Remove Qbot Trojan From Your Computer

by Martin Beltov | August 28, 2020 | 0 Comments removal guide, trojan, virus

What Is Qbot Trojan Qbot Trojan Summary Qbot Trojan – Virus Removal GUIDE

What Is Qbot Trojan

Qbot Trojan is one of the best known banking Trojan which has been used in more than a decade by different hacking groups. It is mainly delivered to the victims via virus-infected files and is always updated with new components. It can not only overtake control of the computers, but also hijack user data and commit dangerous actions on the hosts.

Qbot Trojan Summary

Name	Qbot Trojan also known as Trojan.Qbot.A
Type	Trojan/Banking 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	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss Qbot Trojan.

Qbot Trojan – Virus Infection Methods

The Qbot banking Trojan is one of the most popular infections of this category of malware threats. As one of the oldest and most widely used viruses it has been used by many hacking groups around the world over the years. Qbot is best known for receiving constant updates and modifications to its core all the time. For this reason computer security researchers tend to focus on the current iterations when describing it.

The current attack is focused on using an updated distribution technique. The new Trojan engine is now programmed to hijack Microsoft Outlook email threads with the intention of creating and personalizing phishing email messages. The start of the campaign appears to be in March this year and continues to this day, so far 100,000 victims have been targeted in the USA, Italy, India and Israel.

The first detected instances of Qbot were detected back in 2008, the threat it also known as Qakbot among the security community. Current versions are very likely to spread using the Emotet malware. It is one of the most common infection vectors especially for Trojan threats and email SPAM messages. The Qbot-infected virus messages contains URLs or ZIP archives that all include Visual Basic Scripts which serve as the initial payload carriers. When the associated files are run the built-in code will trigger the virus deployment. The malware will be downloaded from a hardcoded URL contained in the script.

At the moment Qbot/Qakbot is being sent to the target users by relying on phishing messages related to the COVID-19 pandemic, tax payment reminders and job recruitment offers and procedures. The majority of attacks are against companies and organizations which are located in the United States of America and Europe.

Qbot Trojan – Virus Capabilities

The Qbot Trojan will start by running an email collector module — it will locate the locally installed Microsoft Outlook client and extract all email threads. They will be collected in a batch which will be sent to the hackers and reused in further email SPAM campaigns. This means that any further messages which are sent by hackers will appear as organic replies in their inboxes. In practice this will make differentiating between the legitimate and phishing content very difficult.

Related: [wplinkpreview url=”https://sensorstechforum.com/qakbot-2017-variant-worm-banking-trojan-infostealer/”] QakBot 2017 Variant – Part Worm, Part Banking Trojan, Part Infostealer

While the main Trojan engine is configured to take over control of the machines as well as steal any user and system files the recent updates to Qbot/Qakbot also add in other capabilities. Some of the added new modules include the following:

Information Retrieval — The main engine can command a component to steal device information including sensitive users data and machine metrics. This can include the scanning of locally installed applications data which may contain sensitive users data: web browsers, email clients and password managers. The target data includes also email and web services login information and payment card details.
Malware Installation — The Trojan can be used as payload carrier for other types of viruses. The most common ones which are delivered using such methods are file encrypting ransomware. They are designed to infiltrate the machines and process users data with a special cipher. The data types which are to be affected will be chosen from a built-in list of extensions. The processed data will renamed with a special extension and therefore made inaccessible to the computer owners. Ransomware notes or other means will be used to manipulate the victims into paying the hackers a designated decryption fee.
Banking Trojan activities — This is one of the most important modules which have been integrated into the malware threat. It will monitor the users behavior and if they access an online bank or financial service a phishing overlay will be started. This means that every inserted character will be sent to the hackers which will allow them to take over control of the posted accounts. An alternative is the uploading of a keylogger script which will constantly keep record the keyboard input and mouse movement of the users. This is done in order to capture any entered in two-factor authentication codes.Banking Trojan activities — This is one of the most important modules which have been integrated into the malware threat. It will monitor the users behavior and if they access an online bank or financial service a phishing overlay will be started. This means that every inserted character will be sent to the hackers which will allow them to take over control of the posted accounts. An alternative is the uploading of a keylogger script which will constantly keep record the keyboard input and mouse movement of the users. This is done in order to capture any entered in two-factor authentication codes.

Many of the recent versions have also been found to be compatible with virtual machine hosts which can include not only guest operating systems, but also sandbox environemnts and development tools. Given the circumstances that Qbot (Qakbot) is one of the most widely used tools for more than a decade now, more and more updates are expected to be implemented by various hacking groups. For this reason we strongly suggest that every computer user will install adequate malware protection suites. If you have been infected by the Qbot Trojan we recommend that you try our removal instructions below.

Qbot 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 Qbot 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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Guide 1: How to Remove Qbot Trojan from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of Qbot Trojan on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove Qbot Trojan in Google Chrome.

Guide 4: Erase Qbot Trojan from Mozilla Firefox.
Guide 5: Uninstall Qbot Trojan from Microsoft Edge.
Guide 6: Remove Qbot Trojan from Safari.
Guide 7: Eliminate Qbot Trojan from Internet Explorer.
Guide 8: Disable Qbot Trojan Push Notifications in Your Browsers.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

How to Remove Qbot Trojan from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Qbot Trojan

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall Qbot Trojan 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

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

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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.

Step 4: Scan for Qbot Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Get rid of Qbot Trojan from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall Qbot Trojan and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Qbot Trojan:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Qbot Trojan. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Qbot Trojan. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 Qbot Trojan 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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Qbot Trojan. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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 Qbot Trojan files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Qbot Trojan, 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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for Qbot Trojan:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove Qbot Trojan 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Erase Qbot Trojan 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Uninstall Qbot Trojan 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove Qbot Trojan 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 Qbot Trojan will be removed.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Eliminate Qbot Trojan 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.