How to Remove Plurox Malware

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

Plurox is a newly-found malware that combines backdoor, cryptominer, and worm-like characteristics. According to Kaspersky, the malware has a modular structure which allows the hackers to upgrade its functions with plugins. Plurox is an unpredictable invader. It jeopardizes both your security and privacy, as well as your computer’s well-being. If you suspect that your PC harbors this malware, take immediate action! Delays lead to regrets. The more time Plurox has, the worse your predicament gets. This malware slithers into your computer and corrupts your entire operating system. It modifies the registry, drops malicious files, and starts dangerous processes. This, of course, happens without any obvious symptoms. You can’t catch the parasite in time to limit the corruption. The malware gets your OS under control and opens a backdoor. How do you think that ends? The hackers can use the parasite to gain unauthorized access to your OS, steal/corrupt/delete your data, turn your machine into a coinminer. Don’t wait to see what the future holds. Your best and only course of action is the immediate removal of the malware. Find where it lurks and delete it upon detection. The sooner you clean your OS, the better!

 

How did I get infected with?

Plurox uses exploits to spread itself. It acts as a worm and infects the devices connected to a local network. As for the initial infection, there are myriads of ways for the virus to reach your device. Fake updates, corrupted links, malicious websites, pirated software, spam messages. You can never know where a parasite might strike from. Don’t let your guard down. The viruses need an opening to strike. They lurk in the shadows and wait for you to make a mistake. Don’t give into naivety! No anti-virus app can protect you if you throw caution to the wind. Only your actions can prevent infections. Even a little extra attention goes a long way. Don’t visit questionable websites. Download software and updates from reputable (preferably official) sources only. And be cautious about your inbox. Whether it’s an instant message or an email, treat all unexpected messages as potential threats. Always verify the senders. If, for example, you receive an email 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 immediately. You can also enter the suspicious addresses into a search engine. If they were used for questionable activities, someone might have complained online!

Why is this dangerous?

Plurox has only one purpose: to cause harm. This virus corrupts your entire OS and creates a link between your PC and a hackers’ server. The criminals can contact the virus at any given time and instruct it to execute malicious operations. No one can tell you what the criminals plan for your computer. Plurox gives them unlimited options. From infecting your machine with spyware to corrupting your data with ransomware, the virus wreaks utter havoc. More often than not, however, the virus steals computer resources. It starts cryptomining operations. The malware can force your device to perform complicated accounting services for a coin platform. In exchange for its help, your machine gets rewarded with fractions of the coin. The money, however, is not transferred to you, but to the hackers’ cyber wallet. As for you, you get stuck with an unresponsive and sluggish device. The coin-mining process is very heavy. It takes everything your computer has to offer and leaves nothing for you. Thus, you are likely to experience errors, program malfunctions, freezing and crashes. You might find yourself forced to reboot your system repeatedly. A simple restart, however, won’t fix your problems. Plurox loads together with your OS and is always running in the background. Do not put up with this situation. Protect yourself and your privacy. Remove the malware ASAP!

Manual Plurox Removal Instructions

The Plurox 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 Plurox 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 Plurox related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Plurox startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Plurox 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 Plurox 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 Plurox 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 Plurox

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 Plurox, 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 Plurox 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.