What is Socelars? How to remove Socelars Trojan from your PC or Mac?
The Socelars Trojan is a dangerous malware threat for Microsoft Windows computers. It can be acquired from various sources, the main ones are fake hacker-controlled sites that promote a malware setup bundle. What we know for sure is that the current attack campaigns focus on using distinct infection techniques depending on the target operating system.
Threat Summary
| Name | Socelars Trojan |
| Type | Malware, Trojan, Miner |
| Short Description | A dangerous malware which can launch a miner 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 Socelars Trojan. |
Socelars Trojan — How Did I Get It
The Socelars Trojan is an aggressive malware that has been discovered in an ongoing attack campaign. What we know for sure is that the hacking group behind it appears to be experienced in orchestrating international attacks against their intended victims.
One of the most widely used attack techniques is the creation and maintenance of hacker-controlled sites — they are going to be hosted on domain names that sound very trustworthy and will contain contents and design that will fool the users into thinking that they are visiting a safe place. These sites are numerous in quantity and almost all of them will use a single technique in the ongoing attack — the distribution of a dangerous app installer. The criminal group will advertise a legitimate sounding PDF software choosing generic keywords such as “free PDF reader”, “PDF viewer”, “PDF Editor” or “PDFreader”.
To further boost the spread of these virus files the hackers can also use other techniques such as the sending out of email phishing messages that are created very similar to the widespread SPAM messages. The sites are hosted with signed certificates which add a sense of authenticity and trust. Other possible tactics that can be used in forthcoming attacks may include the inclusion of the virus infection code in other setup bundles.
Socelars Trojan — Capabilities
As soon as the virus files is launched the associated behavior code will be started. One of the first actions which are started is an extensive data stealer. One of the main actions which is started is the acquisition of Facebook data from the running web browsers. This means that the Socelars Trojan has the ability to interact wit the most popular applications: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and etc. The exact mechanism will be to load specific URLs related to the social network. When the sites load the Trojan will hijack the cookies containing sensitive user data. A similar approach is also done with session cookies that belong to Amazon — both the USA and UK stores are affected.
The other actions are traditional of this type of infections. The main engine will establish a connection to a certain hacker-controlled server. This will allow the hackers to take over control of the infected computers and also be able to spy on the victims at any time.
At any time other common Trojan actions can take place. This includes the installation of other malware such as ransomware and cryptocurrency miners. Such actions are often in order to maximize the income that may be generted from a single computer infection. In many cases the advanced versions of such threats can also modify system settings: configuration files, boot options and the Windows Registry. The consequences may be different — from the Trojan starting up every time he computer is launched to errors and data loss when running everyday applications. Some core operating system functions may also become inaccessible.
How to Remove Socelars Trojan
In order to fully remove Socelars 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 Socelars 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 Socelars 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 Socelars 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 Socelars Trojan with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by Socelars 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 Socelars 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 Socelars 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.
Socelars Trojan FAQ
What Does Socelars Trojan Trojan Do?
The Socelars 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 Socelars 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 Socelars 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 Socelars 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 Socelars Trojan Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Socelars 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 Socelars 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 Socelars Trojan threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.