How to remove Heisenberg RAT from the operating system
TrojanAlso Known As: Heisenberg remote access trojan
Get free scan and check if your device is infected.
Remove it nowTo use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.
What kind of malware is Heisenberg RAT?
Heisenberg RAT is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) that forms the centerpiece of the Heisenberg malware platform - a modular Windows toolkit sold to other criminals. Alongside the RAT, the platform bundles an information stealer, a loader, a dropper, a cryptor, a packer, a file manager, dual hidden-desktop access, and a web-based control panel.
Once installed on a victim's machine, the RAT gives the operator remote control of the infected computer. The stealer component harvests browser data and cryptocurrency wallet contents, while the loader is capable of pulling down additional malware payloads at any time.
The platform was reported by KrakenLabs, who observed a threat actor using the handle HeisenbergSoft advertising it on the Exploit underground forum.
Heisenberg RAT overview
Heisenberg is offered as a Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) product, meaning criminals can purchase ready-to-deploy builds rather than building their own tools. The RAT component weighs approximately 220 KB and is written in C, C++, and assembly language, with the server-side backend developed in Rust.
Unlike typical malware that relies on Windows' built-in networking libraries, the RAT uses a completely custom network stack. It communicates directly with the Windows kernel's network driver at a low level, bypassing the standard networking API entirely. This makes its traffic significantly harder to intercept or flag with conventional security tools.
Communications are encrypted using a custom TLS library (the system's built-in SSL/TLS is not used), and DNS lookups are routed over DNS over HTTPS (DoH), disguising the RAT's server queries as ordinary encrypted web traffic.
Remote control and data theft capabilities
The platform advertises two separate hidden-desktop modules (HVNC) plus standard VNC access. Hidden desktop access lets an attacker open a second, invisible Windows session on the victim's machine and use their browsers and applications while the victim sees nothing on their own screen.
This is particularly dangerous for online banking and cryptocurrency accounts, since the attacker operates from the victim's own computer using their existing logged-in sessions, which defeats many fraud checks that look for unfamiliar devices or locations.
The stealer component targets web browsers and cryptocurrency wallets, meaning saved passwords, session data, and wallet contents are all at risk. Operators can also run PowerShell and Command Prompt commands on the infected machine, and browse, upload, or download files through a built-in file manager.
Architecture and defense evasion
The RAT avoids linking against the standard C runtime (NoCRT, NoSTL), removing common code patterns that antivirus software looks for. It also implements full indirect system call execution with call stack spoofing - this makes the malware's calls into Windows appear to originate from trusted system code rather than from the malware process itself.
Additional anti-detection measures include PPID spoofing (making the process appear to be launched by a legitimate parent application), an ETW bypass using Vectored Exception Handlers (which disables the Windows event-tracing log that security products depend on), and routines that detect sandbox and debugger environments and refuse to run inside them.
For code execution, the RAT supports 10 types of process injection, 3 types of triggers, and 5 types of clamps. It is also designed to remain stable on modern CPUs with Intel's CET Shadow Stack protection enabled.
Code obfuscation and the .HEIZ framework
The toolkit includes a proprietary obfuscation module offering 16 levels of protection, plus optional virtual machine (VM) wrapping for individual functions. All values critical to the obfuscation are determined at runtime only, which prevents static analysis tools from extracting or predicting the protection keys.
Every build produced by the builder is polymorphic and uniquely generated - two operators purchasing the same toolkit receive binaries that look entirely different to antivirus scanners. The developer states that no patterns from common commercial protectors or published obfuscation research were used.
The framework introduces a proprietary module format called .HEIZ. Modules in this format are loaded directly into memory by the RAT, and existing EXE or DLL files can be converted into .HEIZ modules through the builder. This allows operators to extend the RAT's capabilities by packaging additional tools as plugins and deploying them remotely.
The Heiz injection method
The developer advertises a proprietary process injection technique called "Heiz." It avoids the memory management API calls that most injection methods depend on, including standard memory allocation, protection-setting, and thread-creation calls that security tools routinely monitor.
Instead, the method exploits legitimate SEC_IMAGE memory - a type of memory that NTDLL uses when loading Windows system libraries - to place the malware's code inside a target process. Because NTDLL performs the loading itself, the resulting memory appears legitimate to security tools that inspect running processes for unauthorized code.
Control panel, infrastructure, and pricing
Operators manage their victims through a web-based control panel that handles bot management and task automation, so commands can be queued and pushed to large numbers of infected machines without manual work. The customer-facing infrastructure is reachable over the Tor network, which hides where the servers are actually hosted.
According to KrakenLabs, access to the platform is advertised at $5,000 per month. Each customer is said to receive their own separate relay and command and control infrastructure, meaning one operator's servers being taken down does not disrupt the others.
It is worth noting that these are claims made by the seller in a criminal marketplace advertisement, so the real capabilities may differ from what is promised. The pricing does place Heisenberg well above typical commodity RATs, which usually sell for a fraction of that amount.
| Name | Heisenberg remote access trojan |
| Threat Type | Remote Access Trojan (RAT), HVNC, Information Stealer, Malware Loader, Dropper |
| Symptoms | Remote Access 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 | Underground criminal forums (sold as a service to operators), phishing emails, fake software installers, software 'cracks'. |
| Damage | Stolen passwords and banking information, identity theft, the victim's computer added to a botnet, additional infections, monetary loss, account hijacking. |
| 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. |
Conclusion
Heisenberg RAT gives operators remote access to infected machines while also supporting hidden-desktop control, data theft, and deployment of additional payloads. Its evasion techniques - indirect syscalls, a custom network stack, polymorphic builds, and a novel injection method - make it a particularly difficult threat to detect and remove.
Anyone with this malware on their system faces serious risks, including theft of banking and cryptocurrency funds through hidden desktop sessions, stolen passwords, identity theft, and further infections from follow-on payloads. It should be removed from the system immediately.
More examples of RATs are TONResolver, QuimaRAT, and Dolphin X.
How did Heisenberg RAT infiltrate my computer?
Heisenberg RAT is sold as a MaaS offering on the Exploit underground forum. The developer provides buyers with fully encrypted and obfuscated builds ready to deploy against victims, along with a built-in cryptor, packer, and dropper. The specific delivery method used in any given attack depends on the operator who purchased access to the builder.
Threats of this kind are commonly distributed through phishing emails, fake software download pages, pirated content, and malicious files shared over peer-to-peer networks. Attackers may disguise the payload as a legitimate application installer or bundle it with software cracks.
Other common channels include malvertising, fake software update prompts, and downloads from untrustworthy third-party sites. Because each build is uniquely obfuscated, the resulting file may not be recognized by antivirus software on first encounter - giving the attacker time to establish access before being detected.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Be cautious with unexpected emails, messages, or file attachments - especially those urging you to open or run something immediately. Download software only from official developer websites or reputable app stores. Avoid pirated content, key generators, and software cracks, as these are among the most common delivery vehicles for malware.
Keep your operating system and all installed software up to date, and use a trustworthy antivirus program with real-time protection. Be wary of browser notifications and pop-ups from websites you do not recognize. 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.
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.
VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.
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 Heisenberg RAT malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Formatting will remove the infection, but it also wipes every file on the drive. A reputable security tool such as Combo Cleaner is the safer first step and should be tried before resorting to a full format.
What are the biggest issues that Heisenberg RAT malware can cause?
Because Heisenberg RAT gives attackers remote access, the most serious risks include theft of passwords and financial data, unauthorized account access, and identity theft. Its hidden desktop feature lets criminals use online banking and cryptocurrency accounts directly from the victim's machine.
The loader component can also install additional malware - including ransomware or further stealers - meaning a single infection can escalate into multiple threats at once.
What is the purpose of Heisenberg RAT malware?
Heisenberg RAT is designed to give operators full remote control over infected computers, including hidden desktop sessions the victim cannot see. The broader platform also includes a stealer that targets browsers and cryptocurrency wallets, plus a loader for deploying further payloads.
How did Heisenberg RAT malware infiltrate my computer?
Heisenberg RAT is sold to criminal operators on the Exploit underground forum, with each buyer receiving their own infrastructure. Those operators typically distribute it through phishing emails, fake software installers, pirated content, or downloads from unofficial websites.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Yes. Combo Cleaner can detect and remove most known malware, including advanced threats like Heisenberg RAT. Running a full system scan is recommended to make sure no components have been left behind.
Share:
Facebook
X.com
LinkedIn
Copy Link
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.
PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT.
Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.
Our malware removal guides are free. However, if you want to support us you can send us a donation.
DonatePCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT.
Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.
Our malware removal guides are free. However, if you want to support us you can send us a donation.
Donate
▼ Show Discussion