What is Cax.dll? Should I remove it?

Cax.dll is a component of a malicious dialer

Cax.dll is a Dynamic Link Library file that contains malicious code. It could be implemented by various parasites, including Trojans, although it is most commonly related to a dialer virus known as XDiver, as well as BillByCall. This malicious component enables the virus to operate as intended by cybercriminals.

The main goal of the malicious dialer is to hijack users' web traffic and divert it to premium-rate numbers. As a result, malicious actors gain profits from websites they operate, all while the victims have to pay premium rate charges, consequently suffering from money loss. 

DLL files are essentially the same as executable files, although they can not be launched without the EXE file. They contain snippets of data or code that is called up when its needed to be used by Windows or an application. Just as an executable file, Dynamic Link Library files can also be malicious and hold commands that support malware operation.

In this case, Cax.dll is a file related to a dialer malware. This type of malicious program is designed to change the settings of the dial-up connection so that the traffic could be redirected to premium dial-up sites. Good examples are Instant Access Dial or Trojan.Win32.Dialer.

Since these malicious programs need a dial-up connection to operate correctly, it is unlikely that it can fulfil its functionality when more modern internet connection types, such as fiber optics, are used. Nevertheless, if you have noticed Cax.dll or another other suspicious files on your PC, it does mean that it is compromised.

Quite often, dialer malware possesses additional functionality that can cause even more problems to victims, for example:

• Can read, record, and transfer sensitive information
• Delete or steal personal files
• Update itself with new modules
• Record keystrokes and mouse inputs
• Enable a rootkit function
• Send out spam and perform DDoS attacks, etc.

Therefore, under no circumstances would you allow malicious programs to be run in the background. Not only can it cause monetary loss or identity theft, your machine can be used as a cyber weapon to attack websites or companies with DDoS or infect victims with the same virus thanks to its spam distribution capabilities.

To remove all malicious programs from your machine, perform a full system scan with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner anti-malware and then fix virus damage with the FortectIntego repair tool. Since a virus can perform significant system changes and drop thousands of files, manual elimination is highly discouraged.

Dangerous programs can be found in many places online

Social engineering is a term used to describe fraud schemes that malicious parties use to convince users to perform the requested actions. As a result, most malware infections happen thanks to users' actions, although they are obviously performed while being deceived. In fact, Trojans are the most common malware types that can be found on the internet, which hints that malware infection is commonly a result of user actions.

In other words, humans can be easily manipulated and scammed – this principle allows cybercrime to thrive in the current IT landscape. Therefore, you should employ tools that could automatically detect and warn you about incoming threats and online scams.

Once you have security software installed, all you have to do is be vigilant when interacting with online content. Never click on suspicious links, allow email attachments to run macros, download software cracks, and, most importantly, don't ignore anti-malware software warnings!

Delete malware automatically

As already mentioned, manual Cax.dll removal is not recommended, as it can reinstall itself if the process is not performed correctly. Besides, malware can be equipped with defense mechanisms that would prevent its easy elimination. Therefore, all regular computer users should instead rely on professional anti-malware software for this purpose. We recommend using SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes. If the virus prevents you from using these apps, access Safe Mode and perform a full system scan from there.

It is also important to fix damaged Windows system files. Doing this manually might take a long time and can actually damage legitimate system components even further. Therefore, we recommend using an automatic solution – FortectIntego. It can also clean your web browsers and remove malicious settings automatically.