How to get rid of ZigCryptoStealer Malware

What kind of malware is ZigCryptoStealer?

ZigCryptoStealer is a cryptocurrency-stealing malware written in the Zig programming language. It works as a clipper - it watches the Windows clipboard and, when the victim copies a cryptocurrency wallet address, quietly swaps it for an address that belongs to the attacker. Payments the victim thinks are going to an exchange, a merchant, or a friend end up in the cybercriminals' wallet instead.

According to research published by Cisco Talos, ZigCryptoStealer was delivered as a secondary payload in a multi-stage attack that starts with a fake Google CAPTCHA and a ClickFix lure. The chain first installs the Amatera stealer, which then downloads ZigCryptoStealer together with a component that shuts down security software.

ZigCryptoStealer overview

ZigCryptoStealer keeps polling the clipboard and recognizes several cryptocurrency address formats. When it spots one, it replaces the copied address with one of the addresses embedded in the malware. Wallet addresses are long strings of random-looking characters, so most people paste them without checking every symbol, and that is exactly what this type of malware relies on.

It is worth noting that cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed. Once funds are sent to the wrong cryptocurrency wallet, there is essentially no way to get them back, so a single swapped paste can cost the victim a significant amount of money.

How ZigCryptoStealer hides and communicates

ZigCryptoStealer does not run as a separate program that would be easy to spot. The loader that delivers it starts a copy of the legitimate Windows Explorer process (explorer.exe) in a suspended state, places the malicious code inside it, and then lets it continue. In Task Manager, it simply looks like a normal part of Windows.

Rather than keeping the address of its Command and Control (C2) server inside the file, ZigCryptoStealer reads it from a smart contract on BNB Smart Chain, a public blockchain. The request is disguised as a routine token balance check, but the contract actually returns a domain name set by the operator.

This technique, known as EtherHiding, makes the infrastructure hard to take down, since data stored on a blockchain cannot simply be deleted. VMRay has previously documented ZigCryptoStealer variants using BNB Smart Chain contracts in the same way.

Talos noted that the operator updated the contract 39 times between March and July 2026, rotating through six different C2 domains in July alone. DNS lookups for the most recent domain came from 98 countries, most often the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, India, and Egypt, which suggests the campaign is not limited to one region.

Security software termination

The loader that launches ZigCryptoStealer also carries a legitimately signed but vulnerable Windows driver (DCRCVDrv.sys). It goes through the list of running processes, compares them with a built-in list of endpoint detection and response (EDR) products and other security tools, and uses the driver to forcibly close every match.

Because the driver runs with the highest level of system privileges, security programs have a hard time protecting themselves from being shut down this way. This approach is often called BYOVD (Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver), and it leaves the computer open to ZigCryptoStealer and anything else the attackers decide to run.

Other malware delivered in the same attack

ZigCryptoStealer is rarely the only threat on an infected system. In the chain analyzed by Talos, it was downloaded by the Amatera stealer. One of the Amatera builds examined was configured to collect browser data, Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp data, over 100 desktop wallet locations, and credentials from password managers, authenticator apps, FTP clients, VPN software, and remote-access tools.

The same Amatera infection also pulled down a Go-based tool that turns the victim's computer into a proxy. This lets the attackers route their own internet traffic through the victim's connection, hiding their real location. In a parallel chain, Amatera was instead told to install an unauthorized copy of NetSupport Manager, a remote-access tool that gives operators control over the PC.

Conclusion

ZigCryptoStealer targets one of the few online actions that cannot be undone - sending cryptocurrency. A single swapped address can wipe out the victim's funds, and since it arrives alongside the Amatera stealer, a proxy tool, and a driver that shuts down security software, an infected computer is likely compromised in several ways at once. It should be removed immediately. More examples of clippers are Atlas, Laplas, and Keona.

How did ZigCryptoStealer infiltrate my computer?

Talos observed the ZigCryptoStealer chain starting on compromised websites. A malicious script injected into the site (known as ClearFake) pulls additional code from BNB Smart Chain and checks whether the visitor is using Windows or macOS. Windows visitors are then shown a fake Google CAPTCHA-style box asking them to complete verification steps.

The fake check tells the visitor to press Win+R, paste with Ctrl+V, and press Enter. The page has already placed a malicious command in the clipboard, so following these steps runs it. This is a typical ClickFix lure. The command fetches a disguised DLL file (pf.ch) over WebDAV and runs it, which launches the Amatera stealer in memory.

Amatera then contacts its server and receives instructions to download a ZIP archive. The archive contains a legitimate Google Chrome component (platform_experience_helper.exe) and a malicious Secur32.dll file that the Chrome component loads automatically, a trick called DLL side-loading. The malicious DLL then launches ZigCryptoStealer and the driver used to kill security software.

Outside this campaign, cybercriminals spread malware through phishing emails, fake download pages, pirated software and cracks, malicious ads, fake software updates, and P2P networks. Malicious files are usually executables (EXE, MSI), archives (ZIP, RAR), documents, scripts, or shortcut (LNK) files.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Never copy and paste commands from a website into the Run dialog, PowerShell, Command Prompt, or Terminal. Real CAPTCHA checks never ask you to do this, so treat any such request as an attack. Be careful with unexpected emails and messages, and do not open attachments or links unless you are sure they are safe. Download software only from official websites or app stores, and avoid cracks, key generators, and pirated programs.

When sending cryptocurrency, always compare the pasted wallet address with the original, checking more than just the first and last few characters. Keep your operating system and applications updated, ignore suspicious ads and pop-ups, and use reputable security software with regular scans. 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 Google CAPTCHA (ClickFix) page used to deliver ZigCryptoStealer (source: talosintelligence.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 ZigCryptoStealer malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?

Formatting will get rid of ZigCryptoStealer, but it also erases every file on the drive. In most cases, it is better to start with a full scan using a reputable security tool such as Combo Cleaner and keep formatting as a last resort.

What are the biggest issues that ZigCryptoStealer malware can cause?

The main risk is losing cryptocurrency, since funds sent to a swapped address cannot be recovered. ZigCryptoStealer also arrives with other malware that steals passwords and wallet data, turns the PC into a proxy, and disables security software, which can lead to account hijacking, identity theft, and further infections.

What is the purpose of ZigCryptoStealer malware?

The purpose of ZigCryptoStealer is to replace cryptocurrency wallet addresses copied to the clipboard with addresses controlled by the attacker, so the victim unknowingly sends their funds to the cybercriminals.

How did ZigCryptoStealer malware infiltrate my computer?

In the campaign documented by Cisco Talos, victims visited a compromised website that showed a fake Google CAPTCHA. Following its instructions ran a hidden command (a ClickFix lure) that installed the Amatera stealer, which then downloaded ZigCryptoStealer. Malware like this is also spread through phishing emails, fake download sites, pirated software, and malicious ads.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?

Yes. Combo Cleaner can detect and remove most known malware, including clippers like ZigCryptoStealer. Since advanced threats can hide inside legitimate Windows processes, running a full system scan is recommended so nothing is missed.