Trojan Removal Guide

What is a Trojan and Why Do You Need Trojan Protection?

Trojan Detection Tip: Scan your PC for Trojans with SpyHunter.

A Trojan is a destructive program that masquerades as a harmless application only to secretly perform a second function such as installing a Virus or Malware. A Trojan hides within a set of apparently useful software applications. Once installed or executed, a Trojan will begin infecting other files in the system. Unlike a Virus, a Trojan does not replicate or spread by itself but it may get distributed by other Malware.

Popular method used by Trojan makers: If you think Trojan and Malware attacks are going away any time soon, you better think again. It is going to get worse. The rules and players may have changed but the Malware game still remains the same. Trojan and Malware makers' mission is to come up with new devious methods of infection to monetize on vulnerable computer users and to evade anti-malware detection. One of the popular methods Trojan makers use is to have a Trojan pose as a codec installer to view video or music files, distribute it in questionable websites, and then have an Internet user unknowingly download the fake Trojan codec onto his or her computer.

Once the Internet user installs the fake Trojan codec, the Trojan drops several malicious files in different locations and modifies the Registry to change the settings of the affected system. The Trojan also displays false security warnings about a Malware infection on your computer and will advise you to download a rogue anti-spyware program such as Antivirus 2009. The Trojan's purpose is to continue to disrupt computer activity and repeatedly display irritating warning alerts until the Internet user is bullied into downloading the trial version of the rogue anti-spyware program.

Unaware of the Trojan's presence in the computer and how the trial version is a bogus anti-spyware offer, the Internet user purchases the rogue anti-spyware program. Now, the Trojan has managed to make money from the sale of the rogue anti-spyware program as well as collecting the Internet user's credit card information and access to the infected computer.

Rogue anti-spyware programs known to use Trojans: Zlob, Trojan.Vundo, Antivirus 2008, XP Antivirus, VirusResponse Lab 2009, VirusRemover 2008, AntiSpyware Pro XP, XP AntiSpyware 2009, System Antivirus 2008, and MS Antivirus 2008.

Advice: The best advice to prevent Internet threats, like Trojans, from infecting your computer is to never open email attachments from someone you don't know or agree to download and install from mistrusted sources or questionable websites. Another good way to protect your computer against Trojans or other malicious programs is to install and update a good antivirus or anti-malware program.

If you suspect your computer is infected with Trojans, we highly recommend you download SpyHunter's Trojan scanner to detect Trojan files.

How Do I Get Rid of a Trojan?

To avoid the unnecessary risk of damaging your computer, we highly recommend you use a good Trojan remover to automatically detect and remove Trojan and Malware on your PC.

If you wish to detect the components of Trojans, we recommend using the free SpyHunter scanner available for download on this site. The download link below is a scan only version of SpyHunter.

If you want to remove Trojans using SpyHunter, you will need to purchase the full version of SpyHunter or you can scroll further down this article for Trojan manual removal instructions. Due to the polymorphic nature of Trojans, the full paid version of SpyHunter includes full technical support, and a service called the Spyware Helpdesk which allows our technicians to generate custom fixes specific to your PC. These custom fixes are transmitted to your SpyHunter utility, where it will disable and eradicate Trojans completely off your PC.

Automatically, Scan your PC for Trojans, with SpyHunter:

1. Download SpyHunter's Trojan Scanner.
   
   
2. Run a scan to detect any Trojan infection.
   
   
3. After you've detected the Trojans, you will need to purchase SpyHunter to enable the removal portion of the application.
   
   
4. Restart your PC and run another scan to check for any other traces of Trojans.
   
   

Trojan Manual Removal Instructions

So you've discovered that you've been infected with a Trojan or a type of Malware. Now you want to manually remove the Trojan and prevent further damage to your computer. To remove trojan or malware components, please follow the instructions below.

Note: This Trojan manual removal process is difficult and you run the risk of destroying your computer. Use the information provided at your own risk. We highly recommend you first try SpyHunter's Trojan scan.

1. First, uninstall the Trojan program using the Windows Add/Remove Programs function in the Control Panel. This is a simple task that may be effective on some Trojan programs. It is worth a try in order to remove Trojan program. This step does not work on all Trojan programs. A reboot of your system may be required after using this procedure.
   
   
2. Then, download Autoruns program, and extract it from the .Zip archive.
   
   
3. Move Autoruns to your C:drive.
   
   
4. Reboot your system into Safe Mode. (Since malicious programs can regenerate files whenever they are removed in Normal Mode, only in Safe Mode, which leaves the most essential programs activated, can you remove the majority of the Malware in your PC.)
   
   
5. Open the C:\Autoruns folder and double-click on autoruns.exe.
   
   
6. AutoRuns shows in different tabs what programs are configured to run during system boot up or login. Go through all the tabs to search for the malicious file under the Image Path column. Most likely the file name you're looking for is under the Logon or the Services tabs. You will probably see several entries associated with Trojans since malicious programs can create multiple startup entries. Also, make sure that you have the correct filename and folder that you want to remove -- malware programs tend to mask their file names as legitimate files.
   
   
7. Once the program is opened, click on the "Options Menu" and click on/checkmark the following options:
   • Include empty locations
   • Verify Code Signatures
   • Hide Signed Microsoft Entries
   
   
8. Press the F5 key on your keyboard to update the startups list with the new settings.
   
   
9. Search for the entry that has Trojan or Malware components. Once you find them, delete the entry so it will not appear the next time you reboot.
   
   
10. Since you've prevented the malicious program from starting on boot up, you can delete the file by going to "My Computer" or "Windows Explorer".
    
    
11. Once you've finished removing the Malware entries from the Registry and deleting the processes, you can reboot into Normal Mode.

Trojan Recommendation:

Trojans can invade your privacy, bombard you with pop-up windows, slow down your computer, and even make your computer crash. So if you want to prevent Trojans and Malware, you have to take back control of your PC today!

Important:  Our suggestion to detect Trojans and Malware is to obtain a good online anti-spyware program, which will make sure that your system remains safe when you surf the Web.

If you think you may already have a Trojan, use SpyHunter's Trojan detection tool to find Trojans and other common Malware infections. If you want to remove Trojans using SpyHunter, you will need to purchase the full version of SpyHunter. Due to the polymorphic nature of Trojans, the full paid version of SpyHunter includes full technical support, and a service called the Spyware Helpdesk which allows our technicians to generate custom fixes specific to your PC.

Learn more Trojan details below...

About SpyHunter Scan
How did I get infected with a Trojan?
Trojan Symptoms
Trojan Prevention Tips

About SpyHunter Scan

Removal-Instructions.com provides the latest anti-spyware technology and information. With your free scan, you can detect Trojan, as well Malware, Worms, Adware, Spyware, Keyloggers - so you'll know exactly what Malware threats are on your PC. No technical knowledge required!

How did I get infected with a Trojan?

You're probably asking yourself how did you got infected with a Trojan in the first place. The most common reasons for being infected with Trojans is that you're not following good security and Web surfing practices, you don't have a good anti-spyware program and your security settings are too low.

Below are a few of the possible reasons you might have become infected with a Trojan.

Reason #1: You downloaded a freeware or shareware program. Trojans are often found hidden in freeware/shareware programs such as Video Codec installers. It is important that you read more about a program before you download it. Some examples of freeware programs that may have Trojans are: peer-to-peer file sharing programs, desktop backgrounds and themes, emoticons and smileys used in emails, news and weather updates programs, and computer games.

Reason #2: You installed a peer-to-peer (P2P) or shared network application. Some peer-to-peer file sharing programs may come bundled with Trojans or other forms of Malware as an add-on software.

Reason #3: You visited a questionable website. If you visit the wrong website you can accidentally click on a link that can automatically install unwanted software such as a Trojan. Some websites can trick you by displaying a fake security pop-up that may install a Trojan or direct you to a purchase page.

Solution: Proceed to download SpyHunter's Trojan scanner. There are many anti-spyware programs on the Web; however, we choose to rely on SpyHunter's Trojan scanner to detect Trojan files and to check for updates on the newest forms of Trojan threats.

Trojan Symptoms

There are many signs that your computer has been infected with a Trojan infection. Detecting Trojan symptoms on time can help reduce the damage done to your computer. Here are some possible Trojan symptoms that your computer may have. Trojan symptoms may vary, depending on the type of Trojan you have.

Some Trojan symptoms may include:

• You see excessive pop-up advertisements. Some unwanted software can bombard you with pop-up ads while you're on the Web and even when you're not on the Web. If you see pop-up ads that are coming from questionable websites, you may have a Trojan on your computer.
  
  
• Your Web browser has additional components that you did not recall downloading. Trojans may install Search toolbars or Internet browser toolbars that appear floating on your screen or within your Web browser without your knowledge. If you notice certain icons or tools that you don't remember adding yourself, you may have been infected with a Trojan or other types of Spyware.
  
  
• Your settings have been changed without your knowledge. Some unwanted programs may change your default homepage or search page settings, which means that the default web page you selected or the page that appears when you search may have been switched to a page that you do not recognize. Even if you try to restore your settings, the Trojan may switch it back when you reboot your computer.
  
  
• Your computer is slower than usual. A Trojan may use your computer's system resources to execute its malicious tasks. A Trojan may use your memory, internet connection and your bandwidth to run itself. A sudden change on the speed of your computer can be a sign of being infected with a Trojan or Spyware.

If you suspect your computer is infected with Trojan, we highly recommend you download SpyHunter's Trojan scanner to detect Trojan files.

Trojan Prevention Tips

Here are several Trojan prevention tips to help you protect your computer against Trojans.

• Install and properly configure an anti-spyware or antivirus program. It is essential to have a good anti-spyware or antivirus program to detect Trojan infections and remove them safely from your computer. Manual detection and removal has been known to be difficult without the assistance of a good anti-spyware program.

  New Trojan files are created and released often, and without an anti-spyware program, the files and folders on the PC are at risk. Listed below is SpyHunter's Trojan detection tool.

  If you want to remove Trojans using SpyHunter, you will need to purchase the full version of SpyHunter. SpyHunter includes full technical support, and a service called the Spyware Helpdesk which allows our technicians to generate custom fixes specific to your PC. These custom fixes are transmitted to your SpyHunter utility, will disable and eradicate Trojans completely off your PC.

  Download SpyHunter's Trojan Scanner

• Perform system scans regularly with your anti-spyware and antivirus program. Automatic detection or automatic scans may not catch an infection that has just entered your system. Performing a system scan after surfing the Internet is a proactive way of detecting new infections.

• Always keep your anti-spyware or antivirus program up-to-date. It is imperative to update your anti-spyware and anti-adware program regularly so it can remove the new Trojan files. New Trojans appear every day on the Internet and if your anti-spyware program is out-of-date, then you may not be able to detect or remove newly created Trojans.

• Obtain Windows Security updates. If your operating system is a Microsoft Windows version, install the latest critical updates from Microsoft to secure your PC. Regularly use Windows Update to help prevent Trojan infections. Follow the steps below to activate your Windows Security updates.

  Go to IE > Tools > Windows Update > Product Updates, and install ALL High-Priority Security Updates listed.

  Open IE and go to Internet Options > Security > Internet, then press "Default Level", then OK. Now press "Custom Level."

• Be skeptical about downloading web browser toolbars as many of them contain Trojan or Malware infections. If you are unsure of any type of toolbar offered over the Internet, then it is best to avoid downloading it. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to installing a toolbar that you may not use as often as you think.

• Use caution and common sense when downloading any program or file from the Internet. The first thing to check before downloading a file is to look at the source of the file - in other words, where is the file coming from. If a file or program download link redirects you to another website that you are unsure of, you may then want to cancel your download. Even if you trust a download source, it is always a good idea to be selective in what you download because it may contain additional files which could be adware.

• When installing programs it may be best to choose a "custom" install rather than automatic or default. When you choose custom on many programs it allows you to weed out additional programs or files. Many times these additional programs or files contain Trojans or Malware that could slow the performance of your computer, or worse, cause damage to your system.

• Limit or eliminate the use of file-sharing programs such as Bearshare, KazaA, or LimeWire. Many files on these popular file-sharing or P2P networks are known to contain Trojans, Adware, Malware, Spyware or even Viruses that can seriously damage your system. You should avoid P2P networks that share illegal downloads at all costs.