How to remove Nova malware from the operating system
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of malware is Nova?
Nova is a malicious program belonging to the Snake keylogger malware family. This software is designed to exfiltrate vulnerable information like log-in credentials and credit card numbers from infected devices. The presence of Nova on systems is a significant privacy threat that can cause severe issues.
Nova malware overview
Nova is an obfuscated piece of malicious software. Following successful infiltration, this malware collects relevant device data, such as device name, IP address, country, date/time, etc.
As mentioned in the introduction, Nova can obtain a variety of sensitive information from compromised systems. It can extract and decode the Windows product key. This malicious program can acquire data from installed software, including browsers (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, Opera, etc.), FTP (File Transfer Protocol) clients (FileZilla), and Email clients (Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, Foxmail).
Nova seeks incredibly vulnerable data, including log-in credentials (usernames/passwords) and credit/debit card numbers. Additionally, this malware can steal information from the clipboard (copy-paste buffer).
It must be mentioned that the developers of malicious software often improve upon their creations and methodologies. Therefore, potential future iterations of Nova could have additional/different functionalities and features.
To summarize, the presence of software like Nova on devices can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.
| Name | Nova virus |
| Threat Type | Trojan, password-stealing virus, keylogger. |
| Detection Names | Avast (Script:SNH-gen [Trj]), Combo Cleaner (Trojan.PasswordStealer.GenericKD.2108), ESET-NOD32 (MSIL/Spy.Agent.AES), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Obfus.gen), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/AutoitInject.HNA!MTB), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
Data-targeting malware examples
PXA, Glove, SteelFox, Winos4.0, Muck, and XAVIER ERA are just some of our newest articles on programs that seek to extract data from victims' devices.
Information-stealing capabilities are prevalent in various types of malicious software. Stealers are also commonly used in combination with other malware. However, regardless of how a malignant program functions – its presence on a system endangers device integrity and user safety. Therefore, all threats must be removed immediately upon detection.
How did Nova infiltrate my computer?
Malware is primarily distributed using phishing and social engineering tactics. Widespread proliferation methods include: backdoor/loader-type trojans, drive-by downloads, malicious attachments/links in spam mail (e.g., emails, DMs/PMs, etc.), online scams, dubious download channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.), fake updaters, and illegal product activation tools ("cracks").
Furthermore, some malicious programs can self-spread through local networks and removable storage devices (e.g., external hard drives, USB flash drives, etc.).
Malicious software is usually disguised as or bundled with legitimate/innocuous-sounding programs or media files. They come in various formats, e.g., executables (.exe, .run, etc.), archives (ZIP, RAR, etc.), documents (Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, PDF, etc.), JavaScript, and so on. Once an infectious file is executed, run, or otherwise opened – the malware download/installation chain is triggered.
How to avoid installation of malware?
We strongly advise vigilance when browsing since the Internet is full of well-disguised fraudulent and malicious content. Incoming emails and other messages must be approached with caution. Attachments or links found in suspicious/irrelevant mail must not be opened, as they can be virulent.
Another recommendation is to download only from official and verified sources. Additionally, all programs must be activated and updated using genuine functions/tools, as those acquired from third-parties can contain malware.
It is paramount for device integrity and user safety to have a reputable anti-virus installed and kept updated. Security software must be used to perform regular system scans and to remove detected threats. 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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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 Nova malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Malware removal rarely necessitates formatting.
What are the biggest issues that Nova malware can cause?
The dangers posed by an infection depend on the malicious program's abilities and the cyber criminals' goals. Nova is designed to steal sensitive information including passwords and credit card numbers. Generally, infections of this kind can result in severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.
What is the purpose of Nova malware?
Malware is predominantly used for financial gain. However, attacks can also be motivated by the attackers seeking to amuse themselves or carry out personal vendettas, process disruption (e.g., websites, services, companies, etc.), hacktivism, and political/geopolitical reasons.
How did Nova malware infiltrate my computer?
Malware is most commonly proliferated through trojans, drive-by downloads, dubious download channels (e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.), online scams, spam emails/messages, illegal software activation ("cracking") tools, and fake updates. What is more, some malicious programs can self-proliferate via local networks and removable storage devices.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Combo Cleaner is designed to scan computers and eliminate all kinds of threats. It can detect and remove most of the known malware infections. Remember that sophisticated malicious software usually hides deep within systems – therefore, running a complete system scan is paramount.
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