Koobface Trojan Removal

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

Koobface is a nasty Trojan worm which uses social network platforms to reach its victims. The parasite employs numerous tricks to reach a wild variety of potential victims. It is a menace which can infect Microsoft Windows systems, as well as Linux and Mac OS. The virus sneaks into your device unnoticed and corrupts your entire OS. Once successfully established, it takes control of your device. It is designed to steal confidential information, to further corrupt the infected devices, and to open your machine to targeted advertisements. Do not underestimate the virus. It is dangerous. Koobface tracks your data and keeps a record of your actions. The main goal of the parasite is to steal your login credentials (your usernames, passwords, email addresses, phone number etc.) How do you think this ends? If the virus succeeds, it will corrupt your social media accounts. The parasite would then use your accounts to send corrupted links to your contacts. Thus, when your friends follow these links, their devices would also get infected. Unfortunately, that is not the end of the stream of bad news. Your financial security is at risk. Your privacy is also jeopardized. The Trojan corrupts your browser and forces it to display potentially dangerous adverts. It injects various ads on every website you load and redirects your web traffic to sponsored pages. Koobface uses misleading language and deceptive websites to lure you into installing rogue software. The parasite generates revenue through a pay-per-install scheme. Basically, when you install a promoted app, the crooks will get paid. And so, they use the Trojan as an advertising platform. The parasite turns you into an easy target. Do not put up with this situation. Clean your computer now! The sooner you remove the Trojan, the better!

How did I get infected with?

Koobface is spread through phishing websites, spam emails, corrupted links and fake updates. The nasty parasite has numerous tricks up his sleeve. It knows how to deceive its victims. The number one distribution method is via emails. Yes, you know how dangerous an attached file can be. We won’t be surprised if you scan your downloaded files with an anti-virus app. Yet, this is not the scheme. The crooks are imaginative. They write on behalf of somebody you know and redirect your browser to phone websites. The crooks state that you’ve appeared on some online video/film and attach a link to a streaming platform. When you follow the link, you get redirected to a phony website. There, a message states that your software is out of data and you should update it if you want to play the video. If you click on the message, however, you will install the virus. Do not be naive. Do not even open such letters. Your caution can prevent the crooks from succeeding. If you receive an unexpected message, verify the sender. You can simply enter the questionable email address into a search engine. If it was used for shady business, someone might have complained. Also, the crooks tend to write on behalf of well-known organizations. If you receive such an email, go to the organization’s official website and compare the addresses listed there with the one you have received a message from. If they don’t match, delete the pretender immediately. Also, if the message is from someone you know, make sure it was your friend the one who sent it. Parasites like Koobface hack accounts and send automatic messages. All unexpected messages that contain links should be verified. Only you can keep your computer virus-free. So, don’t be lazy. Always do your due diligence!

Why is this dangerous?

Koobface is dangerous. This parasite is capable of stealing sensitive information. It is also quite capable of further infecting your device. The Trojan opens your computer to criminal influence. The owners of the Trojan can use it to transfer malicious files and parasites on your OS. Their main goal is to make money. One way or another. If they steal sensitive data, they can use it to drain your bank account or to blackmail you. If they fail, they will force your browser to target you with adverts. The Koobface is an advertising platform for criminals. Various crooks use it to target victims. They promote malicious software and nonexistent services. They use the Trojan to run numerous online scams. You have no reason to keep the Trojan on board. Not only is the virus dangerous, it is also extremely annoying. The parasite interferes with every aspect of your day to day web browsing. It floods your screen with adverts. The parasite redirects your web traffic and pauses your online videos for commercial breaks. This intruder is a pain in the neck that prevents you from using your computer normally. Do not tolerate it. Remove the Trojan the first chance you get!

Manual Koobface Removal Instructions

The Koobface 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 Koobface 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 Koobface related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Koobface startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Koobface 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 Koobface 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 Koobface 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 Koobface

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 Koobface, 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 Koobface 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.