HOWDECRYPT Ransomware

Posted: December 12, 2013

Threat Metric

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Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

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Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

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Ranking:	3,316
Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	9,696

First Seen:	December 12, 2013
Last Seen:	October 16, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The HOWDECRYPT Ransomware is a file encryption Trojan that encodes various popular formats of files, with the intention of decrypting them only after the victim has a paid a ransom to its criminal partners (at least, in theory). With the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware's campaign still active as of the last month of 2013, PC users should use appropriate methods of protecting their files from its attacks to minimize the potential damage that may be inflicted. Malware researchers also would emphasize that paying the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware's ransom is unlikely to result in any positive outcome for its victims, who should consider anti-malware-based solutions for removing the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware.

The Trojan that Doesn't Want You to Read... or Browse Through Photos

Although Police Trojans and FBI Trojans are well-known for launching ransom attempts with highly visible pop-ups, the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware is a form of ransomware that uses a more low-key tactic: placing ransom instruction files in the affected folders. Rather than trying to lock your PC, the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware encrypts popular formats of image and text document files, such as DOC, JPG and TXT. The encryption attack doesn't damage the files permanently, but it does make them unusable until they're decrypted – and the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware withholds the key, supposedly until you pay a fine hundred USD ransom through Tor (an anonymous-routing website).

The HOWDECRYPT Ransomware is designed to keep your files encrypted through any attempts at System Restores or other rollbacks. However, the difficulty in recovering your files doesn't make paying the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware a good idea since malware experts have noted that criminals receiving your money have no incentive to keep to their word, which is more work for them with no benefit.

The HOWDECRYPT Ransomware and similar PC threats usually are installed through unsafe or compromised Web pages. Drive-by-downloads that install threats automatically, fake Flash updates that require the deceived user's consent and even the attacks of other Trojans all may be used as distribution models for the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware. Since the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware is a newly-identified PC threat, malware researchers haven't yet had the time to narrow down these possibilities, and general browser security protocols are encouraged.

How to Get the Better of a Howdecrypt Ransomware Infection

File-encrypting attacks require some degree of slack file maintenance on the part of the victims. If you back your files up to a peripheral hard drive, cloud storage service or any other secure source, the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware will be unable to prevent you from removing the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware, deleting the encrypted files and restoring your files from their backup copies. This is the most efficient and simplest way of dealing with the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware, even though you may want to take a look at the various free decryption utilities offered by any number of other PC security companies.

For deleting the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware, malware researchers recommend nothing less than a dedicated and updated anti-malware product of whatever brand you prefer. Outdated products may be unable to detect the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware or delete the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware completely, which may leave your files open to additional attacks. Naturally, any signs of the HOWDECRYPT Ransomware, such as its trademark HOWDECRYPT instruction files, always should be considered calls to use such software to guarantee your PC's safety.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

captchatopsource.com

One Comment

nuthwut says:

February 4, 2014 at 6:43 am

now in my hardids d: have file "HOWDECRYPT" on the Folder system. I can't open file Picture,Exel and Autocad File
Pless Help me..