CIA Special Agent 767 virus: what it is and how to remove it
Apparently, nowadays, malware developers don't even bother working on complex program codes anymore as they let ransomware impersonators such as CIA Special Agent 767 virus do all the job. The scammers have learned that they do not have to waste their time and energy creating complex ransomware codes , downloaders and payment systems.
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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CIA Special Agent 767 virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | CIA Special Agent 767 virus |
| Type | Loader |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| 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 3 more facts
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| First seen | 15 December 2016 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What CIA Special Agent 767 virus does on an infected PC
From our report of Dec 2016 · not reviewed since
Lazy hackers strike again with another CIA Special Agent 767 lockscreen version
Apparently, nowadays, malware developers don't even bother working on complex program codes anymore as they let ransomware impersonators such as CIA Special Agent 767 virus do all the job.
The scammers have learned that they do not have to waste their time and energy creating complex ransomware codes , downloaders and payment systems. All they have to do now is to create a lock screen featuring an authoritative ransom demand and alter Windows Registry to show this window whenever the victim tries to boot his/her PC.
In the following paragraphs, we will elaborate more on the potential origins and principles of the virus operation as well as give suggestions for the CIA Special Agent 767 removal.
We should start off by pointing out the apparent similarities between this ransomware and the recently released M4N1F3STO virus. Both of these parasites use fake lock screens that imitate the style of the ransom notes used by the legitimate ransomware.
Just like in the actual versions, the victims are informed about their supposedly encrypted machines. If the use of powerful social engineering techniques works and the victims pay for the system decryption, the virus then drops a mocking pop-up which says: "JUST DELETE IT/ TO REMOVE IT/ HAHA YOU HAVE BEEN/ FOOLED."
Last but not least, the indication of the same Bitcoin address leaves little doubt that the same group of hackers is behind both of the viruses. Since the origin of the viruses is the same, it is likely that the CIA Special Agent 767 lockscreen can be eliminated using the same pass code detected by the virus researcher Jiri Kropac .
Despite all technical similarities between the two malware, visually and context-wise CIA Special Agent 767 looks completely different to its counterpart. It no longer offers its victims to "play games" and instead, exploits the name of a reputable governmental institution to persuade the victims into emptying their bank accounts.
In the CIA Special Agent 767 fake ransom note, the scammers demand 100 USD for the computer unlock key and threaten that if the money is not paid in five days, it will increase to 500 USD. As we have already mentioned, ransom must be paid strictly in Bitcoins, this way, protecting the anonymity of the hackers' identities and allowing them to get away with the scam .
Perhaps the only way to spoil their evil plans is to remove CIA Special Agent 767 from your computer. Don't worry; your files will not be destroyed. Again, it is merely another strategy the criminals use to intimidate their victims.
From our report of Dec 2016 · not reviewed since
When can you expect the virus to attack?
It might seem quite obvious that malware or any computer virus usually attack when the system or the software installed on it is unstable or poorly protected.
But we should also keep in mind the fact we would not be exposed to malware if we were careful browsing the web in the first place. Usually, people get infected with CIA Special Agent 767 when they carelessly download and install unfamiliar software, click on corrupt ads or install fake software updates.
No security utility can fully protect from all the ways this malware can reach the targeted device. Luckily, CIA Special Agent 767 can be eliminated without major impact on the system, but you can only imagine the consequences of real ransomware attack. So, you should educate yourself on Web security, learn to recognize the potential threats and avoid them.
How to remove CIA Special Agent 767 virus
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: Delete scheduled tasks that bring it back
Open Task Scheduler from the Start menu and click Task Scheduler Library.
Select each task you do not recognise and read the Actions tab: a task that starts a file in
%AppData%or%Temp%, runs powershell with a long encoded line, or opens a web address belongs to CIA Special Agent 767 virus or a similar program.Right-click such a task and choose Delete, and check the subfolders too. Leave tasks from Microsoft, your PC's maker and programs you use. Task Scheduler is 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 2: Remove it from startup
Whatever CIA Special Agent 767 virus installed usually starts with Windows.
Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, go to Startup apps in Windows 11 or the Startup tab in Windows 10, and disable what you do not know, starting with entries that have an empty Publisher column.
Open file location on the right-click menu shows the file, which helps you decide and tells you what to delete later. Disabling is safe: if something you need stops working, switch it back on.
Full procedure with screenshots: Stop apps from opening at startup On uGetFix
Step 3: Delete the folders left behind
What the uninstaller leaves behind is usually in the user folders. Open File Explorer, switch on View > Show > Hidden items (in Windows 10 View > Hidden items), and go through
%LocalAppData%,%AppData%, %ProgramData% and the two Program Files folders.Sort by Date modified and delete folders that appeared together with the problem and belong to no program you use. Folders with random names that hold
.exe,.dll, .js or .ps1 files are the strongest sign.Full procedure with screenshots: Remove what malware leaves behind in Windows
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Change passwords from another device and sign out other sessions
Assume that the passwords saved in this PC's browsers, and the accounts that were open in them, are known to the attacker. From a phone or a clean computer, change the e-mail password first, then banking, shopping, social and gaming accounts.
Use each service's option to sign out of all other sessions, because stolen cookies keep a session open even after a password change. Turn on two-step verification on each account. Wait with the infected Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC until the scans are 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.
From our report of Dec 2016 · not reviewed since
Want to remove CIA Special Agent 767? Here is what you have to do
CIA Special Agent 767 virus only acts as a ransomware when in reality, it can be eliminated from the machine as a simple malware.
Anti-malware tools should be perfect for this job. You will simply have to get your scanner running, and the rest will be dealt with automatically.
But before you can do all that, you first have to tackle the lock screen. Luckily, it is not a problem either. You will remove CIA Special Agent 767 following the instructions provided below.
[GI=method-1]Enter this unlock code into the box just above the "Submit" button. If the code works, run the system scan immediately after regaining the access of your desktop.
After removal: passwords, accounts and prevention
Secure your accounts after the clean-up
Assume that whatever was saved in the browsers on this PC while the PC showed CIA Special Agent 767 virus in the list of installed apps has been copied:
- passwords
- cookies
- autofill data
Work from a clean device, or from this PC once the offline scan finds nothing.
Start with your main e-mail account, because it can reset everything else, then banking and payment, then social and gaming accounts. Change each password, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account.
The full order, including crypto wallets and card replacement, is in securing your accounts after malware.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about CIA Special Agent 767 virus
Can I safely uninstall CIA Special Agent 767 virus?
If you did not install CIA Special Agent 767 virus yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows.
Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name. Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps.
Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
How do I stop programs like CIA Special Agent 767 virus from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped CIA Special Agent 767 virus before it reached the app list.
Why didn't my antivirus stop CIA Special Agent 767 virus?
New trojan builds are packed and changed often so that signatures do not match, and some are signed with stolen or bought certificates. Many arrive inside password-protected archives, which scanners cannot open until you extract them.
Some downloads also tell the user to turn off the antivirus "because it gives false alarms", a common line in cracked software instructions. Keep real-time protection on, never disable it for an installer, and run the offline scan whenever you suspect something slipped through.
What are the signs of a trojan infection?
Most trojans try to leave no visible signs, so look for side effects. Common ones:
- Windows Security turned off or unable to update
- new entries in Startup apps or Task Scheduler
- programs in Installed apps you did not install
- browser settings that changed by themselves
- unusual network activity while the PC is idle
- password-reset or login-alert e-mails you did not trigger
None of these proves an infection on its own. Together with an antivirus alert naming CIA Special Agent 767 virus, they are a strong reason to follow the full plan.
Is it safe to do online banking after seeing CIA Special Agent 767 virus in the list of installed apps?
Not on that PC until it is clean. A program that produces CIA Special Agent 767 virus in the list of installed apps runs with your rights and could read what you type or what the browser shows. Use a phone or another computer for banking and for changing passwords.
When the offline scan of the affected PC is clean and nothing suspicious starts with Windows any more, you can go back to using it. Check your bank statements for the past weeks either way, and call the bank if anything looks unfamiliar; banks can block cards and reset access quickly.
Can a normal remote support program be a backdoor?
Yes. Tools such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer and ScreenConnect are legitimate, but whoever controls the account behind them controls the PC. Scammers install them during fake support calls, and some trojan campaigns install them silently because antivirus programs do not flag a genuine, signed product.
If you find one you did not set up, uninstall it, check Startup apps for related entries and change passwords from another device. If money or accounts were involved, call your bank and report the incident.
Should I reset my PC because of CIA Special Agent 767 virus?
Only if the signs point to deeper access. Reset when you see CIA Special Agent 767 virus in the list of installed apps again after removal, when Windows Security cannot start or update, when remote access tools you did not install keep appearing, or when you simply cannot trust the PC any more.
Otherwise, the plan in this guide plus an offline scan is enough. If you do reset, choose Remove everything and Cloud download for a fresh copy of Windows, restore only documents and photos, and reinstall programs from their official sites. Change important passwords from the clean system afterwards.
Is a trojan infection worth reporting to the police?
If there was harm, yes. Unauthorised payments, accounts used for fraud, blackmail or a remote session during a scam call all belong in a report, and banks often ask for its reference number before they refund anything.
If antivirus caught CIA Special Agent 767 virus before it ran and nothing was misused, there is nothing to report. Keep the evidence anyway:
- protection history
- the original download
- the dates
Businesses may also have to notify a data protection authority if personal data could have been accessed.
Is CIA Special Agent 767 virus a known trojan?
Not as a documented family, at least not yet. What is known is the visible sign, CIA Special Agent 767 virus in the list of installed apps, which matches a hidden program working for someone else.
New threats are often seen by victims weeks before researchers publish anything about them. Treat CIA Special Agent 767 virus as you would any trojan:
- remove what starts it
- run an offline scan
- change passwords from another device
If a scan reports a detection name, keep it; it usually reveals the family and whether it is known to download other malware. We update this guide when an analysis appears.
Will Fortect remove CIA Special Agent 767 virus?
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 CIA Special Agent 767 virus, 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
- Carbon Black news blog: How Ransomware Works (read October 7, 2026)
- Twitter: Jiri Kropac's tweet (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)