How to eliminate the Colibri malware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of malware is Colibri?
Colibri is the name of a malware loader - a piece of software that drops the actual malicious content on the operating system. We have discovered Colibri on hacker forums. Our team has found that cybercriminals sell it for $150 for a week and $400 for a month (and offer free updates). Colibri targets Windows computers.
Colibri loader in detail
We have found that Colibri can drop (and execute) malicious executables and DLL files to infect computers with preferred malware. It means that cybercriminals can use Colibri to distribute ransomware, Trojans, cryptocurrency miners, and other malicious software.
Threat actors can use Colibri to drop malware that would allow them to steal sensitive information, encrypt files, hijack personal accounts, launch DDoS attacks, steal identities, and do other things. Thus, computers infected with Colibri (and its payloads) should be scanned with antivirus software and detected threats eliminated as soon as possible.
Name | Colibri malware loader |
Threat Type | Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware. |
Detection Names | Avast (Win32:Colibri-A [Drp]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Razy.942612), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/Agent.ADQQ), Kaspersky (Trojan-Spy.Win32.SpyEyes.bslf), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Tiggre!rfn), Full List (VirusTotal) |
Symptoms | Loaders 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. |
Malware of this type in general
More examples of malware that shares similarities with Colibri (from a functionality perspective) are BATLOADER, DarkLoader, XLoader. The purpose of malware loaders is to infect computers with additional malware. Computers get infected with loaders when users execute them by themselves.
How did Colibri infiltrate my computer?
Computers get infected via emails, a certain type of Trojans, files downloaded from unreliable sources, fake software updaters, and cracking tools. Emails used to deliver malware contain attachments or links. The purpose of such emails is to trick recipients into executing malicious files.
Examples of untrustworthy sources that cybercriminals use to trick users into downloading malicious files/programs are unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks, third-party downloaders, free file hosting pages. Fake software updaters infect systems by exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated programs or injecting malware instead of updating software.
Fake software cracking tools infect computers while using them to bypass software activation. Installers for pirated software can contain malware too. It is important to mention that it is against the law to use cracked/pirated software.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Do not open attachments/files and links in emails received from suspicious addresses (especially when those emails are irrelevant). Usually, emails of this kind contain malicious files (or links). Always use official pages and direct links as sources for downloading files and programs.
Keep the installed software up to date. Activate and update it with tools/functions provided by its official developer (never use unofficial tools). 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.
Screenshots of the Colibri's administration panel:
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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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 Colibri?
- STEP 1. Manual removal of Colibri 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 Colibri malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Colibri can be removed without formatting. A removal guide for malware is povided above.
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
It depends on the type of malware. Typically, it causes problems such as data, monetary loss, identity theft, additional computer infections, loss of personal accounts.
What is the purpose of Colibri malware?
The purpose of Colibri is to load other malware. In other words, it is designed to distribute malicious software on already infected machines.
How did a malware infiltrate my computer?
In most cases, computers get infected via malicious emails, fake system warning messages, drive-by downloads, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks, unofficial software download websites. In some cases, malware spreads via local networks and removable storage devices (such as external hard drives, USB flash drives, and similar).
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and remove almost all known malware. When computers are infected with high-end malware, they need to be scanned fully (using a full system scan). Malware of this kind usually hides deep in the operating system (it cannot be detected using a quick scan).
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