Howareyou Ransomware

The Howareyou Ransomware is a file-locking Trojan that stops media files from opening by converting them with encryption. When possible, users should ignore its text ransom note and restore data from their latest backups after disinfecting their PCs. Most Windows anti-malware solutions will identify and delete the Howareyou Ransomware before an attack.

Another Mountain Arises in the Dark Web's Horizon

Another peak of Trojan engineering is showing plans of blocking files for money, with unmistakable similarities to old attacks. Malware experts hesitate at labeling the Howareyou Ransomware as a direct update of the Mount Locker Ransomware. Still, with ransoming wording in kind and encryption features, the two threats have more in common than different. The benefit from a victim's perspective is that the usual recovery and infection-preventing strategies should be reliable.

The Howareyou Ransomware is programmed in the Go language, AKA Golang, and is compatible with most Windows editions. As per usual, encryption is its most troublesome feature and can block various media formats on the PC malware experts can confirm cases of blocked compressed archives, such as ZIPs, as well as TXT or text files). As a label for helpful identification, the Trojan also adds 'howareyou' extensions to the ends of their names without making other changes.

The Howareyou Ransomware's ransom note, a text file, is where its resemblance to the Mount Locker Ransomware's campaign arises. The Trojan borrows much of the same wording, which includes a threat about leaking stolen data. For their part, malware experts see no functions related to data exfiltration in the Howareyou Ransomware. However, some threat actors use infection windows as opportunities for taking servers' data and leaking it, such as with the high-end NEFILIM Ransomware family.

Clearing the Web's Skyline of Unsightly Extortion

The Howareyou Ransomware's note offers limited information to victims besides an e-mail and ID for the ransoming negotiations. Although some threat actors honor their obligations regarding decryption, many do not. Malware experts also recommend treating downloads from them (such as possible 'demonstrations' of the unlocker) as potentially threatening. Users protected their work with a backup should be in little danger from the Howareyou Ransomware's payload. However, attackers may use other tools, such as password collectors, as supplementary attacks against a vulnerable network or server.

The Howareyou Ransomware's current samples use random names that offer no real information on its circulation exploits. Attackers might drop the Trojan onto a target system after brute-forcing login credentials, which, along with e-mail, are preferred strategies against businesses. Home users also are at risk of endangering themselves by downloading fake updates from unofficial websites or illegal torrents.

Comprehensive backup strategies that save spare files to other devices will mitigate nearly all ill effects from any the Howareyou Ransomware infection. For removal, most anti-malware programs accurately detect and delete the Howareyou Ransomware.

The Howareyou Ransomware is a snide example of Trojans that borrow others' words, which may or may not accurately represent all the risks. To be fair to the Trojan's campaign, any victim who's suffering from extensive data loss might be better off than one with that and other theft – but not by much.