How to Remove Hackerman File Ransomware

How to Remove Hackerman Ransomware?

Readers recently started to report the following message being displayed when they boot their computer:

Has sido juankeado por hackerman, depositame 500 en el oxxo a cambio de tus packs.

Hackerman is a new player in the ransomware field. The program falls into one the most dreaded categories of cyber threats. If not even the most dreaded, so don’t underestimate it. It’s a threat you shouldn’t ignore or take lightly. The nasty program slithers into your system with cunning, and then takes over. It corrupts your PC to its core. Every single file you keep on it, gets locked. Hackerman encrypts it with the AES algorithm, and extorts you for money. That’s how ransomware works. They invade your system, take control of your data, and demand a ransom for their release. Do NOT follow a single demand, Hackerman lays out before you! If you do, you only push yourself deeper into the abyss of troubles. Your privacy is at stake! Understand this. Compliance only worsens your predicament. It threatens your private information falling into the hands of strangers. So, don’t take chances. Don’t risk exposing your privacy. Make the tough choice, and forsake your files. Don’t pay the kidnappers. Don’t bury yourself in more trouble. Pick privacy over pictures. After all, data is replaceable. Can you say the same about your personal and financial details?

How did I get infected with?

The Hackerman tool enters your system after you let it do it. The infection asks you whether you agree to let it in, or not. And, it invades only after receiving your permission. So, Hackerman asked. And, you complied. But don’t beat yourself up too hard. Don’t think the tool just comes forwards and seeks access. That leaves too much room for denial. And, it can’t have you refusing it access. So, it turns to deception and finesse. It chooses the sneakiest possible way to ask for your consent on its installment. More often than not, it pretends to be a bogus update. For example, you think you’re installing a Java update, but you’re not. In actuality, you’re giving the green light o a dangerous cyber threat. That’s why vigilance is crucial. Always do you’re due diligence when you’re allowing a tool or update into your PC. Even a little extra attention today can save you a ton of troubles tomorrow.

Why is Hackerman dangerous?

Hackerman seems to target Spanish-speaking people as its primary victims. The ransom note it leaves after encryption is in Spanish. It’s in a TXT file, and it’s left on your Desktop. As well as in every folder, containing encrypted files. The text document’s name is ‘Leeme Por Favor,‘ which translates as ‘Please read me.‘ The note may be in Spanish but it’s pretty standard. It explains your predicament. How your files got encrypted by ransomware. And, gives you instructions on what you must do if you wish to decrypt them. The infection demands you deposit money in the OXXO. If you don’t know what that is, it’s a popular convenient store in Mexico. There’s a whole chain of them. Do NOT do that! Do NOT pay! As was already mentioned, that threatens your privacy. Think about it. Say, you reach out to these people, contact them, and transfer the ransom. What do you think that leads to? Compliance has consequences. By going through with the transfer, you open a door to these strangers. A door to your personal and financial information. Once opened, it cannot close. That’s why experts advise against compliance! Not to mention, that even if you do everything Hackerman asks of you, your files can remain lost. Why? Well, there NO guarantees when it comes to ransomware. Imagine all the ways the exchange can go wrong. The tool can choose not to send a decryption key. It can send you one that doesn’t work. And, even if it does work, what then? The decryption key you buy does just that – it decrypts. It does not get rid of the infection. So, Hackerman remains somewhere on your computer, lurking. An, waiting to strike again and bring you back to square one. There are so many ways you lose. Pick the scenario that’s the lesser evil. Lose your files but protect your privacy. It’s a bitter win. But it’s a win. And, it’s the best one, you’re going to get against the Hackerman threat.

Hackerman Removal Instructions

STEP 1: Kill the Malicious Process

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

STEP 3: Locate Startup Location

STEP 4: Recover Hackerman Encrypted Files

STEP 1: Stop the malicious process using Windows Task Manager

• Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Locate the process of the ransomware. Have in mind that this is usually a random generated file.
• Before you kill the process, type the name on a text document for later reference.

• Locate any suspicious processes associated with Hackerman encryption Virus.
• Right click on the process
• Open File Location
• End Process
• Delete the directories with the suspicious files.
• Have in mind that the process can be hiding and very difficult to detect

STEP 2: Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

STEP 3: Locate Hackerman encryption Virus startup location

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”
• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to:

Navigate to your %appdata% folder and delete the executable.

You can alternatively use your msconfig windows program to double check the execution point of the virus. Please, have in mind that the names in your machine might be different as they might be generated randomly, that’s why you should run any professional scanner to identify malicious files.

STEP 4: How to recover encrypted files?

• Method 1: The first and best method is to restore your data from a recent backup, in case that you have one.

• Method 2: File Recovery Software – Usually when the ransomware encrypts a file it first makes a copy of it, encrypts the copy, and then deletes the original. Due to this you may try to use file recovery software to recover some of your original files.
• Method 3: Shadow Volume Copies – As a last resort, you can try to restore your files via Shadow Volume Copies. Open the Shadow Explorer part of the package and choose the Drive you want to recover. Right click on any file you want to restore and click Export on it.