How to remove Sorano Stealer from the operating system

What is the Sorano Stealer?

Sorano Stealer is malicious software designed to exfiltrate (i.e., steal) various information from an infected system. This malware's primary functions include exfiltration of information stored in browsers and sessions from applications. The stolen data can be misused in various ways.

For example, Sorano Stealer's developers offer stolen information for sale. How the malware works and obtained information is used depends on the cyber criminals' modus operandi.

More about Sorano stealer?

As with the first version of Sorano Stealer, its updated version has also been made available for purchase. One of this malicious program's main functions is stealing browser autofill data, cookies and stored passwords. The malware targets Chrome, Yandex, Kometa, Opera, Orbitum, Comodo, Amigo and Torch browsers, however, it does not affect all of these in the same way.

For example, Sorano Stealer cannot exfiltrate passwords from Yandex. Some of this has been rectified in the updated variant.

An added feature is for password decryption and exfiltration from Chrome v80 version, but not for its browsing cookies. Another addition are capabilities to steal from the Gecko browser engine (which is used for Mozilla Firefox browser, Thunderbird email client, etc.).

According to the listed features in Sorano Stealer's promotional material, it can steal sessions from Discord, Telegram, Skype, Steam and Filezilla. In the new variant, VPN and Jabber are added as targets, as are Skype sessions, however, during research, neither of the versions targeted Skype in the manner advertised.

In fact, the updated version steals only Pidgin messaging-client sessions and not those of all Jabber-based (XMPP) communication clients. Sorano Stealer can steal certain cryptocurrency wallets as well. Other features of this malware include exfiltration of text files (.txt) from the desktop and system information, and taking screenshots.

While some of the functions promised were missing from the first version of Sorano Stealer, several were implemented in the update. Furthermore, this malicious software contains basic anti-analysis capabilities, such as launch prevention on virtual machines or other "sandbox" environments.

Both versions of Sorano Stealer are dangerous. This malicious program can cause financial loss, serious privacy issues, identity theft and other serious problems. If it is known or suspected that a system is infected with this (or other) malware, you are strongly advised to use an anti-virus program and remove it immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Sorano Stealer malware
Threat Type	Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware.
Detection Names	AVG (FileRepMalware), BitDefender (Generic.DataStealer.1.13294CB4), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of MSIL/PSW.CoinStealer.BO), Kaspersky (Trojan-Banker.MSIL.Evital.gen), Full List (VirusTotal).
Malicious Process Name(s)	Sorano (process name might vary).
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 passwords and banking information, identity theft, the 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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Examples of similar malware

PoulightStealer, Neshta, ArkeiStealer and Oski are some examples of other information-stealing malware infections. Malicious programs of this type can target different information, and might also have additional capabilities not associated with data exfiltration.

Regardless of how such programs operate, the purpose is identical: to generate revenue for the cyber criminals behind them. Malware infections endanger device and user safety, and therefore immediate removal is crucial.

How did Sorano Stealer infiltrate my computer?

Malware is proliferated in various ways - primarily through Trojans, spam campaigns, illegal activation tools ("cracks"), bogus updates and untrusted download sources. Trojans are malicious programs with varied functions that can include the capability to cause chain infections (i.e., download/installation of additional malware).

The term "spam campaign" defines a large scale operation, during which thousands of deceptive emails are sent. This mail has infectious files attached to, or linked, inside. Malicious files can be in various formats (e.g. Microsoft Office and PDF documents, archive and executable files, JavaScript, etc.).

When they are executed, run or otherwise opened, the infection process is triggered. Illegal activation ("cracking") tools can download/install malicious software, rather than activating licensed products. Rather than installing the promised updates, fake updaters can infect the system.

Untrustworthy download channels (e.g. unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders) can offer malicious programs disguised as and/or bundled with normal content.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Do not open suspicious or irrelevant emails, especially those received from unknown/suspect addresses. Any attachments or links found in such messages must not be opened, as these files are a potential source of infection. Use only official and varied download sources.

Additionally, all products should be activated and updated with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers, as opposed to illegal activation tools ("cracks") or third party updaters. Have a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and kept up to date.

Use this software for regular system scans and to remove detected threats. 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.

Sorano Stealer's process on Windows Task Manager ("Sorano" - process name might vary):

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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Sorano Stealer?
• STEP 1. Manual removal of Sorano Stealer 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 "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 Sorano malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

Formatting your storage device is a drastic step and should be considered only as a final option. Before taking this extreme measure, thoroughly scan your computer using reputable antivirus or anti-malware software like Combo Cleaner.

What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?

Malware poses severe threats by compromising data security, causing system disruptions, enabling unauthorized access, and engaging in harmful activities such as ransom attacks. Its impact ranges from privacy breaches to financial and operational disruptions.

What is the purpose of Sorano malware?

Sorano Stealer is designed to illicitly gather sensitive information, primarily focusing on stealing browser data such as autofill details, cookies, and stored passwords. Its capabilities extend to targeting various browsers, stealing sessions from messaging and communication platforms, and even extracting information from cryptocurrency wallets.

How did a malware infiltrate my computer?

The malware likely infiltrated your computer through deceptive email attachments or links, compromised downloads, interactions with cracked software, fake updates, infected USB drives, or malicious advertisements.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Combo Cleaner excels in identifying and eradicating almost all known malware infections. However, it is crucial to be aware that advanced malware often lurks in the system's depths. In order to address this, a full system scan is essential.

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