How to remove Floxif virus

Trojan.floxif is a Trojan horse related to malicious CCleaner version that is used to spread the malware

Trojan.floxif is a malware^[1] infection that was active during the period of August 15 and September 12, 2017, and infected more than 2 million users worldwide.^[2] The virus entered machines with the help of the popular PC repair software CCleaner's executable, which cybercriminals managed to hack and insert malicious payload. After the infiltration, the Floxif virus gathered a large amount of data about the system (such as installed software, unique ID number, MAC address, etc.) and sent it off to Command and Control^[3] server. Also, the malicious software is capable of downloading and installing additional threats on the system, although no evidence was discovered of it doing so.

Floxif Trojan was installed in the main program’s executable – CCleaner.exe. Therefore, the virus entered the system if a user downloaded hacked versions of CCleaner (5.33.6162) or CCleaner Cloud (1.07.3191) programs. However, the virus was only active on a 32-bit Windows OS. Additionally, Trojan.floxif did not execute its payload if the victim was not using the administrator's account.

Researchers detected several versions of the virus. However, most of them act similarly. They might steal a bunch of information about a victim, including technical details about a targeted computer, such as:

• the name of the targeted computer,
• the list of installed programs,
• the list of active processes,
• MAC addresses of the first 3 network adapters,
• unique computer’s ID.

Besides, the so-called Trojan.Floxif malware might also track personal victim’s information, such as login credentials or credit card data. Nevertheless, it also operates as a keylogger; it might also install other malicious programs, such as ransomware, soon after connecting to its remote server.

Thus, it goes without saying that Trojan removal is crucial to protect your computer, data, and sensitive information. Users who installed CCleaner between August 15 and September 12 are advised to update the program and scan the device with a reputable malware removal tools, such as MalwarebytesMalwarebytes or SpyHunterCombo Cleaner. These steps will help to terminate the Trojan.

Malware activity once on the machine

As mentioned before, the Trojan.floxif injected malicious code to the original CCleaner’s executable. Thus, when users downloaded this program, they installed malware as well. When CCleaner malware is installed, it immediately downloads a symsrv.dll file to this directory:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\symsrv.dll

Furthermore, it creates a specific Windows Registry sub-key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Piriform\Agomo

Besides, it might also make other modifications in the registry in order to execute malicious tasks and hide in the system. Furthermore, the malware connects to several Windows APIs and tries to delete important system files:

%Program Files%\Common Files\System\symsrv.dll.dat
%Users%\Administrator\Local\Temp\…\*.tmp

As you can see, this dangerous Trojan horse causes numerous system changes and pose a danger to the user’s privacy. Therefore, CCleaner users are urged to remove Trojan.Floxif virus from the device immediately.

Serious issues with the distribution of this trojan

Authors of the CCleaner 5.33 virus managed to hack the original program’s executable. Therefore, they injected malicious code to a legitimate program and managed to infect around 2.27 million people who installed a compromised version of the CCleaner which was available on the developers (Piriform) website since August 15th, 2017.

Besides, the latest research data reports that the trojan launched targeted attacks towards technology giants, such as Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, etc. It is reported that trojan affected about 20 computers^[5] owned by these companies.

Security experts from Sweden report that everyone who downloaded this program might have been infected with the CCleaner virus. Thus, users should update it to the latest version immediately. Scanning the system with professional antivirus is also recommended to make sure that any malicious components were not left on the system.

What to do after the Trojan.floxif attack

To remove the Trojan from the device and protect your personal information from cyber criminals, you should complete these three important tasks:

1. Update CCleaner to 5.34 version (or higher).
2. Run a full system scan with reputable malware removal software.
3. Change passwords.

Updating CCleaner to the latest version may not be enough. To perform proper Trojan.floxif removal, you should also check the device with professional security software, such as SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes. This step is necessary because hackers might still have access to your computer or install malware. Once you run an antivirus or malware removal tool, all dangerous components will be eliminated. Run the system tool to repair damaged pieces in the system directories FortectIntego.

When the Floxif is removed entirely, you should also change social network, email, banking, and other accounts’ passwords. It’s unknown what sensitive data hackers managed to steal. Thus, you have to make sure that criminals do not have access to your accounts.