Petya ransomware recently ramped up its encryption efforts, but an unidentified programmer has developed a tool that can crack the malware without payment, according to a BBC News report.
The programmer posted to code-sharing site Github describing how he created a key generator to help unlock a computer encrypted by Petya, according to the report. A security researcher from news site Bleeping Computer said the key generator was able to unlock a Petya-encrypted computer in seven seconds.
To use the key generator, victims of the ransomware attack mucst extract information from specific memory locations in the infected computer.
Petya typically demands a ransom of 0.9 bitcoins, according to the report.