What is Dark Nexus? How to remove Dark Nexus Trojan from your PC or Mac?
The Dark Nexus Trojan is a malware threat which is rated as advanced when compared with other viruses of this type. Usually Trojan infections like this one are made by launching automated hacking toolkits or creating infected files. They are often made by taking the legitimate files from their official sources and modifying them with the necessary virus code. Other data can also be affected. All kinds of other data may be used as well — this includes malicious plugins for web browsers and etc. If any are found then the Dark Nexus Trojan will be installed.
This particular threat is known for being spread using a multitude of weaknesses. The attacks are set against users worldwide. After the infection has been made the Dark Nexus Trojan can download other threats, launch multiple dangerous modules and steal files.
Threat Summary
| Name | Dark Nexus Trojan |
| Type | Malware, Trojan, Miner |
| Short Description | A dangerous malware which can launch different components and start a Trojan module. |
| Symptoms | The victims may notice performance issues and can get infected with other malware. |
| Distribution Method | Common distribution tactics and direct web attacks. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Dark Nexus Trojan. |
Dark Nexus Trojan — Overview
The Dark Nexus Trojan is a dangerous IoT-designed malware that is currently being spread against networks on a global scale. Researchers are tracking its movements as it infects numerous computers and devices in a very active attack campaign. There is no no information about the hackers who are behind it at this moment however it is speculated that they are very experienced.
The main code of the threat appears to have borrowed some of the ideas and mechanisms of well-known IoT botnets such as Mirai and Qbot. A distinct and very dangerous characteristic of Dark Nexus is that it is cross-compiled to run on 12 different platform architectures. They range from small embedded devices to personal computers and consumer laptops. This means that practically all major types of devices that can be found on a local network can be affected by it. It is also continuously developed meaning that the developers are constantly improving it by adding new features in incremental updates. The first attacks were detected back in December last year and in just a few months the Dark Nexus Trojan and Botnet client were updated with over 30 interim patches. Through them the developers added in new features and expanded on already existing ones.
At this moment not a lot of devices have been hijacked however given the enormous feature list and capabilities provided by it we assume that a large-scale attack campaign would soon follow. According to the security research the developer of Dark Nexus is responsible for other malware including an older botnet which is based on Qbot. It is very possible that the Dark Nexus Trojan is being sold on underground hacking communities for a price. This will also allow for the offering of customization options as well.
Dark Nexus Trojan — Advanced Functionality
Botnet Trojan attacks like Dark Nexus are done primarily via direct network attacks which are designed to look for weaknesses in a given computer or network and exploit them with the intention of installing a copy of the malware onto the affected device. There are several advanced techniques which are incorporated into the attack model associated with Dark Nexus. This includes the disguising of the botnet traffic as ordinary web browser activity. Proxies have also been used to hide the actual incoming traffic, there is speculation that they might be rented to the botnet operators. One of the main techniques used to infect computers will be to use a Telnet credentials attack which uses the widely used remote control protocol. At the moment the majority of attacks are against IoT networks in South Korea. When a vulnerable host is detected it will be automatically exploited and the result reported back to the hackers. A debugging module is also built which will monitor the status of the infected devices.
Each of the infected computers with the Dark Nexus Trojan will include a flexible behavior sequence that will dynamically download the main engine. his means that the Trojan is divided in several parts – a small initial loader, a main engine and extensions. When the whole of the Dark Nexus Trojan is installed on a given computer the typical function of allowing the criminals to take over control of the hosts, steal data and etc. The new releases of the threat also feature a persistent installation which means that the associated actions will be executed every time the computer is started.
A lot of different malware actions can be called by the hackers on request or depending on the local system conditions:
- Boot Option Changes — The main engine can opt to modify the boot options of the affected machines so that recovery options will be disabled.
- Device Configuration Changes — Depending on the chosen platform the Dark Nexus Trojan can modify important settings of the system. This can lead to overall system instability or other issues.
- Additional Malware Deployment — The Dark Nexus Trojan can be used to deploy other threats to the machines. Popular options include ransomware and cryptocurrency miners among others.
How to Remove Dark Nexus Trojan
In order to fully remove Dark Nexus from your computer system, we recommend that you follow the removal instructions underneath this article. If the first two manual removal steps do not seem to work and you still see Dark Nexus or programs, related to it, we suggest what most security experts advise – to download and run a scan of your computer with a reputable anti-malware program. Downloading this software will not only save you some time, but will remove all of Dark Nexus files and programs related to it and will protect your computer against such intrusive apps and malware 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 Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus 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.
Dark Nexus Trojan FAQ
What Does Dark Nexus Trojan Trojan Do?
The Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus 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 Dark Nexus Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.