How to eliminate the SillyRAT malware?

What is SillyRAT malware?

SillyRAT is the name of a cross-platform Remote Access Trojan (RAT) written in Python programming language. RAT is a form of malware allowing cybercriminals to control infected devices remotely. Typically, it is used to steal sensitive information and (or) distribute malicious software.

SillyRAT in detail

SillyRAT can execute various commands, capture screenshots, and collect system information. It is known that this RAT works on Windows, Linux, and possibly MacOS operating systems. One of the commands available in SillyRAT's shell allows it to enable a keylogger which means that this malware can record keyboard input.

Also, SillyRAT can be used to generate a payload file (for example, a malicious executable). Although, it can be done only on Windows operating systems. This feature could be used to infect computers with ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, or other malicious software.

Threat Summary:

Name	SillyRAT Remote Access Trojan
Threat Type	Remote Administration Trojan, spyware, malware dropper
Symptoms	Remote Access 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, monetary loss, additional malware infections
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.

SillyRAT malware in general

Cybercriminals can use SillyRAT to distribute malware and steal personal information. Research shows that SillyRAT's features are still being tested on different platforms, which means it may not have the same functionality on all targeted operating systems. More examples of RATs are Horus Eyes, BIOPASS, and Klingon.

How did SillyRAT infiltrate my computer?

Users infect computers with malware via emails, fake software updaters, downloads from unreliable sources, Trojans, and software cracking tools (or installers for cracked software). Users infect computers through emails by opening malicious attachments or links (files downloaded via links).

Fake software updaters can infect computers by exploiting flaws, bugs, or other vulnerabilities of installed programs or installing malware instead of updating or fixing a certain installed software. Downloads from unreliable sources infect systems when users execute them.

Trojans are malicious programs that can be designed used for different purposes (there are different types of Trojans. One of them is to infect computers with other malware. Software cracking tools illegally activate legitimate programs. Although, it is very common for these tools to be bundled with malware.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Avoid using third-party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks, unofficial pages. It is recommended to use official websites and direct links to download files, programs. Do not trust irrelevant emails received from unknown, suspicious addresses that contain attachments or links - their contents can be malicious.

Activate and (or) update the installed software with tools or functions provided by its official developers. Scan the operating system for threats regularly. Run scans using reliable antivirus software and keep that software up to date.

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.

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 SillyRAT?
• STEP 1. Manual removal of SillyRAT 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 SillyRAT malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

No, it is not necessary to format the infected storage device to remove SillyRAT.

What are the biggest issues that SillyRAT malware can cause?

It may lead to identity theft, financial losses, further infections, loss of access to online accounts.

What is the purpose of a malware?

Knowing the capabilities of the SillyRAT malware, it is likely that the purpose of this malware is to steal/obtain sensitive information that could be misused for malicious purposes and to distribute other malware.

How did a malware infiltrate my computer?

Typically, high-risk malware like SillyRAT is distributed using various phishing and other social engineering techniques (for example, malicious emails, fake system warning messages), drive-by downloads, Peer-to-Peer networks, unreliable sources for downloading files, programs. In some cases, malware can spread through the local network and removable storage devices like external hard drives and USB flash drives.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and eliminating almost all known malware infections. High-end malware usually hides deep in the system. Therefore, the operating system must be scanned using a full scan.

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