StressPaint

What is StressPaint?

StressPaint was titled according to a particular tool it was distributed with named Relieve stress Paint. It is a malicious program as it falls under the classification of Trojans. It was decided to categorize it this way because the software not only enters the system without any permission but also might record private information (e.g., Facebook passwords) without the user’s knowledge. It is difficult to say how the stolen data could be used or with whom it might be shared, but we have no doubt such activities may put your privacy at risk. Thus, if you have used and downloaded Relieve stress Paint on your computer, you should check your system at once. Cleary, if the StressPaint Trojan appears to be on the device, it would be wise to erase it before it steals more private information from you. Afterward, to be safe, you could change the password to all sites you might have logged in while the malware was on the computer. For more information about it we invite you to read the rest of this report, and if you need help while removing it manually, you should have a look at the steps available at the end of this page.

Where does StressPaint come from?

The Trojan appeared in the middle of April 2018, and at that time it traveled bundled with a "stress relief application" called Relieve stress Paint. The software was available on a specific site (e.g., xn--80a2a18*.net), but with time it would seem the malware’s developers decided to use other distribution methods as well. To be more precise, it is thought StressPaint could be spread with various setup files, Spam emails, and so on. We cannot say if it is still being bundled with Relieve stress Paint as it is possible the malicious program could travel with other applications as well. As a consequence, our researchers at Anti-spyware-101.com say users should be extra cautious when downloading installers from unreliable web pages or suspicious email attachments. Never forget, it is always best to check the data raising suspicion with a legitimate antimalware tool before opening it.

How does StressPaint work?

If the user receives the StressPaint malware with Relieve stress Paint, the later application should create a file called DX.exe and updata.dll in the %TEMP% location. Plus, it may create a registry entry in the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run location, so the drawing tool could launch itself automatically with the operating system. Next to these files, the Trojan should crate data of its own (e.g., ctfmon.exe). Sadly, the names might change on each device, and there might be many slightly different StressPaint’s variants, which means it is up to the user to identify the malicious files it drops or you could leave this task to an antimalware tool you trust.

Soon after the infection settles in, it might start stealing user’s login names and passwords he types on sites like Facebook.com, Amazon.com, and so on. After obtaining the personal user’s information, the Trojan should encrypt it and send it a specific remote server belonging to the threat’s developers. Obviously, with such data, the cybercriminals might steal your accounts and access sensitive data on them. To stop this from happening, we strongly advise removing the malware at once.

How to erase StressPaint?

Probably the easiest choice would be to acquire a legitimate antimalware tool and use it to find the malware’s files. If you perform a full system scan, you could delete the StressPaint Trojan and even other possible threats right after the scan. However, if you wish to get rid of this infection manually, you could complete the steps described in the instructions available at the end of this article. They will tell you how to look for files belonging to the malicious program and how to remove them once and for all. Users who have more questions about the deletion part or the Trojan’s working manner can leave us comments below the text.

Eliminate the StressPaint malware

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
2. Open Task Manager.
3. Find a process belonging to the malicious program.
4. Select this process and pick End Task.
5. Exit the Task Manager.
6. Click Windows key+E.
7. Find this location: %TEMP%
8. Identify the malware’s installer, e.g., ctfmon.exe.
9. Right-click the suspicious file and press Delete.
10. Exit your File Explorer.
11. Click Windows key+R.
12. Type Regedit and press OK.
13.  Find this location: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
14. Locate a value name belonging to the Trojan.
15. Right-click the suspicious value name and pick Delete.
16. Leave Registry Editor.
17. Empty your Recycle bin.
18. Reboot the computer. Download Removal Tool100% FREE spyware scan and
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Stop these StressPaint Processes: