Remove README.hta File Virus Ransomware

In this article we are going to try and help you remove README.hta File Virus Ransomware. Our instructions cover all Windows versions.

Ransomware called README.hta is the probable reason you have landed on this page and your files have most probably been encrypted by its nasty encryption algorithm. Unfortunately, this infection is one of the worst you can get, but the good news is that there is a way to remove it.

Our team has dedicated this article to help those of you, who have become victims of this very dangerous virus, and on this page you are going to find a working solution that will help you clean your system from it. We will also point out the typical methods of infection and distribution, as well as some useful prevention tips that may help you keep such threats away from your system in the future.

Let’s first give you a little more details about README.hta

With no doubt, you have a real reason to be worried about your safety if you have been infected with README.hta. This is Ransomware – specific malicious software created to encrypt users’ data and ask them to pay ransom to get it back. You have probably noticed the disturbing ransom notice on your screen, asking you to pay a huge amount of money for a decryption key. This is a really nasty form of robbery and, unfortunately, it has been growing in popularity in recent years.

How can you get infected?

If you’re wondering how exactly the nasty infection happened, you should know that Ransomware is a very tricky and sophisticated threat. It spreads through various distribution methods and its goal is to infect as many people as possible. For that purpose, it often hides in spam emails, malicious attachments, different files, installers, documents, fake ads or misleading pages that seem almost legitimate. It is very hard to recognize the threat and you may randomly click on such malicious a payload even without realizing it.

What’s even more disturbing is that the infection usually happens without any symptoms and usually gets delivered to your system through a Trojan horse infection. With no doubt, this Ransom-Trojan combo could do so much harm to your system that you can’t imagine. That’s why it is not enough to only remove README.hta, but you will need to detect and remove the Trojan as well, if you want to clean your computer completely. This is what we are going to show you here, so keep on reading.

The crooks promise to restore my files if I pay, should I do so?

It may seem very tempting to just pay the requested ransom, get the decryption key and restore all the encrypted files. And it would have been wonderful if only it worked that way. However, reality shows that there is absolutely no guarantee that you will get what you’ve paid for. After all, the people behind README.hta are real hardcore cybercriminals and the only thing they care about is getting your money. From that moment on, it is very likely they might “forget” to send you a decryption key or send you some random numbers that don’t work.

So, the risk of getting fooled here is palpable and you should really think twice before you decide on what you should do. If you really want to get rid of README.hta Ransomware, you can try our removal guide below. It has been created with the idea to help you remove the infection and eventually try to restore some of your files. However, you should know that README.hta has a really strong file encryption and there is a chance you may not be able to fully restore your data. Nevertheless, it is worth giving a try. At least, it won’t cost you anything and hopefully you may be able to save your system and your files.

How to prevent Ransomware infections in the future?

Prevention is the best protections and this is especially valid when it comes to threats like README.hta. There are a few things you could do in order to minimize the chance of bumping into Ransomware and here we will mention a few of them. Firstly, we would advise you to avoid content that seems sketchy or comes from an unknown source. Suspicious web locations, shady installers, random page redirects and intrusive popping boxes on your screen may hide some security hazards that are hard to detect with the naked eye.

That’s why it is important to rely on reputable antivirus and antimalware software. Keep it updated to ensure your system’s safety and run regular scans of all your devices. When it comes to preventing data loss that Ransomware could cause, you should think about it beforehand. Having a backup of all your important data somewhere on an external drive is the easiest solution. Then, even if a threat like README.hta hits you, the only thing you need to do is simply remove it and restore your files from the backup.

Remove README.hta File Virus Ransomware Instrutions

Step 1. Enter Windows Safe mode.

• Win 7 Users: Restart your PC –> keep on clicking F8 –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.
• Win 8 Users: Start Button –> Control Panel –> System and Security –> Administrative Tools –> System Configuration –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Boot –>
• Win 10 users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> Startup Settings –> Restart –> In the subsequent Menu select Safe Mode with Networking.

Step 2 Locate any processes associated with README.hta.

• Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC keys simultaneously –> Processes Tab –> Select a suspicious process (use Google or ask us in the comments if you are not sure about a process) –> Right Click and Open File Location –> End the suspicious process in Task Manager –> Delete the Folders containing the suspicious files.

Step 3 Open the Registry Editor and search for README.hta.

• Win 7 Users: Click Start and type regedit –> Enter –> Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type Cryp1 Virus in the search field.
• Win 8/10 users: Start Button –> Choose Run –> type regedit –> Enter Press CTRL + F buttons –> Type README.hta in the search field.

Step 4 Try to recover your files. First you will need System Restore.

• Win 7 Users: Start button –> Type Windows System Restore –> Enter –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and revert to it.
• Win 8 Users: Hold down the Windows key + Q –> Type Recovery –> Settings –> Choose the Recovery icon –> Open System Restore –> Select a Restore Point.
• Win 10 Users: Start Menu –> Power Options Menu –> Hold down the SHIFT button while clicking on Restart –> Troubleshoot –> Advanced Options –> System Restore –> Select a Restore Point and apply it.

Secondly use program that can access your Shadow Copies.

• Use Google to find the official website of such a program and download it.
• Use the program to select the file types and the hard drive locations you want the program to scan for.
• Start the scan and keep in mind that it might take a while.
• Once the scan has been completed just select the files you want to be recovered.

If you have questions or suggestions feel free to use our comments section!