Trojan.Agent (Removal Instructions) - updated Jan 2020
Trojan.Agent Removal Guide
What is Trojan.Agent?
Trojan.Agent is a generic definition of particular malware that can be set to do a variety of malicious tasks on the infected machine
Trojan.Agent is a heuristic[1] detection name of a Trojan malware category and is often used by a variety of anti-virus engines. Generic names are given to distinct malware family members or when the threat has never been analyzed before, and no detailed information is available. Nevertheless, even then, most of the reputable anti-malware programs are capable of detecting and stopping Trojan.Agent from infiltrating the computer by using machine-learning[2] and other sophisticated methods.
The main purpose of Trojan.Agent is to access the machine while pretending to be something else – in other words, Trojans are pieces of malicious software that disguise as something desirable, such as an application or an email attachment from a seemingly legitimate source. Once inside, the system, Trojan.Agent virus can be set to perform a variety of activities, including stealing information, a proliferation of other malware, logging keystrokes, send spam, and much more.
| Name | Trojan.Agent |
|---|---|
| Type | Trojan |
| Description | Trojans can represent a wide variety of malware, as their main goal is to gain access to the computer by pretending to be something else |
| Alternative names | Trojan:W32/Agent, Win32.Trojan.Agent |
| Infiltration | Malware is usually downloaded from malicious websites, distributed via malicious email attachments, fake updates, scam sites, etc. |
| Symptoms |
While Trojans usually lack visible symptoms, users might notice the following:
|
| Removal | Use reputable anti-malware software to perform a full system scan in Safe Mode as explained below |
| Recovery | In case you experience system instability after you terminate the infection, use FortectIntego to fix virus damage automatically |
A Trojan.Agent virus belongs to the “Agent” family of malware, which can also be attributed to such threats as worms, backdoors, and rootkits. In other words, the name “trojan” defines its distribution tactic (it tries to present itself as something else), but its functions may vary greatly, so it can also be administered to threats like worms, ransomware, etc. Due to this, Trojan.Agent removal methods may vary, as each of the threats might be set to do different actions on the infected machine.
As soon as A Trojan.Agent infiltrates the system, it makes it vulnerable to other threats, which means that they can try to attack the system and initiate malicious tasks on it as preset by malicious actors who launched it. For example, it can be programmed to divert users' HTTP traffic[3] to predetermined websites where automated JavaScript launches various types of ads on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, or another browser.
Trojan.Agent then leverages the ad-revenue for its authors, all while the victim is coping with high computer resources usage, sluggishness of browsers, and other issues. Therefore, despite a popular belief, the increased amount of ads does not always mean adware or a browser hijacker infection but also can be a sign of a Trojan.
Trojan.Agent, depending on its aim, can also sometimes show the following symptoms:
- Increased CPU usage
- Slowness of the machine
- System crashes
- Disabled anti-malware software
- Application launch failure
- Unknown programs running on the computer, etc.
In addition to these “visible” symptoms, Trojan.Agent typically drops a variety of malicious files on the system (in places like %AppData% or %Temp%), spawns various processes, modifies Windows registry keys,[4], and performs many other technical changes to Windows. However, these are not that easy to spot for novice and regular computer users.
Therefore, the best way to detect and remove Trojan.Agent form the system is by employing a reputable anti-malware program and performing a full system scan. Note that because trojans can be employed to do just anything, it is not impossible that it was used to insert other malicious software on your system. In such a case, anti-malware would get rid of that as well.
Because Trojan.Agent virus tends to modify various system files, it might render the computer damaged after it is eliminated. As a result, you Windows might start crashing, throwing BSODs,, and generally malfunctioning, which could leave you with one option – re-installation of the operating system. To avoid that, we recommend using a PC repair tool FortectIntego – it can fix virus damage and restore Windows operation to the pre-infection stage.
Trojans can be distributed in various different ways
Trojan.Agent is distributed using different methods that have been widely used by virus creators: it can infiltrate your computer after visiting a malicious website that is filled with infected installers, by clicking on misleading pop-up ad that claims that you need to update one or several of your programs, after opening an infected email attachment that holds macro code inside. Typically, phishing email authors employ social engineering techniques to convince users to open a malicious attachment, so it is important not to do that, even if the email sounds convincing.
Also, downloading illegal programs and cracks can also increase the possibility of downloading Trojan.Agent to your PC system. If you have already noticed that your machine runs slower than it used to run or other symptoms of this cyber threat, you should check your computer for this Trojan horse. Otherwise, you may doom your machine for more serious infections and other issues.
Remove Trojan.Agent from your computer to prevent its compromise
In order to remove Trojan.Agent virus from the system, you should rely on reputable anti-malware software, as tracking all the changes made by it manually would be almost impossible for a regular computer user. However, there are several things to keep in mind before proceed with its termination – for example, the malware might disable your anti-virus to stay on the system as long as possible. Additionally, it could load other malware payloads.
Therefore, Safe Mode might be a mandatory option for a full Trojan.Agent removal – simply follow the guide below. This mode only loads the necessary drivers and processes in order to launch the OS, so malware components are not operational.
Additionally, as a precautionary measure, we also recommend resetting all the installed browsers and resetting all passwords and checking the online banking for illegal money transfers.
Getting rid of Trojan.Agent. Follow these steps
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Safe Mode is an excellent tool when trying to battle malware. Access it if Trojan.Agent removal is causing you troubles:
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.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Trojan.Agent and other ransomwares, use a reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes
How to prevent from getting trojans
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable. Family photos, work documents, school projects – these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur: power cuts, Blue Screen of Death errors, hardware failures, crypto-malware attack, or even accidental deletion.
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
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- ^ Heuristic analysis. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia.
- ^ Nick Cavalancia. Using Machine Learning to Create a Smart Antivirus. Solarwinds MSP. IT service management solutions.
- ^ Mitsuaki Akiyamaa, Takeshi Yagi Takeshi Yada Tatsuya Mori, Youki Kadobayashi. Analyzing the ecosystem of malicious URL redirection through longitudinal observation from honeypots. ScienceDirect. Science, health and medical journals.
- ^ Roger A. Grimes. Infected with malware? Check your Windows registry. CSO. Security news, features and analysis about prevention.