.hc files are often associated with encrypted data. The encryption could be for various purposes, including protecting sensitive information or securing data for transmission. The specific decryption method depends on the encryption algorithm and tool used.
John the Ripper can directly read some HC formats. Convert if needed: how to decrypt hc file
# For NTLM, you can use:
john --format=nt --wordlist=rockyou.txt myfile.hc
If you accidentally receive an HC file containing real user hashes, delete it immediately or securely report it to the relevant organization. how to decrypt hc file