Krestinaful.com virus (Free Guide)

What is Krestinaful.com virus?

Krestinaful.com redirects are a sign of adware or even malware infection

Krestinaful.com redirects point a virus infection and should be removed as soon as possible

Unexpected browser redirects can be particularly annoying and often worrisome. When in pristine condition, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, or any other reputable web browser would not perform any actions that are considered unusual. Thus, when Krestinaful.com redirects begin, it is obvious that there is an intruder within the system – ChromeLoader malware, to be more precise.

Many users were struggling to understand where the suspicious browser activity comes from, as they do not remember installing anything under that name. This is not surprising because the extension that is causing these redirects is installed by malware automatically – the extension is installed under the name of “Settings,” and that's just one of the components that are dropped on the system. One of the main symptoms that users notice the most is the redirects to an alternative search provider – they have reported that their searches no longer use Google but Bing instead.

The main goal of the virus is to download and install a Chrome extension that would generate traffic to various third-party websites, which, ultimately, can be unsafe. Therefore, if you see that your browser is behaving out of the ordinary, you should take your time to investigate why it is happening.

Redirects through various websites are usually not a huge cause of concern, as many browser hijackers or adware^[1] programs employ these tactics by changing browser settings. However, after examination of Krestinaful.com, it became clear that there is much more to it, and that the activity it is related to is rather malicious. Please check the information below to find out more about it. We also provide a detailed guide on how to remove the virus effectively.

Infiltration explained

Most browser hijackers, adware, and similar potentially unwanted programs typically spread via methods that are considered deceptive, although not entirely malicious. Third-party distributors often bundle software, and people end up installing several apps they did not intend to in the first place just because they did not pay close attention to the installation process.

Thus, it is always recommended to choose Advanced/Custom installation settings instead of Recommended/Quick ones are decline all the offers on the way. Paying attention to the installation steps is crucial when dealing with bundlers, as some of them might even contain malware we are talking about here.

In fact, the Krestinaful.com virus is usually downloaded from unofficial sources such as torrents or warez sites that distribute pirated software and cracks. In this case, cs_loader.exe was inserted into an ISO file – a common file type used for pirated video games or other executable software.

Once the ISO file is mounted and the EXE file inside is clicked, the infection routine begins using the NET Framework^[2] – a software framework developed by Microsoft mostly for Windows computers. This allows it to call up PowerShell (task automation and configuration management program), which downloads and installs a Google Chrome browser extension called “Settings” – a humble name for a virus, we must admit.

As soon as it lands on the browser, its job is now done, and users have no clue what happened behind their backs. They would only see some changes within their Chrome browser but would not realize what has caused them or how to remove the unwanted browser redirects.

Malware spreads via an ISO file which installs a Chrome extension under the name of "Settings"

The main problem with this activity is its initial installation and the way it functions. The fact that the malicious code was already executed o the system might open loopholes and result in the infection of other unwanted extensions or even malware. Likewise, those infected are more likely to encounter phishing, spoofing, ad-filled, and other types of malicious websites while browsing the web routinely.

We strongly recommend not ignoring these issues and taking care of the Krestinaful.com virus removal. In order to do that, you need to clean your browser properly and remove the malware itself.

Stop the Krestinaful.com redirects effectively

Browser hijackers, adware, and similar PUPs often come into users' systems as browser extensions. Usually, they are very easy to remove and do not require any further actions. However, the issues begin when the infection is more complex, and we recommend you follow all the steps we provide below.

Remove from the browser

In order to remove this malware properly, you should first start with the browser extension, as it is the main reason why your browser keeps redirecting you through malicious websites. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Next, you should clean the web browser cache to ensure that no malicious components remain after malware removal. This step is also recommended after the removal of every potentially unwanted application, as it can stop cookie tracking by third parties. Likewise, clearing web data would prevent various errors and can stop session hijacking^[3] which might occur under certain circumstances.

1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear data.

If you are unable to remove the “Settings” extension (malware might employ various persistence techniques to prevent it from being removed), you can opt to reset the browser.

1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
5. Confirm with Reset settings.

Finally, you should delete the folder of the “Settings” extension in the following location:

C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data

Note: if you are using another browser, check the instructions at the bottom of this post.

Remove Scheduled Tasks

Malware can create a scheduled task to unregister the “Settings” app, which might cause an empty window of Command Prompt to show up from time to time. Make sure you delete the task as follows:

• Type in Task Scheduler in Windows search and hit Enter
• Click on the Task Scheduler Library and look for a task called ChromeLoader
• Right-click this task and select Delete.

Remove leftover files and employ anti-malware

The problem with removing unwanted and malicious software manually is that there could be many more components scattered across the system, so the removal might only be partial, and the virus might return later, or some of its elements might remain functional. Therefore, regardless if you found anything by following the aforementioned steps, you should employ SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or another powerful security tool and perform a full system scan with it.

Additionally, you should also do the following:

1. Use FortectIntego to take care of cleaning your system from PUP leftover files and repair the damage done by malware.
2. Check your Download or other folders where you downloaded the ISO file and remove it at once.