Danber (Free Guide) - Jul 2018 update
Danber Removal Guide
What is Danber?
Danber – a dangerous worm capable of multiplying itself fast
Danber is a type of malware that is capable of replicating itself not only on the targeted computer but all devices connected to it through a network. The virus does not inflict damage to the machine itself. Instead, in plants multiple executables (.exe) files into the Windows and runs in the background. Soon after that W32.Danber worm[1] looks for other computers connected to the same networks and multiplies itself. As soon as malware establishes itself, it may attempt to download and install other malicious software, capable of inflicting damage to system files, stealing personal data and engage in other malicious activities.
Summary | |
Name | Danber |
Also known as | W32.Danber |
Type | Worm |
Distribution | External devices, malicious or hacked websites, links on social media, etc. |
Symptoms | System and program errors, BSoDs, pop-ups, slow operation of the machine |
Detection and elimination | Use FortectIntego or Malwarebytes |
The ultimate goal of Danber virus is to remain undetected, boot every time Windows is booted, protect other malware that gets installed on the machine, and, finally, take over the computer entirely. For that reason, the worm creates its copies in all drives, copies its main executable into %System%\DanbtR270414.exe and creates the following registry entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\”DanBtR270414″ = “%System%\DanBtR270414.exe”
Users most likely infect their computers with W32.Danber worm while connecting a contaminated external drive (such as a USB stick, memory card, DVD, etc.), or obtain it from the internet. Those who enjoy pirated software can also receive this little surprise because it can be embedded into any executable only. It is a well-known fact that file-sharing sites often host malware.
Because the primary goal of Danber malware is to remain hidden, it rarely exposes any symptoms. If anything, computer operation can be as healthy as usual. That is why it is essential to have security software installed (such as FortectIntego or Malwarebytes) and continually perform system scans. Don't forget the real-time protection function to be on at all times. What is more, security software is essential for Danber removal, as it would be a too complicated task for a regular user.
In some cases you might experience the following symptoms of Danber infection:
- overall sluggish performance of the PC;
- BSoDs[2] occurance;
- additional/unknown applications installed without your knowledge;
- software shutting down or crashing suddenly;
- questionablo pop-up messages appearing out of nowhere.
Regardless if you encounter any symptoms or not, you need to remove Danber as soon as possible, because as long as it remains on your computer, it poses a severe security threat. W32 can easily inject such cyber threats like ransomware, keyloggers, spyware and other unwanted programs.Danber worm without your knowledge.
Avoid dangerous malware online
It is essential to be wary when using the internet, as computer worms and various viruses were developed even before the internet as we know it was just being born – back in 1982 the Elk Cloner was first virus of its kind. When the world wide web was born, it only became much easier to spread the infections. Regardless of what many users think, the virus cannot get into the machine on its own – the trigger is always the human.
Therefore, make sure you stay alert. Do not connect any unknown external drives to your PC (typically, the AV engine would detect malware, so make sure you have one enabled), avoid questionable websites, such as file-sharing, torrent, cracked software and similar. Instead, download freeware from trusted sources and make sure you pay attention to the installation process accordingly.
Additionally, it is equally important to patch your system as soon as updates are out. Cybercriminals often abuse software vulnerabilities to their advantage.
Remove Danber worm from your system
As we already mentioned, Danber virus can experience no symptoms at all. Therefore, some users might fail to detect it for months, and it can be too late. Thus, please do not delay Danber removal. To succeed, we recommend using reputable anti-virus tools, such as FortectIntego or Malwarebytes. These applications are capable of disabling malware and reverting the caused damage.
Security researchers[3] warn not to try to remove Danber manually, as you will not succeed. Computer worms are complicated infections and only trained IT professionals are capable of manually restoring the computer back to normal. Thus, trust security software. By the way, in case the malware is blocking anti-virus program from starting, boot Windows in Safe Mode with Networking.
Getting rid of Danber. Follow these steps
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.
Remove Danber using System Restore
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Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
-
Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
-
Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
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Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
-
Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
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When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of Danber. After doing that, click Next.
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Now click Yes to start system restore.
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Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Danber and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting worms
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 Private Internet Access 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 Private Internet Access 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. Data Recovery Pro 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.
- ^ Erin Robinson. What is a Computer Worm?. Aol. Digital Matters blog.
- ^ Tim Fisher. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Lifewire. Tech untangled.
- ^ LesVirus. LesVirus. French cybersecurity news and articles.