How to remove Acrid Stealer

What is Acrid Stealer

Acrid Stealer is a sophisticated piece of malware categorized as a Trojan and stealer, designed to covertly infiltrate systems and exfiltrate sensitive information. This malware primarily targets personal data stored within browsers, such as passwords, credit card details, and browsing histories, making it a severe threat to privacy and financial security. Written in C++, Acrid Stealer has been in circulation since at least 2023, with its developers continuously refining its capabilities. Beyond web browsers, it can also search for files on the infected system with specific keywords like “password” or “wallet” and target cryptocurrency wallets, thereby extending its reach to digital assets. Furthermore, it can capture login credentials from messenger and FTP client accounts, posing a significant risk of identity theft. Acrid Stealer typically spreads through phishing emails, malicious downloads, and other deceptive online tactics, emphasizing the need for cautious online behavior. To counteract this threat, using reputable antivirus software and keeping systems updated is essential in preventing and eliminating such infections.

How Acrid Stealer infected your system

Acrid Stealer infiltrates computers primarily through deceptive tactics such as phishing, social engineering, and malicious downloads. Cybercriminals craft emails or messages containing infected attachments or links, masquerading as legitimate communications to trick users into executing the malware. Once the user opens these attachments or clicks on the links, the malware is downloaded and installed onto the system without their knowledge. Additionally, Acrid Stealer can be bundled with seemingly harmless software or media files obtained from unreliable sources, including third-party websites and peer-to-peer networks. The malware may also spread through drive-by downloads, where visiting a compromised website leads to automatic infection, or through the use of software cracks and fake updates that users might unwittingly download. Furthermore, once installed, it can self-propagate across local networks and removable storage devices, further extending its reach and impact.

1. Download Acrid Stealer Removal Tool
2. Use Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool to remove Acrid Stealer
3. Use Autoruns to remove Acrid Stealer
4. Files, folders and registry keys of Acrid Stealer
5. Other aliases of Acrid Stealer
6. How to protect from threats, like Acrid Stealer

Remove Acrid Stealer manually

Manual removal of Acrid Stealer by inexperienced users may become a difficult task because it does not create entries in Add/Remove Programs under Control Panel, does not install browser extensions, and uses random file names. However, there are pre-installed instruments in the Windows system, that allow you to detect and remove malware without using third-party applications. One of them is Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. It comes with Windows Update in Windows 11, 10, 8. 8.1. For older operating system you can download it here: 64-bit version | 32-bit version.

Remove Acrid Stealer using Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

1. Type mrt in the search box near Start Menu.
2. Run mrt clicking on found item.
3. Click Next button.
4. Choose one of the scan modes Quick scan, Full scan, Customize scan (Full scan recommended).
5. Click Next button.
6. Click on View detailed results of the scan link to view the scan details.
7. Click Finish button.

Remove Acrid Stealer using Autoruns

Acrid Stealer often sets up to run at Windows startup as an Autorun entry or Scheduled task.

1. Download Autoruns using this link.
2. Extract the archive and run Autoruns.exe file.
3. In Options menu make sure there are checkboxes near Hide Empty Locations, Hide Microsoft Entries, and Hide Windows Entries.
4. Search for suspicious entries with weird names or running from locations like: C:\{username}\AppData\Roaming.
5. Right-click on suspicious entry and choose Delete. This will prevent the threat to run at startup.
6. Switch to Scheduled Tasks tab and do the same.
7. To remove files themselves, click on suspicious entries and choose Jump to Entry…. Remove files or registry keys found.

Remove files, folder and registry keys of Acrid Stealer

Acrid Stealer files and folders


{randomname}.exe


Acrid Stealer registry keys


no information


Aliases of Acrid Stealer

How to protect from threats, like Acrid Stealer, in future

Standard Windows protection or any decent third-party antivirus (Norton, Avast, Kaspersky) should be able to detect and remove Acrid Stealer. However, if you got infected with Acrid Stealer with existing and updated security software, you may consider changing it. To feel safe and protect your PC from Acrid Stealer on all levels (browser, e-mail attachments, Word or Excel scripts, file system) we recommend a leading provider of internet security solutions – BitDefender. Its solutions both for home and business users proved to be one of the most advanced and effective. Choose and get your BitDefender protection via the button below:

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