A Banking Trojan is one of the many types of Trojan Horses. In computer and network safety, a Banking Trojan is any malicious program deployed to obtain confidential information about a bank’s customers and online banking systems.
We have observed numerous Banking Trojans affecting banking facilities all around the world. A new sophisticated threat of the kind has been registered with extreme activity in Japan. The Trojan is dubbed Shifu and combines the best features of previously active banking malware. According to IBM research, Shifu has attacked more than 14 banks in Japan and may be employed in other countries as well.
Shifu’s Set of Malicious Features
According to researchers at SecurityIntelligence, Shifu arrives with several built-in capabilities, supplemented by additional modules once it contacts the command-and-control server:
- Anti-research, anti-VM and anti-sandbox tools.
- Browser hooking parser.
- Keylogger.
- Screenshot and certificate grabber.
- Endpoint classification, monitoring applications of interest.
- Remote-access tool (RAT) and bot control modules.
The Shifu Banker is capable of stealing multiple banking-related details such as:
- Usernames and passwords connected to financial accounts.
- Credentials keyed into HTTP forms.
- Private certificates.
- External authentication tokens.
Thanks to its sophisticated set of features, cyber criminals behind Shifu can take over bank accounts and make it look like a children’s game.
However, that’s far from everything this Banker Trojan can do. Shifu is also designed to steal data from smart cards. The latter can happen if a smart card reader attached to the affected endpoint is located. Once this is done, Shifu can ‘scan’ and empty cryptocurrency wallets on attacked systems. Furthermore, the Trojan can detect if a point-of-sale system (PoS) is present and can steal credit or debit card data.
If any of the malicious activities described above seem familiar to you, it’s probably because Shifu has ‘rented’ many features of other popular banking Trojans such as Shiz, Dridex, and Zeus. IBM researchers have discovered the Domain Generation Algorithm Shifu uses to generate random domain names for botnet communications – the very same one used by Shiz.
Other features are borrowed from the Zeus Banker such as the ability to disable anti-virus tool. Additionally, Shifu has taken the ability to conceal itself in the Windows file system from Gozi. A functionality typical for the Conficker worm is also included in the Trojan – the capacity to wipe the local System Restore point to cover its tracks.
Shifu has also borrowed means from the Corcow Banker that was viral in 2014 among Russian and Ukranian banks – the methods used to steal credentials, authentication tokens, and sensitive information.
Shifu Infection Methods
It’s not a surprise that malware researchers refer to the Trojan as Frankenstein and ‘uber patchwork’. It is clear that the creators of Shifu know their way around malware and can combine old with new techniques. One of its most curious features is how the Trojan attempts to avert other malicious pieces from attacking the systems it has already infected. Once the Trojan is inside the system, it will launch an antivirus-related component that will scan for other threats and prevent them from downloading onto the machine.
Files received from insecure HTTP connections will be blocked, as well as unsigned or executable files. Files labeled as malicious will be copied to the local disk and will be named ‘infected.exx’, then they will be uploaded to the command and control server. Shifu will then send an ‘out of memory’ message to the system in the attempt to launch the malicious file on the compromised computer.
Shifu is not the first Trojan that will try and stop other malware pieces already located on the system. What is new here is the Trojan’s ability to block actively new malware from being installed onto the infected system.
What Are the Chances of Infections in Other Locations?
Even though the threat was detected only Japan, the chances of it spreading to other countries are quite real. The list of targeted banks can be changed in just a few minutes. Since Shifu is an expert in combining old and new techniques, nobody knows what his creators will decide to do next.
Banking Trojans can affect both banking organizations and common users. JS/Banker.BA for instance is a JavaScript banking Trojan that seeks to obtain the user’s private credentials. It will try and intercept the connection between a computer and an online banking system. To make sure that your system is intact, you may want to scan it via anti-malware software. You can also have a look at the step-by-step Trojan removal guide below the article.
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An inspired writer and content manager who has been with SensorsTechForum since the project started. A professional with 10+ years of experience in creating engaging content. Focused on user privacy and malware development, she strongly believes in a world where cybersecurity plays a central role. If common sense makes no sense, she will be there to take notes. Those notes may later turn into articles! Follow Milena @Milenyim
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Preparation before removing Shifu.
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Do a backup of all of your files, even if they could be damaged. You should back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
- Scan for Malware
- Fix Registries
- Remove Virus Files
Step 1: Scan for Shifu with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Shifu on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Shifu there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Step 3: Find virus files created by Shifu on your PC.
1.For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10.
For Newer Windows Operating Systems
1: On your keyboard press + R and write explorer.exe in the Run text box and then click on the Ok button.
2: Click on your PC from the quick access bar. This is usually an icon with a monitor and its name is either “My Computer”, “My PC” or “This PC” or whatever you have named it.
3: Navigate to the search box in the top-right of your PC's screen and type “fileextension:” and after which type the file extension. If you are looking for malicious executables, an example may be "fileextension:exe". After doing that, leave a space and type the file name you believe the malware has created. Here is how it may appear if your file has been found:
N.B. We recommend to wait for the green loading bar in the navigation box to fill up in case the PC is looking for the file and hasn't found it yet.
2.For Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
For Older Windows Operating Systems
In older Windows OS's the conventional approach should be the effective one:
1: Click on the Start Menu icon (usually on your bottom-left) and then choose the Search preference.
2: After the search window appears, choose More Advanced Options from the search assistant box. Another way is by clicking on All Files and Folders.
3: After that type the name of the file you are looking for and click on the Search button. This might take some time after which results will appear. If you have found the malicious file, you may copy or open its location by right-clicking on it.
Now you should be able to discover any file on Windows as long as it is on your hard drive and is not concealed via special software.
Shifu FAQ
What Does Shifu Trojan Do?
The Shifu Trojan is a malicious computer program designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.
It can be used to steal sensitive data, gain control over a system, or launch other malicious activities.
Can Trojans Steal Passwords?
Yes, Trojans, like Shifu, can steal passwords. These malicious programs are designed to gain access to a user's computer, spy on victims and steal sensitive information such as banking details and passwords.
Can Shifu Trojan Hide Itself?
Yes, it can. A Trojan can use various techniques to mask itself, including rootkits, encryption, and obfuscation, to hide from security scanners and evade detection.
Can a Trojan be Removed by Factory Reset?
Yes, a Trojan can be removed by factory resetting your device. This is because it will restore the device to its original state, eliminating any malicious software that may have been installed. Bear in mind, that there are more sophisticated Trojans, that leave backdoors and reinfect even after factory reset.
Can Shifu Trojan Infect WiFi?
Yes, it is possible for a Trojan to infect WiFi networks. When a user connects to the infected network, the Trojan can spread to other connected devices and can access sensitive information on the network.
Can Trojans Be Deleted?
Yes, Trojans can be deleted. This is typically done by running a powerful anti-virus or anti-malware program that is designed to detect and remove malicious files. In some cases, manual deletion of the Trojan may also be necessary.
Can Trojans Steal Files?
Yes, Trojans can steal files if they are installed on a computer. This is done by allowing the malware author or user to gain access to the computer and then steal the files stored on it.
Which Anti-Malware Can Remove Trojans?
Anti-malware programs such as SpyHunter are capable of scanning for and removing Trojans from your computer. It is important to keep your anti-malware up to date and regularly scan your system for any malicious software.
Can Trojans Infect USB?
Yes, Trojans can infect USB devices. USB Trojans typically spread through malicious files downloaded from the internet or shared via email, allowing the hacker to gain access to a user's confidential data.
About the Shifu Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Shifu how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific trojan problem.
How did we conduct the research on Shifu?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of trojans (backdoor, downloader, infostealer, ransom, etc.)
Furthermore, the research behind the Shifu threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.