How to Remove HellCat Ransomware

HellCat is a highly dangerous ransomware strain designed to extort money from victims by encrypting their files and demanding payment in cryptocurrency for decryption. Once it infiltrates a system, HellCat modifies the names of targeted files by appending the “.HC” extension, making them inaccessible. For instance, “1.jpg” becomes “1.jpg.HC”, and “3.exe” becomes “3.exe.HC”. It also alters the desktop wallpaper and drops a ransom note named README_HELLCAT.txt, which appears in two slightly different variants.

This ransomware is part of a broader trend of crypto-viruses that use fear and urgency to pressure victims into paying a ransom. The HellCat virus primarily spreads through malicious email attachments, software cracks, infected USB drives, and deceptive websites.

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Threat Summary

Category	Details
Name	HellCat Ransomware
Threat Type	Ransomware, Crypto Virus, File Locker
Encrypted File Extension	.HC
Ransom Note File	_README_HELLCAT_.txt
Ransom Message Variants	Two (One includes time limit and payment in BTC/XMR)
Associated Emails	hellcat@5222.de, Tox chat
Detection Names	Avast (Win64:MalwareX-gen [Trj]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Tedy.747536), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Generik.HAAFOLO), Kaspersky (Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Encoder.acms), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Wacatac.B!ml)
Symptoms	Files renamed with “.HC”, inaccessible files, ransom note on desktop
Damage	Permanent file encryption, potential data leaks, financial losses
Distribution Methods	Malicious email attachments, torrents, cracked software, malicious ads
Free Decryptor Available?	No
Danger Level	Critical — May lead to total data loss and further infections

Ransom Note Contents

First Variant:

README_HELLCAT.txt
All your files have been encrypted by HellCat ransomware.
To avoid data leakage, contact us immediately using the contact information below.
Do not attempt to decrypt files without our key. You risk losing your data permanently.

Contact: (Tox chat ID provided)

Second Variant:

README_HELLCAT.txt
Your files are encrypted!
You must contact us within 336 hours or lose access to your data permanently.
Decryption is only possible with our tool and unique key.
Payment can be made in Bitcoin (BTC) or Monero (XMR).

Contact us at: hellcat@5222.de
Or via Tox chat.

Both notes emphasize the impossibility of recovery without the decryption key held by the attackers. However, paying the ransom is highly discouraged, as there’s no guarantee the decryption tool will be delivered.

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Screenshot Preview

Example of encrypted files:

1.jpg.HC  \n2.png.HC  \n3.docx.HC  
_README_HELLCAT_.txt  

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Manual Ransomware Removal Process

Important: Manual removal is recommended only for experienced users, as incorrect actions can lead to data loss or incomplete removal of the ransomware. If unsure, consider the SpyHunter Removal Method for a guided, automated solution.

Step 1: Disconnect from the Internet

1. Immediately disable Wi-Fi or unplug the Ethernet cable to prevent the ransomware from communicating with remote servers.
2. This can prevent additional encryption or further infections.

Step 2: Boot into Safe Mode

For Windows Users

1. Windows 10/11:
   • Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
   • Under the Boot tab, select Safe boot and check Network.
   • Click Apply, then OK, and restart your PC.
2. Windows 7/8:
   • Restart your PC and press F8 repeatedly before Windows starts.
   • Select Safe Mode with Networking and press Enter.

For Mac Users

1. Restart your Mac and hold the Shift key immediately after the startup chime.
2. Release the key when the Apple logo appears.
3. Your Mac will boot in Safe Mode.

Step 3: Identify and Terminate Malicious Processes

Windows

1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Look for unusual processes consuming high CPU or memory.
3. Right-click on the suspicious process and select End Task.

Mac

1. Open Activity Monitor (Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor).
2. Look for unknown or high-resource-consuming processes.
3. Select the suspicious process and click Force Quit.

Step 4: Delete Ransomware Files

Windows

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to:
   • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local
   • C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming
   • C:\Windows\System32
2. Identify and delete suspicious files (randomly named or recently modified items).
3. Clear temporary files:
   • Press Windows + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter.
   • Delete all files in the Temp folder.

Mac

1. Open Finder and select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type ~/Library/Application Support and check for unfamiliar files or folders.
3. Remove unknown .plist files from ~/Library/LaunchAgents.

Step 5: Remove Ransomware Entries from Registry or System Settings

Windows

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software
3. Identify and delete ransomware-related registry entries.

Mac

1. Open System Preferences > Users & Groups.
2. Select the Login Items tab and remove any unknown startup programs.
3. Check ~/Library/Preferences for malicious settings.

Step 6: Restore System Using a Backup or Restore Point

Windows

1. Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and press Enter.
2. Choose a restore point from before the infection and proceed.

Mac

1. Restart your Mac and enter macOS Utilities by holding Command + R.
2. Select Restore from Time Machine Backup and restore a safe backup.

Step 7: Attempt to Decrypt Files

• Check No More Ransom (www.nomoreransom.org) for available decryption tools.
• If unavailable, restore files from backups.

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Automated Ransomware Removal with SpyHunter

If manual removal is too complex or risky, SpyHunter offers a safer, automated method for detecting and removing ransomware.

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

• Get SpyHunter from the official Enigma Software website.

Step 2: Install SpyHunter

1. Open the downloaded file (SpyHunter-Installer.exe or .dmg for Mac users).
2. Follow the installation prompts.
3. Launch SpyHunter upon completion.

Step 3: Run a Full System Scan

1. Click Start Scan Now to detect malware and ransomware.
2. Wait for the scan to complete and review detected threats.

Step 4: Remove Detected Ransomware

1. Click Fix Threats to remove identified ransomware components.
2. SpyHunter will clean your system automatically.

Step 5: SpyHunter’s Custom Malware HelpDesk

1. If ransomware persists, use SpyHunter’s Malware HelpDesk for custom malware fixes.

Step 6: Restore Files

• Use backups stored on external drives or cloud storage.
• If no backup is available, check No More Ransom for decryption tools.

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Preventing Future Ransomware Attacks

• Keep backups: Use cloud storage or an external hard drive.
• Install a reliable security tool: SpyHunter offers real-time protection against malware.
• Enable Windows Defender or Mac security features for additional protection.
• Avoid phishing emails and unknown attachments.
• Regularly update Windows, macOS, and installed applications.

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HellCat is a brutal example of how modern ransomware operates — encrypting personal or corporate data and forcing victims into high-pressure extortion scenarios. Victims without reliable backups face immense losses, and while there may be a temptation to pay the ransom, doing so often results in additional risks, including financial fraud or further malware exposure.