How to remove Win32/Malagent?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of malware is Win32/Malagent?
Win32/Malagent is a malicious program that is classified as a Trojan. Trojans are programs that steal personal details and confidential information, control computers remotely, proliferate other computer infections, and so on. Since Win32/Malagent is one of these rogue programs, it might cause serious problems and should, therefore, be uninstalled/removed immediately.
More about Win32/Malagent
This particular malware infection is capable of downloading and installing other malicious programs, using affected/infected computers for 'click fraud', recording keystrokes, recording visited websites and other information, and allowing cyber criminals to control the infected computer remotely.
Win32/Malagent could also be used to download other malicious software, for example, ransomware. Ransomware-type programs encrypt files and block access to them unless a ransom is paid. These programs usually cause financial and data loss for the victims.
Another issue with Win32/Malagent is that it might be used to perform click fraud using the infected computer. This is enforced clicking of PPC (Pay Per Click) ads to generate fraudulent charges for the advertisers.
Keystroke logging/recording is another serious problem - Win32/Malagent might record each key press, allowing it to steal logins, passwords, and other details of various personal accounts (email, banking, and so on). Stolen details could be used to generate revenue and cause financial loss for the victims.
Furthermore, this Trojan might also gather other browsing-related details. For example, IP addresses, entered search queries, URLs of visited pages, and so on. The data could be used to generate revenue. Cyber criminals can also use Win32/Malagent to control an affected computer remotely.
This enables them to download various unwanted programs (including viruses), take screenshots, steal data, and so on. In summary, this Trojan can inflict serious issues. If you believe that Win32/Malagent has infected your computer, remove it immediately.
| Name | "Win32/Malagent" virus |
| Threat Type | Trojan, Password stealing virus, Banking malware, Spyware. |
| Detection Names (server.exe) |
Avast (Win32:Packed-C [Heur]), BitDefender (Gen:Backdoor.Heur.Bifrose.PuY@bSM9jgiG), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/Bifrose.NFD), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Trojans are designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim's computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine. |
| Distribution methods | Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software cracks. |
| Damage | Stolen banking information, passwords, identity theft, victim's computer added to a botnet. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Examples of Trojans
There are many Trojans available online. Some examples of other, similar malware infections include Dynamer, Emotet, Megalodon, Hancitor, and TrickBot. Most of these programs steal information or proliferate other malicious programs. No matter which Trojan has infected the system, it should be removed immediately, since most can lead to serious problems.
How did Win32/Malagent infiltrate my computer?
Win32/Malagent is proliferated using spam campaigns, unofficial (dubious) software download sources, software 'cracking' and fake updating tools. Criminals use spam campaigns by sending many emails that include a malicious attachment, or a web link that leads to it.
Attached files might be Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel), PDF documents, archives (files such as ZIP, RAR), executables, JavaScript files, and so on. They send these emails simply to trick people into opening the attached files. Once opened, they download and install malware.
Untrustworthy, dubious software download sources such as freeware download pages, free file hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule and other sources of this kind can also be used to proliferate malicious software.
Typically, malicious files are disguised as harmless and legitimate, however, people who download and open them, inadvertently cause computer infections. Software 'cracking' tools are programs that help people to activate licensed software free of charge, however, cyber criminals often employ them to proliferate malware.
Fake/unofficial software updaters infect systems by downloading and installing malicious programs rather than updates/fixes, or by exploiting bugs/flaws of installed and outdated software.
How to avoid installation of malware?
To keep operating systems/computers safe, download, install, update software, and browse the internet with care. Do not use third party downloaders/installers or other unofficial tools to download other software. Download only from official and trustworthy websites.
Furthermore, update installed software through implemented functions or tools provided by official software developers (no other methods are safe). Do not open files that are attached to irrelevant emails received from unknown, suspicious addresses without studying them first.
If the email/attachment is suspicious, ignore it. Software 'cracking' tools are illegal and are often the main reason for computer infections. Have reputable anti-spyware or anti-virus software installed and to keep it enabled. If you believe that your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.
Screenshot of other virus detection engines recognizing the same file as a threat:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is Win32/Malagent?
- STEP 1. Manual removal of Win32/Malagent malware.
- STEP 2. Check if your computer is clean.
How to remove malware manually?
Manual malware removal is a complicated task - usually it is best to allow antivirus or anti-malware programs to do this automatically.
To remove this malware we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. If you wish to remove malware manually, the first step is to identify the name of the malware that you are trying to remove. Here is an example of a suspicious program running on a user's computer:
If you checked the list of programs running on your computer, for example, using task manager, and identified a program that looks suspicious, you should continue with these steps:
Download a program called Autoruns. This program shows auto-start applications, Registry, and file system locations:
Restart your computer into Safe Mode:
Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, and then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 8 users: Start Windows 8 is Safe Mode with Networking - Go to Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click Advanced startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window, select Advanced startup. Click the "Restart now" button.
Your computer will now restart into the "Advanced Startup options menu". Click the "Troubleshoot" button, and then click the "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen, click "Startup settings". Click the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 10 users: Click the Windows logo and select the Power icon. In the opened menu click "Restart" while holding "Shift" button on your keyboard. In the "choose an option" window click on the "Troubleshoot", next select "Advanced options". In the advanced options menu select "Startup Settings" and click on the "Restart" button.
In the following window you should click the "F5" button on your keyboard. This will restart your operating system in safe mode with networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 10 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Extract the downloaded archive and run the Autoruns.exe file.
In the Autoruns application, click "Options" at the top and uncheck the "Hide Empty Locations" and "Hide Windows Entries" options. After this procedure, click the "Refresh" icon.
Check the list provided by the Autoruns application and locate the malware file that you want to eliminate.
You should write down its full path and name. Note that some malware hides process names under legitimate Windows process names. At this stage, it is very important to avoid removing system files. After you locate the suspicious program you wish to remove, right click your mouse over its name and choose "Delete".
After removing the malware through the Autoruns application (this ensures that the malware will not run automatically on the next system startup), you should search for the malware name on your computer. Be sure to enable hidden files and folders before proceeding. If you find the filename of the malware, be sure to remove it.
Reboot your computer in normal mode. Following these steps should remove any malware from your computer. Note that manual threat removal requires advanced computer skills. If you do not have these skills, leave malware removal to antivirus and anti-malware programs.
These steps might not work with advanced malware infections. As always it is best to prevent infection than try to remove malware later. To keep your computer safe, install the latest operating system updates and use antivirus software.
To be sure your computer is free of malware infections, we recommend scanning it with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
My computer is infected with Win32/Malagent malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Typically, malware can be removed using antivirus software. Thus, it is not necessary to format storage devices to eliminate malware.
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
Malware (depending on its type) can be used to encrypt files, steal sensitive information, mine cryptocurrency, add computers to botnets, inject additional payloads, and more.
What is the purpose of Win32/Malagent?
Threat actors can use Win32/Malagent to download and inject other malware, perform click fraud, record keystrokes (capture keyboard input), obtain visited websites and other information, and control infected computers.
How did Win32/Malagent infiltrate my computer?
Cybercriminals have been observed distributing Win32/Malagent via emails containing malicious attachments (or links) and websites hosting pirated/cracked software, cracking tools, and key generators. P2P networks, third-party downloaders, free file hosting websites, fake installers and software updaters, and similar channels can also be used to distribute Win32/Malagent.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and remove almost all known malware. Typically, high-end malware hides deep in the system. Computers infected with malware of this kind must be scanned using a full system scan.
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