Avoid installation of the Kryptik trojan via "WeTransfer" emails

What is "WeTransfer" email virus?

"WeTransfer" is the title of a deceptive email designed to spread the Kryptik trojan. The email might also be used to spread other malicious programs. You are strongly advised against opening this message, and especially the links it contains, since this will trigger installation of the aforementioned malware infection.

"WeTransfer" malicious email in detail

The text presented in the "WeTransfer" email is brief and simply informs recipients that they have been sent a document concerning the unspecified company's profile and purchase/order details ("Our company profile as requested and Purchase Order.pdf").

The message has few details and does not play on people's emotions (e.g. using scare tactics), however, they risk being tricked into downloading the archived file within the message through confusion or curiosity. Cyber criminals often mention or use legitimate services for their malicious purposes.

Both WeTransfer and ownCloud are genuine services (file transfer and hosting respectively), which are abused by the individuals behind this spam campaign. At the time of research, the link in the "WeTransfer" email opened an ownCloud web page, from which the file containing Kryptik trojan could be downloaded.

This is high-risk malware with a wide range of capabilities, including (but not limited to) system and browser modification, control over connected hardware and data exfiltration. To summarize, Kryptik is likely to cause serious privacy issues, significant financial loss and even identity theft.

To protect device and user safety, it is crucial to eliminate all malicious programs without delay.

Similarities with other emails used to deliver malware

Social engineering and scare tactics are usually employed to further deceptive/scam emails. These messages are typically disguised as "official", "important", "priority", "urgent" and so on. The subject matter varies drastically: the written content can be well-researched and detailed, or sloppy and hastily put together.

Therefore, emails riddled with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes, and other inconsistencies, should call the legitimacy of the message immediately into question. The only purpose of this deceptive email is to generate revenue at users' expense.

This is achieved via malware infections, which trick recipients into revealing their personal details (e.g. information relating to identity, banking account or credit card details, etc.) or making monetary transactions (e.g. blackmailing people for existing or nonexistent compromising material, various fake fees or payments, etc.), and via the use of many other scamming techniques.

Systems are infected through attachments or links leading to download of the file. "Your computer hacked!", "Christmas Party Email", and "HARASSMENT COMPLAINT" are some examples of emails used to proliferate malware.

The Kryptik malicious software is spread through the "WeTransfer" email spam campaign and shares similarities with Emotet, TrickBot, Adwind and countless other trojans.

How did "WeTransfer" email virus infect my computer?

Deceptive/Scam mail infects systems via dangerous files, which can be attached to, or linked within, the message. Links are employed for the "WeTransfer" email. Infectious files come in a variety of formats including archive (CAB, ZIP, RAR, etc.) and executable (.exe, .run, .etc.) files, Microsoft Office and PDF documents, JavaScript and others.

When these files are executed, run or otherwise opened, the infection processes is initiated and they begin downloading/installing malware. For example, upon opening, Microsoft Office documents request users to enable macro commands (i.e., to enable editing).

Enabling them can trigger an infection, however, in MS Office versions released prior to 2010, macros are enabled automatically once the document is opened.

How to avoid installation of malware

Suspect and/or irrelevant emails should not be opened, especially if received from unknown senders (addresses). Also do not open any attached files or links found in suspicious messages, as they are the potential origin of an infection. You are strongly advised to use Microsoft Office versions released after 2010.

The newer releases have "Protected View" mode, which prevents malicious macros from immediately initiating the infection process when the document is opened.

Malicious content is often downloaded from untrusted download channels such as unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders. Therefore, use only official and verified download sources. Illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third party updaters can also cause infections.

Therefore, programs should be activated and updated only with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers. To ensure device integrity and user safety, have reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware software installed and kept up to date. Furthermore, use this software for regular system scans and removal of detected threats/issues.

If you have already opened the file downloaded from the website accessed via "WeTransfer" email, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "WeTransfer" email message:

Click 'Download images' to view images
********
sent you some documents PDF
2 item, 768 KB in total ・ Will be deleted on 30 October, 2019
Our company profile as requested and Purchase Order.pdf

Get your files
Download link
hxxps://kingsdoggy.blaucloud.de/index.php/s/*****
2 items
Company profile.pdf
Purchase Order.pdf
700 KB
To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.
About WeTransfer ・ Help ・ Legal ・ Report this transfer as spam

Screenshot of the website opened via a link in the "WeTransfer" email:

Screenshot of detections on the malware database VirusTotal of "Our company profile as requested and Purchase Order_PDF.cab" (archived file containing the Kryptik's executable):

Another variant of "WeTransfer" spam email:

Text presented within this email:

Subject: You have successfully received files Via Wetransfer

 
files sent to
*****
6 files, 120 MB in total · Will be deleted on&n=sp;0th Feb, 2020
Download files here

Thanks for using WeTransfer. We'll email you a confirmation as soon=as your files have been downloaded.
 
Download link
hxxps://loxley-th.com/*****

Message
Hi - please download files here. Thx.

To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.

Screenshot of the website promoted via this email:

Text presented within this site:

Help About Sign up Log in

Ready when you are

Files deleted in 7 days

 

Hi, regarding my earlier mail. These are the documents,Invoices and materials...

 

Agreement.pdf
40 MB - pdf

Materials.zip
23 MB - zip

Mov Intro.mp4
76 MB - mp4

 

Download

Another example of WeTransfer phishing spam campaign (the text contains "Get your files" text, which is actually a link leading to malicious websites):

Text presented within this email:

Click 'Download images' to view images
****
You have received files via WeTransfer
5 item, 40.5 MB in total · Will be deleted on 19th March, 2020
Get your files

1 item
0866_001.pdf
15.5 KB
To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.
About WeTransfer · Help · Legal · Report this transfer as spam

Screenshot of the phishing email:

Yet another variant of WeTransfer spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: WeTransfer

Click 'Download images' to view images

 
*******
sent you some files
4 items, 702 KB in total ・ Will be deleted on 7 JUNE, 2020
Get your files
 
Recipients
*******
Download link
1 File
 
PAYMENT PLAN INV -2020 JUNE
BL + PL AND TELEX RELEASE
700 kB
To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.
Get more out of WeTransfer, get Pro
About WeTransfer   ・   Help   ・   Legal   ・   Report this transfer as spam

Another WeTransfer-themed spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Click 'Download images' to view images

-
sent you some files
2 file, 803 KB in total · Will be deleted on 24th June, 2020
Get your files
 
Download link
-
2 file
Documents 23-06-20.Docx
To make sure our emails arrive, please add  noreply@wetransfer.com  to  your contacts.
About WeTransfer · Help · Legal · Report this transfer as spam

Appearance of the promoted site - larkspurandtea[.]com (GIF):

Another example of a WeTransfer-themed spam email used for phishing purposes:

Text presented within:

Subject: sales-dept@mtekmarine.com: sent you files via WeTransfer
 
Click 'Download images' to view images

 
sales-dept@mtekmarine.com
sent you some files
2 items, 700 KB in total ・ Will be deleted on 10 JULY, 2020
Get your files
Dear -,

We request quotes for the attached requisition from M-TEK MARINE TRADING LTD. give us the best.

Best Regards,

Nyein Su Mon

Sales Department

M-TEK MARINE TRADING LTD.
Tel. +66 038 401309-310
Fax. +66 038 401977
8 Sunview Road
#06-45 Eco-Tech@Sunview
Singapore 628815
Email: sales-dept@mtekmarine.com

 
Recipients
s.barasheed@rcservice.lt
Download Document
2 Files

 
RFQ_SMK 001 -2020 JUN & RFQ_SMK 002 -2020 JUN
700 kB
To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.
Get more out of WeTransfer, get Pro
About WeTransfer   ・   Help   ・   Legal   ・   Report this transfer as spam

Phishing website promoted via this email:

Yet another WeTransfer-themed spam email promoting a link to download a .zip archive containing a malicious executable:

Text presented within:

Subject: Files where sent to you via WeTransfer (**********)

 

**********
You have received new files Via WeTransfer
2 file, 2.4 MB in total ・ Will be deleted deleted in 7 days

PASSWORD FOR DOCUMENTS: 12345600

Get your File

Download link

2 file
List of Items.pdf
Specifications.pdf

To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com   to your contacts.

About WeTransfer ・ Help ・ Legal ・ Report this transfer as spam

Screenshot of the download website the aforementioned link leads to:

Another WeTransfer-phishing themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: You Received a WeTransfer Document

 

Click 'Download images' to view images

postmaster@rcs.lt
Confirm Your weTransfer files
21 items, 4.2 MB in total ・ Will be deleted on 9th December, 2020
Attached new p.o for confirmation

Get your files
 
Download link
hxxps://wetransfer.com/downloads/
7 items
26441.pdf
188 KB
Amarone.pdf
176 KB
To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.
About WeTransfer   ・   Help   ・   Legal   ・   Report this transfer as spam

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website:

Another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: You Received a WeTransfer File
-
Confirm Your weTransfer files
21 items, 4.2 MB in total Will be deleted on 07 Jan, 2021
Attached new p.o for confirmation

Get your files
Â
Download link
hxxps://wetransfer.com/downloads/
2 items
Items .pdf
188 KB
Order-confirmation .pdf
176 KB
To make sure our - s arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.
About WeTransfer Legal Report this transfer as spam

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website:

Another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: WeTransfer PROFORMA INVOICE

********
You received some files
2 items, 5.1 MB in total ・ Expires in 18minutes
Get your files
2 items
PI 234.pdf
5 MB
PI 140
1223 KB
To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.
About WeTransfer ・ Help ・ Legal ・ Report this transfer as spam

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site (instinctive-coal-taurus.glitch.me):

Yet another WeTransfer-themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: ****** sent you files via WeTransfer
 
Mrs Jenifer from Swift Co.,Ltd USA
sent you some files
2 item, 12 MB in total · Will be deleted on 12 March, 2021

SIGNED PROPOSAL FOR ORDER #5876119
Get your files

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website (turbo-arcade[.]gq):

Yet another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email promoting a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: You have received a file

 

You have received files via WeTransfer™

6 files, 40 MB in total
Will be deleted on 7th April, 2021
Download files

Yet another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email used to promote a phishing website:

Text presented within:

Subject: Your files were sent successfully to ********

WeTransfer

********
You have received   a file via WeTransfer..Based on your telephone conversation with my colleague concerning our new order pls find attched documents for Technical datas
3 Files, 145 MB in total · Will be deleted on 16th April. 2021
Download your Docs here
 
To make sure our emails arrive, please add  noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website (topchoiceconstructionsroofingservices[.]com[.]au):

Yet another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: ********* Received Purchase Order via WeTransfer

Click 'Download images' to view images
*********
You have received a PO-20210520GL  files via Wetransfer
1 files, 1.74 MB in total · Will be deleted on 06 August 2021
Get your files

Download link
*****

1 file
PO-20210520GL.pdf
1.74MB

To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.

sent by wetransfersupport.wetransfer.com

About WeTransfer    -   Help   -    Legal   -   Report this transfer as spam

Screenshot of the promoted phishing website:

Another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email:

Text presented within:

Subject: Dear user

 

********
received you some files
4 file, 34 MB in total   Will be deleted on 19 April, 2019
Get your files
********
Kindly find attached herewith the approved documents.
Download link
-
1 file
REVERSED.pdf

To make sure our emails arrive, please add norply@wetransfer.com  to your contacts.

Get more out of WeTransfer, get Plus
About WeTransfer Help Legal

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Yet another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: - sent you files via WeTransfer

This transfer expires on 2021-01-28
 

- has
sent some files to you
1 item, 1.8MB total ・ expires Wednesday, February 9 2021
Get your files

Hello,

Find the attached offer from a customer, kindly check & process quote ASAP.
Awaiting further reply.

Download link  
-    
1 item
 
Contract Offer#202283.pdf
1.8 MB

To make sure you receive our emails, please add the email address noreply@wetransfer.com to your contact list.
About WeTransfer   ・   Help   ・   Legal Notice  ・   Report this transfer as spam

Another example of WeTransfer spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: You have recieved a document via WeTransfer

 

Roundcube update

To : -

A file have been sent to you using WeTransfer, see below to access the documents.

Download Files

Regards

© 2022 wetransfer.com, all rights reserved.
Legal | Accessibility | Privacy & Security

Preferences |  Unsubscribe

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site (the website's design corresponds to recipient's email provider):

Yet another WeTransfer-themed spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: ******** sent you 2 files via WeTransfer

Click 'Download images' to view images
Hi ********,
You have been sent 2 files via wetransfer, please use the download button below to access the documents
2 item, 1.63 MB in total ・ Expires on 13 September, 2022
Get your files

To make sure our emails arrive, please add noreply@wetransfer.com to your contacts.
About WeTransfer   ・   Help   ・   Legal    ・   Report this transfer as spam

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Yet another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: You have received a new file via weTranfer.

 

You have received a new file via weTranfer.

Open Invoices .pdf
1 item, 10 KB in total. Expires on November 3, 2022
Get your files

Download Link:
-

Screenshot of the promoted phishing site:

Yet another example of WeTransfer-themed spam email promoting a phishing site:

Text presented within:

Subject: *Urgent Offer

Dear,

Good morning :)

This is Grace from Qingdao Ever Green trading company sales depart.

We have ISO, HACCP and BRC certification  to guarantee the quality.
We hope to have chance to start business with you by mutual benefit.
Please view products list on the catalog we shared via wetransfer.

Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

Thanks and best regards.

Grace
Sales manager

sales4@chinanutseeds.com

No 61, Haier Road, Qingdao, China. PC: 266100.
Qingdao Ever Green Trading Co., Ltd.hxxp://www.chinanutseeds.com/

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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

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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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

This email is not personal. Most likely, scammers have obtained your email address from a compromised website or in some other way. When threat actors use email to deliver malware, they send the same letter to all addresses in their database.

I have downloaded and opened a file attached to this email, is my computer infected?

It depends on the type of the file. If the file was an executable file, then there is a high chance that a computer is already infected. Not all files (PDF, MS Office documents, archive files, etc.) can infect computers right away. It is often required to perform additional steps, for instance, to enable macros commands in malicious documents for malware to be executed.

I have read the email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?

No, an email cannot directly infect a computer. Computers get infected only after opening malicious files or links.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections that were present in email attachment?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and eliminate almost all known malware. It is important to scan the operating system using a full scan. Otherwise, the antivirus software may not detect high-risk malware that is hidden deep in the operating system.