How to remove X-FILES Stealer virus

Easy guide to delete X-FILES Stealer

X-FILES Stealer is an info-stealer virus, written in C# programming language. Like other info-stealer, it is controlled through Telegram. It is designed to collect passwords, credit card info and so on. It is available on hackers’ forum for sale. Hence, it can be used in modified form.  Crooks are offering three subscription plans – 50 RUB for seven days, 500 RUB for one month, 1500 RUB for a lifetime for potential users.

Researches’ analyses show the X-FILES Stealer virus target total five web browsers, including Google Chrome, Chromium, Silmjet, Vivaldi and Opera GX. It targets the data on cookies, including the saved log-in credentials and credit card details. Also, it steals sensitive data like ZIP code, IP address, OS version, system language. It can even collect all .txt files stored on the desktop. Not only that, the hackers may use the data to steal the personal accounts like emails and social media accounts.

The collected data are used in malicious purposes. For instance, to make fraudulent purchases, transactions, deliver malware, send spam, trick users into making monetary transactions and so on. The collected sensitive data could be shared with third parties, potent crooks. If this virus is running on your system, you will see a suspicious process “Svc_host” running on the Task Manager (don’t confuse with Service Host, or SvcHost- the legit Windows process).

From the detail discussion, it is clear now that X-FILES Stealer can be used for stealing banking data, email, social media and other accounts, credit card info and text files stored on the desktop. It can record keystrokes to get the details from each keyboard press and mouse input. Also, it can infect systems with malware like Ransomware, Worm, spyware and etc. Now the question arises, how to avoid such severe risks? Follow the guide below the post – the X-FILES Stealer removal tips is provided for you in easy step-by-step manner.

How did X-FILES Stealer infiltrate my computer?

It is common that malware such as info-stealers are distributed through spam emails within infectious files and links in them. In both the cases, crooks aim to trick users into clicking on a malicious file. If opened, it installs malicious computer malware on the system. Some examples of such files are malicious Microsoft Office or PDF files, Archives, JavaScript, executables, and so on. Trojans can be used to install such threats. These cause chain infections on already infected device.

Unreliable downloading channels such as p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/ installers often spread malware by presenting it as legit software. Fake software updaters are can also be used to spread malware tool. They infect systems by exploiting bugs/ flaws of outdated software or by direct downloading malware instead of providing updates. Cracking tools illegally bypass activation tools for licensed software of operations systems. It is common that these tools can be employed to infiltrate system malware.

How to prevent malware intrusion?

Irrelevant and suspicious emails should never be clicked, especially the presented attachments or website links in them. It is common that emails of this kind are sent by cyber-criminals who aim to distribute malware. Software should always be downloaded/ installed, updated and activated using official sources only. Third party downloaders are often used to proliferate to malicious files, programs. Similarly, cracking tools and fake updaters are only a mean to trick people into causing system infection at the end by tricking them to activate/ update installed software.

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 X-FILES Stealer:

Remove the related items of X-FILES Stealer 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 X-FILES Stealer 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 (X-FILES Stealer) 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 X-FILES Stealer 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 X-FILES Stealer 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 X-FILES Stealer 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 X-FILES Stealer 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 X-FILES Stealer (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.