How to Remove Cloud.exe “Virus”

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

Cloud.exe is a malicious cyber threat, from the Trojan family. There is, in fact, a legitimate and useful software that goes by the name Cloud.exe. But the one, plaguing you, is not that one. It’s malicious and meddlesome, and has no place on your computer. The Cloud.exe Trojan masquerades itself as reliable, when it’s not. It uses the name of an actual trustworthy program, and tries to trick you. The infection preys on your naivety. Consider it a wolf in sheep’s skin. The sooner you acknowledge the danger, you’re dealing with, the better. Don’t prolong the Trojan’s stay beyond the point of detection. The faster it leaves your system, the more troubles you’ll avoid. Heed expert’s advice, and act ASAP. Otherwise, prepare for a plethora of problems. Problems, which worsen with time. Yes, the more the tool remains, the more it influences grow. Hence, the more troubles escalate, and grow in severity. What begins as online intrusion and lagging evolves into a security hazard. Don’t allow the escalation. Protect yourself from the Trojan’s touch. Locate and delete it ASAP.

How did I get infected with?

You get stuck with Cloud.exe, because of your carelessness. You got careless at a most inopportune moment. And, the Trojan’s presence is a direct consequence of that. Here’s the thing. Trojans prey on your distraction, haste, and naivety to sneak in. Without it, they can’t manage to invade. And, not only did the Cloud.exe one invade, it did so undetected. You can blame your carelessness for that. But don’t be too hard on yourself, though. You are dealing with a most sneaky threat. It uses the old but gold invasive methods to slip by you, unnoticed. It hides behind spam emails and freeware. As well as, corrupted links, sites, and torrents. Not to mention, it poses as a program or system update. The tool has plenty of tricks, up its sleeve. It’s up to you to spot them. Catch the cyber threat in the act of attempting infiltration. And, keep it from succeeding. Always do your due diligence! Don’t agree to anything in blind faith. Vigilance goes a long way, and can save you countless issues. Remember that!

Why is this dangerous?

The Cloud.exe threat makes for a horrendous companion. It puts you through quite the hellish ordeal. The tool increases CPU usage, and affects your system’s performance. It eats up space, and runs a plethora of malicious processes. It modifies your Registry files, and messes with your settings. It has the power to implement a variety of reshuffles throughout your PC. All, without bothering to seek your consent, or clue you in. That means, it can replace your default homepage and search engine. Or, if it chooses, it can fill your system to the brim with malware. Neither is desirable. The infection’s presence leads to incessant online interference. Your computer’s performance slows down to a crawl. Lagging turns into a part of your daily routine. Your system also crashes all the time. Programs, which used to run fine, may begin exhibiting issues. They may even refuse to run, at all. The tool can also restrict your Internet access. Or, keep you from going online, altogether. And, these are the minor inconveniences. There are worse ones. The absolute worst one, regards your security. The Trojan can disable your anti virus program and firewall. And, leave your system exposed. Not to mention, it steals information from you, which it then hands over to cyber criminals. Oh, yes. Apart from everything else, you get to endure, there’s also a privacy risk. Let’s elaborate. As soon as you get stuck with the Cloud.exe menace, know that you are watched. Your actions get observed, and recorded. The nasty tool spies on your browsing, and records everything you do. Then, after it decides it has gathered enough data, sends it. To whom? Well, to the strangers that published it. Unknown individuals with malicious intentions. Not people, you can trust with your personal and financial details. Don’t let them have it. Don’t extend the Trojan’s stay. Delete it as soon as you discover it’s on board your PC.

Manual Cloud.exe Removal Instructions

The Cloud.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 Cloud.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 Cloud.exe related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Cloud.exe startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Cloud.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 Cloud.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 Cloud.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 Cloud.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 Cloud.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 Cloud.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.