How to remove malware that was installed via a Print Works malspam email

What is the Print Works email virus?

Malspam is a way to deliver emails that contain infected files (attachments) or download links for them. Generally, the emails are disguised as official, important messages from legitimate companies. The main purpose of cyber criminals behind malspam emails is to trick recipients into downloading and executing a malicious file, which then installs malicious software.

In this particular case, the attached document is designed to install Dridex.

This malspam email is disguised as a message regarding an invoice from a company called Print Works. In fact, the message has a malicious MS Excel document attached to it. As mentioned, the file attached to this email distributes and installs malicious software classified as Dridex (also known as Bugat and Cridex).

This malware is capable of stealing banking credentials, and functions as banking malware. It steals the aforementioned credentials by logging keystrokes - recording keyboard input. Collected data can include banking credentials but also other sensitive information such as usernames, and passwords for other types of personal accounts.

The obtained information could be misused to make fraudulent purchases and transactions, to steal identities and other accounts, and for other malicious purposes. Additionally, Dridex is capable of performing 'injection attacks'.

More precisely, it can be used to infect computers with other malware and/or execute remote commands, or inject code into specific software and alter its behaviour.

Threat Summary:

Name	Print Works spam
Threat Type	Password-stealing virus, banking malware.
Hoax	An email is disguised as a message regarding a monthly invoice from Print Works.
Attachment(s)	Invoice_311647_209812.xlsm (its name may vary).
Detection Names (Invoice_311647_209812.xlsm)	AegisLab (Trojan.ZIP.Dridex.4!c), BitDefender (VBA.Heur2.Dridex.5.16CA3645.Gen), ESET-NOD32 (VBA/TrojanDownloader.Agent.UVW), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan-Downloader.MSOffice.SLoad.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Symptoms	Malicious programs like Dridex 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	Dridex
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.

In summary, opening the attachment in this email could lead to serious problems such as monetary and/or data loss, identity theft, loss of access to various personal accounts, problems relating to online privacy, and other serious issues. Therefore, this and other similar emails should never be trusted.

More examples of malspam campaigns are "DUNCAN ENGINEERING LIMITED ORDER Email Virus", "Mondiale della Sanita - Italia Email Virus" and "TNT EXPRESS Email Virus".

How did "Print Works email virus" infect my computer?

The file (MS Excel document) attached to this malspam installs Dridex malware if recipients open it and enable content/editing (macros commands). If the document is opened with MS Office versions released before 2010, it infects computers with the malware automatically (older versions do not include Protected View mode).

More examples of files used by cyber criminals in their malspam campaigns are other Microsoft Office documents (e.g., Word), PDF documents, archive files such as RAR, ZIP, executable files (.exe), JavaScript files.

How to avoid installation of malware

To avoid malware spread via spam mail, you are strongly advised against opening suspicious or irrelevant emails, especially those with any attachments or links present within them. Additionally, use Microsoft Office versions released after 2010.

Malicious programs are also proliferated through untrusted download channels (e.g. unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders), illegal software activation ("cracking") tools, and fake updaters.

Therefore, only download from official/verified sources and activate and update software with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers. To ensure device integrity and user privacy, have a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and kept updated.

Furthermore, use these programs to run regular system scans and to remove detected/potential threats. If you have already opened a "Print Works email virus" attachment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Print Works email virus" email message:

Subject: re-send Invoice 311647

Dear Customer,

your monthly invoice for Print Works is available

Sincerely,
Accounts Payable

Malicious attachment distributed via Print Works email virus spam campaign:

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 Print Works 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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