How to uninstall Project Plague malware

What is Project Plague?

Project Plague is malware that adds infected computers to a botnet and installs a cryptocurrency miner onto them. Cyber criminals control Project Plague through a website used as the Command and Control server.

The more computers in the botnet, the more resources cyber criminals have at their disposal to perform their activities and generate revenue.

In most cases, cyber criminals use botnets (networks of infected computers) to perform DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks, send spam, or perform click fraud. Also, an infected computer can be used to download and install additional malware onto it.

Cyber criminals launch DDoS attacks to disrupt (crash) the traffic of a specified server, network, or service. I.e., such attacks are launched to make websites and other online services unavailable (inaccessible to legitimate users).

Another common way computers are used in botnets is to send spam to a larger number of users through them. Cyber criminals often use botnets to deliver malware as well (to send emails containing malicious files/attachments or links) or they send phishing emails to trick other users into providing login credentials (usernames, email addresses, passwords), credit card details, banking information, or other sensitive data.

Additionally, botnets can be used to conduct ad fraud. In such cases, computers are used to generate revenue by clicking links or advertisements on websites. Most ad fraud is derived from botnets.

Additionally, Project Plague can be used to download and install a cryptocurrency miner onto a computer. Cryptocurrency miners are software programs that use hardware (GPU, CPU) to mine specific cryptocurrencies by solving complex mathematical problems.

Computers with powerful hardware can mine cryptocurrency faster. The mining process (calculations) requires extensive CPU/GPU resources, and thus infected computers consume more power (require more electricity), operate slower, or do not respond at all.

Therefore, users who have cryptocurrency miners installed on operating systems receive higher electricity bills and are likely to be unable to use their computers properly, lose data, etc. Cryptomining that happens on computers without the users' knowledge is known as crypto hijacking.

Threat Summary:

Name	Project Plague virus
Threat Type	Botnet malware, cryptohijacking malware
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:BotX-gen [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Zusy.2105), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of MSIL/Agent.QUI), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic), Microsoft (TrojanDownloader:MSIL/Redok.YA!MTB), Full List (VirusTotal)
Payload	Cryptocurrency miner
Symptoms	Botnet malware is designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim's computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine. Cryptominers cause high CPU and (or) GPU usage
Distribution methods	Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software 'cracks'.
Damage	The victim's computer added to a botnet and used to mine cryptocurrency
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner 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 read more.

In conclusion, botnets are computers infected by cyber criminals for financial gain. The most common uses of a botnet are operations such as DDoS attacks, crypto hijacking, spam (malspam, phishing) campaigns, and click fraud.

Typically, users who have computers infected with malware Project Plague are unaware that their computers have been added to a botnet.

How did Project Plague infiltrate my computer?

Malware (including ransomware) is usually distributed via malspam campaigns, unofficial software activation ('cracking') tools, Trojans, dubious file/software download sources, and fake software updating tools.

When cyber criminals attempt to distribute malware via malspam campaigns, they send emails that contain malicious attachments or download links for malicious files. Typically, they disguise their emails as official and important. If recipients open the attached file (or a file downloaded via a website link), they cause installation of malicious software.

Cyber criminals commonly attach executable files (.exe), archive files such as RAR, ZIP, PDF documents, JavaScript files and Microsoft Office documents to their emails. Software 'cracking' tools supposedly activate licensed software illegally (bypass activation), however, they often install malicious programs and do not activate any legitimate installed software.

Trojans are other rogue programs that can cause chain infections. I.e., when a Trojan is installed on the operating system, it can install additional malware.

Free file hosting websites, freeware download websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites, and third party downloaders are examples of other sources that are used to distribute malware. Cyber criminals disguise malicious files as legitimate and regular. When users download and open them, they inadvertently infect their computers with malware.

Fake software updating tools install malicious software rather than updates/fixes for installed programs, or they exploit bugs/flaws of outdated software that is installed on the operating system.

How to avoid installation of malware

You are advised to download files and programs from official websites and via direct download links. Other tools and sources such as third party downloaders and installers, unofficial pages, and Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., eMule, torrent clients) should not be used to download or install software.

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings (or available checkboxes) for offers to download and/or install unwanted apps. Do not click ads on dubious websites, since they can be designed to open bogus web pages or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Remove any unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and software of this kind from the operating system.

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.

Administration panel used to control Project Plague botnet:

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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner 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 read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Project Plague?
• STEP 1. Manual removal of Project Plague 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 Combo Cleaner Antivirus 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 Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

▼ Show Discussion