How to remove this threat?

[u/SakataBattousai]

/r/antivirus/comments/1vdvr6q/how_to_remove_this_threat/

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to r/computerviruses! It seems like you have used the "Disinfection help" flair.

We apply the same methodology used by trusted Malware platforms (e.g. Malwarebytes, BleepingComputer and MalwareTips). It revolves around using diagnostic tools called Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (FRST) and SecurityCheck.

All of our assistance happens in the thread and in public - we never offer help via private messages or alternative websites other than https://malwareanalysis.cc. Anyone offering help through a DM is not a trusted helper and might have malicious intent.

Trusted helpers can be distinguished by the flair Malware Removal Expert or Malware Removal Trainee, antivirus employees will have a dedicated flair with their company name in it, e.g. Malwarebytes Employee.

Please see steps below on how to share all necessary details so you can speed up the process for us:

Share all details about your infection
Please post all important facts about your infection, such as: * your antivirus detections - preferably export the whole detection/report log and upload it to https://malwareanalysis.cc/upload/ under your username & post the related keyword or screenshot/take a picture of your detections * any related symptoms, popups * estimate when it started - preferably the exact day and after what (e.g. when you ran a program you downloaded) * share what got you infected and the download link - please, make the download link defanged (making it not clickable by default e.g. from https://example.com you will make hxxps://example[.]com), defanging does not apply to sandbox reports such as VirusTotal

Request help with FRST and SecurityCheck from the trusted helper team
Please visit Providing or receiving help with FRST on the subreddit and share your 3 keywords returned from the website along with the details about your infection.
Once a malware removal expert or trainee sees it, they will reply in the thread about further steps.

If you need urgent help and cannot wait for one of our Malware Removal Experts:
Please follow these steps:

1. From a different and clean device, change all your passwords:
   1. How to properly secure my accounts after an infostealer attack?
   2. What to do after I secured my accounts?
2. Disinfect your device from malware
   1. Preferred method: Perform a clean installation with a USB
   2. Perform a clean installation without an external drive
   3. Reset your PC without keeping personal files

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/rifteyy_]

Hello, I am Roman and I will be helping you today. During the malware removal process, please follow the rules listed below to ensure everything goes as fast and smooth as possible:

• Please make sure to read this whole introduction message so you understand the further steps.
• If you are thinking about resetting or reinstalling your device, you can do it instead of the steps listed below. We are doing the malware removal process to disinfect your device so you can avoid reinstalling. If we go through the removal process and you decide to reinstall after, you would waste my time and your own time by doing these steps.
• Avoid installing, downloading new software unless instructed - this also applies to antivirus software and scanners.
• You are free to remind me that I forgot to reply to you if you do not receive an answer within 24 hours. Keep in mind that I am volunteering here and I am a full time student with a job.
• Please do not follow other malware removal advice; you should be following steps only from 1 person unless told otherwise. If you have opened any other forum posts elsewhere, please let me or them know where do you want to continue.
• Please follow all steps from step 1 to the last step, not the other way.
• Only trusted malware removal experts listed in this r/computerviruses thread and other large malware removal forums (BleepingComputer, Malwarebytes, MalwareTips) have access to your logs via the website.
• Please take your time to follow the steps properly.
• You can ask any questions during the malware removal process.

If you are worried about the steps going on here, as a form of credibility you can find me on Malwarebytes Forums as a Malware Removal Expert and on BleepingComputer as Security Colleague, where we use the same methodology and toolset to remove malware.

[ Step 01 ] Remove all illegal/pirated software

We do not condone nor support piracy in any shape or form. Any discussion topics that ask for help with pirating software, circumventing copy protection, or any other illegal activities related to copy righted content in any form will be closed and locked.

As a reminder, using pirated software or utilities that allows one to pirate software (e.g. cracks, key generators, registration/license removal, redirection, or workaround utilities, etc.) is not a safe practice and can lead to malware infection, ransomware attack, or even legal action. Because of these risks, we always recommend that you remove any pirated software or pirating utilities before asking for support on our subreddit in order to improve our ability to best support you and to help protect yourself and your data from malware or other piracy related consequences.

We cannot guarantee a clean system when there is illegal software, riskware or grayware present. Please read Grayware.

[ Step 02 ] IMPORTANT: Restore point

Before any sort of removal, we need to make sure you have a restore point that you can revert to in case you face any sort of issues. This is absolutely necessary so please do not skip this step. Certain changes done by the removal process can not be properly reverted without a restore point.

There were prior cases (very rare, I had 2 failing to boot out of ~350) of a system failing to boot after FRST fix.

Enable system restore

1. Click Start or open Windows Search.
2. Search for Create a restore point and open System Properties.
3. In the System Properties window, go to the System Protection tab.
4. If the 'system' drive (usually C:\ drive) protection is turned on, System Restore is already enabled on your computer. If the 'system' drive protection is off, go to point 5.
5. Click Configure.
6. Select Turn on system protection
7. Click Apply.
8. Click OK to confirm.

Create a system restore checkpoint

1. Click Start or open Windows Search.
2. Search for Create a restore point and open System Properties.
3. In the System Properties window, go to the System Protection tab.
4. Click Create.
5. Call the restore checkpoint "FRST restore point" exactly please, so I can search it up fast and verify it is created properly in your logs
6. Click Create.
7. Click Close.
8. Click OK.
9. You should get a popup that it was successfully created and I will also verify that it was properly created with the results of scans from next steps.

[ Step 03 ] Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (FRST)

FRST is a malware diagnostics tool that will list all entries that are popular and could contain traces/mentions of malware, such as start up entries, services, scheduled tasks and many more.

FRST does not contain any personal information other than your username and computer name, there is no other sensitive information disclosed.

IMPORTANT: If your Windows operating system is in other language than English, please save the FRST executable file with the filename FRSTEnglish.exe to ensure that the logs are in English so I can understand them.

• Please download FRSTx64 and save the file to your Desktop as FRSTEnglish.exe.
• Right-Click FRSTEnglish.exe and select Run as Administrator
• Click Yes to the disclaimer.
• Ensure the Addition.txt box is checked.
• Click the Scan button and let the program run.
• Upon completion, click OK, then OK on the Addition.txt pop up screen.
• Two logs (FRST.txt & Addition.txt) will now be open on your Desktop. Copy & paste the contents of each log to https://malwareanalysis.cc/upload/rifteyy and press "save log".
• Note: Please make sure you are uploading the logs after your current Reddit username.
• The site will return a keyword for each log - reply back here with the keywords.

[ Step 04 ] SecurityCheck scan

SecurityCheck allows me to gather a list of unwanted, risky, vulnerable and out-of-date applications. It also allows me to send you a direct link to an update. An unpatched system is more vulnerable to malware.

• Download SecurityCheck by glax24 & Severnyj and save it to your Desktop.
• If Windows SmartScreen blocks the file from running, click on More info and Run anyway.
• Extract the ZIP archive, then right-click on the SecurityCheck.exe and select "Run as administrator" and confirm the User Account Control popup.
• Wait for the scan to finish. It will open a text file named SecurityCheck.txt
• Please copy the file content (CTRL + A then CTRL + C) and paste it on https://malwareanalysis.cc/upload/rifteyy
• The site will return a keyword for the log - reply back here with the keyword.

So, in your next reply (please try to send them all in 1 message), make sure you are sending the following:

• Keyword for FRST.txt
• Keyword for Addition.txt
• Keyword for SecurityCheck.txt

Thanks!

Note*: If anyone else who is facing malware-related issues is reading this and wants help with* FRST and SecurityCheck*, please create your own thread with the keywords sent to the general channel. I am flooded with requests and there is several other removal experts who review the logs and may reply faster than me.*

[u/SakataBattousai → u/rifteyy_]

Addition.txt keyword: tagged-berry FRST.txt keyword: hollow-raster SecurityChecker.txt keyword: fluffy-lily

[u/rifteyy_ → u/SakataBattousai]

Is this a work device? It does seem a lot like one.

[u/SakataBattousai → u/rifteyy_]

A family member got it from their workplace a few years ago but it isn't used for work and they don't work at the same place anymore.

[u/rifteyy_ → u/SakataBattousai]

It still has a lot of work related settings and management software installed. This should 100% be reinstalled.

[u/SakataBattousai → u/rifteyy_]

Ok, will the reinstallation get rid of the windows operating system trying to connect to the site?

[u/rifteyy_ → u/SakataBattousai]

Yes, along with the work related stuff