Trojan.Downloader (Free Guide) - Removal Instructions
Trojan.Downloader Removal Guide
What is Trojan.Downloader?
Trojan.Downloader is the general term used to describe trojans designed to download other malware on the machine
However, the purpose of Trojan.Downloader virus is to remain undetected until the confidential, personal, sensitive information is stolen, obtained, or the machine gets compromised. It is focusing on secret downloads and operations involving remote server that helps with malicious executions and file downloads. It may only work when there is an internet connection, so it can connect to a remote server, but once malware gets injected, the system gets affected regardless of the internet. There are many similar threats that fall under this term like JSDownloader or Ymacco Trojan.
Name | Trojan.Downloader |
---|---|
Type | Trojan horse[2] |
Purpose | Malware is created to spread other threats, inject payload files, drop malicious data, applications, and launch other operations that a malicious actor wants to trigger |
Distribution | The particular malware spreads using malicious files, phishing links. Trojan can infiltrate the machine silently and undetected, so the infiltration is not noticed |
Elimination | You need to remove Trojan.Downloader as soon as you encounter any suspicious symptoms, so you can clear any associated malware at the same time |
Danger | Trojans can infect machines with other threats and steal data directly from the system using other tools. There are many layers this malware might have to achieve creators' goals |
Repair | Since the trojan is running in the background for a while possibly, your device can get damaged. Find corrupted or affected parts with the help of FortectIntego |
Generally, Trojan.Downloader is the detection[3] that appears on the AV program windows after a system check. A trojan horse can be distributed when it is downloaded from the email as an attachment or delivered from a malicious link. Exploit kits and malicious sites can often be used in such campaigns.
No matter what method is used to spread the particular version of Trojan.Downloader. Since this is the more general term, you may have a particular infection on the machine. There are tons of them, and researchers have described many of them. Unfortunately, there are ransomware and cryptojacking threats that get detected with this result.
Try to remove Trojan.Downloader once the AV engine shows you the detection name on the screen. Do not wait for long since there are dangerous trojans and other types of malware associated with such detection result:
- Trojan-Downloader:FraudLoad
- Trojan-Downloader:W32/JQCN
- Trojan-Downloader:OSX/Jahlev.A
- Trojan-Downloader:W32/Bredolab
- Trojan-Downloader.JPUY
Trojan.Downloader cannot cipher information on the machine, nor trigger particular issues on the targeted computer. You cannot tell when the initial infiltration happened, so you need to react as soon as anything suspicious occurs on the device. The best way to tackle such infection is the proper anti-malware tool selection that can find and delete traces of the virus properly.
Trojan.Downloader removal is a very important process because when the malware is added on the system it starts to run in the background to achieve the needed goals. It can:
- install and run programs;
- steal data from the machine;
- inject direct malware payload;
- open backdoors for remote hackers;
- record direct keystrokes.
False alerts and phishing emails can trigger the spread of trojans
There are tons of email campaigns that can spread this or any other malware around. Those emails mainly include file attachments, links in the notification itself, and redirects to more malicious sites, hacked copies of legitimate platforms. You may encounter some fake alerts with notices about software licenses and declarations about illegal activities.
If you click on any malicious content or allow processes to run, you may trigger the infiltration of malware like this or even other programs that cause further damage. Phishing email campaigns can be noticed, if you find suspicious material and delete the notification, avoid clicking on anything. You need to pay attention to various materials, especially the ones that you encounter online.
Avoid pirating and torrent sites, rely on proper software sources, do not get scared by scammy messages, read into everything, so you cannot become a victim of an online scam. Run the AV tool more often, so malicious content gets blocked before trojan infiltration happens.
Perform the full virus elimination process, so you get rid of the Trojan.Downloader virus
You may encounter issues with the system when a threat like Trojan.Downloader virus is installed, but you cannot know what causes these problems with the machine. This is why we always recommend having a powerful anti-malware tool on hand that can check the system for various threats and intruders.
You should remove Trojan.Downloader as soon as your AV engine indicates the threat. Or you can check the system with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes if you find anything suspicious with the device and performance of the computer. Try to use at least a few tools if you cannot find anything malicious. There are many databases that AV tools can rely on.
When you successfully achieve the wanted results of Trojan.Downloader removal, you should also think about the things that Trojan may have done to your device. There are features that get disabled and various functions that trojan triggers to run or stops operating. Try to check for affected files using FortectIntego and repair those issues.
Getting rid of Trojan.Downloader. Follow these steps
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking and clear the Trojan.Downloader virus with AV tool
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.
Remove Trojan.Downloader using System Restore
Make the system virus-free by using the System Restore function
-
Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Windows 7 / Vista / XP- Click Start → Shutdown → Restart → OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
-
Select Command Prompt from the list
Windows 10 / Windows 8- Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
- Now select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
-
Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window.
-
Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
-
Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
-
Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again..
-
When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of Trojan.Downloader. After doing that, click Next.
-
Now click Yes to start system restore.
-
Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter.
Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Trojan.Downloader 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.
- ^ Ransomware. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ What is a Trojan Virus?. Webroot. Cybersecurity resources.
- ^ Detection name list. VirsuTotal. Online malware scanner.