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What kind of malware is DarkTortilla RAT?
DarkTortilla RAT is a Remote Access Trojan with significant information-stealing capabilities. It quietly harvests saved browser passwords, session cookies, and payment card details from infected machines without displaying any visible signs of activity.
According to analysis published by kaandemir993, the malware sends stolen data to the attacker through three simultaneous channels: a Telegram bot, email, and FTP. The presence of VBScript and VBA code in the sample strongly suggests delivery via macro-enabled Office documents sent through phishing campaigns.
DarkTortilla RAT overview
Once active on a system, DarkTortilla RAT accesses the internal databases that web browsers use to store login credentials. It leverages built-in browser encryption keys to decrypt passwords saved in Chrome and Edge, bypassing the protection that would normally keep those credentials private.
Beyond passwords, the malware collects session cookies and browser profiles. Cookies can be used to log into online accounts without needing a password, which makes this kind of theft particularly damaging even after a victim changes their credentials.
The RAT communicates with an external IP-lookup service to identify the victim's public IP address, likely so the operator can profile targets and track infected machines by location.
Data exfiltration channels
DarkTortilla RAT routes stolen data through three separate methods. A Telegram bot receives the data in near real time, while SMTP sends the same information via email. A third channel uploads files to a remote server using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
Running three exfiltration paths at once means blocking one channel does not stop the data from reaching the attacker. Before sending anything, the malware temporarily stores collected data in a text file at a publicly writable Windows directory path.
Targeted browsers and payment card data
DarkTortilla RAT is reported to target more than 20 browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, and Opera. It exploits browser encryption mechanisms, specifically the keys browsers use to protect locally stored login data, to read credentials that would otherwise appear secured.
The payment card theft module specifically reads card numbers, expiration dates, and cardholder names. Supported card networks include Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Union Pay, Diners Club, and Carte Blanche.
| Name | DarkTortilla remote access trojan |
| Threat Type | Remote Access Trojan (RAT), Information Stealer, Trojan |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:MalwareX-gen [Misc]), Combo Cleaner (Trojan.GenericKD.81299830), ESET-NOD32 (Win32/Spy.VB.OLN Trojan), Kaspersky (HEUR:Trojan.MSIL.InjectorNetT.gen), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Egairtigado!rfn), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| 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 | Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, 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
DarkTortilla RAT is a stealthy threat capable of draining saved browser credentials, session cookies, and payment card details while leaving no obvious signs of infection. Victims risk unauthorized access to their online accounts, financial fraud, and identity theft.
The use of three simultaneous exfiltration channels - Telegram, email, and FTP - makes data theft difficult to prevent through network-level controls alone. Any computer infected with DarkTortilla RAT should be cleaned immediately using a reputable security tool.
More examples of RATs are PollCat, NodeRabbit, and SnakeBiteAgent.
How did DarkTortilla RAT infiltrate my computer?
The analysis by kaandemir993 identified VBScript and VBA routines inside the DarkTortilla RAT sample. These scripting technologies are commonly embedded in Office documents and are a hallmark of macro-based delivery through phishing campaigns.
In a typical scenario, the victim receives an email pretending to come from a trusted sender, such as a bank, courier service, or employer, with a document attached. Opening the file and enabling macros triggers the hidden script, which silently installs the trojan in the background.
More generally, threats of this kind also reach victims through fake software download pages, pirated software packages, P2P networks, malicious ads, and illegal software activation tools known as cracks. Any file obtained from an unverified source carries the risk of containing hidden malware.
How to avoid installation of malware?
Treat unexpected emails with caution, especially those containing attachments or urging you to enable macros or click a link. Download software only from official developer websites or established app stores, and never use pirated installers, key generators, or activation cracks.
Keep your operating system and all applications up to date, and use a reputable security program that offers real-time protection. 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 DarkTortilla RAT malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Formatting will remove DarkTortilla RAT, but it also erases everything stored on the drive. Running a trusted security tool such as Combo Cleaner is the better first step, as it can remove the infection without destroying your files.
What are the biggest issues that DarkTortilla RAT malware can cause?
The most serious consequences include loss of saved passwords, account takeover, and theft of payment card details. Attackers can use stolen session cookies to access online accounts even if you later change your password.
Financial fraud and identity theft are realistic outcomes for victims whose banking credentials or card data were harvested by this threat.
What is the purpose of DarkTortilla RAT malware?
The primary purpose of DarkTortilla RAT is to steal sensitive data from infected computers. It targets saved browser passwords, session cookies, browser profiles, and payment card details, then sends everything to the attacker through Telegram, email, and FTP.
How did DarkTortilla RAT malware infiltrate my computer?
DarkTortilla RAT likely arrives via phishing emails carrying macro-enabled Office documents. Opening the attachment and enabling macros runs a hidden script that installs the malware without any visible prompt.
Threats of this type also spread through fake download sites, pirated software, and software cracks obtained from unofficial sources.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from malware?
Yes. Combo Cleaner can detect and remove most known malware, including threats like DarkTortilla RAT. Running a full system scan is recommended to ensure nothing is missed, as some advanced threats can place components in multiple locations.
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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.
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