HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware Removal Guide

Do you know what HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware is?

HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware is an infection that you can easily identify by the extension that it adds to the files it encrypts. This extension is “.HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM@KEEMAIL.ME”, and you are likely to find it attached to archives, documents, text files, videos, photos, and all kinds of other personal files. At the time of research, legitimate tools that would decrypt files did not exist, which means that the creator of this malicious infection is in full control and that victims are backed up into a corner. If the files are encrypted, the only option you have is to pay a ransom, but, in reality, that is not a good option at all, even if the ransom is small. The thing is that the infection was created by cyber criminals, and to expect them to produce a decryptor would be naive. You can learn more about the infection, as well as the removal of HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware by reading this report.

Some malware researchers identify HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware by the name “Matroska Ransomware,” but our research team chooses to identify this threat by the extension that it uses. It is not clear why this is the extension that the creator of the malicious infection has decided to employ, but, considering that hundreds and thousands of ransomware infections have been created, cyber crooks are likely to be running out of names. BrainLag Ransomware, Oxar Ransomware, and RanRans Ransomware are few other threats with funny names, but that is not the only link that they have to the devious HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware. According to our research team, all of these threats were created using the same open source code, which puts them in the same Hidden Tear family. The threats within this family are created by different criminals, and so they can function in unique ways. Their distribution is unique as well. Of course, in most cases, they are spread with the help of corrupted spam email attachments. Needless to say, if you receive a suspicious spam email, you must delete it right away.HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware Removal GuideHUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

Once the malicious HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware is executed, it ensures that it is activated on Startup by adding itself to %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Afterward, it launches a window called “Windows Defender,” and it lists the locations in which the files can be encrypted in. Obviously, the user should not interact with this program at any point. After the encryption, it creates a file to represent ransom demands, and this file is called “HOW_TO_RECOVER_ENCRYPTED_FILES.txt”. Multiple copies of this file could be created. According to the ransom message, you need to send your ID to the creator of the infection at HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM@KEEMAIL.ME so that further instructions could be sent to you. The exact ransom fee is not disclosed, and it is suggested that it depends on how fast you react. Overall, it is suggested that you have 72 hours. The message also discourages you from using third-party tools, suggesting that the ransom would increase if you did that. And if you remove HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware, the infection promises that your data will be lost.

If you pay attention to the demands of the malicious ransomware, you might choose to contact them and then pay a ransom, but that is a risky activity that we cannot support. If you pay the ransom, the chances of you not getting the decryptor are much bigger than getting it. Hopefully, your files are not lost (for example, maybe you have backups?), and you can delete HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware without any hesitation. When it comes to the removal of this threat, you should think about using anti-malware software, and not only because of its removal services but also because it can help you protect your operating system against dangerous threats in the future. If you want to eliminate this infection manually, check out the instructions below.

Remove HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware

  1. Identify and Delete the malicious {random name}.exe launcher.
  2. Delete all copies of the HOW_TO_RECOVER_ENCRYPTED_FILES.txt file.
  3. Empty Recycle Bin to get rid of the ransomware completely.
  4. Perform a full system scan using a legitimate scanner to check if your PC is malware-free.

In non-techie terms:

HUSTONWEHAVEAPROBLEM Ransomware is a serious infection that, unfortunately, is likely to have encrypted your personal files for good. Unless you have backups, it is unlikely that you will be able to recover your files even if you pay the ransom, which, of course, is not what we recommend doing. Instead of wasting your money, invest it in reliable security software that will make sure you do not face other serious threats in the future. If you need further assistance, use the comments section below, but we are sure that you can delete the ransomware using anti-malware software or even the guide above.