Trojan.Win32.Agent

by Robert Bailey
January 19, 2022
Trojan.Win32.Agent
Trojan.Win32.Agent, Agent Trojan
Written by Robert Bailey
If you spectate the notification of Trojan.Win32.Agent detection, it looks like that your system has a problem. All malicious programs are dangerous, without any exceptions. Agent is a virus that aims at exposing your computer to further threats. Most of of the modern malware examples are complex, and can inject other viruses. Being infected with the Trojan.Win32.Agent virus often means getting a thing which is able act like spyware or stealer, downloader, and a backdoor. Seeing this detection means that you need to perform the removal as fast as you can.

Any malware exists with the only target – generate profits on you1. And the developers of these things are not thinking of morality – they use all available ways. Taking your personal data, getting the payments for the advertisements you watch for them, utilizing your system components to mine cryptocurrencies – that is not the complete list of what they do. Do you want to be a riding equine? That is a rhetorical question.

What does the pop-up with Trojan.Win32.Agent detection mean?

The Trojan.Win32.Agent detection you can see in the lower right corner is shown to you by Microsoft Defender. That anti-malware application is good at scanning, however, prone to be mainly unreliable. It is defenseless to malware invasions, it has a glitchy user interface and problematic malware removal features. For this reason, the pop-up which says about the Agent is just a notification that Defender has actually recognized it. To remove it, you will likely need to make use of a separate anti-malware program.

Trojan.Win32.Agent found

Microsoft Defender: “Trojan.Win32.Agent”

The exact Trojan.Win32.Agent infection is a very nasty thing. It is present into your Windows under the guise of something normal, or as a part of the app you have got on a forum. Then, it makes all possible steps to make your system weaker. At the end of this “party”, it downloads other malicious things – ones which are wanted by cybercriminals who control this malware. Hence, it is impossible to predict the effects from Agent actions. And the unpredictability is one of the most unwanted things when it comes to malware. That’s why it is better not to choose at all, and don’t let the malware to complete its task.

Threat Summary:

Name Agent Trojan
Detection Trojan.Win32.Agent
Details Agent tool that looks legitimate but can take control of your computer.
Fix Tool
GridinSoft Anti-Malware
See If Your System Has Been Affected by Agent Trojan

Is Trojan.Win32.Agent dangerous?

As I have actually pointed out previously, non-harmful malware does not exist. And Trojan.Win32.Agent is not an exception. This malware changes the system settings, modifies the Group Policies and Windows registry. All of these things are crucial for proper system operating, even when we are not talking about system safety. Therefore, the virus which Agent carries, or which it will download later, will squeeze out maximum profit from you. Cyber burglars can grab your data, and then push it on the Darknet. Using adware and browser hijacker functions, built in Trojan.Win32.Agent malware, they can make revenue by showing you the banners. Each view gives them a penny, but 100 views per day = $1. 1000 victims who watch 100 banners per day – $1000. Easy math, but sad conclusions. It is a bad choice to be a donkey for crooks.

What Trojan.Win32.Agent does on your PC?

After launching on the PC, this virus does the following actions:

See the details
  • Executable code extraction. Cybercriminals often use binary packers to hinder the malicious code from reverse-engineered by malware analysts. A packer is a tool that compresses, encrypts, and modifies a malicious file’s format. Sometimes packers can be used for legitimate ends, for example, to protect a program against cracking or copying.
  • Creates RWX memory. There is a security trick with memory regions that allows an attacker to fill a buffer with a shellcode and then execute it. Filling a buffer with shellcode isn’t a big deal, it’s just data. The problem arises when the attacker is able to control the instruction pointer (EIP), usually by corrupting a function’s stack frame using a stack-based buffer overflow, and then changing the flow of execution by assigning this pointer to the address of the shellcode.
  • Reads data out of its own binary image. The trick that allows the malware to read data out of your computer’s memory.

    Everything you run, type, or click on your computer goes through the memory. This includes passwords, bank account numbers, emails, and other confidential information. With this vulnerability, there is the potential for a malicious program to read that data.

  • A process created a hidden window;
  • HTTP traffic contains suspicious features which may be indicative of malware related traffic;
  • Performs some HTTP requests;
  • Installs itself for autorun at Windows startup.

There is a simple tactic using the Windows startup folder located at:
C:\Users\[user-name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\Startup Shortcut links (.lnk extension) placed in this folder will cause Windows to launch the application each time [user-name] logs into Windows.

The registry run keys perform the same action, and can be located in different locations:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
  • Attempts to modify proxy settings. This trick used for inject malware into connection between browser and server;
  • Creates a copy of itself;
  • Collects information to fingerprint the system. There are behavioral human characteristics that can be used to digitally identify a person to grant access to systems, devices, or data. Unlike passwords and verification codes, fingerprints are fundamental parts of user’s identities. Among the threats blocked on biometric data processing and storage systems is spyware, the malware used in phishing attacks (mostly spyware downloaders and droppers), ransomware, and Banking Trojans as posing the greatest danger.
  • Anomalous binary characteristics. This is a way of hiding virus’ code from antiviruses and virus’ analysts.

    • How did I get this virus?

    It is not easy to line the sources of malware on your computer. Nowadays, things are mixed, and spreading ways utilized by adware 5 years ago can be utilized by spyware nowadays. But if we abstract from the exact distribution tactic and will think of why it works, the answer will be quite basic – low level of cybersecurity awareness. People press on promotions on odd sites, click the pop-ups they receive in their web browsers, call the “Microsoft tech support” believing that the odd banner that states about malware is true. It is essential to recognize what is legit – to avoid misconceptions when trying to figure out a virus.

    Microsoft Tech Support Scam

    Microsoft Tech Support Scam

    Nowadays, there are two of the most extensive methods of malware spreading – bait e-mails and also injection into a hacked program. While the first one is not so easy to evade – you need to know a lot to recognize a fake – the second one is easy to address: just do not utilize hacked programs. Torrent-trackers and other sources of “totally free” applications (which are, actually, paid, but with a disabled license checking) are really a giveaway point of malware. And Trojan.Win32.Agent is just within them.

    How to remove the Trojan.Win32.Agent from my PC?

    Trojan.Win32.Agent malware is very difficult to delete manually. It places its documents in several locations throughout the disk, and can restore itself from one of the elements. In addition, a range of modifications in the windows registry, networking settings and Group Policies are quite hard to discover and revert to the initial. It is better to use a specific app – exactly, an anti-malware program. GridinSoft Anti-Malware will definitely fit the most ideal for malware removal objectives.

    Why GridinSoft Anti-Malware? It is really light-weight and has its databases updated nearly every hour. In addition, it does not have such bugs and exposures as Microsoft Defender does. The combination of these details makes GridinSoft Anti-Malware suitable for clearing away malware of any type.

    Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware

    Remove the viruses with GridinSoft Anti-Malware

    • Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware. After the installation, you will be offered to perform the Standard Scan. Approve this action.
      • Gridinsoft Anti-Malware during the scan process

    • Standard scan checks the logical disk where the system files are stored, together with the files of programs you have already installed. The scan lasts up to 6 minutes.
      • GridinSoft Anti-Malware scan results

    • When the scan is over, you may choose the action for each detected virus. For all files of Agent the default option is “Delete”. Press “Apply” to finish the malware removal.
      • GridinSoft Anti-Malware - After Cleaning
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    References

    1. Read about malware types on GridinSoft Threat encyclopedia.

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    About the author

    Robert Bailey

    I'm Robert Bailey, a passionate Security Engineer with a deep fascination for all things related to malware, reverse engineering, and white hat ethical hacking.

    As a white hat hacker, I firmly believe in the power of ethical hacking to bolster security measures. By identifying vulnerabilities and providing solutions, I contribute to the proactive defense of digital infrastructures.

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