A new trojan has surfaced, named Infostealer.Predet by Symantec researchers. The trojan modifies registry entries, logs keystrokes directly steals all types of important information from user PCs and even spreads to removable drives. But most importantly the trojan masks itself as WindowsUpdate.exe executable so that it runs on system start up. Users should be extremely careful since this is a very popular gaming malware that also steals Steam and Minecraft credentials as well as email passwords and is also reported to spread via games.
Name | Infostealer.Predet |
Type | Gaming Trojan/Infostealer |
Short Description | The trojan’s payload carrying executable resembles Windows Update. |
Symptoms | The user may witness the symptoms outlined in the description in this article plus may see some other unexplained activities on the computer. |
Distribution Method | Via Steam and Spam mail. |
Detection Tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware |
User Experience | Join our forum to discuss Gaming Malware. |
WindowsUpdate.exe Gaming Trojan – How Did I Get It?
One way that this trojan may use to distribute itself is by utilising spam bots on gaming engines such as Steam which is widely used by PC games. The trojan is distributed mainly in Windows 7, Windows Xp and Vista computers.
Steam users may witness unfamiliar users adding them and promising them free game giveaways, as a part of a Black Friday or Christmas promotions. The message may feature a web link to the ‘giveaway’ which is actually the malicious link inserting the payload of the trojan.
Another way this trojan may use is via spam or spoof mails pretending to be from a website the user is registered in. Usually cybercriminals tend to collect user information via cookies or using other methods before actually infecting the computer itself.
Windows Update.exe Gaming Trojan – What Does It Do?
Symantec researchers report that once the trojan has been executed it modifies the following object:
→%System%\drivers\etc\hosts
It then creates a registry entry for the process WindowsUpdate.exe which is it`s payload to run every time the computer starts up. The registry key and its value is:
→“HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Windows Update = “%AppData%\WindowsUpdate.exe”
This trojan then could try to run as Administrator on the computer.
Once done that, it starts deleting files:
→%AppData%:
WindowsUpdate.exe
pid.txt
pidloc.txt
.minecraft\lastlogin
Roaming\jagex_cache\reg\
Roaming\jagex_cache\regPin\PCNAME Pin.jpeg
%Temp%:
SysInfo.txt
PCNAME\_wallet.dat
wallet.dat
screens\screenshotDIGIT.jpeg
EBFile.exe
BFile
External Removable Drive:
\autorun.inf
\Sys.exe
The trojan also has the ability to terminate processes and clear user data. It also can interact with Steam and delete key steam files that may cause the user to log out.
This cyber threat may also delete or stop key system processes and services.
→Command interpreter
System configuration
Windows Task Manager
Windows Registry Editor
This infostealer then begins to gather info about the infected system:
→Computer name;CPU name;Server name;OS platform;OS version;.NET version;Predator version;Predator services status: keylogger, clipboard-logger, report frequency, stealers;Local date and time;Installed language;Installed AVs;Installed;Firewalls;Internal and External IPs
After doing so, the questionable cyber threat is reported to directly steal vital user information from the computer:
→Bitcoin wallet.dat;Email credentials;Browser credentials;Downloader credentials;Internet Downloader ;Manager credentials;Minecraft credentials;Steam credentials;PIN screenshots from RuneScape and EpicBot video games.
Also, symantec report that this trojan has the ability to perform other related tasks to its sole purpose which is to steal data:
→Display fake error messages;Log all keystrokes;Download and execute files;Visit websites;Delete cookies from IE and Firefox browsers;Block certain websites;Spread to removable drives
Since the severity of this threat it is highly advisable to take special precautions when some of the symptoms outlined above are seen and to immediately change all of the passwords on your accounts from a safe PC.
Removing WindowsUpdate.exe Gaming Trojan Completely
In order to remove this nasty threat it is important to isolate it first. You can do this by entering in safe mode without networking and scanning your computer with malware removing tool like shown in the step-by-step tutorial below. However the best method of isolating the threat is to boot your computer in a live operating system and then unlock and scan the file-systems with it, however it is a more tech-savvy solution, because you need to select the right OS that has file-unlocking features.
Here is a tutorial on how to boot into a live OS to scan your PC:
And here is a more automatic solution via booting in safe mode to remove the WindowsUpdate.exe Trojan:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Infostealer.Predet from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Infostealer.Predet on Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Infostealer.Predet in Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Infostealer.Predet from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Infostealer.Predet from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Infostealer.Predet from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Infostealer.Predet from Internet Explorer.
- Guide 8: Disable Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Infostealer.Predet





Step 2: Uninstall Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet 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 Stop Push Pop-ups
Get rid of Infostealer.Predet from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Infostealer.Predet, 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 Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet 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 Infostealer.Predet will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Eliminate Infostealer.Predet 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.
Remove Push Notifications caused by Infostealer.Predet from Your Browsers.
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".