How to remove ValleyRAT from infected computers

What kind of malware is ValleyRAT?

ValleyRAT is a recently discovered malware that has drawn attention in the cybersecurity community. RATs, or Remote Access Trojans, are malicious software programs that enable threat actors to gain remote access and control over a victim's computer. Cybercriminals often use these tools to carry out a wide range of illicit activities.

More about ValleyRAT

ValleyRAT, written in C++ and compiled in Chinese, showcases the typical functionalities of a basic RAT (Remote Access Trojan). The commands employed by ValleyRAT enable the malware to carry out a wide array of actions, each serving a specific purpose in its malicious operations.

ValleyRAT can drop and execute Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files and other types of files on the compromised system. This capability lets the malware execute code or applications of its choice, which could include additional malicious payloads (e.g., ransomware or cryptocurrency miners) or tools.

Also, ValleyRAT can execute a command critical for its persistence. By setting itself to start automatically at system startup, the malware ensures that it remains active and hidden on the infected system, even after a reboot. This persistence is essential for maintaining control over the compromised device.

Other commands enable ValleyRAT to retrieve valuable information about the compromised system. It can obtain a list of running processes, providing insights into the system's operations. This data can be used for various purposes, including identifying potential targets or vulnerabilities.

Also, ValleyRAT can control its operation on the compromised system. It can stop its execution or restart itself as needed. These commands allow the malware to adapt to changing circumstances or evade detection by temporarily halting its activity.

In essence, the commands executed by ValleyRAT allow the malware to infiltrate, persist within, and manipulate the infected system. This flexibility enables the malware to execute a range of malicious activities, from data theft to further infiltration of the system or network, making it a potent threat in the hands of cybercriminals.

Possible damage

Cybercriminals armed with ValleyRAT can inflict severe damage on victims, including data theft for identity fraud and financial gain, the deployment of additional malware for system disruption, manipulation of the compromised system for broader cyberattacks, and financial losses incurred from remediation and potential fraudulent activities.

More examples of malware with capabilities of a RAT are Aphrobyte Plus, PySilon, and SuperBear.

How did ValleyRAT infiltrate my computer?

ValleyRAT's method of distribution has undergone changes over time. The initial campaign employed emails that included hyperlinks leading to compressed executable files, simplifying the process of downloading ValleyRAT.

Later campaigns employed a comparable strategy, utilizing popular freemail services like Outlook, Hotmail, and WeCom to distribute hyperlinks that facilitated ValleyRAT installation.

In an intriguing deviation from the norm, a distinct campaign opted for a Rust language-based loader to distribute the RAT. This loader also fetched a legitimate tool, EasyConnect, alongside a manipulated DLL. EasyConnect was then manipulated to load and execute this DLL through a technique known as DLL search order hijacking.

While most campaigns relied on invoice-themed bait, an atypical campaign in May 2023 utilized PDFs resembling resumes. These PDFs contained hyperlinks that, upon activation, fetched remote compressed payloads, ultimately installing ValleyRAT.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Be cautious when clicking links or downloading files from unknown or suspicious websites. Stick to reputable sources for software downloads and content. Be wary of unexpected and irrelevant emails, especially those with attachments or links. Avoid opening attachments or clicking links from unfamiliar or unexpected sources (email addresses).

Avoid interacting with shady ads (e.g., pop-ups) while visiting suspicious pages. Regularly update your operating system, software applications, and antivirus/anti-malware programs. 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 a fake Chinese Google Chrome download website (anizom[.]com) spreading ValleyRAT malware:

Screenshot of a fake Karlos - a legitimate Chinese SMS service provider - website (karlost[.]club) spreading ValleyRAT malware:

Update June 14, 2024 – new variant of ValleyRAT has been discovered. This version has improved anti-detection capabilities, such as anti-virus software checks and process termination for Qihoo 360 and WinRAR. The trojan also gathers a broader range of device-related data.

ValleyRAT expanded its list of commands with new capabilities that include user account and system manipulation (i.e., forced log-outs, restarts, and shutdowns), process filtering, Windows event log clearing, and taking screenshots.

More information on these developments can be found in an article by Muhammed Irfan V A and Manisha Ramcharan Prajapati on the Zscaler blog.

Update May 28, 2025 – Recently, a new campaign distributing ValleyRAT was uncovered. This campaing relies on fake software installers impersonating well-known applications like LetsVPN and QQ Browser to trick users into initiating the malware infection.

In this campaign, cybercriminals use a malware loader named Catena. The attack begins with a trojanized NSIS installer, crafted to look like a legitimate setup file for QQ Browser. Once executed, this installer uses Catena to deliver the ValleyRAT malware to the victim's system.

Update July 1, 2026 - Researchers at SpiderLabs have identified new ValleyRAT infection campaigns. One campaign, first observed in 2026, targets Japanese-speaking users through malicious emails containing links to ZIP archives with executable files that trigger the infection chain when opened. A separate campaign continues targeting Chinese-speaking users via fake software installers, with both campaigns reportedly focusing on overseas branches of multinational corporations as easier entry points into larger networks.

In the analyzed campaigns, ValleyRAT's payload is delivered using a fileless technique - it is injected into a legitimate Windows process and never saved to disk, making it harder for security software to detect. Attackers also abuse files belonging to the legitimate VLC media player to help disguise the malware's activity. (source: levelblue.com).

Update September 4, 2026 - Researchers at Kaspersky have documented a ValleyRAT campaign active in 2026 that impacted over 1,500 users, primarily in China and India. The malware is distributed through fake software installers disguised as popular applications such as DingTalk, Google Chrome, and Tencent Meeting. To reduce suspicion, these installers also silently deploy a modified version of QN Wallpaper - genuine adware - as a decoy alongside the backdoor.

The analyzed variant includes expanded data-collection capabilities: it can log keystrokes, monitor clipboard content, and track which application window is currently in focus. The malware also injects itself into the legitimate Windows svchost.exe process to maintain persistence. The campaign has been attributed to Silver Fox, a threat actor known for both cyberespionage and financially motivated operations. (source: securelist.com).

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.

Tools you'll need

Combo Cleaner Antivirus 7-days free trial

Recommended primary scanner. VB100 certified. The 7-day free trial is available.

Microsoft Defender Offline Free · built-in

Built into Windows. Boots to a clean environment to catch rootkits.

Process Explorer Free

From Microsoft Sysinternals. Better than Task Manager - shows full paths and signatures.

Autoruns Free

From Microsoft Sysinternals. Lists every place malware can persist on your system.

Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT) Free

Official Microsoft on-demand scanner. Always-current signatures - expires every 10 days.

Phase 1~ 5 min

Contain - limit the damage

---

1

Disconnect from the network

30 secNo tool needed

Unplug your Ethernet cable and turn off Wi-Fi. If you're on a laptop, the airplane-mode key works fastest.

Why this matters

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.

2

Boot into Safe Mode with Networking

3 min

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.

Windows 11

Open Settings → System → Recovery. Click Restart now next to Advanced startup.

Your computer will restart into the "Choose an option" menu. Click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart. After the second reboot, press 5 or F5.

Windows 10

Click the Windows logo, hold Shift, click the Power icon and choose Restart. In the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart. 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.

Phase 2~ 15 min

Identify - find what's hiding

---

3

Inspect running processes with Process Explorer

Tool: Process Explorer5 min

Download Process Explorer from Microsoft Sysinternals. Run it as Administrator. Click Options → Verify Image Signatures and View → Lower Pane View → DLLs.

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.

Why not just Task Manager

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.

4

Map every persistence point with Autoruns

Tool: Autoruns 14.x10 min

Download Autoruns. Right-click Autoruns.exe and choose Run as administrator - without elevation, Autoruns can't inspect protected registry hives.

In the menu, open Options → Hide Microsoft Entries and Options → Hide Empty Locations, 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

Pro tip

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.

5

Check the hosts file and DNS settings

3 minBuilt into Windows

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 Settings → Network & internet → [your adapter] → DNS server assignment and verify both DNS and DNS over HTTPS (DoH) settings haven't been hijacked.

Why this matters

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.

Phase 3~ 60-90 min

Remove - three scans, one cleanup

---

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.

6

Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Tool: Built into Windows15 min

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. 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.

Why this comes first

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.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

7

Run Combo Cleaner full system scan

Tool: Combo Cleaner20-40 min

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.

8

Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

Tool: Microsoft Safety Scanner15 min

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.

Why a second scan

Different scanning engines catch different threats. Running an additional Microsoft scan after Combo Cleaner is the single most underused verification step in malware removal.

9

Manually remove anything still listed in Autoruns

Tool: Autoruns10 min

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.

Important

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).

Phase 4~ 15 min

Recover - restore browsers and security

---

10

Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

5 min

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/reset and click "Restore settings to their original defaults." Then visit chrome://settings/content/notifications and remove any unfamiliar sites.
• Edge: visit edge://settings/reset. Then check edge://settings/content/notifications.
• Firefox: open about:support and 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.

11

Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything

10 min

Many trojans disable security software. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings 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 (Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates) and update your browsers and applications. The infection vector that let the trojan in originally usually involves outdated software.

Phase 5~ 15 min + 7 days

Verify & secure

---

12

Change passwords from a clean device

20 min⚠ Critical

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:

1. Primary email first - it's the recovery hub for everything else
2. Banking and financial accounts
3. Password manager master password (if you use one)
4. 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.

13

Verify the clean and monitor for 7 days

5 min + 1 week monitoring

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 Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Remove everything → Cloud download. 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 ValleyRAT malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

Instead of immediately formatting your storage device (a last-resort measure) to eliminate the ValleyRAT, it is advisable to contemplate alternative solutions. It is recommended to explore alternatives like employing reputable antivirus and anti-malware tools such as Combo Cleaner to scan for and eliminate the malware.

What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?

Malware can lead to a variety of detrimental outcomes, including data breaches, financial setbacks, privacy violations, and disruptions to system operations. Furthermore, it can jeopardize the security of personal and confidential information, potentially resulting in identity theft and enduring consequences for those affected.

What is the purpose of ValleyRAT malware?

ValleyRAT's main purpose is to grant cybercriminals unauthorized remote control over a victim's device. This versatile malware can be used for data theft, system manipulation, persistent access, delivering other malware, surveillance, forming botnets, financial fraud, and more, depending on the attackers' goals.

How did ValleyRAT malware infiltrate my computer?

Initially, ValleyRAT spread through email links to compressed executable files. Later campaigns continued this trend using freemail services. In a significant change, one campaign employed a Rust-based loader to deliver ValleyRAT alongside a manipulated DLL executed via DLL search order hijacking. In May 2023, an unusual campaign used resume-themed PDFs with links to remote payloads, installing ValleyRAT.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Combo Cleaner possesses the ability to find and remove nearly all malware infections. It is important to note that advanced malware often conceals itself deeply within the system. Thus, performing a complete system scan is imperative.