W32.AIDetect.malware2 Trojan

W32.AIDetect.malware2

W32.AIDetect.malware2 is a dangerous Trojan horse infection that can be extremely difficult to detect and even more difficult to remove. Unlike other viruses, W32.AIDetect.malware2 does not show any visible symptoms while in the operating system.

W32.AIDetect.malware2
The W32.AIDetect.malware2 virus detected by multiple antivirus programs in VirusTotal

This means W32.AIDetect.malware2 can work in complete stealth for an indefinite period of time or until it causes some major system damage or until it completes whatever it’s task might have been. What is more, W32.AIDetect.malware2 (or viruses like Altruistics, Energy.exe) like most Trojan-based infections may mimic legitimate system processes that are already running and, in this way, avoids being detected. Once inside the system, such a threat can be used for a long list of malicious activities. The hackers behind it can use the Trojan to weaken the security of your system and to secretly infect the computer with other malware such as ransomware or spyware. They may also use the infection to steal sensitive information such as passwords, login credentials and banking details, which can later be used for theft, fraud, blackmailing, different scams and more. W32.AIDetect.malware2 may also provide its creators with remote access and allow them to exploit the system’s resources for their criminal activities.

Typically, during the time it operates, it is almost impossible to notice the presence of the Trojan in the system. Yet, sometimes, you may notice that your computer is running slower than usual, programs take longer to open when you try to run them, some parts of legitimate web pages are unavailable and your CPU and RAM usage is higher than usual without any apparent reason.

These may not always be indicators for a possible Trojan horse infection but if you are already bothered by such problems, it is a good idea to conduct a full system scan with reliable antivirus software and remove any suspicious files and components that might be triggering such symptoms. If you use a powerful anti-malware program that has been updated, you should not have any problems removing even W32.AIDetect.malware2 in case you detect it.

How do Trojans infect computers?

According to various computer security specialists, the Trojans spread primarily with the help of malicious email attachments, spam messages, cracked software and fake ads. W32.AIDetect.malware2, in particular, can be accidentally downloaded from illegal webpages that are commonly used to distribute freeware and pirated content. Also, this cyber infection may try to infiltrate your computer through misleading notifications, too-good-to-be-true offers and other similar distribution methods.

That’s why we advise you to avoid emails that tell you of unexpected rewards and profits and ask you to click or download different files and components. Always avoid ads that offer you to upgrade your Flash Player, FLV Player and other similar programs – updates should only be downloaded from the official web pages of the programs. And finally, to be safe and keep your computer protected, it’s a good idea to have professional security software installed on your computer and to update it regularly. This will help you avoid any potential security breaches and will help you prevent future infections with such (or other) malware.

If you need to remove W32.AIDetect.malware2 from your system, we suggest you carefully read the instructions in the removal guide we offer. Be very careful while following the manual steps because, as we said above, the Trojan may mimic important system processes and files which, if stopped or deleted, may cause instability and serious system issues. To avoid additional damage to the system, better use the suggested online scanners and the linked anti-malware tool and in combination with the manual removal steps.

SUMMARY:

NameW32.AIDetect.malware2
TypeTrojan
Danger Level High (Trojans are often used as a backdoor for Ransomware)
Detection Tool

Remove W32.AIDetect.malware2 Trojan

If you have a Windows virus, continue with the guide below.

If you have a Mac virus, please use our How to remove Ads on Mac guide.

If you have an Android virus, please use our Android Malware Removal guide.

If you have an iPhone virus, please use our iPhone Virus Removal guide


Step1

Some of the steps will likely require you to exit the page. Bookmark it for later reference.

Reboot in Safe Mode (use this guide if you don’t know how to do it).

Step2

WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!

Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC at the same time and go to the Processes Tab. Try to determine which processes are dangerous. 

malware-start-taskbar

Right click on each of them and select Open File Location. Then scan the files with our free online virus scanner:

Each file will be scanned with up to 64 antivirus programs to ensure maximum accuracy
This scanner is free and will always remain free for our website's users.
This file is not matched with any known malware in the database. You can either do a full real-time scan of the file or skip it to upload a new file. Doing a full scan with 64 antivirus programs can take up to 3-4 minutes per file.
Drag and Drop File Here To Scan
Drag and Drop File Here To Scan
Loading
Analyzing 0 s
Each file will be scanned with up to 64 antivirus programs to ensure maximum accuracy
    This scanner is based on VirusTotal's API. By submitting data to it, you agree to their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and to the sharing of your sample submission with the security community. Please do not submit files with personal information if you do not want them to be shared.


    After you open their folder, end the processes that are infected, then delete their folders. 

    Note: If you are sure something is part of the infection – delete it, even if the scanner doesn’t flag it. No anti-virus program can detect all infections. 

    Step3

     

    Hold together the Start Key and R. Type appwiz.cpl –> OK.

    appwiz

     

    You are now in the Control Panel. Look for suspicious entries. Uninstall it/them. If you see a screen like this when you click Uninstall, choose NO:

    virus-removal1

     

    Step4

     

    Type msconfig in the search field and hit enter. A window will pop-up:

    msconfig_opt

     

    Startup —> Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer or otherwise look suspicious.

    • Remember this step – if you have reason to believe a bigger threat (like ransomware) is on your PC, check everything here.

    Hold the Start Key and R –  copy + paste the following and click OK:

    notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts

    A new file will open. If you are hacked, there will be a bunch of other IPs connected to you at the bottom. Look at the image below:

    hosts_opt (1)

     

    If there are suspicious IPs below “Localhost” – write to us in the comments.

    Step5

     

    Type Regedit in the windows search field and press Enter.

    Once inside, press CTRL and F together and type the virus’s Name. Right click and delete any entries you find with a similar name. If they don’t show up this way, go manually to these directories and delete/uninstall them:

    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—–Random Directory. It could be any one of them – ask us if you can’t discern which ones are malicious.
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—-Windows—CurrentVersion—Run– Random
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—Internet Explorer—-Main—- Random

    If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!


    About the author

    blank

    Violet George

    Violet is an active writer with a passion for all things cyber security. She enjoys helping victims of computer virus infections remove them and successfully deal with the aftermath of the attacks. But most importantly, Violet makes it her priority to spend time educating people on privacy issues and maintaining the safety of their computers. It is her firm belief that by spreading this information, she can empower web users to effectively protect their personal data and their devices from hackers and cybercriminals.

    Leave a Comment