I wrote this article to help you remove Kronos Trojan. This Kronos Trojan removal guide works for all Windows versions.
Kronos is a banking Trojan. This rogue program has been responsible for extorting login credentials and financial details from thousands of user accounts. The virus has advanced capabilities and it is difficult to identify. The technical specifications of Kronos were disclosed in a malvertising forum where it was offered for sale. The malicious program is compatible with 64-bit and 32-bit rootkit. It features a formgrabber and a webinject which work on the latest builds of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. The injections are in Zeus config format which makes facilitates the process. To defend Kronos from other Trojans, the developers have implemented a ring3 rootkit.
Kronos uses a proactive bypass to make the injections. This enables the secluded program to avoid detection by anti-virus programs. Further protection mechanisms encompass usermode sandbox and rootkit bypass. The Trojan can bypass all hooks in usermode functions. These hooks are required to detect the furtive software. The communication between the bot and the panel is encrypted to assure protection against sniffers. There have been different deals for Kronos, ranging between $3,000 and $7,000 USD in price. The malvertising campaigns for the Trojan are conducted on Russian darkweb forums.
Kronos is spread in several ways. Spam emails are a prominent distribution technique. The sinister program will be concealed behind an attachment. The sender will describe the file as a document or a letter. He can introduce himself as a representative of an existing company or organization, like the national post, a courier firm, a bank, a government branch, a shopping platform, a social network, or the district police department. Before accessing an attachment, proof the reliability of the message. Check the available contacts from the email. You can visit the official website of the corresponding entity for reference.
Since Kronos is transferred in the form of an executable, it can be bundled with other software. The possible hosts are freeware, shareware, and pirated utilities. The download client will have the Trojan listed as a bonus tool under a fake name. If you perform the installation without reading the end user license agreement (EULA), you will unknowingly allow the Trojan into your system. Be sure to get acquainted with the terms and conditions of the tools you intend to add to your computer. The easiest way to transmit the malevolent program is through a drive-by installation. You can contract the virus just by entering a corrupted website or clicking on a compromised link. We advise you to keep your guard up at all times and be selective of the sources you trust on the web.
Kronos collects different types of information from the targeted devices. The accent is on banking information. The Trojan will extort the login credentials for your online financial accounts and send them to its creators. The main objective is to withdraw funds. The cyber criminals can break into all accounts the targeted computer is linked to. Your in-box, social media profiles, and others can be a source for further details. The Trojan seethes through all data carriers. It records the browsing history, tracking cookies, and keystrokes. The web browser stores a lot of information in its own right. It can reveal your IP address, email, telephone number, geographic location, area code, telephone number, and system specifications.
To increase the amount of incoming data, Kronos creates a botnet. The Trojan connects all infected devices with one another. Your machine will become a zombie which will receive remote commands and assists in the elaborate scheme. The targeted systems harvest and send information to the C&C server of the cyber criminals. They also assist in the distribution of the virus. Having your computer linked to a botnet can result in legal problems. Some countries have implemented laws which govern fair Internet usage. The user is responsible for all operations, conducted by his personal computer. In the case of a cyber attack, he is required to take timely actions and notify the authorities.
Kronos Trojan Removal
Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.
Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.
Open Control Panel by holding the Win Key and R together. Write appwiz.cpl in the field, then click OK.
Here, find any program you had no intention to install and uninstall it.
Open MS Config by holding the Win Key and R together. Type msconfig and hit Enter.
Go in the Startup tab and Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.
Still can not remove Kronos Trojan from your computer? Please, leave a comment below, describing what steps you performed. I will answer promptly.