What is W4sp?
W4sp malware is the name of an infostealer Trojan. It’s main objective ones that infect your computer is tho snoop for any passwords and files and steal them. However, being a Trojan, it may also be set to perform a wide range of other malicious activities on your computer system without you realising it.
Read this article to know further details about this nasty virus and learn how to isolate it and fully get rid of it from your machine.
W4sp Summary
Name | |
Type | Trojan Horse |
Brief Description | Aims to perform mining activities for BitCoin and spyware activities as well . |
Symptoms | Your computer could become very slow and even freeze from time to time. |
Distribution Technique | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may promote it. |
Detection Tool |
See if the System is impacted by W4sp
Down Load
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to go over W4sp. |
W4sp Trojan – How Did I Get It?
W4sp Trojan is a typical malware, just like the case of Bloom.exe, SharkBot and Trojan.Win32.PDF.Alien.gen viruses.
It may be spread through malicious web links, as an executable that is downloaded from a website, sent to you via chat and even send as an email attachment. If it is sent to you in the form of an attachment, it may seem like it is a document of utmost importance, like:
- A flight ticket.
- Paycheck document.
- Payment due type of document.
- An e-receipt or invoice.
Usually fake documents downloaded from such emails, contain malicious macro code, which triggers an infection process, similar to the one shown in the figure below:
W4sp Virus – What Does It Do?
W4sp is the type of malware, which has been categorised to be an infostealer. Once it infects your machine, it may download its payload, which could exist in the following directories of Windows:
- %Local%
- %AppData%
- %Temp%
- %Windows%
Not only this, but also this malware may attach the Run and RunOnce Windows Registries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
There it may set value strings, that could lead you to the actual location of the virus files it uses.
W4sp Stealer – How Dangerous Is It?
W4sp is a typical infostealer Trojan. It may be programmed to perform a wide range of virus activities on your computer, such as:
- Download other viruses.
- Update its miners, control them.
- Take screenshots.
- Steal files.
- Log the keystrokes you type.
- Obtain data from your PC.
- Control your microphone and audio.
This is the main reason to consider removing this nasty malware immediately:
Remove W4sp Virus from Your Computer
W4sp virus should be removed by following the steps in the guide below. They are provided to help you get rid of this nasty malware either yourself or automatically. If you want to achieve the best removal, then we strongly suggest getting rid of W4sp automatically using a professional anti-malware software. This is the type of tool, created to help you get rid of W4sp by thoroughly scanning your device and eliminating its core files.
Preparation before removing W4sp.
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 W4sp with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Clean any registries, created by W4sp 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 W4sp there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Step 3: Find virus files created by W4sp 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.
W4sp FAQ
What Does W4sp Trojan Do?
The W4sp 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 W4sp, 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 W4sp 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 W4sp 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 W4sp Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this W4sp 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 W4sp?
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 W4sp threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by trojans, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.