How to uninstall malware installed via an Adobe malspam campaign

"Adobe Email Virus" removal guide

What is "Adobe Email Virus"?

Typically, cyber criminals behind these spam campaigns send emails disguised as "official" and "important" to trick people into installing malicious software. In many cases, they succeed when recipients open/execute a malicious file (attachment), which then installs malware. In this particular case, the attached file contains a website link designed to download a malicious file. Therefore, do not to trust emails of this type or open files/links within them.

Cyber criminals commonly disguise malspam campaigns as official, important messages from legitimate companies. In fact, the companies have nothing to do with such campaigns. This particular malspam campaign is disguised as a message from KE Innovations regarding a purchase order. It contains an attachment, which is supposedly an invoice. In fact, the attached "Invoice#9037.pdf" file (its name might vary) is a PDF document containing a website link, which downloads/opens the download page to a malicious file. It is very likely that cyber criminals behind this malspam campaign attempt to deceive recipients into installing ransomware, Trojan, cryptocurrency miner or other malicious software. Typically, these campaigns are used to distribute malware that encrypts files, steals personal information (e.g., by logging keystrokes, collecting saved passwords, autofill data) and/or uses the computer hardware to mine cryptocurrency. Recipients who open malicious links or files in such emails might suffer monetary, data loss, become victims of identity theft, lose access to personal accounts (e.g., email, banking, social media accounts), experience problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety, receive higher electricity bills, and experience other serious problems. All of this can be avoided by leaving the links or attached files unopened.

Threat Summary:

Name	Adobe email spam
Threat Type	Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware.
Hoax	This malspam campaign is disguised as a message regarding an invoice.
Attachment(s)	Invoice#9037.pdf (its name might vary).
Detection Names	SentinelOne (Static ML) (DFI - Malicious PDF), Full List Of Detections (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.
Payload	Ransomware, Trojan or other malware.
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.

Typically, cyber criminals use malspam campaigns to distribute malware, which enables them to generate revenue in various ways (e.g., by stealing login credentials, credit card details, and sensitive documents). Some examples of other malspam campaigns are "Billtrust Email Virus", "Universidade De Lisboa Email Virus" and "Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Email Virus". Examples of malicious programs often distributed in this way are NanoCore, LokiBot, TrickBot, and Echelon.

How did "Adobe Email Virus" infect my computer?

Some of the most common ways to distribute malware are using spam campaigns, fake software updaters, untrusted file, software download channels, unofficial (third party) activators and Trojans. Cyber criminals often send emails with malicious attachments or website links within them. In any case, their main goal is to deceive recipients into executing the malicious file, which then installs malware. Typically, the emails have malicious Microsoft Office documents, archive files (ZIP, RAR), PDF documents, JavaScript files or executable files such as .exe attached to them. Fake software updaters are dubious tools that often do not update or fix any installed software - they simply install malware or infect computers by exploiting bugs/flaws of outdated software. Untrusted software download channels are also used to distribute malware. Users who download files through Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, various free file hosting, freeware download websites and other similar channels risk downloading malicious files (usually disguised as regular and legitimate). When executed, the files infect computers with malicious software. Software 'cracking' tools (unofficial activators) supposedly activate licensed software free of charge, however, they often install malware instead. Trojans are malicious programs that proliferate other programs of this kind: if a computer is infected with a Trojan, it is very likely that it will be infected with other software of this kind.

How to avoid installation of malware

Files and programs should be downloaded only from official, trusted websites and via direct links. Other channels and tools (some examples are mentioned above) should not be trusted, since cyber criminals often use them to distribute malicious files and programs. Operating systems and installed software must be updated and activated with implemented functions/tools designed by official developers. Unofficial, third party tools often infect computers with malware. Furthermore, it is illegal to activate software with 'cracking' tools/unofficial activators. Attachments and website links in irrelevant emails that are received from suspicious, unknown addresses should never be opened. Commonly, such emails are sent by cyber criminals who attempt to trick recipients into installing malware onto their computers. These emails tend to be disguised as important and official. Regularly scan the operating system/computer with reputable and up to date antivirus or anti-spyware software. If you have already opened "Adobe Email Virus" attachment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Screenshot of another "Adobe Email Virus" variant:

Text in both variants:

Subject: FW: Invoice#9037

 

Enclosed is our purchase order with all necessary information.

 

kindly arrange P/I for advance payment.

 

If any question please kindly inform me Thanks a lot and waiting for your reply.

Best Regards,

 

Sale Manager.
Jamie Enzo.
KE Innovations.
TEL: 406-5551-753
Admin Office
SALE Code: 25600

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 Adobe email spam?
• Types of malicious emails.
• How to spot a malicious email?
• What to do if you fell for an email scam?

Types of malicious emails:

Phishing Emails

Most commonly, cybercriminals use deceptive emails to trick Internet users into giving away their sensitive private information, for example, login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information.

Such attacks are called phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals usually send an email message with some popular service logo (for example, Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix), create urgency (wrong shipping address, expired password, etc.), and place a link which they hope their potential victims will click on.

After clicking the link presented in such email message, victims are redirected to a fake website that looks identical or extremely similar to the original one. Victims are then asked to enter their password, credit card details, or some other information that gets stolen by cybercriminals.

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Another popular attack vector is email spam with malicious attachments that infect users' computers with malware. Malicious attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

In such attacks, cybercriminals' main goal is to trick their potential victims into opening an infected email attachment. To achieve this goal, email messages usually talk about recently received invoices, faxes, or voice messages.

If a potential victim falls for the lure and opens the attachment, their computers get infected, and cybercriminals can collect a lot of sensitive information.

While it's a more complicated method to steal personal information (spam filters and antivirus programs usually detect such attempts), if successful, cybercriminals can get a much wider array of data and can collect information for a long period of time.

Sextortion Emails

This is a type of phishing. In this case, users receive an email claiming that a cybercriminal could access the webcam of the potential victim and has a video recording of one's masturbation.

To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom (usually using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency). Nevertheless, all of these claims are false - users who receive such emails should ignore and delete them.

How to spot a malicious email?

While cyber criminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender's ("from") email address: Hover your mouse over the "from" address and check if it's legitimate. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft, be sure to check if the email address is @microsoft.com and not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com, @microsfot.com, @account-security-noreply.com, etc.
• Check for generic greetings: If the greeting in the email is "Dear user", "Dear @youremail.com", "Dear valued customer", this should raise suspiciousness. Most commonly, companies call you by your name. Lack of this information could signal a phishing attempt.
• Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link presented in the email, if the link that appears seems suspicious, don't click it. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft and the link in the email shows that it will go to firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0... you shouldn't trust it. It's best not to click any links in the emails but to visit the company website that sent you the email in the first place.
• Don't blindly trust email attachments: Most commonly, legitimate companies will ask you to log in to their website and to view any documents there; if you received an email with an attachment, it's a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application. Infected email attachments are a common attack vector used by cybercriminals.

To minimise the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. 

Example of a spam email:

What to do if you fell for an email scam?

• If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password - be sure to change your password as soon as possible. Usually, cybercriminals collect stolen credentials and then sell them to other groups that use them for malicious purposes. If you change your password in a timely manner, there's a chance that criminals won't have enough time to do any damage.
• If you entered your credit card information - contact your bank as soon as possible and explain the situation. There's a good chance that you will need to cancel your compromised credit card and get a new one.
• If you see any signs of identity theft - you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission. This institution will collect information about your situation and create a personal recovery plan.
• If you opened a malicious attachment - your computer is probably infected, you should scan it with a reputable antivirus application. For this purpose, we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
• Help other Internet users - report phishing emails to Anti-Phishing Working Group, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, National Fraud Information Center and U.S. Department of Justice.

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