Kwampirs malware: what it is and how to remove it
Kwampirs is malware with worm-like capabilities mainly used by a hacking group like Orangeworm to carry out corporate espionage attacks. According to security researchers from Symantec, who first detected and analyzed the Trojan back in January 2015, it is mainly used to attack organizations in healthcare sector in the USA, Asia, and Europe.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
If rundll32.exe returns after removal, a full scan can find the entry that brings it back.
Do it yourself · free Remove Kwampirs malware yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Kwampirs malware: summary
| Name | Kwampirs malware |
|---|---|
| Type | Backdoor, Trojan |
| Also known as | Trojan.Kwampirs |
| Associated groups | Orangeworm – a cybercriminal gang is operated by a small number of individuals and is unlikely to be government-sponsored |
| Targets | Healthcare organisations and its suppliers in the USA, Asia and Europe |
| Symptoms | No visual symptoms of the infection are usually present – only the presence of malicious files, processes, and services (WmiApSryEx – WMI Performance Adapter Extension) can serve as an indicator. The files are known to be copied to ADMIN$, C$WINDOWS, D$WINDOWS, and E$WINDOWS folders |
| 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 |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| File names | rundll32.exe |
| First seen | 17 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What Kwampirs malware does on an infected PC
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Kwampirs malware is a backdoor Trojan that targets healthcare organizations and infects computers connected to medical equipment
Kwampirs is malware with worm-like capabilities mainly used by a hacking group like Orangeworm to carry out corporate espionage attacks.
According to security researchers from Symantec, who first detected and analyzed the Trojan back in January 2015, it is mainly used to attack organizations in healthcare sector in the USA, Asia, and Europe. Kwampirs malware was also used to attack other industries as a means to reach out to the main target - secondary targets include companies in IT, logistics, manufacturing, and other fields.
Kwampirs backdoor is a custom-made malware that performs required system modifications in order to gain persistence and remain undetected - essentially, it gives attackers complete control over the infected machine. After gathering enough information about the initial target, it then spreads laterally across an entire network, gathering more data in the process.
Kwampirs malware does not immediately deploy its main payload, but rather first analyzes the initial machine - the attackers first ensure that the target is worth infecting. The initial check includes gathering data about a network adapter, system version, and language settings - if the target is indeed what malicious actors were looking for, they proceed with further actions.
Before spreading laterally via the network, Kwampirs malware decrypts its main payload and inserts a random string into it before writing information on disk in order to avoid anti-malware software detection that works based on hash readings. This behavior is typical of polymorphic type of cyber infections. Finally, Kwampirs virus copies its main payload across network shares, infecting other machines in the process.
Kwampirs malware performs various system changes:
Symantec researchers said that the Kwampirs virus was found on computers that are connected to high-end medical equipment, such as MRI and X-Ray, as well as machines that were used to process patient forms required for the upcoming medical procedures. Nevertheless, it turns out that the attackers are not interested in stealing credentials or stealing sensitive patient data, but rather in machines themselves.
As it turned out, Kwampirs Trojan copied images, collected lists of files, manufacturer details, processor type, hostname, list of connections, running processes, and other specific information. Nevertheless, experts noted that it is possible that new modules might be introduced if threat actors would desire so.
- Creates a new service - WmiApSryEx with display name WMI Performance Adapter Extension;
- Copies various malicious files into ADMIN$, C$WINDOWS, D$WINDOWS, and E$WINDOWS folders;
- Downlaods additional files from Command & Control server;
- Uses rundll32.exe to modify Registry as one of the persistence mechanisms, etc.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Carefully selected victims
According to experts' findings, 39% of the infected hosts were coming from the healthcare industry, manufacturing - 15 %, IT - 15%, logistics 8%, agriculture - 8%, while the remaining 15% of victims were unidentified.
Researchers found that main targets of Kwampirs malware mainly originated from the US:
Kwampirs Trojan is mostly prevalent among outdated systems like Windows XP, which are still widespread among various industries. In most cases, this is due to professional equipment dependency on old operating system platforms. Nevertheless, most of the old systems can still be protected with advanced anti-malware solutions.
Those infected should immediately scan the affected equipment with anti-malware software to remove Kwampirs malware and its all malicious files. For the operating system repair purposes, can be used.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Kwampirs malware
- To get rid of Kwampirs Trojan, the infected machine should be scanned with the most up-to-date anti-malware software
- To repair compromised system files, use
- The biggest number of Orangeworm's victims are located in the U.S., accounting for 17 percent of the infection rate by region.
- While Orangeworm has impacted only a small set of victims in 2016 and 2017 according to Symantec telemetry, we have seen infections in multiple countries due to the nature of the victims operating large international corporations.
How Kwampirs malware got on your PC
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Because Kwampirs is malware that attacks corporate targets, it uses targeted attack vectors to infiltrate computers of interest worldwide.
In most cases, such attacks are performed via targeted phishing email attachments/hyperlinks, inadequately protected Remote Desktop connections, or exploits. As mentioned above, malware mainly targets old operating systems like Windows XP - these systems are generally flawed and risky to use.
To mitigate and prevent malware attacks, the following must be taken as a precautionary measure:
- Invest in comprehensive security software that can block most of the malware attacks;
- Enable Firefox to prevent unsolicited network intrusions;
- Apply the latest security patches to all your software as well as the operating system;
- Use complex passwords that consist of alphanumeric characters or employ a password manager;
- Configure email server in a way that all the emails with attachments would be automatically blocked;
- Protect your Remote Desktop connections properly (for example, never use a default RDP port);
- Turn off file sharing if not required for a prolonged period;
- Restrict user access to the internet - prevent from downloading files;
- Disable autoplay function to prevent executables from being launched immediately after download.
How to check the PC for Kwampirs malware
- File:
rundll32.exe
How to remove Kwampirs malware
How to remove Kwampirs malware and lock the attacker out
Someone may have had remote control of the PC.
Cut the connection first, then remove the trojan and secure your accounts.
Step 1: Remove remote access tools and lock the attacker out
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi first, so any remote session drops.
In Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows 11) or Apps & features (Windows 10), uninstall remote access programs you did not set up yourself, such as AnyDesk, ScreenConnect, TeamViewer or an unknown "support" tool.
Check Settings > Accounts > Other users (Family & other users in Windows 10) for accounts you did not create. Turn off Remote Desktop under Settings > System unless you use it.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 2: Check where rundll32.exe runs from and stop it
rundll32.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 3: 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 Kwampirs malware 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 4: Remove it from startup
Whatever Kwampirs malware 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 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 Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
The only way to remove Kwampirs malware is by performing a full system scan with anti-virus software
Kwampirs malware is a worm, so it propagates by itself.
Therefore, if you had any networked connections, it is highly likely that most or all of the connected machines got infected as well. To successfully remove Kwampirs malware, you need to isolate all the infected computers (disconnect from the network), block all the ports, and perform a full system scan with the most up-to-date anti-malware software in Safe Mode.
Note, you should also disable System Restore and then restart the infected machine in order to remove the possibility of the infected files coming back.
Finally, after Kwampirs malware removal, you should change all passwords for every single machine, and only then re-establish a network connection. Note, you should also report the malware attack to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
After removal: passwords, accounts and prevention
Accounts come next
Because the PC showed an unfamiliar process called rundll32.exe in Task Manager, a sign of a program that could read browser data, the clean-up is only half of the work.
The other half happens in your online accounts.
Change passwords from a clean device, beginning with e-mail; sign out of all sessions; check forwarding rules and recovery phone numbers; and turn on two-step verification with an authenticator app or a passkey. Ask your bank to replace cards saved in the browser.
Why the order matters and what to check in each account: secure your accounts after malware.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about Kwampirs malware
Is rundll32.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 rundll32.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.
Can I delete the rundll32.exe file?
Only after you know what it belongs to. If rundll32.exe is part of a program, uninstall that program through Settings instead, so its services and tasks go too. If it belongs to nothing and is unsigned, end the process, disable whatever starts it and then delete its folder.
Do not delete files from the Windows folder or files signed by Microsoft: those are part of the system, and removing them can stop Windows from starting. When in doubt, run a Microsoft Defender scan first and let it decide.
Can I just delete rundll32.exe?
Deleting rundll32.exe by hand rarely removes Kwampirs malware. 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.
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 Kwampirs malware 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.
Should I reset my PC because of Kwampirs malware?
Only if the signs point to deeper access. Reset when you see an unfamiliar process called rundll32.exe in Task Manager again after removal, when Windows Security cannot start or update, when remote access tools you did not install keep appearing, or when you simply cannot trust the PC any more.
Otherwise, the plan in this guide plus an offline scan is enough. If you do reset, choose Remove everything and Cloud download for a fresh copy of Windows, restore only documents and photos, and reinstall programs from their official sites. Change important passwords from the clean system afterwards.
Which malware family is Kwampirs malware?
That is not known yet. Kwampirs malware has been reported by people who saw an unfamiliar process called rundll32.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.
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 Kwampirs malware, they are a strong reason to follow the full plan.
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 it safe to do online banking after seeing an unfamiliar process called rundll32.exe in Task Manager?
Not on that PC until it is clean. A program that produces an unfamiliar process called rundll32.exe in Task Manager runs with your rights and could read what you type or what the browser shows. Use a phone or another computer for banking and for changing passwords.
When the offline scan of the affected PC is clean and nothing suspicious starts with Windows any more, you can go back to using it. Check your bank statements for the past weeks either way, and call the bank if anything looks unfamiliar; banks can block cards and reset access quickly.
Will Fortect remove Kwampirs malware?
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 Kwampirs malware, 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
- Symantec: New Orangeworm attack group targets the healthcare sector in the U.S., Europe, and Asia (read October 6, 2026)
- ZDNet: Mysterious cyber worm targets medical systems, is found on X-ray machines and MRI scanners (read October 6, 2026)
- Trend Micro: Command and Control [C&C] Server (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)