PipeMon
PipeMon is the name of a Trojan which is designed to silently infect the target computers. It is presumed to be developed and used by one of the famous criminal groups called Winnti. At this moment the main emphasis appears to be on game development companies.
What Is PipeMon Trojan
The PipeMon Trojan is a new malware that is presumed to be coming from one of the advanced hacking groups called Winnti, a criminal collective which is known to have been behind large-scale attacks in the past. The analysis shows that a whole new approach is being used, this time the Trojan is directed against computer game developers.
PipeMon Trojan
An active PipeMon Trojan infection will make it so that the hackers can take control of the victim systems. Trojans are among the most advanced types of malware and they will infect the computers without revealing themselves to the computer owners. This particular threat uses a novel approach which makes it even more dangerous.
PipeMon Trojan Summary
| Name | PipeMon Trojan |
| Type | Trojan/Keylogger |
| Short Description | Aims to steal data from your computer and log the keystrokes you type in it. |
| Symptoms | Your computer may behave strangely and new files may be dropped in several Windows Directories. |
| Distribution Method | Malicious e-mail attachments. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss PipeMon Trojan. |
PipeMon Trojan – Virus Description
The PipeMon Trojan is a very advanced malware threat that has been recently detected in an ongoing attack. It is possible that the campaign has been orchestrated by the Winnti hacking group. They are an experienced collective of criminals that have directed viruses to high-profile targets in the past. According to the available research this time the threat is directed against game developers.
In order to have a higher damage potential the hackers have included a novel infection approach. The distribution mechanism relies on integrating the virus code in modules that are used by the developers, in this case the target systems were the build networks. They are used to compile the ready-made code, this is the phase that follows the actual programming.
At the moment the majority of attacks are against South Korean and Taiwan developers of MMO games — they are very popular as they are often published on multiple platforms. MMO games when infected can then in turn affect millions of players that are connected to their networks. Given the previous history of the Winnti hacking group we can conclude that they may be sponsored by Chinese government authorities or agencies. The possible reason for this may be identity theft and the gathering of information about the company internal networks.
A new backdoor technique has been used to deploy the PipeMon Trojan. The hackers have acquired a legitimate security certificate that has been stolen in 2018. The virus installation code has been inserted in a component used by the Microsoft Visual Studio programmers when working on their games. The Trojan code is hidden in the Windows print processor module — this is intentional in order to install itself as a persistent threat. It will automatically be started as soon as the computer is booted.
There are several malware objectives that can be used by the criminals in this case:
- Information Theft — As soon as access is obtained by the hackers they can gather information about the systems and all contained within files. This can be used for code theft of the games, technologies and sensitive information about the company employees.
- Further Malware Distribution — If the criminals insert Trojan code into the games that are being developed or have been released they can potentially reach millions of users.
- System Overtake and Modification — Trojan viruses are commonly programmed to hijack the operations of the infected computers. The hackers can modify system configuration files and the Windows Registry among others. This can lead to performance issues, the inability to run certain apps and data loss.
The certificate signing process is a security feature of the Windows operating system that operates in a trusted model — only signed modules by a central authority will be used. As the stolen certificate was signed in this manner the accompanying code will also not be scanned by security programs.
PipeMon Trojan – Virus Removal GUIDE
In order to fully remove this infection from your computer system, recommendations are to try the automatic removal guidelines below. They are particularly created in order to assist you separate this malware first of all and after that remove it’s destructive files. If you lack the experience in malware removal, the best method and most reliable one according to safety professionals is to use an innovative anti-malware software program. Such will not just immediately get rid of the PipeMon infection from your computer system, yet will certainly additionally ensure that your computer system remains shielded versus future infections.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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Preparation before removing PipeMon 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 PipeMon Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by PipeMon 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 PipeMon 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 PipeMon 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.
PipeMon Trojan FAQ
What Does PipeMon Trojan Trojan Do?
The PipeMon 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 PipeMon 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 PipeMon 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 PipeMon 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 PipeMon Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this PipeMon 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 PipeMon 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 PipeMon Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.