The Belonard Trojan is a dangerous weapon used against computer users worldwide. It infects mainly via Counter Strike in-game client vulnerabilities. Our article gives an overview of its behavior according to the collected samples and available reports, also it may be helpful in attempting to remove the virus.
Threat Summary
| Name | Belonard Trojan |
| Type | Trojan |
| Short Description | The Belonard Trojan is a computer virus that is designed to silently infiltrate computer systems. |
| Symptoms | The victims may not experience any apparent symptoms of infection. |
| Distribution Method | Software Vulnerabilities, Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Scripts and others. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Belonard Trojan. |
Belonard Trojan – Distribution Methods
The Belonard Trojan has been detected in an ongoing attack campaign which targets a new weakness in the popular computer game Counter Strike 1.6. According to the released information this infection makes use of a newly discovered vulnerability categorized as Remote Code Execution. The evidence that this is the case comes out from the fact that several of the weaknesses were identified in game builds. Two of the weaknesses are found in the official game client and four in modified pirate versions.
The Belonard Trojan consists of 11 components and it includes several scenarios according to the given situation. Depending on the type of version the criminals are using a different injection method is employed. The usual mechanism is to use a remote code execution weakness which is launched from a hacker-controlled server. Whenever the players launch the multiplayer mode of the game they will be given a list of servers from which they can choose. If a malware one is chosen the relevant code will automatically transfer dangerous libraries to the clients.
A complex initial check s performed in order to check if any Belonard Trojan files are available on the freshly infected computer. Depending on the obtained information the required files will be downloaded, various versions are devised in order to address the current conditions.
The Belonard Trojan will install a special component that will protect the deployed files from any tampering or removal. This is done by filtering the requests, files and commands from other game servers. All user interactions are transferred via a specially designed network connection.
Other methods that can be employed by the victims include the following mechanisms:
- Malicious Download Sites — The creation of hacker-made sites that pose as legitimate download sources is one of the most technique when spreading malware of all types. They are hosted on similar sounding domain names as well-known pages and may even use self-signed security certificates. Common variants include search engines, download portals, product landing pages and etc.
- Email Phishing Tactics — The criminals can utilize SPAM phishing tactics in order to coerce the recipients into thinking that they have received a legitimate message from a well-known company or service. They contain stolen content from the real sources and the infections can be caused via interaction with any links, images, multimedia and etc. They can be attached directly to the emails.
- File Sharing Networks — They are used by end users in order to share both legitimate and pirate content. The most popular option at the moment is BitTorrent.
- Browser Hijackers — They are made by the hackers as counterfeit browser plugins, known as “hijackers” — this is the name given to them as they will change the default settings of the web browsers. They are usually found on the relevant repositories with fake user reviews and user credentials. The descriptions will promise new feature additions or performance optimizations. As soon as they are installed the relevant virus deployment will take place and any other relevant actions.
Belonard Trojan – Detailed Description
One of the first components that are run once the Trojan has infiltrated the computer is to run a data harvesting component. It can be programmed to extract information that can be grouped in the two main types of data:
- Private Information — The engine can be programmed to extract extensive information about the victim users. This is done by looking out for specific strings such as their name, address, phone number and any stored account credentials.
- Machine Information — There is a wide variety of information that can reveal a lot of data about the compromised machines. It includes a full list of the installed hardware components, certain user settings and current operating system conditions.
Through the initial infection this system check is made mandatory as it allows the Trojan to automatically choose the most appropriate version of the post-infection engine. It is downloaded from the malware server by the main infection engine.
What’s more interesting is that a preliminary check is done after the Trojan files have been downloaded. This is done in order to ensure that a previous infection has not happened. What will happen next is that a persistent installation will be initiated. In this particular case this is a collection of several malicious actions. The first one is the modification of the Windows Registry — it is done by creating new strings for the Belonard Trojan. This is followed by modification of configuration files and certain boot options which will make the main engine automatically to start as soon as the computer is powered on.
All of the collected information is transferred immediately to the hacker operators. A peculiar feature of this particular threat is to set up a service that takes the name of “Windows DHCP Service” which is the name of a legitimate and important network service. After this module has completed running the Trojan will start a persistent connection to a hacker-controlled server. At random periods the Trojan will launch a new search for Counter Strike game clients, the infection modules and a connection to the relevant malicious servers.
One of the dangerous components associated with this particular threat is the game modifications module. It will compare the installed clients to its own internal list of customized versions and modify the CS files accordingly by either adding in new files, modifying existing ones or altogether deleting certain parts of the game’s structure. The newly uploaded payloads will emulate fake game servers on the compromised devices. The next component will create proxies for these servers and register them with the Steam API. This means that potentially all Counter Strike 1.6 gamers are vulnerable.
As a result of the infections a large-scale botnet has been created. Security researchers were able to disable the first wave of compromised machines however we anticipate that a follow-up attack campaign may follow.
Remove Belonard Trojan Completely
To remove Belonard Trojan manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal tutorial written down below. In case this manual removal does not get rid of the miner malware completely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure in the future.
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 Belonard 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 Belonard Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Belonard 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 Belonard 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 Belonard 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.
Belonard Trojan FAQ
What Does Belonard Trojan Trojan Do?
The Belonard 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 Belonard 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 Belonard 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 Belonard 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 Belonard Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Belonard 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 Belonard 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 Belonard Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.