How to remove Arcane from infected devices
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of malware is Arcane?
Arcane is an information stealer that collects sensitive data from infected systems, including gaming clients, VPNs, and network utilities. It is spread through fake YouTube videos offering game cheats. It is worth noting that a similarly named stealer exists, named Arcane Stealer V. But it bears little resemblance to the Arcane stealer.
More about Arcane
Arcane is a sophisticated information stealer that receives regular updates (which means its capabilities can vary in each version). It is designed to steal various sensitive data, including logins, passwords, credit card information, tokens, and credentials from various Chromium and Gecko-based browsers.
Arcane also targets various applications, including VPN clients (such as CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, hidemy.name, IPVanish, Mullvad, NordVPN, OpenVPN, PIA, Proton, Surfshark.), network clients and utilities (Cyberduck, DynDNS, FileZilla, ngrok, and Playit), and messaging apps (Discord, Element, ICQ, Jabber, Pidgin, Skype, Signal, Telegram, Tox, Viber).
Furthermore, it steals data from email clients (Outlook), gaming platforms (Battle.net, Epic, Minecraft clients (various), Riot Client, Roblox, Steam, Ubisoft Connect, and cryptocurrency wallets (Armory, Atomic, Bytecoin, Coinomi, Electrum, Ethereum, Exodus, Guarda, Jaxx, Zcash).
Additionally, Arcane collects extensive system information, including OS details, hardware specifications, saved Wi-Fi networks, and running processes. Cybercriminals can exploit the malware to steal accounts, identities, and financial assets. Additionally, they can use the stolen data to distribute more malware, conduct scams, and engage in other malicious activities.
| Name | Arcane information stealer |
| Threat Type | Stealer |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win64:MalwareX-gen [Trj]), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.Tedy.719575), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win64/Packed.VMProtect.AC Suspicious), Kaspersky (Trojan-PSW.MSIL.Disco.bqx), Microsoft (Program:Win32/Wacapew.C!ml), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Stealers are often 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 | Fake videos on YouTube, ArcanaLoader, software cracks. |
| Damage | Stolen passwords and banking information, identity theft, monetary loss, account takeover, and more. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Conclusion
Arcane is a highly advanced information stealer that evolves with regular updates, targeting a wide range of sensitive data from browsers, applications, and messaging platforms. Its broad scope of functionality makes it a serious threat to users' privacy and security. Victims should remove the malware from infected systems as soon as possible.
How did Arcane infiltrate my computer?
Previously, Arcane was delivered using YouTube videos promoting game cheats. These videos included links to password-protected archives. When unpacked, the archive contained a batch file that used PowerShell to download and open another archive with a password, which then launched a malicious executable file.
After that, the distribution method changed. The attackers began using a tool called ArcanaLoader and promoting it on YouTube. This tool allowed users to download and run popular cheats and cracks. The links in the videos often led to a file that contained the ArcanaLoader, which contained the Arcane stealer.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Download software from trusted sources, such as official websites or well-known app stores. Never download pirated software, cracking tools, key generators, etc. Be cautious of pop-ups, ads, and links from suspicious websites, and avoid interacting with them. Also, avoid opening files or links in shady emails from unknown addresses.
Do not allow untrusted sites to send notifications. Keep your operating system and software up to date and regularly scan with a trusted security tool. 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.
A Discord advertisement seeking bloggers to promote ArcanaLoader (source: securelist.com):
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 Arcane malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Formatting your storage device can eliminate Arcane, but it will also erase all stored data. A better approach is to use a trusted antivirus or malware removal tool like Combo Cleaner to scan and remove the infection without losing important files.
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
Malware can steal personal information, damage or encrypt files, deploy additional threats, degrade device performance, give attackers remote control over the system, and more. It depends on the malware type and its capabilities.
What is the purpose of Arcane stealer?
Arcane Stealer is designed to steal sensitive data, including details from various applications and clients. Cybercriminals can use it to hijack accounts, commit identity theft, steal money, and more.
How did Arcane infiltrate my computer?
Arcane likely infected your computer through YouTube videos promoting game cheats or cracks. These videos contained links to files that, when opened, executed malicious scripts or the ArcanaLoader, which secretly deployed the stealer.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Combo Cleaner is capable of detecting and eliminating most known malware threats. However, since advanced malware can embed itself deep within the system, running a full system scan is crucial for complete removal.
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