How To Remove Koobface Trojan

Koobface: Complete Delete Process

Koobface is a highly dangerous computer virus that belongs to the trojan category and can infect Windows, Mac OS X and Linux based systems. As soon as this precarious threat infiltrates the targeted devices, it performs a series of malevolent activities and causes multiple hazardous issues inside. This nasty parasite can be utilized by cyber criminals for various malicious purposes such as stealing sensitive data, inducing advertisements, downloading secondary payloads and so on. It is also considered as a worm and usually gets spread via social media and email networks, especially Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Facebook, Skype, twitter and others.

Koobface Checks For Available Cookies:

Once Koobface infiltrates the PC systems, it looks for cookies of social sites and once found, compromises the users’ profile. However, if the threat can’t locate confirmation of social networks, it just removes itself and then produces MS Window look alike error pop-ups. The following information is included in the message of the pop-ups:

“Error installing Codec. Please contact support.” The threat is flagged by different vendors as Gen:Variant.Koobface.4, Trojan/Win32.Agent, Boface and many more.

There are multiple tech support scams that employ the name of this precarious worm. The alert messages stating about the infection of Koobface on your internet browsers are most probably fake. In this case, you should scan your system with a reputable security program. However, if the infection is true, you must get rid of the virus without wasting any time. Due to continuously using the social sites, some specific cookies are detected and victims’ login information of all social networking sites that they access is gathered by this hazardous trojan. After that, people from victims’ friend list are send messages, instructing them watch a video.

Message sent by Koobface contains a vicious hyperlink which once clicked, redirect users to an infectious site where they are claimed that Flash need to be updated to review to content. The download links contain flash_player.exe file. As soon as the installation of the update is allowed, access for an installer of this infection is given. This result in the stealthily download and installation of malicious files. Using this perilous worm, cyber offenders can monitor and record information about the victim. For instance, it can collect the logins and passwords entered on visited sites, credit card and banking details. Data gathered by this virus is exposed to cyber criminals and can be misused for spiteful purposes. Scammers can utilize them for generating and displaying customized ads that urge you to install fake anti-virus tools, making fraudulent transactions that may lead to huge financial loss and so on. And hence, an instant Koobface removal is strongly recommended.

Social Media Scams Spread Such Infections:

This notorious worm is most often distributed via social engineering, means it is propagated via social media messages. People get a message on their social networking app that contain malicious link. By clicking on this link, they are redirected to a perilous site that shows fake update notifications and asks visitors to update the software using the provided link or button. However, this eventually leads to the virus intrusion.

So, whenever you receive a suspicious message from your friend, ask him/her if he/she has actually sent it. Such spam messages look like this:

• “You look just awesome in this new movie”;
• “Why do you look so stupid? xD See yourself”;
• “My friend caught you on hidden cam”;
• “I saw your silly face in that movie, check it!.”

If you have clicked any of such messages, you should immediately check you device for the infection and if it is detected, remove Koobface from the machine as soon as possible.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Koobface:

Remove the related items of Koobface using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Koobface issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Koobface) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Koobface removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter. In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Koobface still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Koobface plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”. Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Koobface removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Koobface (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications. Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.