A rather strong wave of old malware is resurfacing the Web. In this article we will analyze the Bayrob Trojan (Win32/Bayrob, Trojan.Bayrob!gen8, Trojan.Bayrob) which hasn’t been active for at least 9 years. The threat has been updated and set on the loose. Bayrob’s malicious code is now more precise and is up-to-date with recent malware.
Threat Summary
| Name | Bayrob Trojan |
| Type | Trojan, Infostealer, Backdoor |
| Short Description | The Trojan hasn’t been active for over 9 years, but has been just caught active by security researchers. |
| Symptoms | An error message is displayed “This application is not compatible with the recent version of Windows you’re running…”. |
| Distribution Method | Spam email attachments. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Bayrob Trojan. |
A Look into Bayrob’s Latest Infections
Bayrob December 2015
Bayrob hasn’t been active since 2007, at least not in aggressive and widely-spread campaigns. However, the threat re-emerged last winter, in December, when it was spotted again by security researchers. Bayrob was spreading via malicious attachments in emails trying to impersonate Amazon.
Bayrob classifies as an infostealer and a backdoor type of Trojan. During December’s attacks, the Trojan was set to steal and send to a command and control server the following details from a victim’s machine:
- OS version
- Computer Name
- PC’s IP Address
- Information about the OS and system settings
- MAC address
- List of running services
Bayrob was spotted active again about 2 weeks ago. Apparently, the Trojan has new versions and its code has been modified to evade reverse engineering and detection.
Bayrob Version 2016
What hasn’t been changed in Bayrob’s code? In both its past and current attacks, the Trojan is designed to set up a proxy server to steal sensitive information from victim machines. What’s new in Bayrob is its improved capability to avoid detection and clone itself to launch multiple processes. Each of the processes (services) has its own malicious task to handle.
Fortinet researchers have discovered that Bayrob’s original sample:
drops one copy of itself, runs the first copy, and exits. The name of the first copy is a fixed prefix (“ulms” in the sample we analyzed), appended with a randomly generated string. The original process also displays a fake error message to hide its actual malicious behavior. Below [see picture] shows how it achieves this and the actual message. The first copy then drops another copy of itself. It also creates and starts a service, as shown below. The service runs major tasks such as C&C communication.
Bayrob is also capable of differentiating its running stage in the multiple processes/services by file names. The Trojan also drops identifiers to recognize its lifecycle stage.
Its latest versions are also set to perform code obfuscation, use dead code and apply encryption. Bayrob is now able to encrypt data while harvesting and exfiltrating data from the victim’s computer. The encryption usually gets in the way of security researchers’ analysis and anti-malware software’s detection.
Learn More about Code Obfuscation
Bayrob’s communications with its command & control server are also encrypted, and it also uses a custom protocol over TCP/IP.
Finally, here is a list of Bayrob’s detection names, via VirusTotal:
- Trojan.Bayrob.1 [Dr.Web]
- a variant of Win32/Bayrob.AA [ESET-NOD32]
- W32/Bayrob.T!tr [Fortinet]
- Trojan.Win32.Bayrob [Ikarus]
- TrojanSpy:Win32/Nivdort.AF [Microsoft]
- Mal/Bayrob-B [Sophos]
- TROJ_BAYROB.SM0 [TrendMicro-HouseCall]
- Gen:Variant.Diley.1 [Bitdefender]
- Win32/Cryptor [AVG]
Remove Bayrob Trojan and Protect Your System
As with other Trojans, the most secure way to prevent an infection is via having an active anti-malware protection on the system. If you have been affected, refer to the removal steps below to try and remove the Trojan completely, automatically or manually.
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Preparation before removing Bayrob Trojan.
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 Bayrob Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Bayrob Trojan 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 Bayrob Trojan 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 Bayrob Trojan 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.
Bayrob Trojan FAQ
What Does Bayrob Trojan Trojan Do?
The Bayrob Trojan 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 Bayrob Trojan, 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 Bayrob Trojan 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 a factory reset.
Can Bayrob Trojan 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 Bayrob Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Bayrob Trojan 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 Bayrob Trojan?
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 Bayrob Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.