Gracewire Backdoor Malware Removal

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

Gracewire Backdoor Malware is what users fear the most: a virus that downloads other viruses. The nasty parasites a complete and utter menace. It infects your system through trickery and opens it to numerous threats. The malware falls under the Trojan Horse umbrella. It slithers into your system and spreads its corruption everywhere. The Trojan modifies the Registry, alters settings, drops files, and starts malicious processes. It corrupts your entire OS. Brace yourself. The virus throws its victims in a whirlwind of issues. It affects every aspect of your daily, computer-related activities. Whether you browse your favorite website or edit a document, the Trojan always finds a way to interrupt you. It bombards you with adverts, causes your apps to freeze, and triggers errors. These issues, of course, are only the side effects of the Trojan’s operations. This parasite downloads and installs other parasites. From annoying adware to destructive ransomware, anything may sneak into your system through the Gracewire Backdoor Malware. Do not test your luck. The nasty Trojan has no place on your system. The more time it has, the worse your predicament gets. Don’t waste time in debates. Remove the Trojan before it gets you in serious trouble. The sooner you clean your system, the better!

How did I get infected with?

Torrents, spam emails, corrupted links, fake updates; there are myriads of ways for Gracewire Backdoor Malware to sneak into your computer. What all its distribution strategies have in common is the fact that they all rely on your carelessness. The Trojan preys on your naivety. It needs you to click on the corrupted link, to download the malicious file, to install the fake update. Don’t give into naivety. No anti-virus app can protect you if you act that recklessly. Only your caution is powerful enough to prevent infection. The key to a secure and infection-free system is caution. Always take the time to do your due diligence. Even a little extra attention can spare you numerous future headaches. Don’t visit shady websites. Download software and updates from reliable sources only. When available, use the advanced/custom setup option. Read the terms and conditions before you agree to them. And, of course, don’t interact with suspicious emails. Treat all unexpected messages as potential threats. Before you even open such an email, verify its sender. If it’s from an organization, go to their official website. Compare the email addresses listed there to the questionable one. If they don’t match, delete the pretender. Don’t let your guard down. Don’t let parasites manipulate you!

Why is this dangerous?

Gracewire Backdoor Malware is a nightmare. It makes a mess of your system. As soon as it sneaks into your OS, corruption follows. The Trojan corrupts everything. It messes with essential system directories and may cause program malfunctions and errors. You face frequent freezes and crashes. Some of your apps may not load at all. You also risk data loss and system crashes. And that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. Gracewire Backdoor Malware threatens to steal sensitive information and to send it unknown criminals. The Trojan knows where your files are located, what apps you have installed, your IP and MAC addresses. If the owners of the Trojan decide, they can use it to infect your computer with spyware and monitor even more data points. The virus may steal sensitive information such as your usernames, passwords, personal and financial detail. Can you imagine the consequences if such an event occurs? Gracewire Backdoor Malware should not be underestimated. It may cause irreversible damage. Do yourself a huge favor and remove this invader the first chance you get! Act against the Trojan now!

Manual Gracewire Removal Instructions

The Gracewire 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 Gracewire 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 Gracewire related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Gracewire startup location

STEP 3: Delete Gracewire traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Gracewire 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 Gracewire 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 Gracewire 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 Gracewire

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 Gracewire, 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 Gracewire 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.