How to remove the Magala malware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is Magala?
Magala is a Trojan-clicker that performs a form of ad fraud (click fraud). The purpose of this clicker is to connect to specific websites and drive traffic to them. It imitates clicks on those websites. Typically, Trojan-clickers are used to drain the budget of competitors paying for advertising.
More about Magala malware
It is known that Magala targets Internet Explorer browsers (the ninth and newer IE versions). It initializes a virtual desktop and installs the MapsGalaxy adware, which sets hp.myway.com as the browser's homepage. Then Magala reaches the remote server and requests a list of search queries.
Once Magala has received the list, it starts clicking on each of the first ten links in the search results that appear after sending requested search queries. The higher the number of computers infected with the Magala Trojan-clicker is, the more effective the ad fraud campaign is.
| Name | Magala Trojan-clicker |
| Threat Type | Trojan-clicker |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:Malware-gen), Combo Cleaner (Trojan.GenericKDZ.84335), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/TrojanClicker.Agent.NYY), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Tnega!ml), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Payload | MapsGalaxy |
| Symptoms | MapsGalaxy installed on the Internet Explorer browser, homepage is set to hp.myway.com. |
| Distribution methods | Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software 'cracks'. |
| Damage | Decreased computer performance, invaded privacy, adware installed on a browser. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Trojan-clickers in general
Trojan-clickers are used to inflate the visit counters for specific websites. They are used to drive traffic to specific sites or drain competitors' advertising budgets. In certain cases, these programs install additional apps such as adware. Adware can be used to gather data and (or) promote fake search engines
How did Magala infiltrate my computer?
Cybercriminals attempt to trick users into executing files downloaded from (or through) emails, cracked software download pages, and other unreliable sources. In other cases, they use fake updaters to distribute malware. In all cases, threat actors seek to trick users into executing malware by themselves.
Emails used to deliver malware are disguised as letters from legitimate companies or other entities. They contain links or attachments. Most cybercriminals use Microsoft Office, PDF documents, executable files, JavaScript files, and archive files to distribute malware.
Examples of unreliable sources for downloading files/software that cybercriminals can use to trick users into opening malicious downloads are unofficial sites, third-party downloaders, P2P networks, and free file hosting pages.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Do not open links and attachments in suspicious emails (e.g., irrelevant emails sent from unknown addresses). Use legitimate sources such as official pages and platforms for downloading software (and files). Keep the operating system and software installed on a computer up to date. Update and activate it with tools provided by the official developers.
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.
MapsGalaxy installed on the Internet Explorer:
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:
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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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
My computer is infected with Magala malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
No, Magala malware (and adware installed by it) can be removed without formatting the storage device.
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
Typically, having a computer infected with malware causes identity theft, financial losses, data loss, decreased computer performance, and (or) further infections.
What is the purpose of Magala malware?
Magala is a Trojan-clicker. It performs a form of ad fraud (click fraud). It installs MapsGalaxy and clicks on search results displayed after sending search queries received from a remote server. This malware is used to generate revenue on a pay-per-click basis or drain the advertising budget of the competitors.
How did a malware infiltrate my computer?
In most cases, malware is distributed via fake system warning messages, malicious attachments or links in emails, or other social engineering and phishing techniques. In other cases, computers get infected after executing malicious drive-by downloads or files downloaded from cracked software download pages, third-party downloaders, P2P networks, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can eliminate malware (it can detect almost all known malware). High-end malware usually hides deep in the system. Therefore, computers infected with such malware must be scanned using a full scan option.
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