Protect3 Ransomware
Protect3 is a malicious ransomware strain that encrypts victim files and demands ransom payment for decryption. First observed in the wild on July 1, 2023, this ransomware has been actively targeting systems worldwide.
Quick facts
How Protect3 ransomware works
File encryption patterns
Protect3 modifies encrypted files using specific patterns to mark them as encrypted:
Ransom note and payment demands
After encrypting files, Protect3 displays ransom notes demanding payment for file recovery:
notes/How_to_back_files.html
About this analysis
This Protect3 ransomware analysis is part of Elastio's comprehensive ransomware detection database. Elastio provides advanced ransomware protection and recovery, helping organizations defend against and recover from ransomware attacks like Protect3.
Last updated: December 30, 2025
Elastio detects Protect3 inside your data and backups.
The Hunt Engine uses Deep File Inspection to identify Protect3 across live data, replicated data, and backups. If this family is in your environment, Elastio finds it before encryption completes. Run a scan against your recovery points to confirm.
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