How to remove FickerStealer malware from the operating system?

FickerStealer virus removal guide

What is FickerStealer?

FickerStealer is a malicious program, categorized as a stealer. It is designed to extract (i.e. steal) a variety of sensitive and private information from infected devices. FickerStealer malware targets Windows operating systems - Windows XP through Windows 10. Since the developers of this malicious program are offering it for sale online, how it is proliferated depends on the cyber criminals using it.

The main functionality of FickerStealer is to extract and exfiltrate information from various browsers and other applications. According to the malware's promotional material, it is capable of stealing data from more than 40 different browsers; amongst listed examples are - Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Chromium, Opera and Internet Explorer / Microsoft Edge. From compromised browsers, this malicious program can extract stored account log-in credentials (i.e. IDs, usernames and passwords), saved credit card details, browser cookies, auto-fill data, etc. FickerStealer can similarly extract information stored on the Windows Credentials Manager. More than 15 cryptocurrency wallets are listed as vulnerable to this malware. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) clients FileZilla and WinScp are targeted by FickerStealer as well. Among other applications attacked by the malicious program are: Steam - game content delivery client; Mozilla Thunderbird - email client; Pidgin and Discord messaging platforms. Other features of this stealer include - stealing system information (e.g. processor, CPU, installed applications, screen resolution, etc.) and taking screenshots. To summarize, FickerStealer infections can result in severe privacy issues, financial losses and even identity theft. If it is suspected and/or known that FickerStealer (or other malware) has already infected the system - an anti-virus must be used to eliminate it immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	FickerStealer virus
Threat Type	Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware.
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:TrojanX-gen [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Jaik.41292), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/Agent.ULJ), Kaspersky (Trojan.Win32.Agentb.kaom), Full List (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Trojans are designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim's computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine.
Distribution methods	Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software 'cracks'.
Damage	Stolen passwords and banking information, identity theft, the victim's computer added to a botnet.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Malwarebytes. ▼ Download Malwarebytes To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.

Covid, MoistStealer, DarkStealer, RedLine, Anubis - are some examples of other stealer-type malicious programs. This malware is designed to extract and steal data, e.g. from the infected systems, applications installed on it, services accessed through it, etc. However, stealers can have other abilities as well. They can having spying functionalities (e.g. taking screenshots, recording audio/video from integrated/connected microphones and cameras, etc.), downloading/installing additional malware (e.g. trojans, ransomware, etc.), and so on. The only goal of malicious software is to generate revenue for the cyber criminals using them.

How did FickerStealer infiltrate my computer?

Malware is distributed via spam campaigns, illegal activation ("cracking") tools, fake updaters and untrustworthy download channels. The term "spam campaign" is used to describe a large-scale operation, during which thousands of deceptive/scam emails are sent. These letters are usually presented as "official", "important", "urgent", "priority" and similar. This mail contains download links of infectious files and/or the files are simply attached to emails. Virulent files can be in different formats, e.g. archives (ZIP, RAR, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), PDF and Microsoft Office documents, JavaScript, and so forth. When these files are executed, run or otherwise opened - the infection process is triggered. Illegal activation tools ("cracks") can download/install malware, instead of activating licensed product. Fake updaters cause infections by exploiting flaws of outdated products and/or by installing malicious programs, rather than the promised updates. Untrustworthy download sources, e.g. unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders - can offer malware for downloading, disguised as and/or bundled with ordinary content.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Suspicious and/or irrelevant emails must not be opened, especially any links or attachments present in them - as that can result in a high-risk system infection. It is recommended to only use official and verified download channels. Additionally, all products must be activated and updated using tools/functions provided by legitimate developers. Illegal activation ("cracking") tools and third party updaters are advised against use, as they often proliferate malware. To protect device integrity and user safety, it is crucial to have a dependable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite installed and kept updated. This software has to be used to perform regular system scans and to remove detected threats and issues. If you believe that your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

FickerStealer malware promoted/sold online:

5 examples of a spam email used to spread Cobalt Strike malware which injects FickerStealer into the system:

Text presented within these emails (all are virtually identical):

We are reaching out to you in regards to the recent invoice #- for the services we provided for your company.

You can download the invoice by clicking on this link

Please, pay the balance of $- complete the payment by -.

We are ready to help you if you have any questions or concerns.

_________________________________________________

Thank you!
**********
**********

Update April 21, 2021 - FickerStealer has been observed being proliferated via malicious websites. They were disguised as the Spotify, Microsoft Store, and file format conversion sites. These webpages were promoted through malvertising (malicious software advertising) campaigns. The ads were thematically linked with the guise of the malignant websites, e.g., promoted a fake chess game application - "xChess 3'", etc. When entered, the pages automatically downloaded an archived file (e.g., "xChess_v.709.zip"; filename may vary) via the Amazon AWS service. Once the executable contained therein was run, it triggered the infection chain (installation) of FickerStealer malware.

Fake Spotify website used to proliferate FickerStealer malware:

Fake Microsoft Store website used to proliferate FickerStealer malware:

Fake file format converter website used to proliferate FickerStealer malware:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Malwarebytes is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Malwarebytes 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 Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.

Quick menu:

• What is FickerStealer?
• STEP 1. Manual removal of FickerStealer malware.
• STEP 2. Check if your computer is clean.

How to remove malware manually?

Manual malware removal is a complicated task - usually it is best to allow antivirus or anti-malware programs to do this automatically. To remove this malware we recommend using Malwarebytes for Windows. If you wish to remove malware manually, the first step is to identify the name of the malware that you are trying to remove. Here is an example of a suspicious program running on a user's computer:

If you checked the list of programs running on your computer, for example, using task manager, and identified a program that looks suspicious, you should continue with these steps:

Download a program called Autoruns. This program shows auto-start applications, Registry, and file system locations:

Restart your computer into Safe Mode:

Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, and then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.

Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Windows 8 users: Start Windows 8 is Safe Mode with Networking - Go to Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click Advanced startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window, select Advanced startup. Click the "Restart now" button. Your computer will now restart into the "Advanced Startup options menu". Click the "Troubleshoot" button, and then click the "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen, click "Startup settings". Click the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.

Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

Windows 10 users: Click the Windows logo and select the Power icon. In the opened menu click "Restart" while holding "Shift" button on your keyboard. In the "choose an option" window click on the "Troubleshoot", next select "Advanced options". In the advanced options menu select "Startup Settings" and click on the "Restart" button. In the following window you should click the "F5" button on your keyboard. This will restart your operating system in safe mode with networking.

Video showing how to start Windows 10 in "Safe Mode with Networking":

 

Extract the downloaded archive and run the Autoruns.exe file.

In the Autoruns application, click "Options" at the top and uncheck "Hide Empty Locations" and "Hide Windows Entries" options. After this procedure, click the "Refresh" icon.

Check the list provided by the Autoruns application and locate the malware file that you want to eliminate.

You should write down its full path and name. Note that some malware hides process names under legitimate Windows process names. At this stage, it is very important to avoid removing system files. After you locate the suspicious program you wish to remove, right click your mouse over its name and choose "Delete".

After removing the malware through the Autoruns application (this ensures that the malware will not run automatically on the next system startup), you should search for the malware name on your computer. Be sure to enable hidden files and folders before proceeding. If you find the filename of the malware, be sure to remove it.

Reboot your computer in normal mode. Following these steps should remove any malware from your computer. Note that manual threat removal requires advanced computer skills. If you do not have these skills, leave malware removal to antivirus and anti-malware programs. These steps might not work with advanced malware infections. As always it is best to prevent infection than try to remove malware later. To keep your computer safe, install the latest operating system updates and use antivirus software.

To be sure your computer is free of malware infections, we recommend scanning it with Malwarebytes for Windows.

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