PDB Ransomware 🔐 (.PDB File) — Removal Guide

The Pdb virus belongs under the ransomware type of infection. Ransomware of such sort encrypts all user’s data on the computer (photos, text files, excel tables, audio files, videos, etc) and appends its extra extension to every file, creating the pdb.txt files in each folder with the encrypted files.

What is known about the Pdbvirus?

☝️ A scientifically correct description for the Pdb is “a ransomware-type infection”.

Pdb appends its specific .pdb extension to every file’s name. For example, a file named “photo.jpg” will be changed to “photo.jpg.pdb”. Likewise, the Excel file with the name “table.xlsx” will end up as “table.xlsx.pdb”, and so on.

In every folder containing the encoded files, a pdb.txt file will appear. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information about the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note most probably contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can obtain this decryptor after contacting [email protected] via email. That is how they do it.

Pdb outline:

The pdb.txt file accompanying the Pdb ransomware states the following:

Listen up mother fu**er
All of your files have been encrypted
Your files have been encrypted and you will never be able to decrypt them without me.
Do not even try using any software because if it isdetected your files will be deleted instaed of encrypted.
If you ever want to see your files again.
message me on google chat at [email protected]
have a good day mother fu**er.

In the image below, you can see what a directory with files encrypted by the Pdb looks like. Each filename has the “.pdb” extension added to it.

How did my machine catch Pdb ransomware?

There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.

Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for tamperers to have ransomware working in your digital environment. These are email spam, Trojan infiltration and peer file transfer.

If you open your inbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services providers, postal agencies like FedEx, web-access providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is unknown to you, beware of opening those emails. They are most likely to have a malicious file enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even riskier to download any attachments that come with emails like these.

As for the peer-to-peer networks like torrent trackers or eMule, the threat is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. So you’d better be using trustworthy resources. Also, it is a good idea to scan the directory containing the downloaded files with the anti-malware utility as soon as the downloading is finished.

How to remove the Pdb virus?

It is crucial to note that besides encrypting your files, the Pdb virus will probably deploy the Azorult Spyware on your machine to seize your credentials to various accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned spyware² can extract your logins and passwords from your browser’s auto-filling data.

Sometimes criminals would unblock several of your files to prove that they indeed have the decryption program. As Pdb virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software designers have not yet found a method to undo its work. However, the anti-ransomware tools are constantly updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon be available.

Sure thing, if the criminals succeed in encrypting someone’s critical files, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying to racketeers does not necessarily mean that you’re getting your data back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption key to the victim. There were reports about ransomware developers simply disappearing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.

The best solution against ransomware is to have aan OS restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud drive or at least on an external disk. Surely, that might be insufficient. Your most important thing could be that one you were working on when it all went down. But at least it is something. It is also advisable to scan your PC for viruses with the anti-malware utility after the system restoration.

Pdb is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. Examples of those are Mzop, Erqw, Hhmm, and some others. The two major differences between them and the Pdb are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become inaccessible, their extensions changed, ransom notes are found in every folder containing encoded files.

Some fortunate users were able to decrypt the blocked files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-ransomware experts. Sometimes the racketeers accidentally send the decoding key to the victims in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the user to restore the files. But naturally, one should never expect such a chance. Remember, ransomware is a bandits’ instrument to pull the money out of their victims.

How to avoid ransomware attack?

Pdb ransomware has no endless power, neither does any similar malware.

You can defend yourself from ransomware attack in three easy steps:

• Ignore any emails from unknown mailers with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (how can you win in a money prize draw without participating in it?). In case the email subject is more or less something you are waiting for, check all elements of the suspicious letter carefully. A fake letter will always have mistakes.
• Avoid using cracked or untrusted software. Trojan viruses are often distributed as a part of cracked products, possibly under the guise of “patch” to prevent the license check. But untrusted programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy ones, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. Try searching for information on this software product on the anti-malware forums, but the optimal solution is not to use such programs at all.

Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft³

Download Removal Tool.

Run the setup file.

Press “Install” button.

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

Click on “Clean Now”.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤔 How can I open “.pdb” files?Is it possible to open“.pdb” files?

Negative. That is why ransomware is so frustrating. Until you decode the “.pdb” files you will not be able to access them.

🤔 What should I do to make my files accessible as fast as possible?

If the “.pdb” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. There are other ways to beat ransomware, but they take time.

🤔 What actions should I take if the Pdb malware has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation code.

🤔 What can I do right now?

Some of the blocked files can be found elsewhere.

• If you exchanged your important files through email, you could still download them from your online mailbox.
• You might have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to give those images back to you.
• If you have initially downloaded any of your files from the Web, you can try to do it again.
• Your messengers, social media pages, and cloud drives might have all those files too.
• It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a notebook, cellphone, external storage, etc.

HINT: You can employ data recovery utilities⁵ to retrieve your lost information since ransomware arrests the copies of your files, deleting the authentic ones. In the video below, you can see how to use PhotoRec for such a recovery, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you remove the ransomware itself with an anti-malware program.

Also, you can contact the following governmental fraud and scam sites to report this attack:

• In the United States: On Guard Online;
• In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
• In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
• In Australia: SCAMwatch;
• In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
• In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
• In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
• In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;

To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.

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