.pbk

Extension: Dial-Up Phone Book File

Developer: Microsoft

The .pbk file, or Dial-Up Phone Book file, is a legacy file type created by Microsoft for storing dial-up connection information within Windows. These files contain crucial details for establishing a connection to a network via a modem, such as the phone number to dial, the username and password required for authentication, and other connection settings like the modem’s communication parameters. While largely obsolete due to the prevalence of broadband internet, you might still encounter .pbk files on older systems or in archived data. It’s important to understand that these files contain sensitive information, including potentially weak passwords, so it’s crucial to handle them with care and secure them appropriately. Remember that passwords stored in .pbk files may not meet modern security standards.

Opening a .pbk file directly isn’t typically possible in modern Windows versions because the necessary Dial-Up Networking components are often not installed by default. However, you can often import the connection information if you have an older Windows installation with the Dial-Up Networking components enabled. Alternatively, some third-party text editors might be able to open the file and display the contents in a readable (though possibly unformatted) way. This will reveal the connection details, but directly editing the file is generally not recommended. To safely access and use the information, consider importing the .pbk file into an older version of Windows if you need to recover the connection details. If the information is deemed sensitive and no longer needed, secure deletion of the .pbk file is advised.