Altrsik appears to be the latest iteration from a widespread family of Trojan Horse threats disguised as regular apps. It’s similar to other malware programs like Altisik and Altruistics and works pretty much in the same way. It drains your system resources to perform tasks that solely benefit its creators.
One common example of such a task is running crypto mining processes that use up huge amounts of RAM and CPU and will often render your system unusable due to crippling slow-downs while the process is active.
If you’ve noticed Altrsik in your Task Manager or elsewhere in your system, you need to remove it ASAP to secure your system. The steps below will guide you through the entire process.
Altrsik Service Virus Removal Guide
The removal process for Altrsik is lengthy and complex. You must carefully follow each step and perform it exactly as instructed. Skipping even a single step will likely result in an unsuccessful removal. Note that everything linked to this malware must be eliminated else, even if Altrsik seems removed, it could return on its own at a later time.
SUMMARY:
| Name | Altrsik |
| Type | Trojan |
| Danger Level | High (Trojans are often used as a backdoor for Ransomware) |
| Detection Tool |
READ BEFORE PROCEEDING!
The manual removal of Altrsik takes time (an hour or more) and requires some base level of technical know-how and experience. If you lack the time or confidence to perform the following steps I suggest using a professional removal tool called SpyHunter 5 which is great at removing such threats and will let you handle Altrsik in a matter of minutes. SpyHunter 5 is available on the current page if you want to give it a try.
How to Remove the Altrsik Virus
In this guide, you’ll need to hunt down and delete various Altrsik files, some of which might be hidden or blocked. To circumvent these potential obstacles, you need to perform two preparatory steps first:
- Get LockHunter – Free and reliable, Lock Hunter identifies which programs or services prevent files or folders from being deleted. This tool becomes indispensable in cases where malware aggressively resists removal. If you hesitate to download extra software, trust this is crucial. Attempting manual removal without Lock Hunter will cause setbacks. Many files resist deletion, and without Lock Hunter, those files remain untouchable. A smooth removal process hinges on using it effectively.
- Reveal Hidden Files and Folders – Malware hides itself in system directories, making it difficult to locate. Adjust the settings to reveal all files. Open the Start Menu, type “Folder Options,” and press Enter. In Folder Options, select the “View” tab and enable “Show hidden files, folders, and drives.” Once this setting applies, previously hidden files become visible. Overlooking this step risks leaving behind concealed malware components.
Video walkthrough for this step:
How to Uninstall the Altrsik Service Application
It’s possible that you have an actual app named Altrsik installed in your system. Though it won’t solve everything, yu must still find it in your system settings and attempt to uninstall it from there. Here is how you can do that:
Open the Start Menu, search “Apps & Features,” and then examine the list. Sort installations by date. Malware often installs around the time unusual symptoms appear.
Remove each suspicious application right away. Write down the names of any unfamiliar programs before deletion, as these names matter in later steps.
If you see Altrsik here, uninstall immediately. Removing this application won’t solve the problem alone. Malware typically embeds in other locations, making this just the beginning. Effective removal demands thoroughness.
Video walkthrough for this step:
How to Get Rid of Altrsik Service in the Task Manager
The Task Manager is the next place where you must look for signs of Altrsik. You’ll likely notice its process or processes there – you must stop them but also delete their data. This step is very important, so take your time to perform it correctly:
Open Task Manager using Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Malware often uses misleading names. Sorting by Memory and CPU usage can spotlight unusual items, as rogue tasks often consume high resources.
Right-click on suspicious processes and select “Open File Location.” If you see an unfamiliar folder, delete its contents immediately. Deleting the folder afterward helps prevent relaunches.
If files resist deletion, use LockHunter (it must already be installed on your PC):
Right-click, select “What’s locking this file…”, and then hit Delete.
Repeat these steps for any processes showing signs of abnormal activity. Any overlooked process might allow malware to linger.
Once finished with deletions, return to Task Manager and select “End Task” on any remaining suspicious items.
This disrupts background malware activities, halting its attempts to operate undetected.
Video walkthrough for this step:
How to Delete Persistent Files with Lock Hunter
How to Delete Altrsik Virus Files
You may have deleted the file location folders of the Altrsik processes, but there are still likely rogue files in other locations that must also be taken care of. Below, I show you the locations where you must look for them. Again, if a given file resists deletion, just use LockHunter to deal with it.
Now locate files and folders linked to Altrsik in specific system directories. First, navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Look for suspicious files here, especially anything related to Altrsik. In cases of uncertainty, delete every file except desktop.ini. Ignoring questionable files risks leaving open malware pathways.
Next, go to C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and repeat the process.
Proceed to C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86), scanning for folders named Altrsik or related terms. Again, delete anything that looks sketchy.
Finally, access your Temp folder by typing “%TEMP%” in the Start Menu. Clear every file here.
Malware often lurks in temporary folders. Leaving files untouched in this folder risks reinfection.
How to Remove Altrsik Malware Tasks
The Task Scheduler can allow the Altrsik virus to come back if there’s a task there that lets it reinstall. Do not forget to check this part of your system. Most users ignore it and that’s how malware is able to get reinstalled even after it’s been removed.
Open Task Scheduler by typing “Task Scheduler” in the Start Menu search and pressing Enter. Within the Task Scheduler Library, scrutinize every entry carefully.
Unfamiliar tasks with names linked to unexpected locations should raise suspicions. Right-click each task and choose Properties. If the Actions tab shows file paths pointing to AppData, Roaming, or any suspicious .exe file, delete the task immediately.
Identifying these tasks reduces the chance of Altrsik returning. Overlooking a scheduled task often results in the malware reappearing, despite thorough manual deletions. Eliminate any questionable entries to prevent these stealthy reactivations. A few minutes here can save hours of headache later.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Delete Altrsik Malware Registry Keys
Lastly, you must clean the Registry of your system from rogue Altrsik settings. Be very careful here because deleting something you shouldn’t can cause further problems. If you aren’t sure what to delete, I once again remind you that SpyHunter 5 is a valid alternative for dealing with Altrsik that won’t require you to manually scan through your system registry. That said, if you are ready to do this hands-on, here’s how:
- Registry Editor by searching “Registry Editor” in the Start Menu and select Run as Administrator.
- In the Edit menu, choose “Find” and search “Altrsik.”
- Delete any suspicious entry found on the left panel. Each deleted entry should undergo a repeat search. Multiple entries often remain scattered in the Registry.
- Search for any entries related to other deleted programs from the Apps & Features step. Those entries must go too. Write down each name from the previous list to simplify this search.
Once you are done with the registry cleanup (provided you’ve done it correctly), the Altrsik should be fully gone from your system.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Thank you very much. Very helpful