RogueRobin: what it is and how to remove it
RogueRobin trojan horse is an infamous computer virus which has been developed by a cybercriminal group known as DarkHydrus Advanced Persistent Threat. This backdoor has a wide range of functions which allows it to sneak into the targeted system and perform its malicious activities.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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RogueRobin: summary
| Distribution | Email spam, infected sites, malware-laden software |
|---|---|
| Name | RogueRobin |
| Category | Trojan |
| Sub-category | Malware |
| Created by | DarkHydrus |
| Danger level | Very high. Can relate in data theft |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 9 more facts
| Functions | Collects sensitive details, might overuse CPU, usages an anti-debug code, etc. |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Loader |
| Symptoms | An unknown process in Task Manager |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| File names | 32.exe |
| First seen | 23 January 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What RogueRobin does on an infected PC
From our report of Jan 2019 · not reviewed since
RogueRobin trojan horse - malware which has been carried out by DarkHydrus APT
RogueRobin trojan horse is an infamous computer virus which has been developed by a cybercriminal group known as DarkHydrus Advanced Persistent Threat.
This backdoor has a wide range of functions which allows it to sneak into the targeted system and perform its malicious activities. According to a news report, RogueRobin virus was already used for worldwide attacking campaigns. It is known that the activity of this malicious trojan depends on VBA macros which let it correctly to install into the targeted system.
Furthermore, the virus brings some hazardous files into the system and places them there in order to access the malicious payload. Additionally, the backdoor has a big variety of functions that it performs on the infected PC which we are going to describe and discuss later on.
RogueRobin trojan horse is a dangerous computer infection which can sneak into the system by using stealth techniques, for example, through suspicious email messages, unsafe websites, or infected software packages. Victims are usually tricked and convinced to open an executable where the VBA macros are lying and waiting to be launched.
If the user decides to access these macros, he/she puts the computer and its system into big trouble. After the launch, a malicious text document is installed somewhere in the system. Nevertheless, a file named regsvr.32.exe is launched and installs the RogueRobin trojan horse into the system automatically and lets the cyber threat to start its activity.
Keep in mind that the hazardous payload is written in a hard-understanding programming language known as C#. Furthermore, RogueRobin trojan horse ensures that it is launched successfully by checking the computer's memory and other important features. Also, it uses DNS servers to perform C&C communication and contains an anti-debug code.
You need to remove RogueRobin virus from the system ASAP. The dangerous infection can cause even other problems in the system, for example, overuse your CPU or GPU, damage software and other system components, force your computer to crash, and so on. Use to detect all malware-laden objects and terminate the threat by automatical technique.
RogueRobin removal is very important as this cyber threat is created to steal personal details from the infected computer. Once launched, the virus collects all sensitive details and valuable information that it finds on the PC. It has been used for these purposes in the past, according to research. Note that such activity might relate in serious identity theft.
From our report of Jan 2019 · not reviewed since
Terminate RogueRobin trojan horse from your computer system
If the trojan has appeared on your computer and you are wondering how to get rid of the dangerous infection, we can say that the only way is by using reliable computer security software.
To remove RogueRobin virus, you need to detect all malware-laden content in the system first as no harmful objects can be left behind. To complete such activity, you can try downloading and installing a tool such as , , or .
RogueRobin removal requires full attention and excellent computing skills. This is why the elimination cannot be carried out by the human himself. Additionally, you need to disable all activities that are performed by the cyber threat.
[GI=method-1]Use Safe Mode with Networking to disable the trojan horse and its activities:
[GI=method-2]Activate the System Restore feature to get rid of unwanted activities and disable the virus:
From our report of Jan 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on RogueRobin
- Get rid of the trojan automatically.
How RogueRobin got on your PC
From our report of Jan 2019 · not reviewed since
According to technology experts from Virusai.lt, trojan horses use stealth distribution methods to reach its target.
Mostly, such malware spreads via executable files which come attached to an email message. If the user decides to click on the file and open it, the hazardous payload is launched straightly into the system and the trojan horse starts installing.
Furthermore, similar cyber threats can be found on unsafe websites and their hyperlinks. Crooks manipulate unsafe websites and their lack of protection. Some of them place infected content into hyperlinks and similar components. Be very careful while browsing the web, avoid third-party pages such as peer-to-peer networks and similar ones.
Additionally, some software packages can also come with malware injected inside. Trojan horses can sneakily infect the targeted system through outdated programs and unprotected apps. Avoid this type of activity by paying attention to all of your downloads. Moreover, you can install antivirus protection to keep your system safe from infections automatically.
How to check the PC for RogueRobin
- File:
32.exe
How to remove RogueRobin
A loader's job is to install other malware, so treat the PC as infected with more than one program until the scans are clean.
Step 1: Check where 32.exe runs from and stop it
In Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) find
32.exeon Processes, right-click it and choose Open file location before ending anything.Windows' own files live in
C:\Windows\System32; the same name in%AppData%, %Temp% or C:\Users\Public is an impostor. If the folder is wrong, right-click the process again, choose End task and delete the file.If it starts again within seconds, a task or another process restarts it, so run the scan step in Safe Mode. Task Manager works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Close a frozen app (Task Manager, Force Quit) On uGetFix
Step 2: Delete scheduled tasks that bring it back
Programs like RogueRobin add a scheduled task so they return after an uninstall or reopen a page at every sign-in. Start Task Scheduler, open Task Scheduler Library and sort by Last Run Time to see what ran recently.
On the Actions tab, a program in a user folder, a script or a web address is a warning sign; right-click such a task and choose Delete.
Tasks with names copying Google, Edge or Windows updaters but pointing to an odd folder are typical. The tool looks the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Task Scheduler Library, the task selected, the Actions tab shows the file it runs. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 3: Remove it from startup
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and select Startup apps (Windows 11) or the Startup tab (Windows 10). Disable entries you do not recognise, especially ones with no publisher or with a name that copies a Windows component.
Right-click an entry and choose Open file location to see where it runs from: programs in
%AppData%or%Temp%deserve a closer look. Some entries are not listed there but in the registry Run keys, which the procedure below shows how to check.Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 4: Delete the folders left behind
Uninstalling often leaves the program's folders, and some threats reinstall themselves from them.
Press Windows + R, type
%LocalAppData%and press Enter, then do the same for%AppData%and %ProgramData%, and look for folders named after RogueRobin, its publisher or created on the day the problem started. Delete those folders, and check C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) too.If Windows says a file is in use, end it in Task Manager or delete the folder after a restart in Safe Mode. The folders are the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of RogueRobin that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 6: Change passwords from another device and sign out other sessions
RogueRobin can copy saved passwords, cookies and session tokens and send them out in seconds, so cleaning the PC does not undo the theft.
Change your passwords on a device that was never infected, starting with the e-mail account, since every other reset goes through it. On each account, end all other sessions and check the recovery e-mail, phone number and forwarding rules.
Then turn on two-step verification. Sign in on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC again only after the offline scan is clean.
Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
After removal: passwords, accounts and prevention
Your passwords after RogueRobin
Removing RogueRobin does not undo what it may already have sent out while the PC showed an unfamiliar process called 32.exe in Task Manager.
Treat saved browser passwords and logged-in sessions on this PC as known to the attacker.
From another device, change the e-mail password first and end all its sessions. Then do the same for the bank, PayPal, Microsoft, Google and Apple accounts. Stolen session cookies keep working after a password change until you sign out everywhere.
Move crypto to a new wallet created on a clean device. A step-by-step order for every kind of account is in our guide to account security after an infection.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about RogueRobin
Is 32.exe a virus?
The name 32.exe is not enough to say. Malware often uses technical-sounding names, and harmless updaters often use odd ones. Check three things:
- the folder the file runs from
- the Digital Signatures tab in its properties
- the program that starts it (Startup apps, Task Scheduler or services)
A signed file from a company whose product you use is almost certainly fine. An unsigned file in a user folder that no installed program explains should be removed, and the PC scanned with Microsoft Defender in offline mode.
Can I delete the 32.exe file?
Only after you know what it belongs to. If 32.exe is part of a program, uninstall that program through Settings instead, so its services and tasks go too. If it belongs to nothing and is unsigned, end the process, disable whatever starts it and then delete its folder.
Do not delete files from the Windows folder or files signed by Microsoft: those are part of the system, and removing them can stop Windows from starting. When in doubt, run a Microsoft Defender scan first and let it decide.
I found AnyDesk or ScreenConnect that I did not install. Is that RogueRobin?
Not necessarily RogueRobin, but it is a warning sign. These are legitimate remote support tools, and criminals use them as ready-made backdoors, especially after tech support scams or fake invoice calls.
If you did not install it and no one you trust set it up, uninstall it, change passwords from a clean device and check your bank account. If someone connected to your PC through it, follow the steps for remote access trojans and consider a Windows reset. Installed apps sorted by date shows when it appeared.
How do I know if my PC has RogueRobin?
Often you do not, which is the point of a trojan. Possible signs are an antivirus alert naming RogueRobin or a generic trojan detection, unknown programs or scheduled tasks, processes with random names in Task Manager, browser extensions you did not add, security settings turned off, slower performance, or account alerts about logins from unknown places.
The reliable check is a full scan followed by Microsoft Defender's offline scan. If you recently ran a crack, a fake installer or a command a website told you to paste, scan even without symptoms.
Should I check my other computers too?
Yes, it takes little time and removes doubt. RogueRobin itself usually stays on one PC, but the download that carried it may have been copied to other computers, shared drives may hold the same installer, and an attacker who had access could have tried saved passwords on other devices.
Run a full scan on every Windows PC in the home or office, check shared folders for the original download, and change Wi-Fi and router passwords if they were stored on the infected machine.
How dangerous is RogueRobin?
Treat it as serious until proven otherwise. The visible sign is an unfamiliar process called 32.exe in Task Manager, and programs that behave this way often have more abilities than they show:
- copying passwords
- downloading other malware
- giving remote access
Its family is not known yet, so nobody can say which of these it uses. The good news is that the response is the same in every case and takes about an hour:
- cut the network
- remove the startup entry
- run an offline scan
- change passwords from a clean device
If someone had remote control, a full reset is safer.
Should I report RogueRobin?
Report it if you lost money, if accounts were taken over, if you are a business, or if the trojan came through a scam call. A police or national cybercrime report gives you a reference number for your bank and insurer and helps link cases.
You do not need to report a trojan that antivirus blocked before it ran. Before reporting, write down the dates, the detection name, file names and any messages or transactions linked to the attack; screenshots of antivirus alerts are useful evidence. The country list is in the report section above.
My antivirus was on. How did a trojan get past it?
Antivirus programs see a file only when it is written or run, and criminals test each new build against popular scanners before release. Detection catches up within hours or days, which is often after the first victims ran it.
Archives with passwords, installers that fetch the malware later, and scripts run through PowerShell make the job harder. That is why behaviour such as downloading cracks or pasting commands matters more than any setting. Keep Windows and Defender updated, and turn on Reputation-based protection in App & browser control.
Why can't I find RogueRobin in antivirus databases?
Because it is new or because it is listed under a different name. Antivirus companies name threats after the family they belong to, and a program that appears as RogueRobin on your PC may carry a generic or unrelated label in their databases.
Many new samples are first detected only by behaviour, without a family name. What you saw, an unfamiliar process called 32.exe in Task Manager, is enough to act on:
- end the program
- remove its startup entry
- run a Microsoft Defender offline scan
- secure your accounts
A detection name from a scan is worth noting for later.
Will Fortect remove RogueRobin?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For RogueRobin, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Search security: Trojan horse (computing) (read October 7, 2026)
- Techopedia: DNS Server (read October 7, 2026)
- Unit 24: DarkHydrus Uses Phishery to Harvest Credentials in the Middle East (read October 7, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)