A website, called Gangnamgame(.)net has been observed to modify file on affected computer. The computer virus is deemed malicious and it has additions that enble it to stop antivirus software from starting up. Users that have been affected by the cyber threat reported that on system boot up the malicious threat is executing a script in the Windows Command Prompt that might change some system settings and make the software way more difficult to be uninstalled.
Name | Gangnamgame Virus |
Type | Virus |
Short Description | Gangnamgame may stop antivirus software and may collect credentials as well as download malicious files. |
Symptoms | May rename antivirus .exe files with “xxx” name on them and delete or relocate their shortcuts. Command prompt is reported to run and close on system startup. |
Distribution Method | Via patches, cracks or keygens uploaded in torrent sites. May be the aftereffect of unsafe browsing, opening corrupted mail attachments, drive-by downloads and malicious applications. |
Detection tool | Download Advanced anti-malware tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By Gangnamgame Virus |
User Experience | Join our forum to discuss Gangnamgame Virus. |
The Gangnamgame Virus – How Did I Become Infected?
The main method of distribution used by Gangnamgame(.)net may be a redirect to the malicious site that may have the potential to inject malicious script to the victim PC. The origin of this may be if the user clicked on an online banner believing it is trustworthy or simply visiting an unfamiliar site. Another cause may be having a PUP that may be causing browser redirects to malicious sites on request.
Furthermore, users may also get infected via a malicious mail attachments of the following file formats:
→.cfg; .dll; .tmp; .bat; .exe; .docx; .pdf; .pptx
Usually spam mails may resemble a reputable service or company such as PayPal, Windows, Apple and others.
Also, users have reported that torrents containing the name “Brick” downloaded on their computers contained malware. What is more, there was also another program, associated with a game patch/crack, known as 3DMGAME-MGSV that is reported to be malicious. This dangerous patch has been associated with the latest release of Metal Gear Solid. Bottom line is that you should always scan downloaded torrents with an anti-malware software or upload the files to VirusTotal.
Gangnamgame Virus – What Does It Do?
Once activated on the computer, the virus may create various files on the PC and similarly to ransomware such as CryptoWall, rename the antivirus program executables with an “xxx” name. Users have reported that they failed fixing them by trying to change the “xxx” back to the original name.
Furthermore, the program may set Gangnamgame(.)net as a homepage of the user`s browser and change other settings of the computer that may make it more difficult to remove and conceal the virus further. The web domain itself is connected in a way with the one of the most popular FPS games, called Counter-Strike, more specifically with its latest installment Global Offensive. The site itself is not encrypted and uses cookies that may collect certain user information.
With time, it was established that this particular virus may have modified data in the following registry entries or created new values in them:
→HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
These entries may allow its payload to run every time you restart or turn on your device. Furthermore, the threat has been reported by malware researchers to have displayed advertisements of different forms and collect user information. The threat may also affect negatively the svchost.exe process in Windows Task Manager.
There are several other after effects of having Gangnamgame(.)net virus on your PC. The cyber threat might block anti-malware software from running in order to stay present for longer.
Also, it may or may not extract different information, for example:
- IP address.
- Necessary files.
- Name.
- Location.
- Sensitive information (Passwords, Financial Credentials).
Removing Gangnamgame(.)net Fully
Before you remove the Gangnamgame(.)net threat it is advisable to use unconventional methods since it has the ability to stop any antivirus software from running. In case you have it, chances are your antivirus may have also been turned ineffective. This is why it is advisable to use “Safe Mode with Networking” that will disable all third-party applications from running. After that you should use the following instructions:
Since this virus may affect Windows Registries, security experts advise users to check and clean the Registry Editor using these instructions:
1)Press Windows Logo Button + R
2)Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
3) Start by checking all of the registry keys and values and the data in them. You will see the keys on the left side and the values on the right. Begin by checking the “(Default)” value and then work your way with the others. In case you see data containing processes such as svchost.exe which are not the original Windows processes, you should act towards removing these values and the processes with them.
Since manual removal may not have the best outcome, because there may be more the two or three registry values it is recommended to use a registry clean up tool in combination with an anti-malware software. Some anti-malware programs have registry cleaning embedded. By having such programs you also increase the overall protection level of your computer in the future.
- Guide 1: How to Remove Gangnamgame Virus from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Gangnamgame Virus from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Gangnamgame Virus from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Gangnamgame Virus from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Gangnamgame Virus from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Gangnamgame Virus from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Gangnamgame Virus from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Gangnamgame Virus from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Gangnamgame Virus





Step 2: Uninstall Gangnamgame Virus and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:



Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Gangnamgame Virus 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 Gangnamgame Virus there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:



Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Gangnamgame Virus from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Gangnamgame Virus and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Gangnamgame Virus via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove Gangnamgame Virus files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Gangnamgame Virus, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Gangnamgame Virus from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Gangnamgame Virus from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Gangnamgame Virus from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Gangnamgame Virus from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Gangnamgame Virus will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Gangnamgame Virus from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.