What Is Parallax Trojan
Parallax Trojan is a recently discovered computer malware that is spread in active attack campaigns. The targets are high-profile in the detected activity, which means that the hacking group behind it must be experienced in planning viruses. Read our in-depth analysis of the samples and learn how to remove active infections in this article.
Parallax Trojan Summary
| Name | Parallax Trojan |
| Type | Trojan |
| Short Description | Aims to steal data from your computer and run different malware actions. |
| Symptoms | Your computer may behave strangely and new files may be dropped in several Windows Directories. |
| Distribution Method | Common infection methods including phishing messages and malware-infected files. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Parallax Trojan. |
Parallax Trojan – Virus Infection Methods
The Parallax Trojan is a new malware threat which is being distributed by computer hackers. The detected attack campaign leverages a lot of samples which indicates that they are employing a worldwide delivery mechanism. From the analysis of the captured samples it is possible that the hackers are leveraging several delivery tactics at the same time:
- Phishing Emails — The criminals are embedding in the necessary code in both email messages and web sites. The most common way this is done is by using contents and design that resembles well-known companies and services. The actual virus files can be linked in the contents or they can be directly attached to the sent email messages.
- Other Malware Delivery — This infection can be caused by the deployment of viruses which include the Trojan drop as part of their execution sequence. Commonly this is done by browser hijackers which are dangerous extensions made for the most popular web browsers.
- Web Distribution — All virus-related data can be uploaded to various online locations where users frequently download files from. The hackers can prepare the contents in file-sharing networks, as well as posting links to them in different types of online communities: forums, chat rooms and social networks.
At this moment there is information on the identity of the hackers. These virus samples have been captured in a large-scale attack campaign, the captured viruses are signed as MEHANIKUM OOO which is the way the security community has tagged the threat internally. What we know is that there is no code usage from other well-known threats which means that the hackers have created it from scratch by themselves.
Parallax Trojan – Virus Capabilities
One of the distinct characteristics of the Parallax Trojan threat is that the collected samples are signed with a security certificate from GlobalSign — this is a renowned company who is trusted by many. It is very possible that the hackers have used stolen credentials or have forged their own in order to issue it.
The code analysis also shows that the malware engine will start an advanced security bypass feature which will look for installed security programs and disable or completely remove them. This works for most anti-virus programs, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and etc.
The testing also shows that the Parallax Trojan virus code has been created for the 64-bit version of Windows. This shows that it is possible that the virus can be cross-compiled for all recent editions of the Microsoft Windows operating system family.
The process execution of this malware is part of several-stage process — this procedure is done in order to hide from some of the common security scans which oversee that the virus will start directly from a single point of origin.
The Trojan will reserve dynamic memory which makes it an even more dangerous threat. Other viruses of this category have also been observed to cause the following malicious actions:
- Persistent Installation — The virus will be installed in a way which will automatically start it when the computer is powered on. It can also block access to the recovery boot options. This will make manual user recovery much more difficult.
- System Setting Changes — This Parallax Trojan can be programmed to edit Windows Registry values or important configuration files. The consequences of such data modifications can include performance issues, data loss, and the inability to start certain services.
- Data Modification — The malware can remove important files such as backups, shadow volume copies and etc.
- Additional Malware Delivery — This infection can be used as a payload delivery mechanism for other common threats. Examples are cryptocurrency miners which are designed to download and run complex tasks that will place a heavy toll on the computer’s performance. For every completed task the hackers will be rewarded with cryptocurrency assets that will be transferred directly to their wallets.
- Information Gathering — This Parallax Trojan can be programmed to hijack important files from the computer’s hard drive. This includes not only sensitive users data but also can generate a report of the installed hardware components. This can then be fed to another module which will output an unique identifier that is used to calculate the exact number of victims.
The main goal of the Parallax Trojan is to take over control of the machines and establishing a secure connection to a hacker-controlled server. It is used to command the hosts from a distance and monitor all users’ actions. This practice is especially dangerous as it effectively allows the hackers to spy on the users in real-time: they can view what they are doing and can log their mouse movement and key input.
The Parallax Trojan is rated as an extremely dangerous threat and as such, it can be further modified by the criminals in subsequent updates.
Parallax Trojan – Virus Removal GUIDE
In order to fully remove this infection from your computer system, recommendations are to try the automatic removal guidelines below. They are particularly created in order to assist you separate this malware first of all and after that remove it’s destructive files. If you lack the experience in malware removal, the best method and most reliable one according to safety professionals is to use an innovative anti-malware software program. Such will not just immediately get rid of the Parallax infection from your computer system, yet will certainly additionally ensure that your computer system remains shielded versus future infections.
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 Parallax 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 Parallax Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Parallax 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 Parallax 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 Parallax 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.
Parallax Trojan FAQ
What Does Parallax Trojan Trojan Do?
The Parallax 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 Parallax 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 Parallax 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 Parallax 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 Parallax Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Parallax 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 Parallax 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 Parallax Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.