PWS:Win32/OnLineGames — OnLineGames Password Stealer Removal Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
If you spectate the alert of PWS:Win32/OnLineGames detection, it seems that your system has a problem. All malicious programs are dangerous, with no deviations. OnLineGames is a virus that aims at opening your system to further malware injection. Most of of the modern malware examples are complex, and can inject other viruses. Being infected with the PWS:Win32/OnLineGames malware often equals to getting a malicious thing which can act like spyware or stealer, downloader, and a backdoor. Spectating this detection means that you need to perform the removal as fast as you can.
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Any malware exists with the only target – make money on you1. And the programmers of these things are not thinking about ethicality – they utilize all possible tactics. Grabbing your private data, getting the payments for the advertisements you watch for them, exploiting your CPU and GPU to mine cryptocurrencies – that is not the full list of what they do. Do you want to be a riding equine? That is a rhetorical question.

What does the pop-up with PWS:Win32/OnLineGames detection mean?

The PWS:Win32/OnLineGames detection you can see in the lower right corner is shown to you by Microsoft Defender. That anti-malware program is pretty good at scanning, however, prone to be mainly unreliable. It is unprotected to malware attacks, it has a glitchy interface and bugged malware clearing features. For this reason, the pop-up which states concerning the OnLineGames is simply a notification that Defender has actually recognized it. To remove it, you will likely need to use another anti-malware program.

PWS:Win32/OnLineGames found

Microsoft Defender: “PWS:Win32/OnLineGames”

The exact PWS:Win32/OnLineGames virus is a very nasty thing. It sits into your computer disguised as a part of something legit, or as a piece of the program you downloaded at a forum. After that, it makes everything to make your system weaker. At the end of this “party”, it downloads other viruses – ones which are wanted by crooks who control this virus. Hence, it is impossible to predict the effects from OnLineGames actions. And the unpredictability is one of the most unwanted things when it comes to malware. That’s why it is rather not to choose at all, and don’t give it even a single chance to complete its task.

Threat Summary:

Name OnLineGames Password Stealer
Detection PWS:Win32/OnLineGames
Details OnLineGames is attached to another program (such as a document), which can replicate and spread after an initial execution.
Fix Tool See If Your System Has Been Affected by OnLineGames Password Stealer

Is PWS:Win32/OnLineGames dangerous?

As I have mentioned before, non-harmful malware does not exist. And PWS:Win32/OnLineGames is not an exclusion. This malware modifies the system settings, edits the Group Policies and registry. All of these things are critical for proper system operating, even when we are not talking about PC safety. Therefore, the virus which OnLineGames carries, or which it will download later, will try to get maximum profit from you. Cybercriminals can grab your data, and then push it at the black market. Using adware and browser hijacker functionality, built in PWS:Win32/OnLineGames malware, they can make money 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.

How did I get this virus?

It is difficult to trace the sources of malware on your computer. Nowadays, things are mixed, and spreading tactics chosen by adware 5 years ago may be used by spyware these days. But if we abstract from the exact spreading method and will think about why it works, the reply will be really simple – low level of cybersecurity knowledge. Individuals click on ads on odd websites, open the pop-ups they receive in their browsers, call the “Microsoft tech support” believing that the scary banner that states about malware is true. It is very important to know what is legitimate – to avoid misunderstandings when trying to find out a virus.

Microsoft Tech Support Scam

Microsoft Tech Support Scam

Nowadays, there are two of the most common methods of malware distribution – lure emails and injection into a hacked program. While the first one is not so easy to avoid – you must know a lot to understand a fake – the second one is simple to address: just do not use cracked programs. Torrent-trackers and various other sources of “free” applications (which are, actually, paid, but with a disabled license checking) are really a giveaway point of malware. And PWS:Win32/OnLineGames is simply amongst them.

How to remove the PWS:Win32/OnLineGames from my PC?

PWS:Win32/OnLineGames malware is very hard to erase by hand. It stores its files in numerous locations throughout the disk, and can recover itself from one of the parts. In addition, various changes in the registry, networking setups and Group Policies are really hard to identify and change to the original. It is better to make use of a specific program – exactly, an anti-malware tool. GridinSoft Anti-Malware will definitely fit the best for malware elimination reasons.

Why GridinSoft Anti-Malware? It is very light-weight and has its databases updated nearly every hour. Moreover, it does not have such problems and vulnerabilities as Microsoft Defender does. The combination of these details makes GridinSoft Anti-Malware perfect for removing malware of any form.

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 OnLineGames the default option is “Delete”. Press “Apply” to finish the malware removal.
  • GridinSoft Anti-Malware - After Cleaning
How to Remove PWS:Win32/OnLineGames Malware

Name: PWS:Win32/OnLineGames

Description: If you have seen a message showing the “PWS:Win32/OnLineGames found”, it seems that your system is in trouble. The OnLineGames virus was detected, but to remove it, you need to use a security tool. Windows Defender, which has shown you this message, has detected the malware. However, Defender is not a reliable thing - it is prone to malfunction when it comes to malware removal. Getting the PWS:Win32/OnLineGames malware on your PC is an unpleasant thing, and removing it as soon as possible must be your primary task.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Password Stealer

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References

  1. Read about malware types on GridinSoft Threat encyclopedia.

About the author

Wilbur Woodham

I was a technical writer from early in my career, and consider IT Security one of my foundational skills. I’m sharing my experience here, and I hope you find it useful.

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