How to Remove Caphaw Malware

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

Caphaw malware is a nasty virus which falls under the Trojan horse category. If your computer harbors this menace, you are in serious trouble. Caphaw follows programming to corrupt your entire operating system and to open it to malicious interference. The virus sneaks into your computer unnoticed and spreads its roots everywhere. It alters settings, modifies the registry, corrupts essential directories and files. This, of course, happens without any noticeable symptoms. The Trojans, after all, are notorious for their stealth. Caphaw is not an exception. This virus lurks in the background and is usually unnoticeable. It, however, messes with the system directories and may cause issues such as errors, program malfunctions, and crashes. The parasite might force you to reboot your computer repeatedly. A simple restart, however, won’t fix your problem. The Trojan loads together with your OS and is always running. If you are not sure, that’s bad. That’s very dangerous! This nasty parasite weakens your system’s defense mechanisms and helps malware sneak into your computer. The bad news is that the Trojan also monitors your OS and is also linked to data loss, as well as to financial espionage. If you have even the slightest suspicion that Caphaw lurks on your PC, run a virus scan immediately. This virus is dangerous and very menacing.

How did I get infected with?

Caphaw travels the web via spam messages, corrupted links, spam campaigns, and deceptive social media posts. The crooks use various tricks to lure you into either clicking on a corrupted link or into downloading a malicious file. Do not make their job easier! Don’t throw caution to the wind. No anti-virus app can protect you if you act recklessly. The crooks rely on your naivety. Your caution, however, is powerful enough to prevent infections. So, don’t let your guard down. Always take the time to do your due diligence. Don’t follow suspicious links. Download software and updates from reliable sources only. And be very careful with your inbox. Whether it’s an instant message or an email, treat all unexpected messages as potential threats. Always take a minute to verify their senders. If, for example, you receive an email from an organization, go to their official website. Compare the email addresses listed there to the suspicious one. If they don’t match, delete the pretender. You can also enter the suspicious addresses into a search engine. If they were used for questionable activities, someone might have complained online! Even a little extra attention can spare you an avalanche of problems.

Why is this dangerous?

Caphaw is a nightmare. This nasty virus sneaks into your computer and corrupts everything. It takes control of your OS and opens a backdoor to it. The bad news is that the hackers can use this virus to manipulate your device remotely, to steal sensitive information, to corrupt your data, or to turn your device into a part of a botnet. Caphaw provides its operators with unrestricted control over your PC. No one can tell you what to expect. It all depends on the hackers and their current plans. Be sure, though, that these people don’t have your best interest in mind. You are dealing with experienced criminals. They use Caphaw to cause harm. They are usually after financial details, but they are no strangers to blackmailing and data corruption. Do not wait to see what the future holds. Your best and only course of action is the immediate removal of the virus. Take action as soon as you become aware of the infection. Clean your operating system ASAP!

Manual Caphaw Removal Instructions

The Caphaw 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 Caphaw 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 Caphaw related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Caphaw startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Caphaw 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 Caphaw 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 Caphaw 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 Caphaw

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 Caphaw, 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 Caphaw 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.