Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C: what it is and how to remove it
Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C is the malware that can be set to steal passwords or even spy on the victim but that depends on the particular version you encountered. This trojan is designed to stealthily infiltrate the computer and remain silently running in the background.
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.
Unsure whether nc.exe is safe? A free scan checks the file and what starts it.
Do it yourself · free Remove Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C yourself 6 steps, about 18 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C: summary
| Distribution | Spam email attachments, software cracks, infected files |
|---|---|
| Name | Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C |
| Type | Trojan |
| Purpose | Open backdoors for other malicious actors, install threats, steal information |
| Main danger | Can lead to privacy issues or even identity theft |
| Associated files | nc.exe |
| 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 9 more facts
| Associated programs | MI-SUGAR 0.5.8, SoraView 1.0pr4, Functional 1.2, Parnian XTension 3.0, Cribbage Plus! 1.1.6, Small Business Tracker Deluxe 2.0. |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | An unknown process in Task Manager and a Windows Security "Threats found" notification |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| File names | nc.exe |
| First seen | 18 February 2020 |
| Microsoft Defender name | Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C does on an infected PC
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C is the malware that can open backdoors on the infected system for other hackers or load malware
Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C is the malware that can be set to steal passwords or even spy on the victim but that depends on the particular version you encountered.
This trojan is designed to stealthily infiltrate the computer and remain silently running in the background. This is why there are no visible symptoms, and the threat can run on the machine for a long time before the user even notices anything. A trojan is a type of the very devastating malware that can corrupt files on your computer or even causes system errors, damage files on the hard drive.
Since Occamy.C trojan drops copies of the malware in various folders, it becomes more difficult to remove. You encounter various system interruptions out of nowhere because of the changes trojan makes. Malware like this can be also used to deliver other malicious programs like ransomware. You need a thorough malware termination so all the additional infections can get completely removed.
This trojan, in particular, can be also called Occamy.C backdoor because it gives remote access to various other threat actors and infiltrates devices with malware like crypto miners or even ransomware. Many antivirus engines can detect this trojan and possibly remove it from the machine.
Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C can be one of the detection names that anti-malware displays after the system scan. However, many different programs have databases of their own, and heuristic names may differ from tool to tool. Make sure to get a reliable tool and scan the system entirely, then follow suggested steps and delete malware from the computer.
Occamy.C virus additionally can cause various issues and errors appearing on the screen:
Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C can affect various parts of the machine and since this threat infects Windows devices it even alters DLL files, other files of the system, Widoens registry entries. This is a common method to affect the infected device in general as much as possible so the virus can get launched each time the PC is rebooted.
The virus itself can come to the machine via infected DLL or EXE file which comes from maliciously infected email attachments, software cracks, or other malware that delivers Occamy.C directly on the machine.
Trojan also can come via questionable freeware like MI-SUGAR 0.5.8, SoraView 1.0pr4, Functional 1.2, Parnian XTension 3.0, Cribbage Plus! 1.1.6, Small Business Tracker Deluxe 2.0. Make sure to remove these applications, especially if you haven't installed them on purpose yourself.
Occamy.C is also called spyware because it allows attackers to gather data from the system or use different methods to tracks and collect data as banking credentials, logins, and passwords. In most cases, this data gets used for blackmailing purposes or in later scams.
Occamy virus is the umbrella term for various trojans that has the same heuristic name. You may encounter Occamy.C, Occamy.A, or Occamy.B. However, the trojan is a complex malware which has many different purposes that may differ from developer or distributor or even the particular target. Trojan operates in the background silently, so you are not alerted about the presence of the malware.
Occamy.C trojan drops files onto the computer and launches executables or other tasks to send gathered data, download additional files, and accept commands from the remote attacker. Thanks to this fact, you can sometimes notice suspicious processes running in the background when you open the Task Manager.
When you notice two similar processes or even identical EXE files running on the Task Manager, you can try to remove Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C by ending the task. Additionally, experts note that when the suspicious file or process runs causing high usage of CPU and other resources, you can be sure that the process is not legitimate or safe.
Then, you can employ professional anti-malware for Occamy.C removal. Ending the malicious task to disable the virus and get an opportunity to launch your anti-virus is only a first step that allows ending the malicious background process. Additionally, scan the system with reputable anti-virus and finally run to ensure that no corrupted files and similar system changes have been made.
- 0x00000124;
- 0x000000A4
- 0x000000FA;
- 0x00000054;
- 0x80244030 WU_E_PT_ECP_INIT_FAILED;
- The external cab processor initialization did not complete.;
- 0x80244010 WU_E_PT_EXCEEDED_MAX_SERVER_TRIPS;
- 0x8024001A WU_E_POLICY_NOT_SET A policy value was not set.;
- received an invalid response from the upstream server it accessed in attempting to fulfill the request.
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C
- Install professional anti-malware programs to remove Occamy.C
How Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C got on your PC
From our report of Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Sources of trojans can vary as functions of such threats are decided by the developer.
However, typical trojan distribution involves spam emails disguised as letters from institutions or services, companies. Emails stating about financial information, receipts, order details or invoices deceive people, and they get tricked into opening such emails with file attachments or hyperlinks.
Once the document attached on the email gets downloaded and opened on the machine or link gets clicked, the malicious script gets either launched on the computer directly or triggers macros and payload carriers that distribute trojans or ransomware.
You can avoid these cyber infiltrations by paying close attention to emails you receive and messages on social media with suspicious links or file attachments. When the email contains a document or executable attached, it should raise your attention, especially when the sender is not a familiar service or company you use at the time.
How to check the PC for Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C
What antivirus programs call Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C
Microsoft Defender reports Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C as Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C.
In a Defender name, the part before the colon is the category, the part after it is the platform, and the part after the slash is the family Microsoft assigned. A suffix after ! is an internal Microsoft marker, not a different threat.
Generic labels such as Agent, GenericKD or Malware.AI only say that a file looks malicious, not what it does; our guide to antivirus detection names shows how to read them.
- File:
nc.exe
How to remove Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C
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 nc.exe runs from and stop it
nc.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 Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C 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 Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C 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 Feb 2020 · not reviewed since
Delete Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C with malware removal tools like anti-malware
There are many techniques of how such infections come to the system, but you shouldn't forget about the dangerous side of Occamy.C virus infiltration - installation of other malware.
Because of this additional payload dropping feature, you need a thorough system scan.
Employing professional anti-malware for Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C removal gives the advantage of cleaning other threats that you were not knowing about because when using the tool like this you can scan the machine entirely and remove all indicated programs or even system issues.
Get or to check if they can remove Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C. Remember that there are a few different versions and possibly related viruses that may lure in the system. You may need to enter the Safe Mode before scanning the computer or find a more powerful tool for this task. Finally, checking the system for virus damage is highly recommended.
[GI=method-1]You should try Safe Mode with Networking before scanning the machine with anti-malware for Occamy.C removal
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 nc.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.
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 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 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. 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.
Questions about Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C
Is nc.exe a virus?
The name nc.exe is not enough to say. Malware often uses technical-sounding names, and harmless updaters often use odd ones. Check three things:
- the folder the file runs from
- the Digital Signatures tab in its properties
- the program that starts it (Startup apps, Task Scheduler or services)
A signed file from a company whose product you use is almost certainly fine. An unsigned file in a user folder that no installed program explains should be removed, and the PC scanned with Microsoft Defender in offline mode.
What does the name Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C tell me?
Microsoft builds names in a fixed order:
- category
- then platform
- then family
- sometimes followed by a variant letter
- a suffix
The category is the most useful part for you. Trojan, Backdoor and PWS mean real malware that can download more, give remote access or steal passwords. PUA means unwanted software.
Ransom means ransomware. Suffixes such as !ml or !MTB mean the detection came from machine learning or behaviour analysis. Search for the family part of Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C together with the word Microsoft to find its entry in Microsoft's security encyclopedia.
nc.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 nc.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.
Should I change my passwords after Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C?
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/Occamy.C 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.
Can I just delete nc.exe?
Deleting nc.exe by hand rarely removes Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C. 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.
Will Windows Security detect Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C?
Yes, current Microsoft Defender definitions name it Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C. 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 Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C already made, so follow the other steps in this guide as well.
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 Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C, 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.
Can Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C 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.
Will Fortect remove Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C?
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 Trojan:Win32/Occamy.C, 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
- ZDNet: Double trouble: Two-pronged cyber attack infects victims with data-stealing trojan malware and ransomware (read October 6, 2026)
- Inforsecurity: Stolen data used in ongoing sextortion scam (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)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)