A dangerous botnet that aims to steal financial information from important computers such as cashier POS machines has been reported to be spread on dark web forums and markets. This type of malware is particularly dangerous because it comes with a kit and practically anyone with moderate knowledge on how to operate malware can simply download it and begin infecting computers. Not only this but the bot is also able to spread quite quickly and has many other functions, like DDoS (Denial of Service) for example.
Threat Summary
| Name |
DiamondFox |
| Type | BotNet |
| Short Description | Aims to steal passwords, personal and financial information. Attacks POS machines as well. |
| Symptoms | Cannot open the Windows Registry Editor and Windows Task Manager. |
| Distribution Method | Via an Exploit kit, Dll file attack, malicious JavaScript or from a USB Drive or Dropbox that have been infected from a compromised computer that has DiamondFox on it. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join our forum to Discuss DiamondFox Ransomware. |
DiamondFox Botnet Malware – How Does It Infect
Malware researchers at Cylance blog have reported that this extremely dangerous malware uses several different methods to spread. It may infect your computer via a USB thumb drive or even via Dropbox, and this may happen unknowingly. To best illustrate how a USB infection can occur, imagine that someone inserts a USB flash drive into an infected computer, and the malware replicates itself on the drive, very similar to how a worm acts – directly without any permission. Besides this, the DiamondFox botnet malware can also spread via e-mails if the ones who are using it decide to spread massive spam message to a pre-programmed list via an advanced spam bot.
What Is DiamondFox BotNet Capable Of?n
As soon as this virus attacks a computer, it can perform a wide range of malicious deeds to it, from the most basic ones to very complicated ones.
One very simple “feature” of the DiamondFox botnet is to collect information from the keystrokes of the user PC and saves a log in a .txt file or another type of file. An example of a keylogging may be the following interface:
{Shift}{Esc}{Tab}{P}{@}{S}{S}{W}{0}{R}{D}{Enter}
Such information, if properly understood by cyber-criminals can result in the theft of your e-mail account and other accounts you may enter your credentials in.
Furthermore, just like any other malware out there, DiamondFox may prevent the user from entering his Task Manager or the Windows Registry Editor. This is a defensive measure and prevents you from deleting DiamondFox from your computer.
Another feature of this virus is that it is pre-programmed to automatically detect Virtual OSs. As soon as it detects that It has run on a virtual machine, the virus immediately shuts down, making it significantly more difficult to research it.
In addition to this detection, the DiamondFox botnet is also configured to detect detonation services, debuggers and even someone who tries to reverse-engineer it.
The DiamonFox virus also can function as a plugin and even take screenshots of the computer, similar to most Trojan Horse infections out there.
Not only this, but DiamonFox is also capable of remotely self-deleting as well.
Unlike a typical trojan horse, that is controlled via software installed on the computer, the DiamonFox botnet malware is controlled via a C&C(Command and Control) online panel that has a custom account for the hacker to access.
In this account, you can find other numerous features of the DiamondFox botnet, such as:
- Activating and deactivating active connection to infected computers.
- DDoS capability via flooding the machine on UDP or HTTP.
- Activating and deactivating POS terminals.
- Spam sender to the infected machine.
- A homepage changing features for Mozilla Firefox.
- An information stealer for BitCoin wallets.
- A spam bot that spreads messages from infected computer’s Twitter and Facebook accounts to further infect people with the DiamondFox or other malware.
- Password stealer that grabs saved passwords(Grabber).
- FTB, RDP and e-mail grabber.
- “Updating from a distance” feature.
The virus can be detected, by using Wireshark, however. This can happen if you analyze the HTTP traffic that is going to the command and control server since it uses HTTP POST traffic to communicate with it. The bad news of that is that the traffic is XOR encrypted with a key that only the C&C server can read and detect.
DiamondFox Botnet – Conclusion, Removal, and Protection
DiamondFox is a threat that has a lot of functions and acts as if it is a remote-access-trojan. In case you cannot access you Task Manager or Registry Editor, we strongly advise scanning your computer in safe mode with an advanced anti-malware program because it will protect you in the future and detect other malware that may have been installed as well. You can also follow the removal instructions below in case you are a tech savvy user and know where the files and registry entries of DiamondFox are located.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Preparation before removing DiamondFox.
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 DiamondFox with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by DiamondFox 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 DiamondFox 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 DiamondFox 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.
DiamondFox FAQ
What Does DiamondFox Trojan Do?
The DiamondFox 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 DiamondFox, 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 DiamondFox 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 DiamondFox 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 DiamondFox Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this DiamondFox 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 DiamondFox?
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 DiamondFox threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.