Remove HoudRat from PC

Proper guide to delete HoudRat effectively

HoudRat is dubious malware written in Autolt and has been classified as worm and Remote Access Trojan. It spread into your computer through removal devices and cyber criminals behind this used it as a tool to perform various malicious commands such as take screenshots, steal passwords, download files, log keystrokes and other important tasks on victim’s devices. This Trojan virus was detected in Command and Control server and used by scammers behind another worn called Retadup.

As soon as HoudRat malware infiltrated, it can execute commands like restart, shut down computer, open various websites and download and execute various files. After that, it modifies PC arrangements, DNS configurations, Windows Registry keys and so on that determines the normal PC performances. Further, it inserts thousands of bugs such as adware, browser hijacker, worm, spyware etc into the machine that causes various harmful effects. Despite this, it can also be used as keystroke logger that can be used to record keyboard input.

Further, HoudRat can steal your personal and sensitive information including financial details, credit card number, password, bank account details, IP address etc. by using keylogger. In some cases, it might also gather your data from personal accounts and shared with hackers who misused for using in illegal activities. These activities can result into huge risk of privacy and identity theft. So, you should remove this malware from the computer in order to avoid such risks.

Symptoms of HoudRat:

• Application malfunctioning
• CPU damages
• Software failure
• Hard drive crash
• Shut down and starts up error
• Data loss
• Overall system performance gets downgrade

How did HoudRat intrude on my system?

HoudRat invades inside through various deceptive tricks. Some of the sources that are quite vulnerable for this threat are freeware and shareware programs, spam emails, peer to peer sharing networks and other malicious websites. Once inside, this virus enters inside the system to avoid its detection from the antivirus tool and other firewall security measures for the long time. It alters the PC settings such as desktop settings, internet settings and other crucial settings to take the complete control over the machine. It creates its multiple files and spread on each folder to prevent its removal directly from the Window.

How to avoid installation of malware?

In order to prevent the system from malware and other harmful threats, users are highly advised to ignore the installation of freeware programs from third party webpage. Always try to download and install programs especially freeware from their official sites. Must read the Ends Users License Agreements as well as select custom or advance options. Don’t try to open any files especially if their senders seem suspicious or unknown. As soon as such files get opened, it causes computer infections. Unofficial activation or updating tools should not be used. Moreover, it is not legal to activate any licensed software with tools of this kind.

Remove HoudRat

Manual malware removal processes have been described below under this article. As we know, this process is lengthy and complicated as well as also requires advanced computer skills. Apart from this, users are recommended to use professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to remove HoudRat and all infiltrated malware.

Threat specification

Name: HoudRat

Type: Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware.

Symptoms: Trojans are designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim’s computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine.

Quick Description: An element of the HoudRat Trojan family of threats. Aims to slither in your Windows computer and perform harmful tasks of most types.

Distribution methods: Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software ‘cracks’.

Damage: Stolen passwords and banking information, identity theft, and the victim’s computer added to a Botnet.

Removal: In order to remove HoudRat, you are advised to go through given below removal instructions or follow anti-malware removal tool.

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 HoudRat:

Remove the related items of HoudRat 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 HoudRat 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 (HoudRat) 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 HoudRat 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 HoudRat 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 HoudRat 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 HoudRat 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 HoudRat (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.