K2f_chan is a process name encountered by users running the Nikke: Goddess of Victory PC launcher – a mobile game ported to Windows developed by Shift Up and published by Level Infinite (Tencent). Users searching for K2f_chan are typically trying to determine whether the process is a legitimate component of the Nikke launcher or a potentially unwanted program bundled with it. Security tools from multiple vendors flag K2f_chan as a potentially unwanted program or riskware, primarily due to its behavior patterns: the process runs in the background after launch, may persist after the game is closed, and communicates with remote servers in ways that some security tools categorize as suspicious. Whether K2f_chan represents a genuine security threat or a legitimate but aggressively structured game anti-cheat or telemetry component depends on the security tool’s evaluation of Tencent’s background process behavior.
Tencent-published games have a documented history of including background monitoring processes as part of their anti-cheat infrastructure – most notably the GameLoop and TenProtect components associated with multiple Tencent titles. K2f_chan follows this pattern: it is a background process installed as part of the Nikke PC launcher that continues operating beyond the game’s active session. Security researchers have noted that this category of game-bundled background processes from Chinese game publishers operates at a level of system access and persistence that security tools in Western markets commonly flag as riskware, even when the process itself may not be conducting overtly malicious activity.
| Name | K2f_chan |
| Threat Type | Suspicious Process / Potentially Unwanted Program / Game Launcher Component / Riskware |
| Detection Names | K2f_chan process or task appearing in Windows Task Manager with no clear description; K2f_chan showing high CPU or memory usage in Task Manager; antivirus detection triggered for K2f_chan on a system running the Nikke: Goddess of Victory PC launcher; K2f_chan persisting in Task Manager after the Nikke game is closed; system performance degradation associated with the K2f_chan process |
| Symptoms | PUA:Win32/K2fChan; Riskware.K2f; Trojan.GenericKD.K2f (various); Adware.K2fChan (various AV vendors) |
| Removal Time | Around 15 Minutes |
| Removal Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Malware
* Free Remover allows you, subject to a 48-hour waiting period, one remediation and removal for results found. SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy, and more details about Free Remover. |
How Did K2f_chan Get on My Computer?
K2f_chan is installed as part of the Nikke: Goddess of Victory PC launcher installation process:
- Official Nikke PC launcher installation – K2f_chan is deployed as a component of the official Nikke launcher available through the game’s PC download page or through gaming platform clients. Users who install the Nikke PC launcher accept the installation of its associated background processes including K2f_chan.
- Unofficial or third-party Nikke launcher downloads – unofficial download sites distributing the Nikke launcher may bundle additional unwanted software alongside or inside the K2f_chan installation package, compounding the base risk of the official component with additional PUP payloads.
- Auto-update from an earlier Nikke install – existing Nikke PC installations may introduce K2f_chan through a game update that adds or replaces background process components.
What Does K2f_chan Do?
- Background process execution beyond game sessions – K2f_chan runs in the background and may continue running after the Nikke game is closed, maintaining a persistent background presence on the system without active game use requiring it.
- Remote server communication – the process communicates with remote servers, behavior that security tools flag when the purpose and destination of the communication is not transparent to the user.
- System resource consumption – K2f_chan’s background execution consumes CPU and memory resources, with some users reporting performance impact on lower-specification systems.
- Anti-cheat or telemetry function – within the context of the Nikke launcher, K2f_chan likely functions as an anti-cheat enforcement or game telemetry component, explaining its background persistence and network communication. This does not eliminate the riskware classification applied by security tools to processes with these behavior patterns.
How to Remove K2f_chan
- End the K2f_chan process in Task Manager before attempting removal – open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), locate K2f_chan under the Processes tab, right-click and select End Task.
- Uninstall the Nikke PC launcher if you do not intend to continue using the game – open Control Panel – Programs and Features, locate the Nikke: Goddess of Victory launcher entry, and uninstall it. Verify that K2f_chan no longer appears in Task Manager after uninstallation.
- Check for remaining K2f_chan files after uninstallation – search for K2f_chan in Windows Explorer. If files remain after the launcher is uninstalled, delete them manually.
- Check startup entries – open Task Manager – Startup tab and disable any K2f_chan entry if it appears there.
- Check the Windows registry for persistence entries – open Registry Editor (regedit), search for K2f_chan under HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware, and remove any entries found after the launcher is uninstalled.
- Scan with SpyHunter to detect and remove K2f_chan and any associated files the uninstaller may not have removed.
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 K2f_chan.
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 K2f_chan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by K2f_chan 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 K2f_chan 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 K2f_chan 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.
K2f_chan FAQ
What Does K2f_chan Trojan Do?
The K2f_chan 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 K2f_chan, 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 K2f_chan 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 K2f_chan 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 K2f_chan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this K2f_chan 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 K2f_chan?
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 K2f_chan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.