How to remove MintStealer from the operating system

What kind of malware is MintStealer?

MintStealer (also known as Mint Stealer) is an information stealer targeting web browsers, messengers, mail clients, VPN clients, game sessions, and more. It is used to extract sensitive data. MintStealer is being sold as Malware-as-a-service (MaaS). Other cybercriminals can purchase MintStealer for $8 per week, $30 per month, and $75 for three months.

More about MintStealer

MintStealer is promoted as a fully undetectable malware that uses anti-virtual machine and anti-debugging techniques to avoid detection and analysis. It can steal autofill data, credit card details, cookies, browsing history, downloads, and bookmarks from Chromium, Gecko, and Opera web browsers.

It can extract basic system information, Metamask recovery phrases, data from cold wallets like Electrum and Exodus, and crypto wallet extensions like Coinbase and Phantom (the list of targeted crypto apps and wallets may be more extensive).

Also, MintStealer can collect Minecraft, Growtopia, Roblox, Battle.net, Steam session data, data from Telegram, Discord, Tox, Element, and Signal messengers, Thunderbird mail clients, and Open VPN and ProtonVPN virtual private network clients.

Additionally, this information stealer can extract data from FileZilla, Shadow, WinSCP, and TotalCommander tools.

Threat Summary:

Name	MintStealer information stealer
Threat Type	Information-stealing malware
Detection Names	Avast (Win64:TrojanX-gen [Trj]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Lazy.264220), Emsisoft (Gen:Variant.Lazy.264220 (B)), Kaspersky (Trojan-GameThief.Win32.Worgtop.v), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Cryware.B), Full List (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Information stealers 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. ▼ 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.

Possible damage

Depending on the type of the data extracted using MintStealer, it could be used for different malicious purposes. For instance, cybercriminals could use obtained information to steal identities, money, online accounts, make fraudulent purchases, etc. It is also common that threat actors sell stolen data to third parties.

More examples of information-stealing malware are Rhadamanthys, Demon, and StealDeal.

How did MintStealer infiltrate my computer?

Cybercriminals use various methods to trick users into infecting computers. They often send emails containing malicious attachments or links or use websites hosting cracked/pirated software (or cracking tools, key generators). They succeed when users execute malware by themselves.

Trojans, fake software updating tools, P2P networks, third-party downloaders, free file hosting pages, etc., are also used as channels for malware distribution. Most threat actors use malicious MS Office, PDF documents, JavaScript files, executables, ISO files, archives, and other files to trick users into infecting their computers.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Do not download files and programs from unreliable sources (e.g., shady pages, P2P networks, third-party downloaders). Download them from official websites and stores only. Double-check irrelevant emails received from suspicious, unknown addresses. Especially when they contain links or files. Such emails tend to be used to deliver malware.

Keep your computer and installed programs updated. Use a reputed antivirus solution for computer protection and run system scans with it regularly. 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.

Image used to promote MintStealer:

MintStealer's administration panel:

Update August 1, 2024 – MintStealer has been linked to the developers behind a RAT (Remote Access Trojan) and ransomware, both under the name of "Cash". It has been identified that MintStealer's developers are behind a MaaS (Malware-as-a-Service) operation, wherein they are offering their hosting services and malicious software arsenal.

The group provides a Bulletproof hosting service called "Cash Hosting" (other names are likely). The malicious wares include MintStealer, Cash RAT, Cash ransomware, an injector trojan, and a caller-ID spoofer.

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

No, it is not necessary to format the storage device. MintStealer can be removed using reputed antivirus software.

What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?

Data and monetary loss, identity theft, additional malware injections, loss of access to online accounts, slow computer performance, and more.

What is the purpose of MintStealer malware?

MintStealer is an information stealer that can steal data from web browsers, messengers, VPN clients, and other sensitive information.

How did a malware infiltrate my computer?

Typically, users infect computers via emails containing malicious attachments or links, files downloaded from unreliable sources (e.g., P2P networks, third-party downloaders, shady pages, etc.), or websites hosting pirated/cracked software. Threat actors succeed when users download and execute malware by themselves.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove malware. This application can detect almost all known malware. Usually, high-end malware hides deep in the operating system. Thus, running a full system scan is required to eliminate it.

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