GraceWire virus: what it is and how to remove it
GraceWire trojan is the product from the Evil Corp hacker group that spreads malware that avoids detection and can directly infect various machines. Thi particular trojan was the final payload dropped in the recent campaign of these Dridex trojan developers.
Facts checked October 6, 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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GraceWire virus: summary
| Distribution | Hackers use phishing campaigns to target victims, so social engineering[2] methods allow spreading the malware via macro-malware or other infected files |
|---|---|
| Damage | Stolen information can be used in secondary attacks, sold on the dark web, used for identity theft and other malicious campaigns, lead to serious privacy issues |
| Name | GraceWire virus |
| Type | Info-stealing malware/ Trojan |
| Purpose | The threat is set to steal passwords, other sensitive data, banking credentials, files from the system directly |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 5 more facts
| Symptoms | A Windows Security "Threats found" notification |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| First seen | 3 July 2020 |
| Microsoft Defender name | Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What GraceWire virus does on an infected PC
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
You need to terminate GraceWire virus as soon as you can, so the system gets cleaned
To properly remove GraceWire trojan, you need to fully control what is happening on the system.
The best option would be to scan the machine using an anti-malware or security tool that checks various places of the machine. When you do so, you can find and delete the threat fully.
or are the ones that could help you deal with the GraceWire trojan removal because security software detects and removes various types of malware. Unfortunately, the program is not capable of repairing damage or restoring system functions. For such purposes, you need a tool like .
[GI=method-1]You may want to reboot the system in Safe Mode with Networking, so the program responsible for the malware detection can run properly
[GI=method-2]System Restore feature can be one of the system functions that helps with malware termination
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on GraceWire virus
- GraceWire trojan removal should include programs like anti-malware tools, so all the threat files and programs get deleted fully
- You can and need to check the system for additional alterations in the system.
- Running can properly help with virus damage and corrupted files or functions
What GraceWire virus can steal or download
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
GraceWire trojan is the product from the Evil Corp hacker group that spreads malware that avoids detection and can directly infect various machines.
Thi particular trojan was the final payload dropped in the recent campaign of these Dridex trojan developers. A trojan is set to steal information that later on can be used to directly blackmail people or spread more campaigns, send phishing emails.
The virus takes advantage of the same distribution method itself and targets people with a well-known hacking collective method. Since this is not a new threat, and creators have experience in such malware attacks, the trojan can easily take over the machine to find full control processes, activities.
The purpose of these stealthy intruders mainly is to obtain the control of the device and gather sensitive information, so infiltration allows spreading other malware on the computer too. Remote control, command execution, system manipulation, and other malware injections are the main issues regarding these stealthy trojans.
GraceWire trojan is the malware that can perform a number of actions once the machine is affected. Hackers can easily choose from the list of functionalities and run their malware according to their goal. Your anti-malware tool can indicate the threat in various names, so the name of the particular malware is not often shown.
Main detections that are associated with the GraceWire virus in particular: Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha; Trojan:Win32/GraceWire; Trojan.Win64.GRACEWIRE.D. You need to additionally scan the machine and check for the proper solution for this threat or any additional infection.
You can remove GraceWire trojan if you find it in time and can run the proper AV tool for the malicious program termination. When the threat gets quarantined or indicated by your AV detection engine, make sure to react as soon as you possibly can. As for the system cleaning, you need to thoroughly check for damaged, affected, corrupted files in system folders too.
GraceWire is stealthy and can run for a while until you detect malicious behavior and can remove this infection. Hackers aim to gather data, inject other scripts, or even gain direct control, so files, programs get added in the background. You cannot find all the alterations yourself, so run for the optimization purpose.
GraceWire trojan removal processes get difficult when the malware gets to run in the background for long. It can be programmed to drop other malware, so infection is more likely the first step of the more serious ransomware infection attack. You need to react as soon as you can, so the programs like anti-malware tools can find and terminate the intruders.
When you encounter the trojan GraceWire, you need to think that there are many functions this malware piece can have:
The consequences of the infection like this can go from performance issues to the inability to run a program or use features. GraceWire virus can damage your device permanently and leave with the useless machine, lead to privacy issues, or make you a target of the more personalized attack.
- Code execution. This threat can run operations and any commands that attackers program the virus to.
- Data exfiltration. Trojans are collecting various details that belong to the user and steals installed files, details from the web browser.
- Remote control. Hackers can use malware to take over the affected machine.
- Manipulate the behavior. System settings can get configured in the way that attackers need and want.
- Malware injection. Threats like this can drop any virus file on the system once it is running in the background.


How GraceWire virus got on your PC
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Social engineering tactics allow hackers to attach malicious files in the formats of MS documents or Excel data, PDFs. recipients of such emails thing that they get important information from a company or service. Since the notification looks legitimate enough, victims enable macros without thinking twice.
The content of the malicious email includes HTML redirects, and the infection started when the malicious script gets injected onto the system. Script-controlled instances can rely on particular topics or file-types. Bogus emails look harmless because it's notifications resemble popular spam emails and messages from PayPal, eBay, other platforms.
You need to avoid any suspicious emails, notifications from senders you not know or services that you don't use. Delete any suspicious emails, especially when the message has links or attached files.
How to check the PC for GraceWire virus
If Windows Security shows Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha, it has found GraceWire virus or a file that belongs to it.
Write the name down before you click Remove: it is the most useful search term later, and you will need it if you report the incident.
A family name in the label is more informative than a heuristic one. Our page on why one threat has many antivirus names lists the common formats and what each part means.
How to remove GraceWire 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
powershellwith a long encoded line - opens a web address belongs to GraceWire 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 2: Remove it from startup
Whatever GraceWire 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.
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 the Windows Security detection Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha 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.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
Questions about GraceWire virus
Is Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha a false positive?
Sometimes. Names ending in !ml or describing behaviour are generated by machine learning and occasionally flag cracked tools, game mods or small unsigned utilities. A false positive is likely only when the file is a program you installed from its official developer, it is signed by that developer and other scanners do not flag it.
Files from cracks, cheats, fake updates or unknown downloads are rarely false positives, whatever the detection name. If you are sure the file is genuine, you can report it to Microsoft as a false positive; never add an exclusion for Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha just to make the alert stop.
Should I change my passwords after Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha?
It depends on the category and on whether the file ran. If the name begins with PWS, Spy, Backdoor or Trojan and the file sat in AppData, ProgramData or Temp, assume it ran and change your important passwords from a different device, starting with e-mail, then banking.
Sign out of all sessions too. If Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha is a PUA or was caught in Downloads before you opened anything, a password change is a precaution rather than a must. When in doubt, change the e-mail password and turn on two-step verification; it is quick and protects everything else.
Will Windows Security detect GraceWire virus?
Yes, current Microsoft Defender definitions name it Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha. Make sure the definitions are up to date first: open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Protection updates and click Check for updates. Then run a full scan and the Microsoft Defender offline scan.
If the detection comes back after you remove it, look for the program, task or extension that brings it back, using the plan above. Detection removes files and startup entries, but it does not reverse changes GraceWire virus already made, so follow the other steps in this guide as well.
Can GraceWire 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.
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.
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 GraceWire 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 GraceWire virus, they are a strong reason to follow the full plan.
Why didn't my antivirus stop GraceWire 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.
How dangerous is GraceWire virus?
Treat it as serious until proven otherwise. The visible sign is the Windows Security detection Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha, and programs that behave this way often have more abilities than they show:
- copying passwords
- downloading other malware
- giving remote access
Its family is not known yet, so nobody can say which of these it uses. The good news is that the response is the same in every case and takes about an hour:
- cut the network
- remove the startup entry
- run an offline scan
- change passwords from a clean device
If someone had remote control, a full reset is safer.
Will Fortect remove GraceWire 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 GraceWire 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
- Threatpost: Evil Corp Returns With New Malware Infection Tactic (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Social engineering (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft: Trojan:Win32/GraceWire!dha detection report (read October 6, 2026)
- Virustotal: detection rate of the sample (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)