How to remove Qakbot Trojan

What is Qakbot Trojan

Qakbot Trojan, also known as Qbot or Quakbot, is a sophisticated form of banking malware designed to steal sensitive financial information. This Trojan virus primarily spreads through phishing email campaigns that contain malicious attachments, often disguised as legitimate documents such as invoices or bills. Once a user opens the infected attachment, the malware infiltrates the system and begins to record keystrokes, capture web browsing activities, and steal login credentials, including those for online banking. The stolen data is then transmitted to remote servers controlled by cybercriminals, enabling them to gain unauthorized access to victims’ accounts. Beyond financial theft, Qakbot can also lead to severe privacy breaches and identity theft. It often operates stealthily, making it difficult for users to detect its presence without advanced security tools. Eliminating Qakbot typically requires a comprehensive scan and removal process using reputable antivirus software.

How Qakbot Trojan infected your system

The Qakbot Trojan, also known as Qbot, primarily infiltrates computers through malicious email attachments, often disguised as legitimate documents such as invoices or bills. These emails, typically part of a spam campaign, prompt users to enable macros within Microsoft Office files, which then execute the malicious payload. Once the macros are enabled, the Trojan connects to a remote server to download and install the malware on the system. The infection process can also involve exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities and using social engineering tactics to trick users into executing the malicious code. Once inside, Qakbot establishes persistence, often evading detection by hiding within legitimate processes and employing advanced obfuscation techniques. This allows the Trojan to steal sensitive information, such as banking credentials, which are then transmitted to the attackers’ servers.

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

Remove Qakbot Trojan manually

Manual removal of Qakbot Trojan 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 Qakbot Trojan 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 Qakbot Trojan using Autoruns

Qakbot Trojan 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 Qakbot Trojan

Qakbot Trojan files and folders


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Qakbot Trojan registry keys


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Aliases of Qakbot Trojan

How to protect from threats, like Qakbot Trojan, in future

Standard Windows protection or any decent third-party antivirus (Norton, Avast, Kaspersky) should be able to detect and remove Qakbot Trojan. However, if you got infected with Qakbot Trojan with existing and updated security software, you may consider changing it. To feel safe and protect your PC from Qakbot Trojan 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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