How to remove HookSpoofer from the operating system
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of malware is HookSpoofer?
HookSpoofer is an information stealer written in the C# programming language that possesses keylogging and clipper functionalities. Cybercriminals use information stealers as they are a type of malware designed to obtain sensitive or confidential information from victims' devices, such as login credentials, banking details, or personal data.
More about HookSpoofer
HookSpoofer is capable of stealing data from ProtonVPN, OpenVPN, NordVPN, and Filezilla clients, as well as collecting information on the running processes of the infected system, capturing desktop screenshots, and stealing info related to saved Wi-Fi modules and passwords.
Moreover, it can extract history, cookies, login data, credit card details, and other data from Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera browsers and exfiltrate information from messengers like Telegram, Discord, Pidgin, Outlook, and Skype.
In addition, HookSpoofer can obtain gaming sessions from Steam, Uplay, Battle.Net, and Minecraft clients, steal data from cryptocurrency wallets, access webcams, and extract system information.
Furthermore, HookSpoofer also has keylogging and clipper capabilities, allowing it to record keystrokes (with the keylogging feature) and monitor the clipboard of the infected device (with the clipper malware), which it can then use to swap cryptocurrency wallet addresses with the malware author's address.
| Name | HookSpoofer information stealer |
| Threat Type | Information stealer |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:Malware-gen), Combo Cleaner (Gen:Variant.MSILPerseus.228898), ESET-NOD32 (Multiple Detections), Kaspersky (UDS:Trojan-PSW.MSIL.Agent.gen), Microsoft (Trojan:MSIL/CryptInject!MTB), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Information stealers 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, monetary loss, loss of online accounts, and more. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Possible damage
HookSpoofer is a highly dangerous information-stealing malware that can cause significant damage to the victim's device and sensitive information. The malware can steal sensitive data such as login credentials, banking details, credit card information, and cryptocurrency wallet details, leading to financial loss, identity theft, and other malicious activities.
The keylogging and clipper capabilities of HookSpoofer enable it to record all keyboard input, monitor the clipboard for cryptocurrency wallet addresses, and swap them out with the malware author's address, leading to the loss of any cryptocurrencies stored in the victim's wallet.
Overall, HookSpoofer can cause serious harm to both individuals and businesses, making it a highly dangerous malware. Examples of other known information stealers are RootFinder, Cinoshi, and SYS01.
How did HookSpoofer infiltrate my computer?
HookSpoofer is distributed through various bundlers, which are packages that combine two or more files into a single entity. Bundlers hosting HookSpoofer can be found on various websites, including file-sharing platforms, torrent sites, and software download portals.
Cybercriminals can also distribute bundlers through phishing emails or malicious advertisements. Users may end up downloading these bundlers through various means, including clicking on links in phishing emails or downloading files from unreliable sources.
They may also inadvertently download the bundlers when downloading legitimate software from a compromised website. Once the bundler is downloaded and executed on the victim's device, HookSpoofer is installed and begins its malicious activities.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Use reputable antivirus software and keep it updated. Only download software from reputable sources, such as the software developer's official website. Be cautious when downloading files and programs or clicking on links received through unsolicited emails or messages. Do not trust ads on shady web pages.
Keep your operating system and other programs up to date with the latest security patches. Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. 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.
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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Quick menu:
- What is HookSpoofer?
- STEP 1. Manual removal of HookSpoofer 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
My computer is infected with HookSpoofer malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Formatting your storage device is one way to get rid of malware, including HookSpoofer. However, this approach will erase all the data on the drive. Before taking such a step, it is advisable to try using reputable antivirus software to scan the operating system and remove HookSpoofer.
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
The consequences of malware can vary depending on its type, but they may include identity theft, financial losses, diminished computer performance, data loss, increased susceptibility to further infections, and other issues.
What is the purpose of HookSpoofer malware?
HookSpoofer is a type of information-stealing malware equipped with keylogging and clipper capabilities. Its primary objective is to steal a range of data from web browsers, software clients, operating systems, cryptocurrency wallets, and more.
How did HookSpoofer infiltrate my computer?
HookSpoofer is proliferated through bundlers that may be found on file-sharing platforms, torrent sites, or distributed via phishing emails and malicious ads, and similar channels.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Combo Cleaner can detect and remove almost all known malware infections. However, it's important to note that sophisticated malware can often hide deep within the system. Thus, it is essential to perform a full system scan to ensure complete removal.
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