A remote access Trojan family dubbed Aveo, that targets primarily Japanese speaking users has been reported by malware researchers to cause infections on a massive scale. This type of Trojans is particularly dangerous since it can gain complete remote control of the computers it infects and steal information from them, spy on the user, steal files, install other malware and even crash the operating system of the computer. To learn how to be able to remove Aveo remote access Trojan and protect yourself and your data from it, we advise you to read this article thoroughly.
Threat Summary
| Name |
Aveo |
| Type | Trojan Horse |
| Short Description | The Aveo trojan family drops multiple files and gains Read and Write permissions over Windows computers and sends information to a remote C&C server. |
| Symptoms | No symptoms. |
| Distribution Method | Via a malicious file disguised as a Microsoft Excel document. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join our forum to Discuss Aveo Trojan. |
How is Aveo Trojan Spread?
To be widespread, Aveo uses a payload carrying .exe file that has the Microsoft Excel icon and resembles a legitimate document. This file may be sent out to users via e-mail networks as well as on social media messages and even uploaded on file-sharing networks. Cyber-criminals may even pay for spam-bots that may redistribute it’s drive by download via malicious web links spammed as a referral spam on various websites to reach more and more potential victims.
Aveo Trojan – Technical Information
Palo Alto researchers have established that as soon as it has been executed, the Aveo trojan drops several different files on the victim computer in the %Program Files% folder:
- Ram.exe – the malware itself.
- Cave workshop participants.xls – a decoy file that is opened with Excel to not raise any suspicion of infection.
- Mshelp32.exe – a script.
- Stting32.ini – used by the cleanup script.
The Aveo Trojan is also reported to connect remotely to a domain to which it communicates:
- snoozetime(.)info
The domain is reported by researchers to have associations with an e-mail address, named jack.ondo@mail.com. This e-mail address or the domain itself may be associated with the following IP addresses:
107.180.36.179
50.63.202.38
The addresses themselves are believed to be hosted in the US, and there were more domains that were associated with this contact information:
coinpack,info
7b7p,info
donkeyhaws,info
europcubit,com
jhmiyh.ny@gmail,com
844148030@qq,com
After infection, the Aveo malware will also send this information to it’s server:
- Unique hash identifier.
- IP Address.
- OS version.
- Username.
- Ansi identification code.
The Aveo ransomware may also modify the Windows Registry Editor, more specifically insert values in the following key:
In addition to this, the virus also can:
- Insert commands in the Windows shell.
- Get file information.
- Read and Write permissions.
- Drive information.
- Execute DIR commands for certain paths.
- Texttt
- Texttt
Aveo RAT – Conclusion, Removal, and Protection
As a bottom line, this Trojan family has been created by someone who knew what they were doing, and the purpose of why they were created is not clear yet. One scenario may be massive online information theft campaign, which may be done either for profit or political agendas. Whatever the case may be, Aveo RAT has no place on your computer, and it’s removal is strongly advisable. For maximum effectiveness and permanent removal of the Aveo RAT, we advise you to follow carefully the step-by-step instructions, outlined in this article. They are carefully designed so that they help you remove Aveo properly and stay protected in the future as well.
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 Aveo.
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 Aveo with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Aveo 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 Aveo 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 Aveo 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.
Aveo FAQ
What Does Aveo Trojan Do?
The Aveo 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 Aveo, 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 Aveo 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 Aveo 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 Aveo Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Aveo 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 Aveo?
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 Aveo threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.