What is a .CAROTE file?
A .CAROTE file is a type of file that has been locked by a specific kind of harmful computer program known as Carote ransomware. This ransomware is a tool used by bad people on the internet to take your files away from you by making them unreadable. They do this by changing your files, like your pictures, documents, videos, and backup files (for example, files that end in .DOCX, .PDF, .TIFF, and .DB) by adding ".carote" at the end of each file name. So, if you had a file named "holidayphotos.docx," it would turn into "holidayphotos.docx.carote" after the ransomware attacks your computer.
The main goal of the people behind this ransomware is to force you to pay them money to get your files back to normal. They usually sneak the ransomware into your computer by tricking you into opening a file that looks safe but isn't, like a fake bank receipt or a company invoice sent through email. Once you open this file, the ransomware starts to lock all your important files by encrypting them, which means it scrambles the contents so you can't open or read them anymore.
After your files are encrypted, the ransomware creates a note (usually a text file named something like "_readme.txt") that tells you your files have been taken and gives you instructions on how to pay to get them back.
It's important to know that you can't fix the files just by changing them back to their original names or extensions. The encryption is complex and can't be undone that easily.
To deal with a .CAROTE file, or rather, to try and get your files back, one of the recommended steps is to use a system restore feature if you have one available. This might help return your computer to a state before the ransomware attacked, but it's not a guarantee, and you might need professional help.
Remember, these .CAROTE files started becoming a problem around August 2019 and work similarly to another type of ransomware that creates .BLOWER files. It's a serious issue and part of why it's crucial to keep your computer protected and be cautious about opening files from unknown sources.
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