Valak malware (Free Guide) - Virus Removal Instructions

Valak malware Removal Guide

What is Valak malware?

Valak malware is the hazardous trojan that launches processes on the targeted computer unnoticed

Valak malwareValak malware is the trojan that evades detection by spreading via safe-looking emails and password-secured files. Valak malware – is the so-called JavaScript loader because it uses JS to get on the system of targeted machines. It also spreads using email attachments when password-sealed Microsoft files get attached to safe-looking emails, and users enable the drop of the malicious code by enabling macros.[1] Since this is a crafty malware, it can come to the machine without users' consent and run various processes, launch commands. While all the activities happen in the background, no symptoms, in particular, get displayed. After a while, trojans may cause some frustration with the speed or performance of the machine, so people get suspicious about that. However, in most cases, these issues with the machine are triggered by continuous working in the background.

You cannot notice the initial infiltration, nor spot the Valak Trojan working on the machine, so the termination process also is significantly affected. Trojan runs in the background and disguises as a process that can be commonly found in Task Manager or in scheduled tasks, so even the AV tools cannot easily detect the malware. In addition, this malware can be set to perform various operations or used as a tool that provides remote control over the entire network for the attacker. It may directly obtain information from the system and use other scripts that act as information recorders like keystroke loggers.[2]

Name Valak malware
Type Trojan
Possible purposes Malware can be set to gather data from the machine or platforms, sites that victims visits while the trojan is in the system. It also may act as a backdoor for more severe malware pieces and allow remote attackers to access the system
Danger Trojans can act as backdoors and install serious malware that damages the machine, blackmails people. This malware itself can obtain data or use the PC as a tool to mine cryptocurrency, infiltrate other devices on the network. The more time trojan spends on the machine, the more affected computer can get
Distribution Trojans can infiltrate targeted machines using phishing spam, malicious files from torrent sites, or relying on web injects on various websites. There are many ways to catch such infection without noticing anything
Elimination Valak malware removal gets difficult over time, so using anti-malware tools designed for such threats can be the best option since all the parts of the machine get checked for any suspicious files or applications
Repair Computer gets significantly affected when such a malware program keeps running in the background. There are many parts of the system and programs that get damaged by the trojan, so getting a PC repair tool FortectIntego, or a different optimizer software can fix affected files and corrupted parts of the OS

Valak malware is a complex threat that can carry out different tasks, depending on criminals releasing the malware. The infection spreads and acts silently, so it can be harmful and quickly inject the whole network once it is triggered on one of the devices. Attackers can have different intentions with each campaign and spread the trojan to damage, infiltrate, or spy.

Once Valak malware gets on the machine it is unstoppable because anything and everything can be achieved. Hackers control the threat and can trigger backdoor functions, injector features, spyware operations, data tracking, and recording functions. It can secretly spy on the user and gather microphone, webcam data, collect sensitive information from the machine, for example, contacts, passwords, correspondence.

Valak malware can gather various valuable information that is later used to blackmail people or perform different abuse. Credentials to banking or cryptocurrency exchange platforms can directly allow hackers to make fraudulent transactions and steal money from users' accounts. Yout funds may get drained to criminals' accounts and, in most cases, there are only a few ways to retrieve those funds.

When creators of Valak Trojan manage to take control of the infected device they can violate your privacy directly and harm the machine. Once the computer becomes unusable, the malware used the bigger part of the resources for needed tasks. When you have the trojan on the machine, and it accesses system folders, files, and programs the damage may already be permanent when you notice the activities.

This is why Valak malware removal becomes extremely difficult when you try to get rid of the virus. Your AV tools and security functions that already run on the system can get disabled or damaged by the virus, so detection is evaded, and malware can freely run. You need additional anti-malware tool that could run separately on the machine and find parts of the payload, malicious programs. Valak TrojanValak malware is the threat that changes many things on the system to affect the performance and use resources for hackers' gain. When you remove Valak malware this way, you can also reboot the machine in Safe Mode with Networking first, so the system is running smooth, and the virus is not interfering with the AV detection engine. There are many tools that can supposedly find the threat, according to the detection rate.[3]

Valak malware damages files and functions that are crucial to the normal performance of the operating system, so you should also run a PC repair tool or optimization software to find all the affected and even damaged or corrupted files and features. FortectIntego may do that for you and automatically fix problems, errors, and replace damaged Windows data with safe and proper files.

Valak malware can act as a backdoor that allows the installation of ransomware, worms, other viruses, so full system repair is required no matter what. It can destroy various files or implement illicit activities. If you managed to remove the threat, make sure to clear all the damage and possible traces, so the machine can run smoothly. Double-check with alternate AV software or security tool, restore the system by using methods listed below.

Microsoft files spreading malware with the help of the macro virus functions

Password-secured files in the format of zip or doc get often attached to emails that seem legitimate or safe enough to open. This installation is manual, but users trigger the drop without even realizing that. Deceptive messages in emails with these attachments get disguised as official documents, invoices, financial information, so the person is not questioning the password requirement and macro enabling.

Once the file is downloaded and opened on the machine the password is required, and once the Microsoft Word or Excel document is displayed Enable button appears on the window that states about the need to allow content manually. This is where malicious macros get triggered, and payload of the threat directly lands on the machine.

These issues are also found in torrent sites where pirated software, cracks, and game cheats get delivered. Also, the malware injects its own scripts on various sites that look legitimate, and you do not even notice any red flags. Always pay attention to received emails and sites that you are not trusting fully. The internet is full of malware and hackers.

Get rid of the Valak Trojan virus alongside other threats and malicious files

You cannot be sure that trojan or other virus is no running alongside this threat. The full system scan with anti-malware tools or security software like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes can be crucial for Valak malware removal. The system check using a powerful AV detection tool can show you all the malicious files and threats that create risks of getting additional malware. When you allow the program to quarantine or fully terminate those files and programs, you clean the machine from malware.

When you remove Valak malware, you also clear other intruders, so your device may run smoother and better. However, there are some issues that can be left after malware elimination. Even when the virus is removed and deleted, your system files and functions cannot work properly due to the damage caused before. So FortectIntego is for the help here because such a PC repair tool can indicate affected files and even repair some of the data needed for the OS.

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Valak malware. Follow these steps

Manual removal using Safe Mode

When Valak malware affects crucial system functions, disables programs or features, Safe Mode with Networking can help safely remove the Trojan

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
  1. Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
  2. 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.
  3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list. Windows 7/XP
Windows 10 / Windows 8
  1. Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
    Settings
  2. Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
    Update and security
  3. On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
  4. Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
  5. Click Restart now.
    Reboot
  6. Select Troubleshoot. Choose an option
  7. Go to Advanced options. Advanced options
  8. Select Startup Settings. Startup settings
  9. Press Restart.
  10. Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking. Enable safe mode

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:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details.
    Open task manager
  3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
  4. Right-click and select Open file location.
    Open file location
  5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
    End task
  6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Step 3. Check program Startup

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
  2. Go to Startup tab.
  3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
    Startup

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:

  1. Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
    Disk cleanup
  2. 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).
  3. Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:

    Temporary Internet Files
    Downloads
    Recycle Bin
    Temporary files

  4. Pick Clean up system files.
    Delete temp files
  5. 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 Valak malware using System Restore

System Restore sometimes can act as the malware removal method because it recovers machine in a previous state when the threat was not active

  • Step 1: Reboot your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt
    Windows 7 / Vista / XP
    1. Click Start Shutdown Restart OK.
    2. When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
    3. Select Command Prompt from the list Select 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'

    Windows 10 / Windows 8
    1. Press the Power button at the Windows login screen. Now press and hold Shift, which is on your keyboard, and click Restart..
    2. Now select Troubleshoot Advanced options Startup Settings and finally press Restart.
    3. Once your computer becomes active, select Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt in Startup Settings window. Select 'Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt'
  • Step 2: Restore your system files and settings
    1. Once the Command Prompt window shows up, enter cd restore and click Enter. Enter 'cd restore' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    2. Now type rstrui.exe and press Enter again.. Enter 'rstrui.exe' without quotes and press 'Enter'
    3. When a new window shows up, click Next and select your restore point that is prior the infiltration of Valak malware. After doing that, click Next. When 'System Restore' window shows up, select 'Next' Select your restore point and click 'Next'
    4. Now click Yes to start system restore. Click 'Yes' and start system restore
    Once you restore your system to a previous date, download and scan your computer with FortectIntego and make sure that Valak malware removal is performed successfully.

Finally, you should always think about the protection of crypto-ransomwares. In order to protect your computer from Valak malware 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.

About the author
Alice Woods
Alice Woods - Likes to teach users about virus prevention

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