CitiBank virus: what it is and how to remove it
CitiBank virus is a term used to describe a chain of spam messages that deliver malicious software by imitating notes from CitiBank officials. Users are provided with emails that offer to view transaction information by pressing the "Download Your transaction details" hyperlink which truly has Emotet malware hidden inside a Word document.
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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CitiBank virus: summary
| Name | CitiBank virus |
|---|---|
| Type | Spam tool |
| Sub-type | Malware/Trojan virus |
| Possible danger | This spam campaign can bring Emotet and similar viruses to the surface |
| Similar to | HSBC virus |
| Avoidance | Manage all of your emails carefully and always identify the senders to avoid possible malware infiltration via email messages |
| 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 7 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 8 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| First seen | 22 March 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What CitiBank virus does on an infected PC
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Learn to avoid malware on the Web area
Nowadays the increasing rate of malware attacks is not a surprising fact as more and more people gain access to the Worldwide Web.
If the user does not take crucial precaution tips or has an outdated anti-malware lurking on the computer, the safety level of the machine decreases slightly and might bring lots of unpleasant consequences.
LesVirus.fr specialists have made research on the most popular malware distribution places and discovered that it is email spam. This technique appears to be a powerful weapon used by numerous hackers worldwide. By sending official-looking messages, these people aim to trick users into opening suspicious links/attachments and installing malware on their PCs.
Managing your email correctly is very important if malicious infectious want to be avoided properly! Always take a look at the sender and his/her email address before opening the message, check for grammar and text style mistakes. If you have not been expecting to receive anything important lately, delete the email even if it does not look too tricky.
Talking about automatic protection, it is also necessary for each user. An investment in anti-malware is an investment in your own security. Reputable tools help to secure files, personal data, and the entire database of your machine. However, for proper operation, you need to ensure that these programs always receive regular updates.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on CitiBank virus
- Perform a full system scan and detect any type of suspicious content with anti-malware tools
- CONFIRMATION American Airlines AAdvantage Account ending in 3691 We've resolved your dispute Dear, We're pleased to let you know that your dispute has been resolved - you'll see the credit in the next two business days - it'll be listed with your account activity on your statement.
How CitiBank virus got on your PC
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
CitiBank virus is a term used to describe a chain of spam messages that deliver malicious software by imitating notes from CitiBank officials.
Users are provided with emails that offer to view transaction information by pressing the "Download Your transaction details" hyperlink which truly has Emotet malware hidden inside a Word document. Once this file is opened, the malware activates and starts operating as a banking trojan.
This type of activity can end up with enormous monetary losses straight from your bank account. CitiBank email virus is also very similar to HSBC virus.
CitiBank virus always comes in a tricky message that fools potential victims with its legitimate look. The main task of these spam campaigns is to imitate well-known organizations and companies and infect the biggest number of users possible. If you ever run into this type of scamming activity, you will possibly be provided with an email like this:
CitiBank email virus might not only distribute Emotet but it can also come together with other notorious malware. Email spam campaigns are also known for spreading Trojan horses such as TrickBot and NanoCore RAT. If you ever end up with such a virus on your system, be prepared to take immediate actions or losses can be huge.
First of all, if a trojan reaches your machine via the CitiBank virus, you will find unknown processes running in your Task Manager or similar locations. These tasks are supposedly carried out for malicious purposes such as data stealing, banking information leaking, photo and video theft, and gaining remote access to the system.
In order to avoid such big losses, you need to remove the CitiBank virus right away. Use reliable anti-malware software such as or for completing system scans and thoroughly checking the entire computer for malware traces. If some malicious objects are found, delete them right away by using automatic programs.
CitiBank virus removal should not be postponed at any costs. The sooner you get rid of the dangerous threat, the better it will be for your machine. Unfortunately, if malware still managed to enter your system, you should not try to remove it on your own, leave the entire job for antivirus software instead.
Reports about hackers misusing the name of CitiBank have been flooding the Internet sphere since 2003! Back then, the spam campaign has been found distributing malware detected as Troj/Downloader!4c52 (also known as Downloader-DI). The phishing activity first began in Australia and kept spreading fastly.
MailGuard has also detected some phishing activity related to CitiBank email virus back in 2017. The company alerted that email spam has been putting banking data in big danger. The suspicious message came claiming that "Your Citibank account has been temporarily limited" and to restore access the user needs to click on the "Sign on to Citibank Online" link.
CitiBank itself has released a report on the increasing rate of email spam and what to do about it since 2003. The organization has claimed to be working with law enforcement agencies against these phishing events and has been looking forward to receiving satisfying results. Citi has also answered users questions about scam avoidance.
How to remove CitiBank 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
Programs like CitiBank virus 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 2: 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 3: 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 CitiBank virus, its publisher or created on the day the problem started.Delete those folders, and check
C:\Program FilesandC:\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 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of CitiBank virus 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 5: Change passwords from another device and sign out other sessions
CitiBank virus 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.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Elimination purposes for CitiBank email virus
If CitiBank email spam has ever ended up on your computer, you should close the message window immediately.
If you did not enter any suspicious links or attachments provided, you are probably safe. However, you can never deny the possibility of a threat slipping through security barriers just by opening a spam message.
To check if your computer is still secure and safe, you should download antivirus software such as , or . Launch these tools and wait until the system scan is finished. If the results are bad and some type of malware did get into your machine, do not hesitate and continue with CitiBank virus removal process.
Also, use only reputable programs that can find these threats, other pieces, and even related programs installed behind your back. This is the only and the most reliable way to remove CitiBank virus. This needs to be done just in case if any difficulties occur along the way and you will not be capable of dealing with them.
Besides, eliminations that are performed with the help of antivirus software are usually done in a safer and more effective way so that the user has to put less effort. Do not forget about the virus damage and make use of .
[GI=method-1]Activate Safe Mode with Networking to disable any types of malicious processes:
[GI=method-2]Use these steps to turn on System Restore and discard malicious changes on your Windows machine:
After removal: passwords, accounts and prevention
Your passwords after CitiBank virus
Removing CitiBank virus does not undo what it may already have sent out while the PC showed citiBank virus in the list of installed apps.
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 CitiBank virus
Is CitiBank virus a virus?
Most programs that appear the way CitiBank virus did are not viruses in the strict sense. They are potentially unwanted programs:
- real software that arrives bundled with other downloads and then shows offers
- changes browser settings
- starts with Windows
Some are harmless, some are annoying and a few carry adware. What makes it worth removing is that you did not choose it.
Uninstall it from Installed apps and check the startup list and the browsers for anything added the same day. If it refuses to uninstall or returns after a restart, treat it as more serious and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan.
CitiBank virus will not uninstall. What can I do?
First restart the PC and try again, because the program may have been running and locked its own files. If the uninstaller is missing or fails, start Windows in Safe Mode, where most third-party programs do not start, and remove CitiBank virus from Installed apps there.
If it still refuses, delete its startup entry and its scheduled task, restart, and try once more. A program that actively prevents removal is behaving like malware, so finish with a Microsoft Defender offline scan. Avoid third-party uninstallers offered on search ads; several of them are unwanted programs themselves.
Can I keep using the PC while CitiBank virus is on it?
Not for anything that matters. As long as the program behind citiBank virus in the list of installed apps runs, it can see what you type and what the browser stores, and it may download more malware. Disconnect the PC from the internet while you remove it, and do your banking, e-mail and password changes from another device.
Once the offline scan finds nothing and the sign does not return after a few restarts, normal use is fine. If the scan keeps finding new items, or you cannot remove the startup entry, a reset of Windows is the safer choice.
I found AnyDesk or ScreenConnect that I did not install. Is that CitiBank virus?
Not necessarily CitiBank virus, 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 CitiBank virus?
Often you do not, which is the point of a trojan. Possible signs are an antivirus alert naming CitiBank virus 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. CitiBank virus 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.
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.
Do I need to reinstall Windows to get rid of CitiBank virus?
Usually not. A thorough clean-up is enough when the offline scan finds nothing afterwards and you do not see citiBank virus in the list of installed apps again. A reset is the safer choice if an attacker had remote control, if security tools were switched off, or if detections come back after every clean-up.
Windows 11 can reset itself without a USB stick under Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC. Copy documents and photos out first and scan the copies. A reset does not change passwords or undo stolen data, so the account steps still apply.
Should I report CitiBank virus?
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.
Will Fortect remove CitiBank 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 CitiBank 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
- Europol: BANKING TROJANS: FROM STONE AGE TO SPACE (read October 7, 2026)
- CNet: 'Citibank' email carries a virus (read October 7, 2026)
- MailGuard: High-risk Citibank fraud email puts bank accounts in danger (read October 7, 2026)
- LesVirus: LesVirus.fr (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
