How to remove Grandoreiro trojan from your computer

What is Grandoreiro?

Grandoreiro is the name of malicious software, a banking Trojan written in the Delphi programming language. It targets users in Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Peru. Cyber criminals attempt to infect computers with software of this type to generate revenue by misusing information stolen by programs such as Grandoreiro.

These Trojans steal banking-related information, and thus victims are exposed to risk of monetary loss. If your computer is infected with Grandoreiro (or other malicious programs), uninstall/remove it immediately.

Grandoreiro overview

Typically, banking Trojans steal information such as login credentials (logins, passwords), account numbers, credit card details, and other confidential information stored or processed through various online banking systems. Cyber criminals misuse stolen information to generate revenue by making fraudulent purchases and transactions, selling it to third parties and in other ways.

They misuse the details specifically for financial gain and attempt to generate as much revenue as possible. In most cases, victims of banking Trojans such as Grandoreiro suffer a monetary loss, experience problems relating to online privacy, become victims of identity theft and are at risk of other serious problems.

If you believe that Grandoreiro is already installed on the operating system, remove this malicious software immediately.

Data-stealing malware examples

Other examples of Trojans that are designed to steal confidential information and perform other actions include KBOT, Lampion and CryptBot.

In most cases, Trojans steal information and infect operating systems with other malware (e.g., ransomware). In any case, cyber criminals proliferate programs of this type simply to generate. We strongly recommend that you take all necessary precautions to prevent installation of these programs.

How did Grandoreiro infiltrate my computer?

Cyber criminals proliferate Grandoreiro through malicious websites that offer fake Java, Flash updates or contain videos supposedly relating to the coronavirus, however, if a visitor clicks the "Play" button, the websites download an archive file named "video-china02712.zip" (the downloaded file might be named differently), which contains a malicious executable (.exe) file.

If opened/executed, this file installs Grandoreiro and allows it to steal personal data. Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), free file hosting, freeware download websites, third party downloaders are examples of other file or software download channels, sources that can be used by cyber criminals to host malicious files.

Unfortunately, there are more ways to proliferate malware. For example, emails (spam campaigns), fake software updating tools, and unofficial activation ('cracking') tools. Cyber criminals employ spam campaigns to proliferate viruses by sending malicious attachments via email.

They send emails that include infected Microsoft Office documents, archive files, PDF files, executables, JavaScript files and so on, hoping that people will open them. If opened, these attachments or links download and install malware.

Fake software updating tools infect operating systems by installing malware rather than updates or by exploiting bugs/flaws of any outdated software that is installed on the operating system. Software 'cracking' tools are designed activate licensed programs free of charge (bypass paid activation), however, they often install malicious programs.

How to avoid installation of malware

If a received email is irrelevant, is sent from unknown address or contains an attachment (or website link), ignore it. Do not open files or web links that are presented in these emails without being sure that it is safe to do so. Software should be downloaded from official websites and direct download links.

Other sources (such as Peer-to-Peer networks, third party downloaders, unofficial pages, etc.) could be used to proliferate malware. Installed programs should be updated through implemented functions or tools that are provided by official software developers. The same applies to activation.

It is illegal to use third party tools to activate licensed programs, and this can lead to system infections with malware.

Regularly scan the operating system for threats with a reputable antivirus or anti-spyware suite and keep this software up to date. If you believe that your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Malicious website designed to trick visitors into downloading a file that contains a malicious executable:

Update 29 April 2020 - The newest version of Grandoreiro can update itself, log (capture) keystrokes, simulate mouse and keyboard, force browsers to open chosen addresses or block access to them, restart the computer and log victims out of the Windows operating system.

It can also collect data such as username, operating system version, computer name, list of installed programs, and check if Diebold's GAS Technologia (online payment and mobile banking security app) is installed on the victim's computer.

Research shows that some Grandoreiro versions are capable of stealing credentials stored in Google Chrome and data stored in Microsoft Outlook. Additionally, Grandoreiro includes a tool that can be used to spread spam email campaigns - the tools allows cyber criminals to create and send the spam messages through utilized EASendMail SDK.

This banking Trojan is also capable of blocking banking access protection programs such as Trusteer and GAS Technologia by changing Trusteer's file system path and killing GAS Technologia's running processes.

Update 26 June 2020 - The new Grandoreiro variant has some improvements in its communication with the C2 (Command and Control) server, it now uses Latenbot botnet modules to communicate between C2 and infected computers. In other words, Grandoneiro creates a sort of a botnet. Also, it now targets not only users in Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Peru, but also in Portugal.

Cyber criminals have recently developed two fake websites targeting France users in order to spread Grandoreiro. One of the sites offers a download of the Avast anti-virus suite and the other one supposedly provides access to Netflix.

Screenshot of the fake Avast download website (faceadobemete.hopto[.]org):

Screenshot of the fake Netflix website (adobsfaces.hopto[.]org):

Update 25 August 2022 - The most recent Grandoreiro variant includes several new features. In now uses domain generation algorithm to communicate with Command and Control (C2) sever. Also, it can log keystrokes (record keyboard input), automatically update itself (if newer versions and modules are created), perform web injection and restrict access to specific web pages.

Moreover, Grandoreiro can execute commands, manipulate windows, imitate mouse and keyboard movements, and open websites using the victim's browser.

Screenshots of Grandoreiro trojan's admin panel:

Screenshot of ÉSECÈ Group-themed spam email spreading Grandoreiro trojan:

Text presented within:

Buenos dias, -

Se adjuntamos comprobante de pago correspondiente al mes de Agosto.

-

Saludos

Sonia Puig

Administración

ESECE Soluciones Industriales SL
c/ Vel Vapor, 46 Pol. Ind. La Ferreria 08110 Montcada i Reixac
+[34] 937 802 807 s.puig@esecegroup.com

Screenshot of Claro telecommunications-themed spam email spreading Grandoreiro trojan:

Text presented within:

Subject: Tu Factura esta por vencer (803220)

Hola

Tu factura ya está disponible.

TUS DATOS:

Número de cuenta:
2/0749343646

Vencimiento:
08/08/2023

Mirá tu factura

Conocé más sobre tu factura acá.

Ante las estafas, estemos alerta! Conocé los tips para cuidarte de los perfiles falsos y las estafas telefónicas acá.

Update February 8, 2024 – threat actors linked to the Grandoreiro banking trojan have been arrested. The Federal Police of Brazil relied on key information provided by and cooperation from the Spanish National Police, Interpol, ESET, and Caixa Bank for the investigation. This resulted in thirteen acts of search and seizure and five arrests in five Brazilian states. More information on these developments can be found in an article by Bill Toulas on the Bleeping Computer website.

Update May 21, 2024 - Grandoreiro has reappeared in a phishing campaign spanning over 60 countries. It now targets accounts from approximately 1,500 banks and is probably being sold as Malware-as-a-service to other cybercriminals.  It is known that Grandoreiro is now targeting not only Spanish-speaking regions but also English-speaking countries.

Also, the malware has various improvements, such as an updated string decryption algorithm, updates to the domain generation algorithm, and new features targeting Microsoft Outlook clients and establishing persistence via registry keys.

Moreover, Grandoreiro currently has enhanced capabilities, such as targeting bank applications, cryptocurrency wallets, remote control, file manipulation, keylogging, and browser manipulation via JavaScript commands. Also, Grandoreiro can profile victims to decide whether to execute and avoid specific countries and system configurations.

Threat actors have been observed delivering Grandoreiro via phishing emails posing as government entities, mainly tax agencies and revenue services. These emails, tailored to the recipient's language, urge recipients to click links to view invoices or perform other actions.

In these campaigns, clicking the provided links leads to an image of a PDF designed to initiate the download of a ZIP file containing an executable file that functions as the loader for Grandoreiro.

Update March 13, 2025 - Cyber criminals have been recently spreading Grandoreiro trojan via malicious sites presenting users with a PDF file download. In reality, the download link leads to a ZIP file with a VBS script within. Once executed, the script shows a fake Adobe Reader/Acrobat window and injects malware.

Screenshots of the websites as well as fake Adobe Reader/Acrobat pop-ups:

How to remove malware manually?

Most trojan infections can be removed by running a full system scan with Combo Cleaner. The full manual procedure below is for cases where automatic removal failed, where you want to verify a scan caught everything, or where the threat has multiple persistence points.

Tools you'll need

Combo Cleaner Antivirus 7-days free trial

Recommended primary scanner. VB100 certified. The 7-day free trial is available.

Microsoft Defender Offline Free · built-in

Built into Windows. Boots to a clean environment to catch rootkits.

Process Explorer Free

From Microsoft Sysinternals. Better than Task Manager - shows full paths and signatures.

Autoruns Free

From Microsoft Sysinternals. Lists every place malware can persist on your system.

Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT) Free

Official Microsoft on-demand scanner. Always-current signatures - expires every 10 days.

Phase 1~ 5 min

Contain - limit the damage

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1

Disconnect from the network

30 secNo tool needed

Unplug your Ethernet cable and turn off Wi-Fi. If you're on a laptop, the airplane-mode key works fastest.

Why this matters

Many trojans exfiltrate data - saved browser passwords, banking sessions, screenshots - and accept remote commands. Cutting the network stops both immediately. Keep it disconnected until Phase 4.

2

Boot into Safe Mode with Networking

3 min

Safe Mode loads a minimal set of drivers and stops most malware from auto-running. "With Networking" lets you download tools - re-enable Wi-Fi only after you've booted in.

Windows 11

Open Settings → System → Recovery. Click Restart now next to Advanced startup.

Your computer will restart into the "Choose an option" menu. Click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart. After the second reboot, press 5 or F5.

Windows 10

Click the Windows logo, hold Shift, click the Power icon and choose Restart. In the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart. Press F5.

Windows 8

Go to the Start Screen, type Advanced, select Settings → Advanced startup options → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup settings → Restart → F5.

Note: Windows 8 reached end-of-life in January 2023 - running on it puts you at much higher risk of reinfection.

Windows 7

Click Start → Shut Down → Restart → OK. As the system boots, press F8 repeatedly until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, then choose Safe Mode with Networking.

Note: Windows 7 reached end-of-life in January 2020 - running on it puts you at much higher risk of reinfection.

Phase 2~ 15 min

Identify - find what's hiding

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3

Inspect running processes with Process Explorer

Tool: Process Explorer5 min

Download Process Explorer from Microsoft Sysinternals. Run it as Administrator. Click Options → Verify Image Signatures and View → Lower Pane View → DLLs.

Sort by "Verified Signer." Anything unsigned running from %AppData%, %LocalAppData%, %Temp%, or %ProgramData% is suspicious. Right-click → Properties to see the full image path. Right-click → "Search Online" to look up unfamiliar process names.

Why not just Task Manager

Task Manager hides full file paths, doesn't show digital signatures, and groups processes in ways that make malware easy to miss. Process Explorer is the same tool Microsoft engineers use.

4

Map every persistence point with Autoruns

Tool: Autoruns 14.x10 min

Download Autoruns. Right-click Autoruns.exe and choose Run as administrator - without elevation, Autoruns can't inspect protected registry hives.

In the menu, open Options → Hide Microsoft Entries and Options → Hide Empty Locations, then click Refresh.

Modern trojans don't just live in startup. Walk through these tabs and look for unsigned or unfamiliar entries:

• Logon - classic Run/RunOnce keys
• Scheduled Tasks - frequent hiding spot, especially tasks with PowerShell, MSHTA, or rundll32 actions
• Services - unsigned services in non-Microsoft folders
• WMI - Event Subscriptions are a stealthy persistence mechanism (MITRE T1546.003)
• Image Hijacks - Image File Execution Options "Debugger" abuse
• AppInit - DLLs loaded into every GUI process
• Browser plug-ins - unsigned add-ons across all installed browsers

Pro tip

Right-click any suspicious entry → "Jump to Image" to see the actual file. Right-click → "Search Online" opens VirusTotal for the file hash. Don't delete yet - just write down the file paths and entry names. We'll remove them after the scans.

5

Check the hosts file and DNS settings

3 minBuilt into Windows

Trojans often redirect bank, antivirus, and update domains to attacker-controlled servers by editing the hosts file or DNS settings.

Hosts file: Open Notepad as Administrator and open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. Legitimate entries are commented with #. Any uncommented IP-to-domain mapping is suspicious - especially redirects for microsoft.com, windowsupdate, or your bank.

DNS settings: Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run ipconfig /all. Confirm your DNS servers point to your ISP, your router, or a known public resolver (Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google 8.8.8.8). Then open Settings → Network & internet → [your adapter] → DNS server assignment and verify both DNS and DNS over HTTPS (DoH) settings haven't been hijacked.

Why this matters

A clean PC with hijacked DNS is still a compromised PC. You'll think you're at chase.com and you'll be at the attacker's clone.

Phase 3~ 60-90 min

Remove - three scans, one cleanup

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No single antivirus catches everything. The order below is intentional: offline scan first (catches rootkits before Windows fully loads), then on-demand scanners on the running system, then manual cleanup of anything they missed.

6

Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Tool: Built into Windows15 min

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. Your computer will restart into a stripped-down environment and scan before the full operating system loads.

Why this comes first

Rootkits and bootkits hide from any scanner running on the same Windows session that's already infected. A pre-boot offline scan sees the disk before the malware can hide itself.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

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

Download Combo Cleaner

7

Run Combo Cleaner full system scan

Tool: Combo Cleaner20-40 min

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

8

Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

Tool: Microsoft Safety Scanner15 min

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe), Microsoft's free on-demand tool. 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.

Why a second scan

Different scanning engines catch different threats. Running an additional Microsoft scan after Combo Cleaner is the single most underused verification step in malware removal.

9

Manually remove anything still listed in Autoruns

Tool: Autoruns10 min

Reopen Autoruns. Anything you flagged in Step 4 that's still present hasn't been caught by the automated scans. For each remaining suspicious entry: right-click → Delete in Autoruns (this removes the persistence registration), then navigate to the file path and delete the actual file. Empty the Recycle Bin.

Important

Some malware files reappear after deletion because something else on the system recreates them. If you delete a file and it returns within minutes, you have a remaining persistence point that Autoruns didn't show - usually a service or scheduled task running under SYSTEM. Re-run the scans from Steps 6-8 or proceed to a clean install (see end of guide).

Phase 4~ 15 min

Recover - restore browsers and security

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10

Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

5 min

Trojans and adware frequently hijack browsers - change the default search engine, install rogue extensions, or grant themselves notification permissions to keep displaying scam pop-ups even after the malware is gone.

• Chrome: visit chrome://settings/reset and click "Restore settings to their original defaults." Then visit chrome://settings/content/notifications and remove any unfamiliar sites.
• Edge: visit edge://settings/reset. Then check edge://settings/content/notifications.
• Firefox: open about:support and click Refresh Firefox (Firefox uses "Refresh," not "Reset"). Then check Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Notifications.

Review installed extensions in each browser and remove anything you don't recognize, especially extensions you didn't install yourself.

11

Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything

10 min

Many trojans disable security software. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all turned on. Tamper Protection prevents malware from disabling Defender silently.

Then run Windows Update (Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates) and update your browsers and applications. The infection vector that let the trojan in originally usually involves outdated software.

Phase 5~ 15 min + 7 days

Verify & secure

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12

Change passwords from a clean device

20 min⚠ Critical

If the trojan was an info-stealer (Lumma, RedLine, Vidar, and similar are extremely common), assume every password saved in your browser is compromised. Change them from a different, known-clean device - your phone is fine if it's not infected.

Recommended order:

1. Primary email first - it's the recovery hub for everything else
2. Banking and financial accounts
3. Password manager master password (if you use one)
4. Social media, shopping, and remaining accounts

Where available, enable phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (passkeys / FIDO2 hardware keys / authenticator apps) - SMS-based MFA is bypassable by sophisticated attackers.

13

Verify the clean and monitor for 7 days

5 min + 1 week monitoring

Reconnect to the network and run one final full scan with Combo Cleaner. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to the Startup apps tab - confirm nothing suspicious has reappeared.

Over the next 7 days, watch for symptom recurrence: unexpected high CPU usage, unknown processes returning, browser redirects, or pop-ups. If anything returns, you missed a persistence point and the procedure needs to be repeated - or you may have a deeper compromise that requires a clean install.

When to clean install Windows instead

Manual removal isn't always the right answer. Reinstalling Windows from scratch is the only way to be 100% certain when:

• The malware reappears after every removal attempt
• A bootkit or UEFI rootkit was detected (this class of threat sits below the operating system and survives a normal Windows reinstall)
• A confirmed credential-theft trojan ran with administrator privileges (Lumma, RedLine, Vidar) - the system likely has multiple unknown payloads
• The PC is used for online banking, business email, or anything where partial doubt isn't acceptable

A clean install is a 30-60 minute process: Windows 11 reinstall via Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Remove everything → Cloud download. Back up documents to external storage first, scan the backup with Combo Cleaner before restoring it, and reinstall applications fresh - never restore them from a backup of the infected system.

Important: Manual removal requires advanced computer skills. If you're not confident identifying system files from malicious files, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there - that path catches the vast majority of consumer trojans without the risk of breaking Windows by deleting the wrong file.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

My computer is infected with Grandoreiro malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

No, Grandoreiro's removal does not necessitate such drastic measures.

What are the biggest issues that Grandoreiro malware can cause?

Grandoreiro is classified as a banking trojan. Hence, this malware primarily targets information relating to online banking. However, it can also extract other sensitive data and add the victims' computers to a botnet. Therefore, this trojan can cause decreased system performance, severe privacy issues, significant financial losses, and identity theft.

What is the purpose of Grandoreiro malware?

Since Grandoreiro is a banking trojan - it is likely used to generate revenue, which is the purpose of most malicious programs. However, malware can also be used to amuse cyber criminals, disrupt processes (e.g., websites, services, companies, institutions, etc.), carry out personal vendettas, launch politically/geopolitically motivated attacks, and so on.

How did Grandoreiro malware infiltrate my computer?

Malware is primarily spread through drive-by (stealthy and deceptive) downloads, malicious attachments and links in spam emails/messages, online scams, untrustworthy download sources (e.g., unofficial and freeware sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.), illegal program activation tools ("cracks"), and fake updates. Some malicious programs are also capable of self-proliferating via local networks and removable storage devices (e.g., external hard drives, USB flash drives, etc.).

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is designed to detect and eliminate threats. It is capable of removing nearly all known malware infections. It must be mentioned that high-end malicious software typically hides deep within systems - therefore, running a complete system scan is crucial.