How to remove Verblecon malware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of malware is Verblecon?
Verblecon is a piece of malware that operates as a loader - it drops the other malicious content on the computers infected with it. We have found that cybercriminals are using Verblecon to distribute cryptocurrency miners. However, it can also be used to drop other malware (for example, ransomware).
More about Verblecon malware
Verblecon can detect whether it is being executed in a virtual or sandbox environment and determine whether its process is being debugged by checking certain Java command-line arguments. These are the anti-debugging techniques that Verblecon used to avoid being analyzed.
Our team has learned that cybercriminals have used Verblecon to distribute cryptocurrency miners so far. Their goal is to use the victim's computer hardware to mine cryptocurrency. However, this malware is capable of more than injecting crypto miners. It can be used to distribute ransomware and other malware.
We also found that threat actors behind Verblecon have been using the malware to steal access tokens for the Discord application. Those tokens provide full access to Discord accounts and are required to perform actions within the app.
| Name | Verblecon loader |
| Threat Type | Malware loader |
| Detection Names | Arcabit (Java.Trojan.GenericGBA.D792D), Combo Cleaner (Java.Trojan.GenericGBA.31021), Emsisoft (Java.Trojan.GenericGBA.31021 (B)), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.Java.Alien.gen), Symantec (Trojan.Verblecon), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Payload | Cryptocurrency miners and other malware |
| 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. |
More about malware loaders
Loaders are tools that cybercriminals use to infect computers with various types of malicious programs. Typically, the attackers attempt to inject malware designed to encrypt files, steal sensitive information, remotely control computers, mine cryptocurrency, etc. More examples of malware loaders are GootLoader, BATLOADER, DarkLoader.
How did Verblecon infiltrate my computer?
There is a reason to believe that threat actors distribute Verblecon through infected/malicious game applications. It is likely that they use Discord as a distribution channel. Other popular ways to distribute malware are emails, cracked software download pages (and other unreliable sources for downloading software/files), or fake updating tools.
Examples of unreliable sources for downloading files and programs are unofficial websites, third-party downloaders, P2P networks (like torrent clients, eMule), etc. Files that cybercriminals use to deliver malware include malicious Microsoft Office, PDF documents, JavaScript files, executables, archives, and other files.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Do not trust files and programs downloaded from unreliable sources. Use official pages and direct links (and legitimate platforms) when willing to download them. Also, do not open attachments and website links included in irrelevant emails sent from suspicious addresses. There is always a chance that such emails are used to deliver malware.
Update (and activate) the installed software and the operating system with tools provided by its official developer. Keep the operating system and installed software up to date and scan a computer for threats on a regular basis. 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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Verblecon?
- STEP 1. Manual removal of Verblecon 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 Verblecon malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
No, formatting the storage device is unnecessary to remove the Verblecon loader.
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
In most cases, cybercriminals employ malware to steal online accounts, make unauthorized purchases, transactions, steal identities, encrypt files, and other purposes.
What is the purpose of Verblecon malware?
This malware operates as a loader. It can infect computers with other malware. It is known that cybercriminals use Verblecon to distribute cryptocurrency miners. However, they could use it to infect computers with ransomware and other malware.
How did a malware infiltrate my computer?
It is suspected that Verblecon is distributed via Discord (by tricking users into downloading malicious games). Although, it could be distributed in other ways too. For example, malicious emails (attachments or links in them), cracked software download pages, compromised pages and other unrtustworthy sources for downloading files and programs.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect almost all known malware. It is important to scan the operating system using a full scan to detect high-end malware since malware of this kind can be hiding deep in the system.
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