Remove Howareyou ransomware [Recovery Instructions]

Easy steps to delete Howareyou ransomware

Threat summary

Name: Howareyou ransomware

Type: Ransomware, Cryptovirus, File-lockers

Files extension: .howareyou

Ransom demanding message: _read_me_.txt

Short Description: A data locker ransomware designed to plague computer system settings, utilize strong cipher algorithm and encrypt valuable files.

Symptoms: Important files are locked and renamed with a string of a few extensions. Ransom message insists on payment for a decryption program.

Distribution Method: Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files, Corrupted websites, cracked software and many more.

Damage: all your files are locked and can only get decrypted by using unique key. Other additional malware infections can be installed along with ransomware infections.

Removal and recovery: Use Spyhunter to remove Howareyou ransomware automatically. Once malware gets removed, you can easily recover your files using backup or other data recovery tool.

Howareyou ransomware is a data encrypting malware. It locks the targeted files with a powerful military grade encryption cipher and appends .howareyou as extension on it. When you try to access the files, a ransom notes appear on the screen (_read_me_.txt) asking you to buy the decryption key. As per their alleged claims, if you try to recover files through any other ways, then the files get damaged and corrupted permanently.

Its ransom note contains basic information about the file encryption and it basically urges you to contact the developers of Howareyou ransomware for any kind of queries and negotiations. The cyber criminals behind this threat have one aim that is to force you to buy the alleged decryption key by paying them money as ransom. In order to win your trust, they agree to decrypt 2 of encrypted files for free.

Further, it makes unwanted changes in the important Windows registry settings and make sure that the process of the ransomware gets executed every time the PC is booted. Moreover, Howareyou ransomware virus also execute vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /Quiet command so that the “Shadow Volume Copies” created by the operating system also gets deleted and users have no option other than to pay ransom money for recovering their files and data.

How to recover the encrypted files?

The cyber criminals demand to pay ransom money and claims that they will provide the decryption key. In most cases, this doesn’t happen because they don’t provide any key or tool even after receiving the complete payment. So, it is expressly advised not to contact cyber criminals and fulfill any of their ransom demands. If you want to recover your files then you must use the alternate tricks such as backup files or using data recovery tool. Before using the data recovery process, victims are highly advised to remove Howareyou ransomware completely and safely from the system by using strong anti-malware tool.

Distribution of ransomware infection:

Ransomware and other malware mainly spread into your system through spam campaigns, illegal activation tools, Trojans, dubious download sources and fake updaters. Among all these intrusion methods, spam campaigns are mostly used and popular methods. Cyber crooks behind this send thousands of deceptive/scam emails to the recipients that contain malicious attachments or download links of malicious files. Once users tricked and open, it downloads and installs software.

Some prevention tips:

• Be careful from spam email campaigns. Don’t open email attachments that are sent by unknown senders.
• It is recommended to download or install software only from official and trustworthy pages.
• It is advised to keep all installed apps updated (if necessary) with tools recommended by official software developers.
• Install reputable antivirus suite and keep this software up-to-date in order to use it for regular computer scans.

Remove Howareyou ransomware

Manual malware removal threat might be lengthy and complicated process so that it requires advanced computer skills. It also takes lots of time to detect and delete this nasty threat. You can use reliable antivirus removal tool such as Spyhunter that can remove Howareyou ransomware and other harmful malware completely and safely from the infected system.

Text presented in Howareyou ransomware’s text file (“__read_me_.txt”):

Your files have been encrypted and copied to our private servers!
ANY ATTEMPT TO RESTORE YOUR FILES WITH THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE WILL PERMANENTLY CORRUPT IT.
DO NOT MODIFY ENCRYPTED FILES.
DO NOT RENAME ENCRYPTED FILES.
But keep calm! There is a solution for your problem!
For some money reward we can decrypt all your encrypted files.
Also we will delete all your private data from our servers.
To prove that we are able to decrypt your files we give you the ability to decrypt 2 files for free.
So what is you next step ? Contact us for price and get the decryption software.
Our Mail: [email protected]
Your ClientId: –
We would share your SENSITIVE DATA in case you refuse to pay.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows

Click Here For Mac

Step 1: Remove Howareyou ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

Step 2: Delete Howareyou ransomware using “System Restore”

Step 1: Remove Howareyou ransomware through “Safe Mode with Networking”

For Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Boot the PC in “Safe Mode”. Click on “Start” option and continuously press on F8 during the start process until the “Windows Advanced Option” menu appears on the screen. Choose “Safe Mode with Networking” from the list.

Now, a windows homescreen appears on the desktop and work-station is now working on “Safe mode with networking”.

For Windows 8 Users: Go to the “Start Screen”. In the search results select settings, type “Advanced”. In the “General PC Settings” option, choose “Advanced startup” option. Again, click on the “Restart Now” option. The work-station boots to “Advanced Startup Option Menu”. Press on “Troubleshoot” and then “Advanced options” button.  In the “Advanced Option Screen”, press on “Startup Settings”. Again, click on “Restart” button. The work-station will now restart in to the “Startup Setting” screen. Next is to press F5 to boot in Safe Mode in Networking.

For Windows 10 Users: Press on Windows logo and on the “Power” icon. In the newly opened menu, choose “Restart” while continuously holding “Shift” button on the keyboard. In the new open “Choose an option” window, click on “Troubleshoot” and then on the “Advanced Options”. Select “Startup Settings” and press on “Restart”. In the next window, click on “F5” button on the key-board.

Step 2: Delete Howareyou ransomware using “System Restore”

Log-in to the account infected with Howareyou ransomware. Open the browser and download a legitimate anti-malware tool. Do a full System scanning. Remove all the malicious detected entries.

In case if you cannot start the PC in “Safe Mode with Networking”, Try using “System Restore”

• During the “Startup”, continuously press on F8 key until the “Advanced Option” menu appears. From the list, choose “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and then press “Enter”

• In the new opened command prompt, enter “cd restore” and then press “Enter”.

• Type: rstrui.exe and Press “ENTER”

• Click “Next” on the new windows

• Choose any of the “Restore Points” and click on “Next”. (This step will restore the work-station to its earlier time and date prior to Howareyou ransomware infiltration in the PC.

• In the newly opened windows, press on “Yes”.

Once your PC gets restored to its previous date and time, download the recommended anti-malware tool and perform a deep scanning in order to remove Howareyou ransomware files if they left in the work-station.

In order to restore the each (separate) file by this ransomware, use “Windows Previous Version” feature. This method is effective when “System Restore Function” is enabled in the work-station.

Important Note: Some variants of Howareyou ransomware delete the “Shadow Volume Copies” as well hence this feature may not work all the time and is applicable for selective computers only.

How to Restore Individual Encrypted File:

In order to restore a single file, right click on it and go to “Properties”. Select “Previous Version” tab. Select a “Restore Point” and click on “Restore” option.

In order to access the files encrypted by Howareyou ransomware, you can also try using “Shadow Explorer”. In order to get more information on this application, press here.

Important: Data Encryption Ransomware are highly dangerous and it is always better that you take precautions to avoid its attack on your work-station. It is advised to use a powerful anti-malware tool in order to get protection in real-time. With this help of “SpyHunter”, “group policy objects” are implanted in the registries in order to block harmful infections like Howareyou ransomware.

Also, In Windows 10, you get a very unique feature called “Fall Creators Update” that offer “Controlled Folder Access” feature in order to block any kind of encryption to the files. With the help of this feature, any files stored in the locations such as “Documents”, “Pictures”, “Music”, “Videos”, “Favorites” and “Desktop” folders are safe by default.

It is very important that you install this “Windows 10 Fall Creators Update” in your PC to protect your important files and data from ransomware encryption. The more information on how to get this update and add an additional protection form rnasomware attack has been discussed here.

How to Recover the Files Encrypted by Howareyou ransomware?

Till now, you would have understood that what had happed to your personal files that got encrypted and how you can remove the scripts and payloads associated with Howareyou ransomware in order to protect your personal files that has not been damaged or encrypted until now. In order to retrieve the locked files, the depth information related to “System Restore” and “Shadow Volume Copies” has already been discussed earlier. However, in case if you are still unable to access the encrypted files then you can try using a data recovery tool.

Use of Data Recovery Tool

This step is for all those victims who have already tries all the above mentioned process but didn’t find any solution. Also it is important that you are able to access the PC and can install any software. The data recovery tool works on the basis of System scanning and recovery algorithm. It searches the System partitions in order to locate the original files which were deleted, corrupted or damaged by the malware. Remember that you must not re-install the Windows OS otherwise the “previous” copies will get deleted permanently. You have to clean the work-station at first and remove Howareyou ransomware infection. Leave the locked files as it is and follow the steps mentioned below.

Step1: Download the software in the work-station by clicking on the “Download” button below.

Step2: Execute the installer by clicking on downloaded files.

Step3: A license agreement page appears on the screen. Click on “Accept” to agree with its terms and use. Follow the on-screen instruction as mentioned and click on “Finish” button.

Step4: Once the installation gets completed, the program gets executed automatically. In the newly opened interface, select the file types that you want to recover and click on “Next”.

Step5: You can select the “Drives” on which you want the software to run and execute the recovery process. Next is to click on the “Scan” button.

Step6: Based on drive you select for scanning, the restore process begins. The whole process may take time depending on the volume of the selected drive and number of files. Once the process gets completed, a data explorer appears on the screen with preview of that data that is to be recovered. Select the files that you want to restore.

Step7. Next is to locate the location where you want to saver the recovered files.