How to remove AtlasCross RAT from infected devices

What kind of malware is AtlasCross?

AtlasCross is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) that lets attackers secretly control a victim's computer. It is known that cybercriminals target mainly Chinese-speaking users and use fake download websites for popular apps to distribute the RAT. AtlasCross is also designed to avoid detection.

More about AtlasCross

Cybercriminals use a real tool called Setup Factory to make the malware installer look legitimate and safe. They hide AtlasCross inside several layers of legit-looking installers, making it look safe while secretly infecting the system. Threat actors also use anti-analysis techniques to avoid detection by security tools and researchers.

The AtlasCross RAT is the main malware that runs after infection. It connects to the attacker's server and takes control of the system. It hides itself in the Windows folder with a random name and runs multiple tasks, like blocking security tools and communicating with attackers.

It also secretly runs PowerShell within itself (without using the standard PowerShell program) and disables security protections, allowing attackers to execute commands without detection. The RAT communicates with its control server using strong encryption (ChaCha20).

AtlasCross RAT enables cybercriminals to manage remote sessions, giving them control over infected systems. It can view the screen and control mouse and keyboard input. The malware also supports process injection, allowing it to run malicious code inside other programs.

It can also download and execute additional files and includes a module management tool that allows cybercriminals to load or update different components of the malware. Additionally, it provides file access and shell commands, allowing threat actors to browse, modify files, and run system commands remotely.

Additional capabilities

AtlasCross disrupts security programs by blocking their network connections. This weakens their ability to protect the system without directly closing them. It also monitors common security tools and apps, such as WeChat and Telegram. The RAT can inject a malicious DLL into WeChat to take control of the app.

When it receives a command, it drops a DLL file, finds the running WeChat process, and forces it to load the malicious code inside its memory. This feature is likely used to access messages or steal session data.

Moreover, AtlasCross can place a hidden scheduled task in a Windows system folder, so it runs automatically when the user logs in with high privileges. It disguises its file path to avoid detection by security tools. When it needs to remove itself, it delays and adjusts process priorities so it can delete its own files without crashing or leaving traces.

Conclusion

AtlasCross is a sophisticated and stealthy RAT capable of taking control of infected systems, bypassing security protections, and remaining persistent. Victims of these attacks can encounter issues like identity theft, account hijacking, additional infections, financial loss, etc. If a system is infected with AtlasCross, the RAT should be removed immediately.

More examples of RATs are CrySome, CrystalX, and GHOSTFORM.

How did AtlasCross infiltrate my computer?

AtlasCross is distributed through fake installers downloaded from typosquatted websites (e.g., www-surfshark[.]com) that mimic legitimate software download sites. These sites offer tools such as Surfshark, Signal, Telegram, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, VPN clients, messengers, video conferencing apps, cryptocurrency trackers, and e-commerce applications.

They are designed to download a ZIP file that contains a multi-layered installer that appears legitimate and is signed with a stolen certificate. Once executed, it installs a decoy application (e.g., UltraViewer) alongside hidden malware components, then loads the RAT in memory through multiple stages.

More examples of fake sites used to deliver malicious installers: app-zoom[.]com, eyy-eyy[.]com, kefubao-pc[.]com, quickq-quickq[.]com, signal-signal[.]com, telegrtam.com[.]cn, trezor-trezor[.]com, ultraviewer-cn[.]com, wwtalk-app[.]com, www-surfshark[.]com, and www-teams[.]com.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Be careful with emails that seem unexpected or come from unfamiliar senders, especially if they contain links or attachments. If files or links in such messages appear suspicious, do not open them. Also, avoid interacting with pop-ups, ads, or prompts on untrusted websites, and do not allow notifications from shady pages.

Download software and files from official sources or verified app stores, and avoid cracked programs, pirated software, or key generators. Make sure your operating system and applications are kept up to date.

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.

Fake websites distributing malicious installers containing AtlasCross (source: hexastrike.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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 AtlasCross malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

Taking this step can eliminate AtlasCross, but it will also delete all files and data on the device. For that reason, it is often recommended to first try removing it with a reputable security solution, such as Combo Cleaner, before resorting to reformatting.

What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?

Malware can carry out a wide range of harmful actions, such as deleting or corrupting files, dropping additional malicious payloads, and gathering sensitive information. This can lead to serious outcomes like identity theft, financial loss, unauthorized account access, and irreversible loss of data.

What is the purpose of AtlasCross?

The purpose of AtlasCross is to act as a Remote Access Trojan that gives attackers control over infected computers. It is mainly used to spy on users, steal data, execute commands remotely, and maintain long-term access.

How did AtlasCross infiltrate my computer?

AtlasCross is spread through malicious installers on fake websites that imitate trusted software like Surfshark, Signal, Telegram, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, VPNs, and other popular apps. These sites deliver a ZIP file containing a seemingly legitimate installer signed with a stolen certificate. When run, it installs a decoy app (such as UltraViewer) while secretly loading the RAT.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and remove most known malware infections. However, advanced threats often hide deeply within the system, so it is important to perform a full system scan to ensure nothing is missed.