TrickBot is a banking Trojan that has been around since 2016. The threat it poses is quite disastrous as it is designed to steal online banking and other credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, browser information.
The Trojan has a new variant that is currently circling the web, which again attempts to disable Windows Defender on affected systems as seen in previous versions. However, the latest variant of TrickBot has added new methods to ensure that the security program is disabled.
The new variant was discovered by MalwareHunterTeam and Vitali Kremez, and the security researchers succeeded in reverse-engineering its code.
Threat Summary
| Name | TrickBot |
| Type | Banking Trojan |
| Short Description | The TrickBot Trojan has a new variant which attempts to disable Windows Defender on compromised systems. |
| Distribution Method | The TrickBot banking Trojan is mostly distributed in malicious spam campaigns. It’s also known to leverage the EternalBlue exploit (MS17-010) as a distribution technique. |
| Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss TrickBot. |
TrickBot Trojan – Technical Details
Upon execution, TrickBot Trojan will start a loader to prepare the system by disabling Windows services and processes that belong to security programs. Then, the Trojan will elevate its privileges and will load its core component by injecting a DLL. This DLL downloads other modules deployed for credentials and information theft. It also contains the layer needed for communication with its command and control server.
In August 2018, a stealth code injection was introduced to TrickBot’s code. It will sleep the infection for 30 seconds. This is a technique that can evade signature scans used by security software such as anti-virus solutions, sandbox environments, and virtual machine hosts. Their real-time engines can be bypassed or entirely removed by the malicious code.
The actual decryption of the obfuscated Trickbot Trojan is run after the stealth protection code has complete. The 2018 version of the malware uses direct system calls which is similar to Flokibot, a variant of Zeus. This shows that the hackers behind the new Trickbot banking Trojan might have used several different code sources.
The latest variant of the banking Trojan has added the following methods to ensure that Windows Defender and Windows Defender and Microsoft Defender APT are disabled, as reported by Bleeping Computer. It should be noted that these methods are blocked by TamperProtection if it is enabled:
Add policies to SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection for the following:
DisableBehaviorMonitoring: Disables behavior monitoring in Windows Defender.
DisableOnAccessProtection: Disables scanning when you open a program or file.
DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable: Disabled process scanning.
Configures the following Windows Defender preferences via PowerShell:
-DisableRealtimeMonitoring: Disables real time scanning.
-DisableBehaviorMonitoring: Same as above, except as a Windows Defender preference.
-DisableBlockAtFirstSeen: Disables Defender’s Cloud Protection feature.
-DisableIOAVProtection: Disables scans of downloaded files and attachments.
-DisablePrivacyMode: Disables privacy mode so all users can see threat history.
-DisableIntrusionPreventionSystem: Disables network protection for known vulnerability exploits.
-DisableScriptScanning: Disables the scanning of scripts.
-SevereThreatDefaultAction: Set the value to 6, which turns off automatic remediation for severe threats.
-LowThreatDefaultAction: Set the value to 6, which turns off automatic remediation for low threats.
-ModerateThreatDefaultAction: Set the value to 6, which turns off automatic remediation for moderate threats.
When the Trojan detects security software on the compromised system, it is set to configure a debugger via the Image File Execution Options registry key. Through this action the debugger will launch prior to the program that is executed. In case the debugger is not found, the program will not be able to launch, the researchers explained.
Milena Dimitrova
An inspired writer and content manager who has been with SensorsTechForum since the project started. A professional with 10+ years of experience in creating engaging content. Focused on user privacy and malware development, she strongly believes in a world where cybersecurity plays a central role. If common sense makes no sense, she will be there to take notes. Those notes may later turn into articles! Follow Milena @Milenyim
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- Guide 1: How to Remove TrickBot from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of TrickBot from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove TrickBot from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase TrickBot from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall TrickBot from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove TrickBot from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate TrickBot from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove TrickBot from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove TrickBot
Step 2: Uninstall TrickBot 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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by TrickBot 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 TrickBot 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.
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 TrickBot from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall TrickBot 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 TrickBot 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 TrickBot files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as TrickBot, 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 TrickBot 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 TrickBot 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 TrickBot 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 TrickBot 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 TrickBot will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate TrickBot 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.
