This article has been created in order to explain what is the ForeLord Trojan and how to remove this malware completely from your computer.
The ForeLord Trojan is a newly discovered dangerous Trojan that infects computers and can manipulate the system configuration. It contains advanced functionality which allows hackers to easily take over control of the machines. Our removal guide features a detailed explanation of the Trojan’s mechanisms of operation, as well as instructions on restoring the infected computers from the infections.
Threat Summary
| Name | ForeLord Trojan |
| Type | Trojan Horse Virus |
| Short Description | Silently infects the target machines and modifies key applications and system services. |
| Symptoms | The user may not experience any signs of infiltration. |
| Distribution Method | Malicious web links, Malicious Files, Malicious E-Mails |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss ForeLord Trojan. |
The ForeLord Trojan is a new information stealing threat which appears to be run by Cobalt Ulster — a collective of experienced hackers from Iran. This is a completely new malware which is written from scratch — it does not appear to have any code taken from other similar threats. The ForeLord Trojan is being sent in a large-scale attack campaign, the first wave was detected in the period of mid 2019 until January 2020. The intended victims were organizations from Turkey. We anticipate that a second wave will be launched soon with different parameters. Apart from Turkey other countries which were affected by this Trojan are Jordan, Iraq, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
The main infiltration method is the sending out of phishing emails which are desined to impersonate government and corporate organizations and agencies. The hackers can fake the design, layout and contents of the emails.
The emails contain a macro-infected document of popular file formats (text documents, presentations, spreadsheets and databases) and when they are opened a prompt will be spawned. It will request that the victims enable the built-in commands in order to correctly view the contents of the document.
The email messages will present a ZIP archive in which such a malicious document will be located — in the case of the previous campaign this was an Excel spreadsheet.
When the document is started with the virus code in place it will start the malicious infection sequence. This will begin with Windows Registry Changes which will reconfigure the system to always start the main virus engine. The next command in the sequence will be to execute PowerShell code that will run various actions depending on the hacking instructions. The ForeLord Trojan can deploy various other third-party tools and interact with them. They can include any of the following:
- System Manipulation Apps — These system utilities can be used to change app settings, remove sensitive files and make it much more difficult to remove active and running infections.
- Additional Malware Delivery — The Trojan can be used to deploy other threats such as ransomware, cryptocurrency miners and etc.
- Infection Enhancement — The ForeLord Trojan can be set to download additional modules that can aid in the malware operations.
The ForeLord Trojan will also hijack information from the compromised machines which can be personal information or a report of the installed hardware components. A distinction between this threat and other similar Trojans is that ForeLord uses a powerful and encrypted network connection to communicate with the hackers.
Before the other modules are run the ForeLord Trojan whether or not the username or computer name is not listed in the built-in blacklist — this ensures that certain networks are not to be processed. When the main Trojan starts it will also interact with the Windows Mount Manager which will list all connected hard disk drives, network shares and removable devices. This action will allow the hacker operators to hijack sensitive data not only from the contaminated computer, but also from the available network.
The ForeLord Trojan can be further extended with other functionality as the hacking group extends its attack campaign. We will continue to monitor the infections and update this article accordingly.
Remove ForeLord Effectively from Windows
In order to fully get rid of this Trojan, we advise you to follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They are made so that they help you to isolate and then delete the ForeLord Trojan either manually or automatically. If manual removal represents difficulty for you, experts always advise to perform the removal automatically by running an anti-malware scan via specific software on your PC. Such anti-malware program aims to make sure that the ForeLord is fully gone and your Windows OS stays safe against any future malware 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 ForeLord 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 ForeLord Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by ForeLord 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 ForeLord 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 ForeLord 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.
ForeLord Trojan FAQ
What Does ForeLord Trojan Trojan Do?
The ForeLord 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 ForeLord 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 ForeLord 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 ForeLord 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 ForeLord Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this ForeLord 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 ForeLord 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 ForeLord Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.