The AcridRain Trojan is a typical example of a computer virus that can cause considerable damage. Our article provides an overview of the virus operations and it also may be helpful in attempting to remove the virus.
Threat Summary
| Name | AcridRain Trojan |
| Type | Trojan |
| Short Description | The AcridRain Trojan is a computer virus that is designed to silently infiltrate computer systems, active infections will spy on the victim users. |
| Symptoms | The victims may not experience any apparent symptoms of infection. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Scripts and others. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss AcridRain Trojan. |
AcridRain Trojan – Distribution Methods
The AcridRain Trojan is a typical representative of this computer virus type. The global attack campaign has been active since July 2018 and it is speculated that various criminal groups are responsible for its launch.
A thorough analysis about its origins has lead the security researchers to an underground hacker market where the tool is sold by several accounts. Two seller accounts and one developer profile have been found to offer versions of it. This means that many malicious actors can become operators of AcridRain Trojan samples. One of its prices is quoted to be 1500 RUB which is the equivalent of about 22 US Dollars. The quoted price in the Russian currency shows that it might be created in Russia.
Buyers are offered the ability to institute various changes to the initial release versions. Subscribers can access a web-based administrative panel to control the infections.
The fact that the AcridRain Trojan can be customized by the attackers means that a variety of different techniques can be used. A primary tactic is the use of SPAM email messages containing social engineering tricks. The criminals utilize design elements and templates that mimic popular Internet services or companies that they may be registered for. The virus files can be either directly attached or linked in the body contents.
A related strategy is to create fake download pages that may mimic the vendor official download sites or popular Internet portals. These two methods are the most popular ones for spreading infected payload carriers. A popular technique is to embed scripts into documents of various types: presentations, rich text documents, databases and spreadsheets. When they are opened by the users a message box will appear asking them to enable the built-in scripts. If this is done this will trigger the initial infection engine. The other type is the creation of application installers that constitute fake copies of legitimate setup files. Typical examples are common programs frequently used by end users: creativity suites, system utilities and productivity apps.
To point to the dangerous samples the criminals can resort to the use of various scripts such as redirects, in-line links, pop-ups, ads and banners. They can also be posted on social networks and community forums via hijacked or bot accounts.
Advanced distribution tactics can use malicious web browser plugins. They are made compatible with the most popular web browsers are are usually uploaded to the most popular plugin repositories. Their descriptions present promises of new feature additions or enhancement of already existing ones. Usually fake developer credentials and user reviews are displayed. Once they are installed the default settings are usually modified to point to a hacker-controlled page. Afer this is complete the virus infection will commence.
AcridRain Trojan – Detailed Description
The main goal of the newer versions of the AcridRain Trojan is to launch a data harvesting module. It can harvest information that directly expose the victim’s identity. The engine will automatically look out for strings related to the victim’s name, address, phone number, interests, account credentials and etc. The other type of data is attributed to various metrics that can be used for statistical and optimization purposes: operating system values, hardware components and user settings.
The AcridRain Trojan can access most web browsers and access all stored information — history, bookmarks, forms data, settings, cookies and stored account credentials. This is also done for popular Internet software such as FTP clients.
This virus is also capable of recording sessions and hijacking data from popular gaming apps such as the Steam and Telegram clients. Advanced versions of it are configured to monitor the users behavior. When they access a login page for a banking platform or a cryptocurrency exchange the credentials will be automatically harvested and sent to the hacker operators.
The malicious engine establishes a secure connection to a hacker-controlled server. This allows the operators to spy on the victims in real time, gain access to their files and take over control of them at any given time.
Further analysis on the AcriRaid Trojan shows that identified infections contain a stealth protection mechanism which bypasses many security applications and services installed on the systems — anti-virus products, sandbox environments or virtual machine hosts. The fact that the AcriRaid Trojan can hook up to various processes means that it that can also carry out various network actions simulating ordinary computer actions. This makes it very hard to discover the threat using pattern analysis or other common techniques used by administrators.
The fact that the Trojan framework is modular means that it can also initiate a series of dangerous actions, all of which are fully customizable. An example list includes the following;
- Files Manipulation — The engine can identify and scan for Shadow Volume Copies and System Restore points which will be deleted. To effectively restore such hosts a professional-grade solution needs to be used.
- Additional Threats Delivery — The AcriRaid Trojan can be used as a payload mechanism for spreading other viruses.
- Blackmail — The controllers can manipulate the user’s mouse movement, hijack any entered keystrokes and spawn application windows that can be used during any blackmail tactics.
The threat is also known under these signatures:
Artemis!8AEADDE6B8DA
BScope.TrojanPSW.Stealer
Gen:Variant.Razy.369787
GenericRXGH-QM!E979215A1EC8
HEUR/QVM10.2.02F1.Malware.Gen
Spyware ( 0053a6361 )
TR/Spy.Agent.trasd
TR/Spy.Agent.wcojq
TROJ_GEN.R011C0DH118
Trojan.GenericKD.40353089
Trojan.PSW.Agent.ajl
TrojanSpy:Win32/Komilet.A!bit
W32/Trojan.XAIA-2532
malicious.a0d91c
Remove AcridRain Trojan Trojan
If your computer system got infected with the AcridRain Trojan Trojan, you should have a bit of experience in removing malware. You should get rid of this Trojan as quickly as possible before it can have the chance to spread further and infect other computers. You should remove the Trojan and follow the step-by-step instructions guide provided below.
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 AcridRain 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 AcridRain Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by AcridRain 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 AcridRain 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 AcridRain 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.
AcridRain Trojan FAQ
What Does AcridRain Trojan Trojan Do?
The AcridRain 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 AcridRain 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 AcridRain 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 AcridRain 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 AcridRain Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this AcridRain 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 AcridRain 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 AcridRain Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.