How to eliminate NoMercy stealer malware from the operating system
TrojanAlso Known As: NoMercy malware
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What is NoMercy Stealer?
NoMercy is a piece of malicious software classified as a stealer. Malware within this classification operates by extracting a wide variety of sensitive information from infected machines. These programs can have a broad range of abilities for stealing data.
NoMercy malware overview
NoMercy begins its operations (post successful infiltration) by collecting device data, e.g., information relating to hardware, operating system, network, installed applications and anti-virus tools, running processes, active windows, etc.
This stealer also learns the keyboard layout, as it is relevant for its keylogging abilities - i.e., recording of pressed keys. This program has various functionalities typical for spyware, e.g., taking screenshots, making snapshots using the device's camera, recording audio via the microphone, and so on. NoMercy can perform these actions approximately every 5 minutes or for this period of time continuously (e.g., record 5 minutes of audio).
At the time of writing, this stealer is relatively new and still in development. It is not yet a piece of sophisticated malicious software; however, it has been updated with additional stealer and clipper functionalities. Hence, NoMercy is capable of extracting vulnerable data from the following VPN software - NordVPN, OpenVPN, and ProtonVPN.
Clippers are designed to replace data copied into the clipboard (copy-paste buffer). Typically, these programs aim to change cryptocurrency wallet addresses - so that the pasted address would belong to the attacker's cryptowallet - thereby rerouting the funds during outgoing transactions. NoMercy can redirect BitCoin, BitCoin Cash, Ethereum, Monero, Ripple, and Stellar cryptocurrency transactions.
To summarize, infections like NoMercy can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft. Therefore, if you suspect that your device is infected with NoMercy (or other malware) - we strongly advise using an anti-virus to eliminate it without delay.
| Name | NoMercy malware |
| Threat Type | Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware. |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:PWSX-gen [Trj]), Combo Cleaner (Trojan.GenericKD.39811273), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of MSIL/Spy.Agent.DYS), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan-PSW.MSIL.Stealer.gen), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Casdet!rfn), Full List Of Detections (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 Combo Cleaner. Download Combo CleanerTo 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. |
Stealer-type malware examples
We have analyzed thousands of malicious programs; YTStealer, Redox, Growtopia, and SaintStealer are merely some examples of stealers. Information-stealing malware targets various types of data and uses different abilities to obtain it.
Furthermore, malicious software often has functionalities in varied combinations. Regardless of how malware operates, its presence on a system endangers device integrity and user safety. Hence, it is crucial to remove all threats immediately upon detection.
How did NoMercy infiltrate my computer?
The developers of NoMercy offer it for sale online - hence, how it is proliferated depends on the cyber criminals using it at the time.
Usually, malware is spread by employing phishing and social engineering tactics. Virulent files can be in various formats, e.g., Microsoft Office and PDF documents, archives, executables, JavaScript, etc. Once such a file is executed, run, or otherwise opened - malware download/installation is jumpstarted.
The most common distribution techniques include: drive-by (stealthy and deceptive) downloads, untrustworthy download sources (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.), online scams, spam emails and messages, illegal program activation tools ("cracks"), and fake updates.
How to avoid installation of malware?
We highly recommend downloading only from official and verified channels. Furthermore, software must be activated and updated using functions/tools provided by genuine developers, as those acquired from third-parties may contain malware.
We advise against opening the attachments and links found in suspicious/irrelevant emails and messages - since that can result in a system infection.
It must be emphasized that having a reputable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date - is essential to device/user safety. Security programs must be used to run regular system scans and to remove detected threats. 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.
Screenshot of the NoMercy stealer being promoted on Telegram:
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.
Disconnect from the network
Unplug your Ethernet cable and turn off Wi-Fi. If you're on a laptop, the airplane-mode key works fastest.
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.
Boot into Safe Mode with Networking
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.
Open . Click Restart now next to Advanced startup.
Your computer will restart into the "Choose an option" menu. Click . After the second reboot, press 5 or F5.
Click the Windows logo, hold Shift, click the Power icon and choose Restart. In the Choose an option screen, click . 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.
Inspect running processes with Process Explorer
Download Process Explorer from Microsoft Sysinternals. Run it as Administrator. Click and .
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.
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.
Map every persistence point with Autoruns
Download Autoruns. Right-click Autoruns.exe and choose Run as administrator - without elevation, Autoruns can't inspect protected registry hives.
In the menu, open and , 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
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.
Check the hosts file and DNS settings
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 and verify both DNS and DNS over HTTPS (DoH) settings haven't been hijacked.
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.
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.
Run Microsoft Defender Offline
Reboot to normal Windows. Open . 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.
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.
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Download Combo CleanerRun Combo Cleaner full system scan
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.
Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan
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.
Different scanning engines catch different threats. Running an additional Microsoft scan after Combo Cleaner is the single most underused verification step in malware removal.
Manually remove anything still listed in Autoruns
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.
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).
Reset browsers and clear notification permissions
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/resetand click "Restore settings to their original defaults." Then visitchrome://settings/content/notificationsand remove any unfamiliar sites. - Edge: visit
edge://settings/reset. Then checkedge://settings/content/notifications. - Firefox: open
about:supportand 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.
Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything
Many trojans disable security software. Open 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 () and update your browsers and applications. The infection vector that let the trojan in originally usually involves outdated software.
Change passwords from a clean device
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:
- Primary email first - it's the recovery hub for everything else
- Banking and financial accounts
- Password manager master password (if you use one)
- 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.
Verify the clean and monitor for 7 days
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 . 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 NoMercy malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
No, the NoMercy stealer's removal does not require formatting.
What are the biggest issues that NoMercy malware can cause?
What dangers a malicious program poses - depends on its abilities and the cyber criminals' aims. NoMercy is a stealer - a type of malware designed to steal a wide range of information. Hence, these infections can lead to serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.
What is the purpose of NoMercy malware?
While how malicious programs operate varies, they are usually used for the sole goal of generating revenue. However, malware might also be used for the cyber criminals' amusement or to disrupt processes (e.g., websites, services, companies, etc.), carry out personal grudges, or even launch a politically/geopolitically motivated attack.
How did NoMercy malware infiltrate my computer?
Malware is most commonly distributed through drive-by downloads, spam emails and messages, dubious download channels (e.g., unofficial and freeware websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.), online scams, illegal software activation tools ("cracks"), and fake updates. Furthermore, malicious programs may be capable of self-spreading through 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 practically all known malware infections. Note that since high-end malicious software usually hides deep within systems - performing a full system scan is paramount.
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Tomas Meskauskas
Expert security researcher, professional malware analyst
I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats.
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