Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus: what it is and how to remove it
Howareyou ransomware is a file-locking parasite that prior to encrypting victims' files, downloads some of the data first to a private server of the cybercriminals. This feature of the ransomware isn't new.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
Automatic
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Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
A free scan checks for the encryptor still on the PC; it does not decrypt .howareyou files.
Do it yourself · free Remove Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
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Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus: summary
| Name | Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus |
|---|---|
| Type | Ransomware |
| Ransom note | __read_me_.txt |
| Appended extension | All non-system files are appended with .howareyou extension |
| Additional info | In the ransom note, hackers claim that they stole some data prior to encrypting it |
| criminal contact details | dfkjhdkjsdjfgkjdsfhkjskdjfhkj@cock.li |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 13 more facts
| malware termination | Howareyou ransomware removal should be trusted to professional anti-malware software |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Encrypted file extension | .howareyou |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .howareyou |
| Attacker contacts | dfkjhdkjsdjfgkjdsfhkjskdjfhkj@cock.li |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026) |
| First seen | 13 November 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.howareyou - Note file:
__read_me_.txt - Contact:
dfkjhdkjsdjfgkjdsfhkjskdjfhkj@cock.li
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus
- After the elimination of Howareyou ransomware virus is completed, use the tool to scan and automatically fix any damage this virus has caused to system files and settings
How Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus behaves
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
Dodging Howareyou malware while browsing
Cybercriminals have various malware options at their disposal to infect someone's device and numerous techniques for doing it.
But we're here to help avoid any infections like Howareyou file virus. Using our suggestions might save you from a massive headache:
- Always keep your Operating System (OS) up to date with the latest updates
- Obtain, constantly update a powerful anti-malware software.
- Use system tune-up tools to check for registry irregulation
- Don't visit high-risk level, suspicious, phony websites
- Don't open emails from unknown senders, and never download any email attachments without scanning them with an anti-virus engine first
- Don't download anything from torrent sites
- Use only official websites to download the desired software
- Don't use illegal activation toolkits, more popularly known as cracks
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
Howareyou ransomware - cryptocurrency-focused virus that steals some data before encrypting it
Howareyou ransomware is a file-locking parasite that prior to encrypting victims' files, downloads some of the data first to a private server of the cybercriminals.
This feature of the ransomware isn't new. A similar cryptovirus was just used to attack Campari Group servers. When the virus has finishes stealing some of the victims' files, it encrypts and renames them appending a .howareyou extension. That way all non-system data is rendered inaccessible.
Afterward, a ransom note - __read_me_.txt is generated in all affected folders. The developers of howareyou virus explain to the victims what has happened. They warn that any attempt to rename, modify, or unlock the files with third-party tools will lead to permanent data loss.
An email address (dfkjhdkjsdjfgkjdsfhkjskdjfhkj@cock.li) is given to establish contact by sending them 2 random encrypted files, thus reassuring the users that the promised decryption tool exists. Each victim is provided with his/her unique ID, sarcastically called ClientID.
Just like the developers of the FUSION virus, the creators of .howareyou ransomware also threaten to leak the stolen data if an agreement isn't reached. You should react to the infection as soon as possible and remove the threat properly.
Data encrypted using AES or RSA coding algorithms is almost impossible to decode unless you have the encryption code. In this case, if a public decryption tool isn't created, only the developers of Howareyou virus have the ability to unlock your files.
That being said, we highly advise against contacting the cybercriminals. Instead, you should concentrate on Howareyou ransomware removal and system health checkup because more damage to the infected computer could be done if the virus stays in the device.
To remove Howareyou ransomware, users should use reliable anti-virus software like or . Any of these applications will find the howareyou virus instantly, isolate it with all its spread out files, and delete them.
Experts advise using the tool after .howareyou ransomware removal to automatically detect any altercations made to system files or its settings and restore them to normal, pre-contamination phase.
Creators of .howareyou virus send this message to their victims:
The Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus ransom note
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: dfkjhdkjsdjfgkjdsfhkjskdjfhkj@cock.li
Your ClientId: -
We would share your SENSITIVE DATA in case you refuse to pay.
How to remove Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus encrypts everything it can reach, including drives and shares you connect later. Cut the network first: cable out, or Wi-Fi off from the taskbar.
Then unplug every USB stick and backup disk and pause cloud sync, so the encrypted versions do not replace your online copies. Do not reconnect any of them until the ransomware is removed from the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Copy
__read_me_.txtand one or two files ending in.howareyouto a USB stick, and leave the originals where they are.From another device, upload the note and a sample file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff, which name the family from the note, the extension and the file structure.
Write down the contact address and your personal ID from the note, because a decryptor or the police may ask for them.
Warning: Never contact the attackers from the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
For Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus, no free decryptor is known (checked 6 October 2026). Search the family name in the No More Ransom decryption tools list and in the free decryptors of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, because new tools appear years after an attack.
Important: Keep the encrypted files even if nothing works today, and do not pay before every free option is ruled out: payment does not guarantee a working key.
Decryptors run on Windows 11 and Windows 10, but only after the ransomware itself is removed.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Restoring or decrypting files while Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus still runs lets it encrypt them again. Run a Full scan in Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, then the Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan).
If the ransomware blocks Windows Security, start Safe Mode with Networking and scan from there. Some families install a password stealer as well, so let both scans finish on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Open Command Prompt as administrator and run
vssadmin list shadows. If it lists copies dated before the attack, right-click a folder with encrypted files in File Explorer, choose Properties > Previous Versions, and open or restore a version from before that date.ShadowExplorer, a free tool, shows the same copies when the tab is empty or hidden. Most current families delete shadow copies, so an empty list is normal, but the check takes two minutes on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
Restore from an external backup, File History or OneDrive's version history, choosing a date before the attack. Connect the backup drive only after the scans are clean, or the ransomware encrypts it too.
If there is no backup, file recovery software can sometimes find the deleted originals, because some ransomware writes an encrypted copy and deletes the original file.
Stop writing to the drive and try recovery on Windows 11 or Windows 10 before new files overwrite the space.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of Nov 2020 · not reviewed since
Remove Howareyou file virus with programs designed for this
As mentioned in the first part of this article, users should concentrate on removing the Howareyou ransomware virus from their devices instead of paying the ransom or contacting the cybercriminals.
Manually removing a cryptovirus from a computer could be a tall task even for highly-experienced users, so we advise leaving this to the professionals.
To remove Howareyou ransomware use or security or any other anti-malware applications. These are trustworthy and will do the task automatically by finding all the infection files and possibly related programs or intruders.
Howareyou ransomware removal won't decrypt your files. But before you use your backups to restore your data, we highly recommend using the system tune-up software to check for any system irregularities the malware might have caused.
[GI=method-1]Rebooting the system in Safe Mode with Networking and remove Howareyou ransomware
[GI=method-2]System Restore can perform removal of the ransomware when you use the feature to recover the machine in a previous state
You can repair files affected by the virus using this program
Windows Previous Versions - function helping with individual file recovery
System Restore should be enabled before you rely on Windows Previous Versions
ShadowExplorer - Windows OS function for affected data
You can possibly restore encoded files if your Shadow Volume Copies are left untouched
Decryption tool is not released
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Backups: the 3-2-1 rule
Keep three copies of files that matter, on two kinds of storage, with one copy offline or off-site.
A disk that stays plugged in is reached by malware like Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus together with the PC; one you connect only for the backup is not.
On Windows 11, File History keeps versions on an external drive, and OneDrive keeps earlier versions of synced files. Before restoring anything, make sure the PC no longer shows files that end in .howareyou and no longer open.
Setting it up step by step: 3-2-1 backups on Windows 11 and 10.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus
How do I open .howareyou files?
You cannot open them by renaming or with another program, because the content of files ending in .howareyou has been encrypted. The only ways back are a working decryptor for the family, or clean copies from elsewhere:
- OneDrive versions
- File History
- an offline backup drive
- Previous Versions if the ransomware did not delete them
Identify the family first by uploading the ransom note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom. Avoid websites and programs that promise to open any encrypted file; they do not work and some are scams.
Is there a free Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus decryptor?
We last checked on 6 October 2026, and for Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
Should I pay the ransom?
We advise against it, and so do the FBI, Europol and national cyber agencies. Payment does not guarantee a working tool: some attackers never reply, some tools damage files, and some variants have no decryptor at all. Paying also funds further attacks and can make you a target again.
Before considering payment, try every recovery option in this guide and report the attack. Companies must involve their legal adviser and insurer, because payments to sanctioned groups can be illegal. If files are truly irreplaceable, store the encrypted copies and wait; decryptors sometimes appear later.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
How did Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus get on my computer?
The way Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened.
On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password. Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .howareyou and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Did Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .howareyou and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before.
Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Is Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Should I open __read_me_.txt?
Reading it is fine if you open it in Notepad. A plain text __read_me_.txt cannot harm the PC. Be careful with notes in HTA or HTML format: double-clicking those runs them in a window that can contain scripts, so right-click and choose Open with > Notepad instead.
The note tells you the contact addresses, the claimed amount and the deadline. Do not visit links or write to the addresses from this PC. Use the note to identify the family and check for a free decryptor first.
Should I reinstall Windows after the .howareyou attack?
Reinstalling removes the ransomware but not the encryption: your files ending in .howareyou stay encrypted afterwards. So first copy the encrypted files and the ransom note to a separate drive, in case a decryptor appears later. Then decide:
- a clean-up with an offline scan is often enough for home PCs
- while a full reset is safer if remote access was involved
- scans keep finding new items
Restore your backups only after the PC is clean, and change passwords from another device.
Will Fortect remove Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Howareyou ransomware, .howareyou virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Forcepoint: What is Data Leakage? (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: RSA (cryptosystem) (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 6, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 6, 2026)
- No More Ransom (read October 6, 2026)