Author profile

Brendan Smith

Cybersecurity analyst covering malware families, suspicious files, and detection alerts. Brendan focuses on clear explanations of what a warning means, when it may be a false positive, and which cleanup steps are appropriate.

9,724 articles Malware detection Suspicious files False-positive checks

Published work

Recent articles by Brendan Smith

Ransomware · July 11, 2023

GAQQ Virus File Decrypt & Removal

The GAQQ virus is a STOP/DJVU family of ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts your files (video, photos, documents) that can be tracked by a...

Backdoor · July 11, 2023

LimeRat Remote Administration Tool Malware Removal

What is LimeRat? LimeRat, also known as Lime Remote Administration Tool, is a malicious program that operates as ransomware, cryptocurrency miner, information stealer, keystroke...

Ransomware · July 11, 2023

WAQQ Virus File Decrypt & Removal

While analyzing malware samples submitted to VirusTotal, I discovered the Waqq ransomware, a member of the STOP/Djvu ransomware family, encrypting files and appending the...

Malware · July 10, 2023

Truebot Botnet Malware Removal

Truebot (also known as Silence.Downloader), is a malicious program with botnet and loader/injector capabilities. This malware can add victims' devices to a botnet and...

Ransomware · July 10, 2023

GAZP Virus File Decrypt & Removal

While analyzing malware samples submitted to VirusTotal, I discovered the Gazp ransomware, a member of the STOP/Djvu ransomware family, encrypting files and appending the...

Ransomware · July 10, 2023

GAYN Virus File Decrypt & Removal

While I was analyzing malware samples submitted to VirusTotal, I made an intriguing discovery: the Gayn ransomware is actively encrypting files and adding the...

Malware · July 1, 2023

Dispout Malware Removal

The malicious Trojan Horse virus known as Dispout installs itself onto user's computers using misleading and underhanded tactics. These tactics include fake pop-ups, hidden...