send the money over. But there’s no mechanism forcing these criminals to send you the keys or to provide you with tech support. So, don’t pay money that you’re not willing to lose. Also, don’t reveal any personal information to these people.

Scan the encrypted files with this Djvu decrypter that is being maintained by Emsisoft. There are circumstances that lead to a small number of victims sharing one encryption ID (the offline ID) that makes it possible for them to decrypt their files without paying the ransom. Run the decrypter on your files and the scan results will tell you if this applies to you.

Look into data recovery software. It’s possible to restore deleted files provided they weren’t yet overwritten. Check the list below this post to see other options, like shadow volume copies. Who knows, maybe Pezi failed to delete your backups.

Also, check out into fixing corrupted files. Pezi encryption might be unbreakable, but when it comes to larger files, such as photos and video recordings, it only encrypts a portion of each file (it does this for speed – completely encrypting all the data would take too long). You might be able to recover large portions of the files (the encrypted portion is lost). Example: try opening archives, like Zip, that are made up of multiple files – some of the files inside the archive should be whole and uncorrupted.

Some Djvu ransomware has had an issue with encrypting files deep in nested folders. Check your data – Pezi might have had the same issue and failed to go deep into your folders.

Important -- edit the hosts file to unblock security websites

TL DR : The hosts file is edited to block security sites Before the virus can be removed, it's necessary to fix the hosts file (the file which controls which addresses connect to which IPs). That is the reason the majority of security websites is inaccessible when infected with this particular parasite. This infection edits this file to stop certain websites, including anti-malware download sites, from being accessed from the infected computer, making browsers return the "This site can't be reached" error. Luckily, it's trivial to fix the file and remove the edits that were made to it.

Find and edit the hosts file

The hosts file can be found on C:/Windows/System32/Drivers/etc/hosts. If you don't see it, change the settings to see hidden files.

1. In the Start Menu, search for Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel, find Appearance and Personalization.
3. Select Folder Options.
4. Open the View tab.
5. Open Advanced settings.
6. Select "Show hidden files...".
7. Select OK.

Open this file with administrator privileges.

1. Open the Start Menu and enter "notepad".
2. When Notepad shows up in the result, right-click on it.
3. In the menu, choose "Run as administrator"
4. File->Open and browse for the hosts file.

The hosts file should look like this: Delete additional lines that they connect various domain names to the wrong IP address. Save the file.

Download and run the antivirus program

After that, download antivirus programs and use them to remove the ransomware, the trojan, and other malware. Spyhunter (https://www.2-viruses.com/reviews/spyhunter/dwnld/).

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to recover Pezi Ransomware encrypted files and remove the virus

Step 1. Restore system into last known good state using system restore

1. Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

for Windows 7 / Vista/ XP

• Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
• Press F8 key repeatedly until Advanced Boot Options window appears.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

for Windows 8 / 10

• Press Power at Windows login screen. Then press and hold Shift key and click Restart.
• Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
• When it loads, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt from the list of Startup Settings.

 

2.Restore System files and settings.

• When Command Prompt mode loads, enter cd restore and press Enter.
• Then enter rstrui.exe and press Enter again.
• Click “Next” in the windows that appeared.
• Select one of the Restore Points that are available before Pezi Ransomware has infiltrated to your system and then click “Next”.
• To start System restore click “Yes”.

 

Step 2. Complete removal of Pezi Ransomware

After restoring your system, it is recommended to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, like Spyhunter and remove all malicious files related to Pezi Ransomware. You can check other tools here.  

Step 3. Restore Pezi Ransomware affected files using Shadow Volume Copies

If you do not use System Restore option on your operating system, there is a chance to use shadow copy snapshots. They store copies of your files that point of time when the system restore snapshot was created. Usually Pezi Ransomware tries to delete all possible Shadow Volume Copies, so this methods may not work on all computers. However, it may fail to do so. Shadow Volume Copies are only available with Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. There are two ways to retrieve your files via Shadow Volume Copy. You can do it using native Windows Previous Versions or via Shadow Explorer. a) Native Windows Previous Versions Right-click on an encrypted file and select Properties → Previous versions tab. Now you will see all available copies of that particular file and the time when it was stored in a Shadow Volume Copy. Choose the version of the file you want to retrieve and click Copy if you want to save it to some directory of your own, or Restore if you want to replace existing, encrypted file. If you want to see the content of file first, just click Open.

b) Shadow Explorer It is a program that can be found online for free. You can download either a full or a portable version of Shadow Explorer. Open the program. On the left top corner select the drive where the file you are looking for is a stored. You will see all folders on that drive. To retrieve a whole folder, right-click on it and select “Export”. Then choose where you want it to be stored.

Step 4. Use Data Recovery programs to recover Pezi Ransomware encrypted files

There are several data recovery programs that might recover encrypted files as well. This does not work in all cases but you can try this:

• We suggest using another PC and connect the infected hard drive as slave. It is still possible to do this on infected PC though.
• Download a data recovery program.
• Install and scan for recently deleted files.

Note: In many cases it is impossible to restore data files affected by modern ransomware. Thus I recommend using decent cloud backup software as precaution. We recommend checking out Carbonite, BackBlaze, CrashPlan or Mozy Home.