Dropbox virus: what it is and how to remove it
Dropbox virus is a collection of various threats and dangerous infections that appear on Dropbox. Such threat series mostly cover different types of malicious threats that are distributed via email spam.
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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Dropbox virus: summary
| Name | Dropbox virus |
|---|---|
| Types | Scams, trojans, cryptoviruses |
| About Dropbox | Relates to dropbox.exe, founded in 2007, in the USA by Dropbox Inc. |
| Malware names | UPATRE, Trickbot, and other dangerous threats might be hiding behind the name of Dropbox app |
| Danger levels | Medium or high. Depends on the virus's operating principle |
| Distribution techniques | Email spam mostly |
| 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 10 more facts
| Prevention | Install reputable antimalware for computer check-ups, manage all of your emails |
|---|---|
| Removal process | Get a reliable tool for virus elimination |
| 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 | 12 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| File names | Dropbox.exe |
| First seen | 12 June 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What Dropbox virus does on an infected PC
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Dropbox virus - a series of different malware forms that occur while using the Dropbox application
Dropbox virus is a collection of various threats and dangerous infections that appear on Dropbox.
Such threat series mostly cover different types of malicious threats that are distributed via email spam. Talking about the application itself, Dropbox provides file hosting features and has been founded by Dropbox Inc., in The United States, in 2007. The reason for this might be some struggles in the software or maybe malware has been truly injected into this service.
Due to the increasing popularity of Dropbox, Dropbox virus or Dropbox malware has become a popular term nowadays as more and more bad actors have been discovering ways to misuse the service for their own needs (distributing malicious software). Reports from users about malware detected in this app and questions about possible infections do not look like coming to an end.
Someone wrote directly to Dropboxforum.com that he made a full system check-up and the antivirus software detected malicious components in the Dropbox application. The discovered content was Gen:Variant.Kazy 512414 and ~834b6cda.tmp and was found in the \.dropbox.cache directory.
Due to the high level of infections and distribution of Dropbox virus, the company itself has provided useless information on avoiding malicious components from accessing their services and infiltrating the application. The organization offers to complete such simple steps for ensuring safety:
Furthermore, if you have been attacked by some type of malware related to this popular service, you should take quick actions to remove Dropbox virus from your computer system in order to prevent possible. That should be done by using reputable anti-malware software that is created for such advanced removal activities.
Additionally, before completing the Dropbox virus removal, you should download and install a tool such as or and try detecting malicious software. When you find all infected locations and malware-laden objects, you will be able to get rid of them much easier and ensure that the entire system has been cured of the infection.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
If ransomware catches your Dropbox files
Due to the increasing growth of ransomware-related cybercrimes, it is very important to know how to protect your files and documents on various platforms.
Dropbox might also be a target by ransomware viruses and some files from this service might also be touched by the infection.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Dropbox phishing alert
A phishing scam has also been targetting Dropbox by spreading fake email letters about urgent orders that need to be placed.
The scam message looks like this:
If you decide to click on the "Download file" button which also is added in the rogue email message, you will supposedly be redirected to a fake but original-looking Dropbox login page. Be careful and do not provide any type of personal information or login details as they might easily be misused by bad actors.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
TrickBot pretends to be Dropbox staff
A dangerous form of malware, known as TrickBot, appears to be distributed via fake Dropbox email messages.
This threat is known as a banking Trojan which has been launching malicious campaigns against big finance companies such as PayPal. Bad actors send potential victims email letters which contain a security document that needs to be opened. As expected, it is the malicious payload.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Malware alert: random people sharing files with you
Another malware spam campaign has been released to the wild.
Users who are targeted by this spam receive a message that a file has been shared by a random user name.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Dropbox virus
- Dropbox.exe is the executable which is responsible for the operating of this app, however, some users have reported that Malwarebytes detected this process as malware.
- Running anti-virus software Exercising due caution when running unknown files from other computers
- Different types of cyber threats that relate to Dropbox
- Hi, We want to place an urgent order this month.
- Kindly check the attached file if you can supply this exact product or let us know if you have similar model.
How Dropbox virus got on your PC
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Cryptovirus delivered via fake Dropbox email message
It is known that ransomware infections are commonly spread via email spam pretending to come from well-known organizations.
This time criminals decided to send Dropbox users and imitation of a voice mail message which includes a hyperlink ("provided by Dropbox Inc.) that truly is the malicious payload. DO NOT click on such content as it might relate in dangerous cryptovirus installation and encryption of your personal files.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
UPATRE malware spread through false Dropbox messages
Incoming Fax report email from Dropbox tricks users into installing UPATRE.
Hackers insert a specific fax note in a link that users are provoked to click on. If you do that, you will start the download process of infectious .ZIP and .EXE files which are detected as the source of UPATRE malware that comes from the ZEUS family. Be aware of these malicious files as you might end up with a notorious virus on your computer system.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Trojans misusing Dropbox for distributing threats
Malware was found pretending to be RealNetworks updater executable in order to infiltrate the computer system.
Such component appears to be located in the %AppData%realupdate_ob directory and downloading malware-laden files from the well-known Dropbox service. Researchers have discovered some malicious files that misuse well-known application names:
- utorrent.exe,
- Picasa3.exe,
- Skype.exe,
- Qttask.exe.
From our report of Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Distribution sources of malicious software and objects
According to Virusai.lt specialists, malware-laden components appear on the system by using stealth techniques and injecting themselves through legitimate-looking content.
Crooks pretend to be from reputable organizations and send emails that imitate "very important purposes" for which a link needs to be clicked or a file downloaded.
Our suggestion would be to carefully manage all email letters that you receive. If some messages fall in the spam section, better eliminate them without even taking a look as reputable companies will not drop letters in such directories and will supposedly contact you directly via mobile phone or sending a letter to where you are located.
Furthermore, all attachments should be scanned with the help of an antimalware/antivirus program just for ensuring security. This might prevent malware infections from slipping into your computer system through legitimate-looking executables, Word documents, PDF files, and other similar components attached to email messages.
How to check the PC for Dropbox virus
- File:
Dropbox.exe
How to remove Dropbox 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: Check where Dropbox.exe runs from and stop it
Dropbox.exeis the part you can see, and its location tells you whether it belongs there. Right-click it on the Processes page of Task Manager and choose Open file location, then right-click the file > Properties > Digital Signatures to see who signed it.An unsigned file, or one in a user folder such as
%AppData%, is the one to remove: end the task, then delete the file.Note the folder name, because the same folder usually holds its other files. This is 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
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
powershellwith a long encoded line - opens a web address belongs to Dropbox 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
- a task that starts a file in
Step 3: Remove it from startup
Whatever Dropbox 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: 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 Jun 2019 · not reviewed since
Removal tips for Dropbox malware forms
If you have been infected with some type of dangerous Dropbox malware form, the removal is necessary and should be performed immediately.
We do not recommend trying to get rid of the cyber threat without any automatical software as you might accidentally cause even more damage to your computer system.
Automatical Dropbox virus removal is also a good choice for computer users who lack the required skills on the virus elimination field. Our recommendation would be to scan the entire system first with reputable computer software such as , , or and find all possibly-infected locations on your machine.
Furthermore, you will see two system boot options below this text which will help you disable malicious activities before you remove Dropbox virus. Remember that all malicious components such as infectious executables, registry keys, and other types of files need to be gathered and removed from the system for a successful malware removal process.
[GI=method-1]Use these steps to reboot your computer system to Safe Mode with Networking. This is a way to prevent malicious activities from spreading further:
[GI=method-2]Activating the System Restore feature on your Windows machine should allow disabling malware-laden components. Follow these guidelines to turn on this mode:
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 an unfamiliar process called Dropbox.exe in Task Manager 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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
Questions about Dropbox virus
Is Dropbox.exe safe?
It depends on where the file is and who signed it, not on the name. Open Task Manager, go to the Details tab, right-click Dropbox.exe and choose Open file location. A file inside Program Files or System32 with a valid digital signature from a known company is usually part of a legitimate program.
A file in AppData, Temp or ProgramData with no signature, especially one that restarts itself after you end it, is suspicious. If you cannot tie the process to anything you installed, uninstall recent unfamiliar programs and run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
Dropbox.exe keeps coming back. What should I do?
A process that returns after you end it has a restart mechanism, and that is a reason to treat Dropbox.exe as unwanted. Check Settings > Apps > Startup, Task Scheduler and the Services list for entries pointing to its folder, and disable them.
Look in Installed apps for anything added the same day and uninstall it. Then delete the folder and run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan, which works before Windows starts and can remove files that are locked or hidden while the system is running.
Can I just delete Dropbox.exe?
Deleting Dropbox.exe by hand rarely removes Dropbox virus. While the trojan runs, Windows may refuse to delete the file, and if you succeed, a scheduled task, a service or a second copy may bring it back at the next restart.
The file can also be only one part of the infection: loaders and remote access tools often install other programs. Use the Microsoft Defender offline scan, which removes the file together with its startup entries before Windows loads, and then check startup items and scheduled tasks as described in the plan.
Why didn't my antivirus stop Dropbox 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.
Can Dropbox virus spread to other devices on my network?
Most trojans aimed at home users stay on the PC they infected, but an attacker with remote access can look at the network, open shared folders and try passwords on other devices. Loaders sometimes deliver worms or ransomware that do spread.
Disconnect the PC while cleaning, run a full scan on other Windows PCs, change the router's admin password and the Wi-Fi password if they were saved on the infected PC, and update the router's firmware. If other PCs show the same detection, treat them as infected too.
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 Dropbox 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.
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 Dropbox virus, they are a strong reason to follow the full plan.
Can I keep using the PC while Dropbox virus is on it?
Not for anything that matters. As long as the program behind an unfamiliar process called Dropbox.exe in Task Manager 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.
Which malware family is Dropbox virus?
That is not known yet. Dropbox virus has been reported by people who saw an unfamiliar process called Dropbox.exe in Task Manager, but no sample has been analysed publicly, so security companies have not assigned it to a family. The name you see may be a file or program name chosen by the authors, not a family name.
This does not stop you from removing it: the startup points, the offline scan and the account steps are the same for most families of this type. If Microsoft Defender or another scanner gives the file a detection name, write it down; that name is the best clue to the family and is useful when you report the incident.
Will Fortect remove Dropbox 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 Dropbox 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
- Dropbox forum: Antivirus detected malware in the Dropbox cache folder (read October 7, 2026)
- Dropbox Help: How Dropbox handles viruses and malicious software (read October 7, 2026)
- Intego: How to Decrypt Dropbox Files Encrypted by Ransomware (read October 7, 2026)
- Trend Micro: Dropbox Used In Delivering UPATRE Malware (read October 7, 2026)
- 2-spyware: Fake Dropbox emails spread updated Trickbot malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Dynamoo: Malware spam: Random Name shared "Amendment or the Agreement_09-11-2015.zip" with you (read October 7, 2026)