Howareyou Ransomware

Howareyou Ransomware is a regular computer infection that falls under the ransomware category. This program may not be something terribly new, but the fact that it can encrypt your files is enough to prove that it should be taken seriously. It might be challenging to get back the files that were affected by the encryption, but it is still important to remove Howareyou Ransomware from the system and avoid paying the ransom. You can find the manual removal instructions right at the bottom of this description. Also, consider investing in a licensed antispyware tool that would help you protect your system from harm.

However, a powerful security application won’t be enough if you don’t change the way you treat new files that reach you through emails. Ransomware usually spreads through spam email attachments. While most of the email service providers tend to filter such emails into the Junk folder, there could be some individual spam emails or socially engineered emails that reach your main inbox, too. What’s more, when you get a socially engineered email (that looks like a message from your colleague, for example), you are more likely to interact with that email, checking out the attached document.

Needless to say, that’s a pretty bad idea because opening the file automatically launches the infection, and Howareyou Ransomware enters your system. So, if we learn how to differentiate between spam emails and regular emails, we should be able to decrease the rate of ransomware infections. Some of you may argue that it is complicated to figure out which files are legitimate, and which are dangerous. But even so, it is still possible to protect your system from threats by scanning the said files with a reliable security application before you open them. There are always at least several lines of defense you can employ.

Unfortunately, not everyone is that attentive or that lucky to avoid Howareyou Ransomware. If this program enters your system, you will see that the encryption takes place almost instantaneously. Like most ransomware programs do, this infection will scan your system looking for all the file types it can encrypt. Our research suggests that Howareyou Ransomware usually encrypts picture and document formats. So, whatever you have stored in the %USERPROFILE%, it is very likely that the data will be encrypted. When the encryption is complete, this program also adds a new extension to every single affected file. That’s a common thing across all ransomware infections.

This new extension is almost like a stamp that says your files have been tampered by this program. Of course, it doesn’t give any kind of practical value, aside from telling you which infection entered your system. So, when your files get encrypted, their filenames will change like this: penguin.jpg à penguin.jpg.howareyou. Needless to say, the system will no longer be able to read the files, and all the file icons will look like blank pages, which is probably more than enough to realize that something is terribly wrong. However, if you’re still having doubts, Howareyou Ransomware also drops a ransom note in every single folder that contains encrypted files. Here’s what the ransom note has to say:

Your files have been encrypted and copied to our private servers!
ANY ATEMPT TO RESTORE YOUR FILES WITH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE WILL PERMANENTLY CORRUPT IT.
DO NOT MODIFY ENCRYPTED FILES.
DO NOT RENATE ENCRYPTED FILES.
<…>
But keep calm! There is a solution for your problem!
For some money reward we can decrypt all your encrypted files.

The ransom note doesn’t say how much you are supposed to pay for the decryption key. You are expected to contact the criminals via the given email address, although we have already established that you shouldn’t do it.

You have to remove Howareyou Ransomware from your computer, and then look for ways to restore your files. Since a public decryption tool is unavailable, it is possible to restore the files from a file backup. Of course, you have to have one if you want to do that. If you don’t have copies of your files save someplace else, you should consider addressing a professional who would tell you more about potential file recovery options.

How to Remove Howareyou Ransomware

1. Remove the most recent files from Desktop.
2. Delete the most recent files from the Downloads folder.
3. Press Win+R and type %TEMP%. Click OK.
4. Delete the recent files from the directory.
5. Run a full system scan with the SpyHunter free scanner.