PayPal Email Virus

What is PayPal Email Virus?

"PayPal Email Virus" is a spam email campaign similar to FedEx Shipment, Barclays Secured Message, Electronic Intuit, and many others.

This campaign is used to proliferate a high-risk trojan called TrickBot. The message essentially states that a number of PayPal accounts have been hacked and, therefore, users must confirm their personal information by opening an attached MS Word document (which is malicious).

As mentioned above, the message encourages users to open an attached document to confirm their account details. This is a scam - the opened malicious attachment instantly downloads and installs the TrickBot trojan. Note that PayPal is a legitimate company and has nothing to do with this spam campaign.

It is very common for cyber criminals to claim to be employees of huge companies or governmental institutions. In this way, they increase the chance of convincing users into opening attachments - users are much more likely to open emails received from familiar names. TrickBot is high-risk malware that gathers sensitive information.

After successful infiltration, it hijacks browsers and modifies visited website content so that all entered logins/passwords are saved on a remote server. The presence of such malware can lead to serious privacy issues and significant financial loss, since cyber criminals might gain access to personal accounts of social networks, banks, and so on.

Therefore, if you have already opened attachments distributed via the "PayPal Email Virus" campaign, you should immediately scan the system with a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite and remove all detected threats.

There are dozens of trojan-type viruses similar to TrickBot including, for example, DanaBot, Emotet, and FormBook. As with TrickBot, many trojans are distributed using spam emails, likely to gather sensitive information, and are often designed to infiltrate the system with other malware (usually ransomware).

Therefore, the presence of any trojan is very dangerous - these viruses pose a direct threat to your privacy and computer safety.

How did PayPal Email Virus infect my computer?

"PayPal Email Virus" is used to proliferate a malicious MS Word attachment. After opening the document, users are asked to enable macro commands. Once macros are enabled, the attachment immediately executes commands that download and install TrickBot.

Although this distribution method is very simple, it has a major flaw - the malicious attachment is only able to download malware if it is opened using MS Word. Thus, using other software (capable of opening .doc formats) will prevent the infection. Furthermore, TrickBot targets the MS Windows Operating System only and users of other platforms are safe.

How to avoid installation of malware?

To prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the Internet. Carefully analyze each email attachment received. If the file seems irrelevant or has been received from a suspicious address, you should never open it. Be aware also that 2010 and newer MS Office versions open newly-downloaded documents in "Protected View" mode.

This prevents malicious attachments from downloading and installing malware. Therefore, using old versions is not recommended. Furthermore, you should have a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and running. The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior.

The key to safety is caution. If you have already opened a "PayPal Email Virus" attachment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "PayPal Email Virus" email message:

Subject: PayPal account warning
Greetings, dear Client! please!
We noticed a lot of frauds performed by machinations with online servicesof the accounts of our clients. Attackers obtain access to accounts by stealing login data and passwords. This may be very dangerous for your funds and our reputation, so we are asking you to perform some actions, in order to prevent fraud. To protect your funds, verify please your account data. It will let us approve your post address and personal data. Also we strongly recommend to keep passwords and login data, in the safe place. To make your account information verified, please fill and send the next form via e-mail or via post. Our post address is:

2211 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95131
ATTACHED FILE: Data Verification Form
If you will not react on this notification, we will be forced to temporarily block your online services until you won’t verify your account information.
Important: Do not send or show your login data to anybody! We NEVER ask our clients to send it to us! Also we recommend to check your devices with antiviral software to detect and eliminate the vulnerabilities.

We are sorry for such inconvenience.
Yours faithfully,
PayPal Security Center.

Malicious attachment distributed via "PayPal Email Virus" spam campaign:

Another variant of "PayPal Email Virus" spam campaign:

Text presented within this email:

Please pay attention!
Good day Dear clients! Because of recent huge hacker attack, a bulk database which included the names and surnames of our users was stolen from PayPal servers. This base has not been used anyhow yet, but, we strongly recommend to remain skeptical when obtaining named mail. The hackers can use members' information in swindle practices. Please be aware and pay attention to the following things: 1) Be cautios! We NEVER will requestyou forcredentials, namelylogin or password. 2) In the event that youwill receivesuch e-mails or telephone calls, do nottell your personaldata and reportus and, if needed, mail provider. 3) In order to approve that you are still working from your account, plaease fill verification form and sendit to us.
To check out the verification form please download the attached file.
These actions will help you protect your account and feel comfortable while using our service. We extremely apologize for the difficulties and the current situation. PayPal Security Service Remember! Be aware of phishing emails and calls. We will NEVER ask for your credentials!

Malicious attachment distributed via this variant:

Another variant of "PayPal Email Virus" spam campaign (used to distribute Hancitor):

Text presented within this email:

Good Afternoon,

You received a payment of $133.17 USD
Thanks for using PayPal. To see all the transaction details, download your PayPal Transaction details file:
Download transaction details file
It may take a few moments for this transaction to appear in your account.
Seller Protection - Eligible
Question? Go to the Help Center at: www.paypal.com/help.
Please do not reply to this email. This mailbox is not monitored and you will not receive a response. For assistance, log in to your PayPal account and click Help in the top right corner of any PayPal page.
You can receive plain text emails instead of HTML emails. To change your notifications preferences, log into your account, go to your Profile, and click My settings.

Copyright © 1999-2018 PayPal, Inc. All rights reserved. PayPal is located at 2211 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95131.
PayPal PPX000000:5.1:78m7m6j2z2z0

Two other variants of "PayPal Email Virus" spam campaign, both promoting a link to download the exact same malicious MS Office document.

Sample 1:

Text presented within this email:

The following Paid Standard invoice Notice is provided to you personally by PayPal Services.
Get Invoice
Thanks for working with PayPal and this is your paid invoice.
Your PayPal Invoice has been paid and now accessible for download.
Remember to follow the link above to view in depth info.

Help |  Fees   |  Shop        

Just click here to Remove your address

Please do not respond to this e mail. We are not able to respond to questions delivered to this e-mail. For fast responses to your concerns, visit our Support Center by clicking "Support" found on any PayPal page.
PayPal is Certified as a Funds Transmitter by the Nyc Department of Financial Services. PayPal, NMKS #910537, License #FB3351, Massachusetts Foreign Transmittal Certificate. PayPal, Transmit Money By Money Order By The Division of Banking, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PayPal, Rhode Island Licensed Money Transferor. PayPal, INC., NHOS #910456, LICENSE #44866, IS LICENSED BY THE ATLANTA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS BANKING AND FINANCING.

Copyright laws 2018 PayPal, Inc. PayPal is placed at 2215 N. First St., San Antonio, CA 95234.

Sample 2:

Text presented within this email:

The following Standard invoice Notice is delivered to you personally by PayPal Services.

Download Invoice

Thanks for using PayPal and here is your paid invoice.
Your PayPal Invoice has been paid and already available for download.
Remember to follow the link above to view in depth information.

Account |  Security   |  Apps     

Click this link to Unsubscribe

Please do not respond to this email. We are unable to react to requests sent to this address. For fast replies to your inquiries, visit our Support Center simply by clicking "Support" found on any PayPal email.

PayPal Inc. is Licensed as a Funds Transmitter by the Nyc State Dept of Monetary Services. PayPal, NMKS #920437, Permit #FT3355, Massachusetts Foreign Transmittal Permit. PayPal, Inc., Transmit Funds By Money Order By The Division of Banking, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. PayPal, Inc. Rhode Island Certified Money Transferor. PAYPAL, INC., NHLS #910447, PERMIT #34967, IS LICENSED BY ATLANTA DEPT OF BUSINESS BANKING AND FINANCING.
Copyright 2018 PayPal, Inc. PayPal is placed at 2215 N. 1st St., San Jose, CA 96154.

Screenshot of the malicious attachment (once macros are enabled, this document downloads and executes Hancitor trojan):

Hancitor trojan's process ("initdb - initialize a new database cluster") in Windows Task Manager. After infiltrating the system this trojan injects Ursnif malware into the system.

Update 19 December, 2018 - Crooks now use this spam campaign to steal logins/passwords - they send emails that contain a link to fake PayPal login page. Once the account credentials are entered, they're instantly saved in a remote server controlled by cyber criminals. In other word, crooks instantly gain access to victim's PayPal account.

Screenshot of the email:

Text presented within this letter:

PayPal Email Virus Update - password stealing email - phishing

Subject: Attention: Your account status change

This message is from a trusted sender.
We marked it in spam section by fault , it will appear in your inbox folder moments later.

Someone Logged into your PayPal account.

Country : China

IP Address : 1.63.255.255

Device : Chrome Browser

if you think there's someone trying to gain access to your account , please Cancel the login attemp and follow some verification steps.

Click on the button down bellow : Cancel (clicking this link leads to a phishing website - if you entered your password in this site be sure to contact PayPal (explaining you have been tricked by a phishing email) and change your password immediately)

Screenshot of fake PayPal login website promoted via this email:

Another variant of "PayPal Email Virus" spam campaign's phishing mail:

Text presented within this email:

Dear ******,

We detect unauthorized Login Attempts to you PayPal account from other Ip adress.
Please re-confirm your identity today or your account will be Locked ,
To re-confirm your PayPal account , We recommend that you go to

Verify Now

PayPal security center
1999-2018 PayPal Inc
Regards.

Two additional examples of PayPal-related spam emails used for phishing purposes:

Example 1:

Text presented within:

PayPal
Your PayPal account has been limited.

Dear ***,

Your Paypal account has been limited.

Your account has been limited temporarily in order to protect it. The account will continue to be limited until it is approved.

Please verify your identity today or your account will be limited due to concerns we have for the security and integrity of the PayPal Services.

Verify Your Account

After verifying your account, you canuse your PayPal account to make payments. Your transactions will be covered by PayPal Buyer Protection for eligible purchases.

Sincerely,

PayPal

Please do not reply to this email. To get in touch, go to the PayPal website and click Help & Contact.

Advice for consumers - PayPal Pte. Ltd., the owner of PayPal's stored value facility, does not require approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Users are advised to read the terms and conditions carefully.

Copyright 1999-2020 PayPal, Inc. All rights reserved.

PayPal PPX0010229:92b378687

Example 2:

Text presented within:

Apple ID - *****,

This message is to inform you that your Apple account **** has been temporarily locked until you can validate your Apple ID details on file.

This is security measure to protect your iCloud Account from unapproved use.
We apologise for the inconvenience.

You won't be able to access Apple service or the iTunes & Apple Store until you verify your Apple Account ownership, we urge you to complete validation as soon as possible. Failure to validate your details within a 24 hours can result in termination of your Apple/iCloud Account to safeguard our system.

How do I validate my Apple ACcount and unsuspended my Apple ID?
Just proceed to the link below to verify your account. Login using your Apple ID and password, then follow the prompts.

Verify Your Account

While using Apple devices and web services, you'll still login with your e-mail address as your Apple login.

if you have question and need support, please see the Apple ID Support Site.

Apple Support

Case Support ID #l10BA3791-ID102

Apple ID | Support | Privacy Policy
Copyright ©1999-2018å€Z
Apple Distribution International, Hollyhill Industrial Estate, Hollyhill, Cork, Ireland.å€Z
All Rights Reserved.

Screenshot of yet another PayPal-themed spam email used for phishing purposes (the promoted website was disabled at the time of research):

Text presented within:

Subject: Your account has been limited

PayPal

Support team : Notification

admin99@thedigitalpresense.info

Your account has been limited

we have noticed that some data from your account information

seems inaccurate or unverified.you have to check your information

in order to continue using our service smoothly. please check your

account information .

Check Your Account

service@paypal.com.

1313 Van Wert Decatur Rd, Van Wert, AK 74458

Unsubscribe - Unsubscribe Preferences

Yet another PayPal-themed spam email used for phishing purposes:

Text presented within:

Subject: Case Ref ID  : R-160952605077

 

PayPal
Hello Customer, Your account appears to have had an automated behavior that violates our Rules . To unlock your account, please click the button below and follow the steps to confirm that you are the valid account owner.

Confirm The Account
If you ignore this email your account will be Officially Permanently dis abled the next 48 hours ...

Thanks!

PayPal Team

Copyright 2020 PayPal Inc. All rights reserved

Screenshot of a website promoted using this email:

Yet another PayPal-themed spam emails used to promote a dubious sites:

Example 1:

Text presented within:

Subject: Your account access will be limited

PayPal

Your account access will be limited in 24h.

Hello Dear Customer,

 Welcome to your account statement. From now on we will send you one every month so you have an overview of  your transactions. You can always go to , log in and go to your account activity page to view your transactions.

We need a little bit more information about you to help confirm your identity

<
     
Confirm Your Account Now

Example 2:

Text presented within:

Subject: Update Your Account Information - 2020/10/10 5:05:42
    
Your PayPal account has been limited.    
Dear Client ,
Remember, you still need to take action to restore your PayPal account. Until you do, your account will be limited.  

What's going on?

We've noticed some unusual activity on your PayPal account and we're concerned about potential unauthorised account access.

What to do next ?

Please log in to your PayPal account using "Restore Now" button and complete the steps to confirm your identity and your recent account activity. To help protect your account, your account will remain limited until you complete the necessary steps.

Restore Now

How you can help ?

It's usually pretty easy to take care of things like this. Most of the time, we just need a little more information about your account or latest transactions.
To help us with this and to find out what you can and can't do with your account until the issue is resolved, log in to your account and go to the Resolution Center.

Yours sincerely,
PayPal

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Types of malicious emails:

If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file from a suspicious email, run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner. If you only received the email and didn't engage with it, you don't need to scan anything - just identify the scam and delete it. The full procedure below covers both situations and what to do if you already clicked, replied, or sent money.

Credential theft Phishing emails

Fake login pages disguised as PayPal, Microsoft, Apple, banks, or social networks. The email pushes a link to a near-perfect copy of the real login screen. The moment you type your username and password, the attacker has them.

Common subject lines

• "Action required: confirm your account"
• "Your password expires today"
• "Unusual sign-in attempt detected"
• "Verify your billing information"

Malware delivery Emails with malicious attachments

Trojans hidden inside fake invoices, faxes, shipping confirmations, or Office documents. Opening the attachment runs the payload and infects the system - often with an info-stealer or remote-access trojan.

Common subject lines

• "Invoice INV-2026-XXXX attached"
• "Fax received - 3 pages"
• "Your shipping document is ready"
• "Voicemail from +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX"

Extortion Sextortion emails

Fake claims of webcam recordings demanding cryptocurrency. Almost always a bluff: the attacker pulls a real password from an old data breach to make the threat look credible, then claims to have video of you. They have no recording and no access.

Common subject lines

• "I know your password is XXXX"
• "Your account has been hacked"
• "I have recorded you - 48 hours to pay"
• "You have been compromised"

Callback fraud Refund & callback scams

"Your subscription was renewed for $499 - call to cancel." Norton, McAfee, Geek Squad, PayPal, and Wells Fargo variants are all common. There's no real subscription. The phone number in the email connects directly to the scammer, who walks you through "refunding" yourself - which is actually them stealing money from your bank.

Common subject lines

• "Norton subscription auto-renewed - $499.99"
• "McAfee Total Protection invoice"
• "Geek Squad order confirmation"
• "Your PayPal payment is being processed"

Credential theft Account suspension & verification scams

"Your account will be deleted in 24 hours - verify now." The artificial deadline is the whole point: it pressures you to click before checking details. The "verify" link goes to a phishing page styled to look like the real provider.

Common subject lines

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Suspicious activity detected - verify now"
• "Final warning: account closure"
• "Action required to keep your account active"

Mixed payload Delivery & package scams

Fake DHL, USPS, UPS, or FedEx tracking, customs fees, or "package undeliverable" notices. Targets anyone expecting a parcel - the timing alone catches many people. The link hides either phishing (asking for card details to "release" the package) or a malware download.

Common subject lines

• "Your DHL package is held at customs"
• "USPS - delivery attempt failed"
• "FedEx tracking update - action required"
• "Pay $2.99 redelivery fee to release your parcel"

Remote access Tech support scams

Fake Microsoft, Apple, or "Windows Defender" security alerts pushing a phone number. Real Microsoft and Apple never email a phone number to call. The number connects you to a scammer who asks for remote access to "fix" the imaginary problem and then demands payment.

Common subject lines

• "Microsoft Defender expired - renew now"
• "Apple ID security alert"
• "Critical: virus detected on your PC"
• "Windows license expired - call now"

Wire fraud Advance-fee scams

Inheritance, lottery wins, romance, or business deals that ask for a small fee to release a much larger sum. The classic "Nigerian prince" 419 family of frauds. Once you pay the first fee, more fees appear (taxes, lawyer, transfer charges) until you stop paying. The promised money never exists.

Common subject lines

• "Inheritance from a relative you didn't know about"
• "You won the international lottery"
• "URGENT - business proposal worth $XX million"
• "Compensation fund release for fraud victims"

Wire fraud Business email compromise (BEC)

CEO impersonation asking employees to wire money or buy gift cards, or fake supplier invoices with newly "updated" bank details for payment redirection. The email often spoofs a real internal executive's display name and uses an external lookalike domain.

Common subject lines

• "Quick task - need you to buy gift cards"
• "Updated banking details for invoice payment"
• "Wire transfer request - urgent"
• "Are you available?" (CEO impersonation opener)

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

---

1

Check the sender's actual address, not the display name

30 sec

The display name (the human-readable part) is trivial to fake. Always check the full address that comes after it. Common red flags:

• Domain mismatch - service@paypa1.com, support@micros0ft-help.com, look-alike domains using digits or extra hyphens
• Free-email impersonation - any "official" message from a bank, courier, or platform sent from a @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or @yahoo.com address
• Reply-To mismatch - the From address looks legitimate but Reply-To points somewhere completely different

Why this matters

Real companies own their domains and send mail from them. A "DHL" message from a Gmail address is never legitimate, regardless of how convincing the body looks.

2

Watch for urgency, threats, and generic greetings

30 sec

Scams almost always rush you. The point is to make you act before you think. Treat any of the following as a strong signal:

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Final notice" / "Immediate action required"
• "Dear Customer" or "Dear User" instead of your real name
• Threats of fines, account closure, legal action, or arrest
• Promises of refunds, prizes, or money you didn't earn
• Spelling and grammar mistakes in messages claiming to come from a major brand

3

Hover over every link before clicking

30 sec

On a desktop, hover the mouse over the link without clicking. The real destination shows in the bottom-left status bar of your browser or email client. On a phone, long-press the link to preview the URL.

• Real Microsoft, PayPal, or bank links go to those exact domains, not redirects through unrelated sites
• Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co) hide the real destination - never click them in unsolicited mail
• The visible link text and the actual URL must match - mismatches are the single biggest phishing red flag

Pro tip

When in doubt, don't click the link. Open a new browser tab and type the company's address yourself, then log in normally. If there really is an issue with your account, you'll see it there.

4

Treat unexpected attachments as hostile

30 sec

If you didn't ask for the file, don't open it - even if it appears to come from someone you know. Categories that should never be opened from email without verification through another channel:

• .exe, .scr, .iso, .img, .vbs, .bat - executables, never legitimate attachments
• .docx, .xlsx, .pptx with "Enable macros" prompts - the macros run the malware
• .pdf with "Click here to view" buttons - usually a phishing redirect, not a real document
• .zip, .rar, .7z archives, especially password-protected ones - the password defeats the email scanner

Phase 2~ 2 min

Report and delete - if you haven't engaged

---

If you only received the email and didn't reply, click, or open anything, the steps below are all you need. Your computer is not infected.

5

Don't reply, don't click "unsubscribe"

30 sec

Replying confirms your address is real and monitored, which gets you added to higher-value scam lists. The "unsubscribe" link in a scam message is rarely a real opt-out - it usually leads to a phishing page or downloads a tracking pixel.

Instead, mark the message as junk or phishing inside your email client (this trains the spam filter), then block the sender.

6

Report the scam to your email provider and authorities

1 min

Inside your email client:

• Gmail: open the message → ⋮ menu → Report phishing
• Outlook / Outlook.com: ⋯ menu → Report → Report phishing
• Apple Mail / iCloud: Move to Junk, then forward to reportphishing@apple.com

Forward or report to authorities:

• International: forward to reportphishing@apwg.org
• United States: ic3.gov (FBI)
• United Kingdom: forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk (NCSC SERS); for financial loss report at reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
• Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
• Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
• EU: your national CERT - find yours via the ENISA CSIRT map

After reporting, delete the email and empty the Trash folder so you don't accidentally open it later.

Phase 3~ 10–60 min

Recover - if you already engaged with the scam

---

Pick the step below that matches what you did. If multiple apply, work through them in the order they appear - the steps are arranged from lowest to highest risk.

7

You only clicked a link (didn't enter anything or download anything)

Scenario: clicked link only10 min

Close the page right away. Don't enter any information, even if the page looks legitimate.

• Clear your browser cache and cookies for the last hour - Chrome/Edge: Ctrl+Shift+Del → Last hour → check Cookies and Cached files
• Run a quick scan with Combo Cleaner in case the page tried to drop a file silently (drive-by download)
• Update your browser to the latest version - most drive-by exploits target outdated browsers
• Watch for new browser pop-ups, redirects, or unfamiliar notifications over the next few days

Why this matters

Modern browsers block most drive-by attacks, but a single click on a phishing page can still be enough on an outdated browser or unpatched plugin. A quick scan catches anything that landed silently.

8

You opened an attachment or downloaded a file - run a full malware scan

Scenario: opened attachment⚠ Highest risk60–90 min

Opening an attachment is the most common path to actual infection. Treat the system as compromised until the scans below come back clean. Work through these sub-steps in order:

8.1Disconnect from the network

Unplug Ethernet and turn off Wi-Fi. If the attachment was an info-stealer or remote-access trojan, this stops it from sending data out or receiving commands. Keep the network off until you've booted into Safe Mode (next step) - you'll reconnect there briefly to download the scanners.

8.2Boot into Safe Mode with Networking, then download the scanners

Windows 11: Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 5 or F5.

Windows 10: hold Shift, click Power → Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press F5.

Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in 8.4) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in 8.5). Safe Mode loads only minimal drivers, so most malware can't auto-run while you're getting the tools. Save both installers to your Desktop.

8.3Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads - this is what catches rootkits and bootkits.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

8.4Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

Install Combo Cleaner and run a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete fully, review what it found, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner will quarantine known trojans and remove their persistence in the registry.

8.5Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe). The binary expires every 10 days, which means every download has the latest signatures. Run a full scan after Combo Cleaner to catch anything one engine alone might miss.

8.6Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

Many email-borne trojans drop adware that hijacks browsers. Reset each browser you use:

Chrome: chrome://settings/reset → Restore settings to their original defaults. Then chrome://settings/content/notifications - remove unfamiliar sites.

Edge: edge://settings/reset. Then edge://settings/content/notifications.

Firefox: about:support → Refresh Firefox.

8.7Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything

Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Then run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and update browsers and applications.

Important

If the scans keep finding new threats on each run, or files reappear after deletion, you may have a deeper compromise that needs a clean Windows reinstall. See pcrisk's full manual malware removal guide for the extended procedure (Process Explorer, Autoruns, hosts file inspection).

9

You entered credentials on a fake login page

Scenario: shared password⚠ Act fast20 min

Assume the attacker has your password and is using it right now. Speed matters.

1. Change the password from a different, known-clean device (your phone is fine if it's not infected). Don't reuse the old password anywhere else.
2. Enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already. Prefer an authenticator app or hardware key over SMS.
3. Sign out of all sessions - most platforms have a "sign out everywhere" option in security settings, which kicks the attacker out.
4. Review recent activity - look for unfamiliar logins, new devices, forwarding rules, or app permissions. Remove anything you don't recognize.
5. Check your other accounts - if you reused that password anywhere else, change it there too. Check your exposure at haveibeenpwned.com.
6. Update security questions - the attacker may have seen the answers in your account profile.

Why email comes first

If you only have time to change one password, change your primary email password - it's the recovery hub for every other account. An attacker who controls your email can reset everything else.

10

You sent money or shared bank, card, or ID details

Scenario: financial loss⚠ Contact bank now30 min

Time is the single biggest factor in recovering money. Banks can sometimes recall a wire or reverse a card transaction within the first few hours.

1. Call your bank or card issuer immediately. Use the number on the back of the card, not any number from the scam email. Ask them to freeze the card, reverse the transaction if possible, and flag the account for fraud monitoring.
2. If you sent a wire transfer or used a money-transfer service (Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, Wise), call them directly and request a recall. Some can be reversed within minutes if reported fast.
3. If you sent cryptocurrency or gift cards, recovery is unlikely - but report it anyway, since law enforcement tracks these patterns.
4. File a police report. You'll need the report number for any insurance, bank, or credit-bureau claim. Save the report number.
5. File with the right authority for your country:
   • US: ic3.gov + reportfraud.ftc.gov
   • UK: reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
   • Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
   • Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
   • EU: your national CERT or police cybercrime unit
6. Set fraud alerts on all major credit bureaus if you shared any ID details. US: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion (Cifas Protective Registration is a stronger option).
7. Save all evidence - the original email (with full headers), screenshots of the fake site, transaction records, any phone numbers or chat logs.

Phase 4~ 15 min + 30 days

Verify & monitor

---

11

Final scan and startup-app check

15 min

Reconnect to the network and run one final full scan with Combo Cleaner, followed by a Windows Defender quick scan. Then open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to Startup apps - disable anything unfamiliar.

Make sure Windows, browsers, and any applications you use are fully up to date. The infection vector that worked on you once usually involves outdated software.

12

Monitor accounts and credit for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most fraud follow-ups land in the first month. Until that window closes, keep watching:

• Bank and card statements - daily for the first week, then weekly
• Email - watch for password-reset confirmations or login alerts you didn't trigger
• Credit report - US: free at annualcreditreport.com; UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all have free tiers
• Breach alerts - sign up at haveibeenpwned.com to be notified when your email appears in new leaks

If anything new appears in any of those, treat it as a continuing compromise: change passwords again, contact the bank again, and update the police report.

Important: If you didn't click anything, didn't reply, and didn't open any attachment, your computer is not infected - just delete the email and move on. If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there. That path catches the vast majority of email-borne malware without the risk of breaking Windows by deleting the wrong file.