How to remove the Anubis information stealer

What kind of malware is Anubis?

Anubis is malware classified as an information stealer. It can be purchased on a hacker forum (starting from US$100). Cyber criminals can use it to steal cryptocurrency wallets, and information such as browsing cookies and passwords saved on browsers, and credit card details.

Therefore, if there is any reason to suspect that this (or other) malware is installed on your computer, remove it immediately.

More about the Anubis stealer

Since this malware can be used to collect passwords, cyber criminals responsible can steal various accounts (e.g., email, social media, banking-related, file hosting accounts) and misuse them for malicious purposes.

For instance, they may use stolen accounts to make fraudulent purchases and transactions, spread malspam and phishing emails, steal identities, access sensitive documents and files, etc. Anubis can also be used to steal browser cookies.

Cyber criminals might install stolen cookies with hashed passwords on their browsers, which allows them to access various accounts without having to log into them.

Furthermore, Anubis is capable of stealing credit card details and cryptocurrency wallets - these can be misused to make fraudulent transactions and purchases, or cyber criminals could sell them to third parties (other cyber criminals).

In summary, victims of Anubis attacks might suffer monetary loss, lose access to various personal accounts, become victims of identity theft, experience serious problems relating to browsing safety and online privacy, etc.

Examples of information stealers

Some examples of other malicious programs that are classified as information stealers are Babax, StormKitty, and DarkStealer. Most are employed to steal sensitive information, which could be misused to generate revenue in various ways. The methods that cyber criminals use to trick people into installing malware onto their computers are described below.

How did Anubis infiltrate my computer?

In most cases, users infect computers with malware through malspam campaigns/emails, fake software updaters, untrusted software download channels, Trojans and unofficial activation ('cracking') tools. They are tricked into installing malware via malspam campaigns when they open malicious email attachments (or files downloaded via malicious links).

Typically, cyber criminals attach a Microsoft Office or PDF document, archive file such as ZIP, RAR, executable file (.exe) or JavaScript file. Commonly, malspam campaigns are disguised as official, important messages sent from legitimate companies and organizations.

Fake software updaters allow criminals to exploit flaws and bugs of outdated programs that are installed on computers, or to simply install malicious software rather than updates/fixes for the installed software. Malware is installed via dubious download sources when malicious files are downloaded and opened.

Cyber criminals disguise these files as regular and legitimate. Examples of dubious download channels and sources are Peer-to-peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), third party downloaders, freeware download, free file hosting web pages, and so on.

Trojans are malicious programs that can cause damage only when they are installed on the computer. Once installed, some Trojans can cause chain infections by installing additional malware. Software 'cracking' tools (unofficial activators) supposedly illegally bypass activation of licensed software, however, they often install malicious software instead.

How to avoid installation of malware

Do not open files attached to irrelevant emails or website links within the messages, especially if the emails are received from unknown, suspicious addresses. They are often sent by cyber criminals who disguise their emails as important and official. All files and programs should be downloaded from official and trustworthy websites, and via direct links.

Third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks, and the other sources, tools mentioned above should not be trusted or used. Also avoid third party installers. Software must be updated and activated only with tools and implemented functions designed by the official developers.

Unofficial, third party tools often cause installation of malicious software and, furthermore, it is illegal to use them to activate licensed programs. Keep operating systems safe by regularly scanning them with reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software - 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.

Screenshots of Anubis administration panel:

Screenshots of hacker forums used to sell Anubis:

Example 1:

Example 2:

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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 Anubis malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

Formatting your storage device can be an effective method to remove malware, as it erases all data and potentially infected files. However, it should be considered a last resort, as it also leads to data loss. Before resorting to formatting, it is recommended to try using reputable anti-malware software to scan and remove the malware.

What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?

Some of the biggest concerns include data theft, privacy breaches, identity theft, financial loss, further infection, or exploitation.

What is the purpose of Anubis stealer?

The purpose of Anubis malware is to serve as a powerful tool for cybercriminals seeking to steal sensitive data and assets. This malicious software is designed to target cryptocurrency wallets, extract valuable information like browsing cookies and browser-saved passwords, and harvest credit card details, providing criminals with a means to carry out cryptocurrency theft, identity theft, and financial fraud.

How did a malware infiltrate my computer?

Malware can infiltrate your computer through various means, including malicious downloads or email attachments, visiting compromised websites, or clicking on deceptive links. It can also spread through infected files shared over networks or via removable storage devices. Outdated software or operating systems with unpatched vulnerabilities are also vulnerable points of entry for malware. Sometimes, even legitimate-looking software or apps may contain hidden malware.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Combo Cleaner has the ability to remove a wide range of known malware infections. It is important to note that sophisticated malware often conceals itself deep within the system. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive system scan to ensure its detection and removal.