Malware Removal Guide for Windows

Malware is short for “malicious software.” Malware is any kind of unwanted software that is installed without your adequate consent. Spyware, rootkits, and trojan horses are examples of malicious software that are often grouped together and referred to as malware.

It’s not always easy to tell if your computer was compromised or not,because these days cybercriminals are going to great lengths to hide their code and conceal what their programs are doing on an infected computer.
It’s very difficult to provide a list of characteristic symptoms of a infected computer because the same symptoms can also be caused by hardware incompatibilities or system instability,however here are just a few examples that may suggest that your PC has been compromised :

• You may receive the error “Internet Explorer could not display the page” when attempting to access certain websites
• Your web browser (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome) freezes, hangs or is unresponsive
• Your web browser’s default homepage is changed
• Access to security related websites is blocked
• You get redirected to web pages other than the one you intended to go to
• You receive numerous web-browser popup messages
• Strange or unexpected toolbars appear at the top of your web browser
• Your computer runs slower than usual
• Your computer freezes, hangs or is unresponsive
• There are new icons on your desktop that you do not recognize
• Your computer restarts by itself (but not a restart caused by Windows Updates)
• You see unusual error messages (e.g., messages saying there are missing or corrupt files folders)
• You are unable to access the Control Panel, Task Manager, Registry Editor or Command Prompt.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms then we strongly advise you follow our removal guide as the below instructions can be used to remove more than 99% of the Windows malware.

STEP 1:  Remove the rookits with Kaspersky TDSSKiller

1. Please download the latest official version of Kaspersky TDSSKiller.
   KASPERSKY TDSSKILLER DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will automatically download Kaspersky TDSSKiller on your computer.)
2. Before you can run Kaspersky TDSSKiller, you first need to rename it so that
   you can get it to run. To do this, right-click on the TDSSKiller.exe icon and select Rename.
   Edit the name of the file from TDSSKiller.exe to iexplore.exe, and then double-click on it to launch.
   
3. Kaspersky TDSSKiller will now start and display the welcome screen as shown below.In order to start a system scan , press the ’Start Scan’ button.
   
4. Kaspersky TDSSKiller will now scan your computer for the ZeroAccess rootkit.
   
5. When the scan has finished it will display a result screen stating whether or not the infection was found on your computer. If it was found it will display a screen similar to the one below.
   
6. To remove the infection simply click on the Continue button and TDSSKiller will attempt to clean the infection.A reboot will be require to completely remove this rootkit from your system.

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STEP 2 : Run a scan with Combofix to check for any left over rootkits

1. Download Combofix from any of the below links.
   COMBOFIX DOWNLOAD LINK #1 (This link will automatically download Combofix on your computer)
   COMBOFIX DOWNLOAD LINK #2  (This link will automatically download Combofix on your computer)
2. Before running this utiltiy,please follow the below instructions:
   • Close any open browsers.
   • Close/disable all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.
     Temporarily disable your anti-virus, script blocking and any anti-malware real-time protection beforeperforming a scan. They can interfere with ComboFix or remove some of its embedded files which may cause “unpredictable results”.
   • WARNING: Combofix will disconnect your machine from the Internet as soon as it starts
   • Please do not attempt to re-connect your machine back to the Internet until Combofix has completely finished.
   • If there is no internet connection after running Combofix, then restart your computer to restore back your connection.
3. Start the Combofix scan:
   1. Double click on ComboFix.exe and then follow the prompts.
   2. Accept the disclaimer and allow to update if it asks
   3. When finished, it shall produce a log for you.
   4. Restart your computer
   Additional Notes:
   • Do not mouse-click Combofix’s window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.
   • Do not “re-run” Combofix. If you have a problem, reply back for further instructions.
   •  If after the reboot you get errors about programms being marked for deletion then reboot, that will cure it.

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STEP 3 : Remove the malicious registry keys added by this infection

1. Please download the latest official version of RogueKiller.
   ROGUEKILLER DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download RogueKiller on your computer)
2. Double click on RogueKiller.exe to start this utility and then wait for the Prescan to complete.This should take only a few seconds and then you can click the Start button to perform a system scan.
   
3. After the scan has completed, press the Delete button to remove any malicious registry keys.
   
4. Next we will need to restore your shortcuts, so click on the ShortcutsFix button and allow the program to run.
   

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STEP 4: Remove any malicious files with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE

1. Download the latest official version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE.
   MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free)
2. You can start the Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware installation process by double clicking on mbam-setup file.
   
3. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malwareand Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button. If Malwarebytes’ prompts you to reboot, please do not do so.
   
4. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start and you’ll be prompted to start a trial period , please select ‘Decline‘ as we just want to use the on-demand scanner.
   
5. On the Scanner tab,select Perform full scan and then click on the Scanbutton to start scanning your computer.
   
6. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for ZeroAccess malicious files as shown below.
   
7. When the scan is finished a message box will appear, click OK to continue.
8. You will now be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware has detected.Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked) and click on the Remove Selected button.
   
9. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start removing the malicious files.After completing this task it will display a message stating that it needs to reboot,please allow this request and then let your PC boot in Normal mode.

STEP 5: Double check your system for any left over infections with HitmanPro

1. Download the latest official version of HitmanPro from the below link.
   HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download HitmanPro)
2. Double click on the previously downloaded fileto start the HitmanPro installation.
   
   IF you are experiencing problems while trying to starting HitmanPro, you can use the “Force Breach” mode.To start this program in Force Breach mode, hold down the left CTRL-key when you start HitmanPro and all non-essential processes are terminated, including the malware process. (How to start HitmanPro in Force Breach mode – Video)
3. Click on Next to install HitmanPro on your system.
   
4. The setup screen is displayed, from which you can decide whether you wish to install HitmanPro on your machine or just perform a one-time scan, select a option then click onNext to start a system scan.
   
5. HitmanPro will start scanning your system for malicious files as seen in the image below.
   
6. Once the scan is complete,you’ll see a screen which will display all the malicious files that the program has found.Click on Next to remove this malicious files.
   
7. Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial and remove the malicious files.
   
8. HitmanPro will now start removing the infected objects.If this program will ask you to restart your computer,please allow this request.

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STEP 6: Remove the residual damage

1. Download Windows Repair All in One utility to your computer.
   WINDOWS REPAIR ALL IN ONE  DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a web page from where you can download Windows Repair All in One Portable version)
2. Double-click tweaking.com_windows_repair_aio.zip and extract the Tweaking.com – Windows Repair folder to your desktop.
3. Now open this folder and double-click Repair_Windows.exe.
4. Click the Start Repairs tab on the far right.
5. Click the Start button (bottom right)
   Note: When asked if you would like to create a restore point. It is recommended just in-case something does not go as planned.
6. Click Unselect All
7. Put a checkmark in the following items:
   • Repair Hosts File
   • Repair Temp Files
   • Remove Policies Set By Infections
   Note: Leave everything else unchecked
8. Put a checkmark in Restart System When Finished
9. Now click the Start button (bottom right)

Lets remove ComboFix from your machine:

1. Hold down the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This will display the Run dialogue box
2. In the Run box, type in ComboFix /Uninstall (Notice the space between the “x” and “/”) then click OK 
3. Follow the prompts on the screen
4. A message should appear confirming that ComboFix was uninstalled

Delete the following files: (If they exist)
C:ComboFix.txt

Delete the following folders: (If they exist)
C:ComboFix
C:Qoobox