What is Phorpiex Botnet?
It might be difficult to understand what Phorpiex Botnet is or how it works if you do not understand what a botnet is. It is a system of connected devices that the creator/controller of the botnet can use to perform various tasks. In many cases, botnets are used for DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attacks that are meant to disrupt certain services. However, they can also be used for mass spam email campaigns and malware distribution on a vast scale. Probably one of the most well-known threats to be distributed with the help of Phorpiex is the GandCrab Ransomware. That is no longer the case today, but it can still disperse malware that causes problems and forces people to go through complicated removal tasks. Speaking of that, understand that deleting Phorpiex Botnet systems is not a child’s play. If your computer was infected, you might have to delete the threats implemented by the botnet, as well as third-party malware that might be used for botnet’s distribution or that might have been downloaded by it.
How does Phorpiex Botnet work?
Third-party malware can be used to infect systems and add them to the Phorpiex Botnet. According to our Anti-Spyware-101.com research team, exploit kits are likely to be employed too. In either case, it is imperative to secure the system and also implement tools that could help discover and patch various vulnerabilities that cybercriminals use in exploits. If the system is not secured appropriately, it is not difficult for cybercriminals to find a way in, after which malicious processes are set in place immediately. Tldr is one of the most important components of Phorpiex Botnet because it helps it spread. This malware downloader has been seen infecting software and also using removable devices for distribution, which means that it is both a virus and a worm. It also can drop additional malware or software that the botnet might make use of. That could be, for example, the XMRig mining software that the attackers behind the botnet have been found to use actively. If this software is not deleted right away, it can use the infected system’s resources to mine for cryptocurrency and then get paid a certain percentage for the efforts (in Monero (XMR), specifically). This process is known as crypto-jacking.
Phorpiex Botnet has also been actively involved in cryptocurrency-clipping, which allows the attackers to replace the cryptocurrency wallet addresses that are copied to the clipboard. Since these addresses are long and impossible to memorize quickly, users usually copy and paste them during payments. If they do not notice that the address has been replaced, the victims transfer money to cybercriminals by accident. These are not the only ways for the attackers behind Phorpiex Botnet to make money. In the past, this malware was actively spreading sextortion spam emails that used intimidation and stolen/breached passwords to extort money. It has also been known to facilitate info-stealers (e.g., Predator The Thief or Raccoon), and the stolen data could be sold for a pretty penny too. In general, the botnet’s creator(s) is all about making money in all imaginable illegal ways, and they are succeeding. CheckPoint have even gone as far as to call it the “Most Wanted Malware.” What makes this botnet so scary is that it is dynamic, that elements and malware can be added in its modus operandi, and that it continues to be unstoppable.
How to delete Phorpiex Botnet
As our researchers warn, different variants of malware from the Phorpiex Botnet family exist, and if you are interested in deleting it all manually, you are likely to face serious troubles. The guide below only touches on one variant to give you an idea of how this malware operates, and it does not take into account other threats that might be involved. Needless to say, we do not recommend removing Phorpiex Botnet-related malware manually. It is just too complicated and risky. Instead, employ software that, hopefully, will clear your system automatically. Remember that removable devices could have been infected too, and so you might have to clean them as well as any additional devices that they might have been connected to. Once you implement trusted anti-malware software, it will take care of your system and automatically delete threats, but that is not all you should do. There are additional tools and systems that you can and should implement to mitigate potential attacks in the future.
Removal Instructions
N.B. The elements below represent one variant of Phorpiex. That means that you might have to delete different elements from different locations if you have faced a different variant.
- Simultaneously tap Windows and E keys on the keyboard.
- In Explorer’s quick access field, enter %WINDIR%.
- Right-click and Delete a folder named M-50505027509265824650265020.
- Simultaneously tap Windows and R keys on the keyboard.
- In Run’s dialog box, enter regedit to access Registry Editor.
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
- Right-click the value named Microsoft Windows Manager and choose Delete.
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and then repeat step 7.
- Empty Recycle Bin and then quickly install a trusted malware scanner.
- Perform a full scan to check your system for missed, hidden malware elements.
100% FREE spyware scan and
tested removal of Phorpiex Botnet*
0 Comments.