How to Remove Winhost.exe Trojan

This article can help you to remove Winhost.exe Virus. The step by step removal works for every version of Microsoft Windows.

Winhost.exe is an impostor. It poses as a legitimate and useful Windows process. You get the proper name, icon, and even developer’s name – Microsoft. It does its best to convince you of its legitimacy. It states, it provides the Windows Host Support Service. But it doesn’t. That’s a falsehood. It’s quite the elaborate web of lies. In actuality, Winhost.exe is a malicious process, run by a malicious program. A Trojan, to be precise. That’s right. There’s a Trojan on your computer. It runs the executable file, and makes a colossal mess of everything. The infection runs in the background, wreaking havoc from the shadows. Its presence on your PC causes quite the conundrum. All of a sudden, you suffer consequences, every time you go online. When you attempt to browse the web, the infection interferes. It puts you through an avalanche of ads. As well as, redirects you to a variety of suspicious-looking sites. And, nothing is reliable! All, it throws at you, falls under the ‘do NOT trust’ category! To click anything, it displays, is a mistake! One with repercussions, you will NOT enjoy. One, you WILL regret. So, don’t make it! Don’t press a single thing, the Trojan throws at you. But the issues don’t end with online interference, and forces reshuffles. The infection does even more harm. It acts as a gateway, and allows more infections to slither their way in. You can, potentially, end up with adware, hijackers, ransomware, and more Trojan! It’s not a sure thing, but it IS a possibility. So, as minor as it may be, are you prepared to take the chance? Are you willing to risk your system’s well-being, and for what? The Trojan menace brings nothing, but unpleasantness your way. Furthermore, it threatens your privacy. Do yourself a favor, and act against it the first chance you get. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, find where it lurks. And, delete it on discovery. Don’t delay! Delays cause regrets.

How did I get infected with?

Trojans are tricky. They’re quite masterful at infiltration. Here’s the thing. No Trojan can access your PC, without your permission. The tool has to ask whether you agree to install it. And, if you do, it can proceed with infiltration. No permission, no admission. It seems simple enough, doesn’t it? Well, tools like the Winhost.exe threat, have found ways around the rule. Yes, they still ask for your consent. But they do it so covertly, that they manage to get it, while keeping you clueless. Confused? Let’s elaborate. There’s a rule that a Trojan has to ask if you agree to install it. But there’s no rule about it being straightforward. So, Trojans are anything but. Think about it, if such a tool outright sought your consent, you’d deny it, right? To avoid the risk of rejection, the cyber threat seeks consent in the sneakiest way possible. It resorts to hitching a ride with spam emails, or freeware. Or, hiding behind corrupted sites, or links. Or, even pretending to be a fake update. Like, Java or Adobe Flash Player. It’s up to you to be vigilant enough to spot the deception If you’re not, you end up with infections, like Winhost.exe. But if you are, you can deny them entry, and keep your PC infection-free. Always take the time to be thorough, and do your due diligence. Don’t give into naivety, distraction, and haste. Cyber threats rely on carelessness. So, don’t grant it. Choose caution instead.

Why is this dangerous?

As stated, the Winhost.exe menace threatens your security. On top of everything else, it throws your way, it takes aim at your privacy, as well. The infection follows programming to spy on you from the second it invades. And, so it does. Its espionage begins once it infiltrates your computer. The tool starts to keep track of your every online move. It monitors your browsing activities. And, records them, as well. When it decides it has collected enough information, it proceeds to send it. To whom? Well, to the unknown third parties behind it. That means, cyber criminals with questionable agendas. Those are the people, who get a hold of your most sensitive data. So, ask yourself. Are you willing to allow them access to your personal and financial details? Or, would you rather, not? Do what’s best for you, and your system, and act against the Trojan ASAP! Get rid of it as soon as you get the opportunity to do so. Find where it lurks, and remove it. You’ll ensure your system’s well-being. And, keep your privacy private.

Manual Winhost.exe Removal Instructions

The Winhost.exe infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Winhost.exe infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down Winhost.exe related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Winhost.exe startup location

STEP 3: Delete Winhost.exe traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Winhost.exe related processes in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Winhost.exe startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean Winhost.exe virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

Step 4: Undo the possible damage done by Winhost.exe

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for Winhost.exe, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

 

• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove Winhost.exe Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible virus leftovers or temporary files.