PWS:Win32/Hooker

What is the Win32:Evo-gen [Trj] virus?
Written by Robert Bailey

What is PWS:Win32/Hooker infection?

In this article you will discover concerning the meaning of PWS:Win32/Hooker and its adverse effect on your computer system. Such ransomware are a kind of malware that is specified by on-line scams to demand paying the ransom by a sufferer.

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In the majority of the situations, PWS:Win32/Hooker virus will instruct its victims to initiate funds move for the purpose of neutralizing the changes that the Trojan infection has presented to the target’s tool.

PWS:Win32/Hooker Summary

These adjustments can be as complies with:

  • 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.

  • Drops a binary and executes it. Trojan-Downloader installs itself to the system and waits until an Internet connection becomes available to connect to a remote server or website in order to download additional malware onto the infected computer.
  • Unconventionial language used in binary resources: Russian;
  • Sniffs keystrokes;
  • Deletes its original binary from disk;
  • Installs itself for autorun at Windows startup. There is 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
  • Creates a copy of itself;
  • Anomalous binary characteristics. This is a way of hiding virus’ code from antiviruses and virus’ analysts.
  • Ciphering the records located on the target’s hard drive — so the victim can no longer use the information;
  • Preventing regular access to the sufferer’s workstation. This is the typical behavior of a virus called locker. It blocks access to the computer until the victim pays the ransom.

PWS:Win32/Hooker

One of the most normal channels through which PWS:Win32/Hooker are injected are:

  • By ways of phishing e-mails;
  • As a consequence of user winding up on a source that holds a destructive software program;

As quickly as the Trojan is successfully injected, it will either cipher the information on the target’s PC or stop the gadget from functioning in a proper manner – while also putting a ransom money note that points out the need for the victims to impact the repayment for the objective of decrypting the files or bring back the documents system back to the first problem. In many instances, the ransom note will turn up when the client reboots the PC after the system has actually currently been damaged.

PWS:Win32/Hooker circulation channels.

In numerous edges of the globe, PWS:Win32/Hooker expands by leaps and also bounds. Nonetheless, the ransom money notes as well as techniques of extorting the ransom money amount may vary depending upon particular regional (local) settings. The ransom money notes and tricks of obtaining the ransom amount might differ depending on certain regional (regional) settings.

Ransomware injection

For instance:

    Faulty signals regarding unlicensed software application.

    In particular areas, the Trojans frequently wrongfully report having spotted some unlicensed applications made it possible for on the sufferer’s device. The alert then demands the individual to pay the ransom.

    Faulty statements regarding illegal content.

    In countries where software piracy is less preferred, this method is not as reliable for the cyber scams. Alternatively, the PWS:Win32/Hooker popup alert may wrongly declare to be originating from a police organization and will report having situated kid pornography or other unlawful data on the tool.

    PWS:Win32/Hooker popup alert might falsely declare to be acquiring from a law enforcement institution and will certainly report having situated child pornography or various other prohibited information on the device. The alert will in a similar way have a demand for the customer to pay the ransom money.

Technical details

File Info:

crc32: C8AECF87
md5: 73379b9249cef38736f57b25b2e03552
name: 73379B9249CEF38736F57B25B2E03552.mlw
sha1: c21423f68e7aa064f8b9d1603cf0a5951a78f3a6
sha256: 9f2f06fb17540646b145774627487158bfe3ad9a35077979d5a761330b49d1ac
sha512: 80a283c09e946bdd08d1b1bd8bc6218efb4cd358c48a2aab636ffcf5d9b5164b6d6a049c58a908d6a777808a3a0224d7a1bf1943a94d0abd3d2ea98f16220e74
ssdeep: 384:KDvD7v4ytjTayvs7NeL7QripMx0gHjxajWIvE+9MWEvO0Ka6aeg8utcUsJK8:K7D7v4yZGyvs7NeL6EMlHjkjlXMWKTKH
type: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows

Version Info:

0: [No Data]

PWS:Win32/Hooker also known as:

GridinSoft Trojan.Ransom.Gen
K7AntiVirus Riskware ( 0040eff71 )
Elastic malicious (high confidence)
DrWeb Trojan.PWS.Hooker.30
Cynet Malicious (score: 100)
ALYac Trojan.Ransom.Cerber.1
Cylance Unsafe
Zillya Trojan.Hooker.Win32.4
CrowdStrike win/malicious_confidence_80% (D)
Alibaba TrojanPSW:Win32/Hooker.e134aa52
K7GW Riskware ( 0040eff71 )
Cybereason malicious.249cef
Cyren W32/Risk.CPPG-4043
Symantec ML.Attribute.HighConfidence
ESET-NOD32 Win32/PSW.Hooker.A
APEX Malicious
Avast Win32:KeyHooker [Trj]
ClamAV Win.Trojan.Hooker-1
Kaspersky Trojan-PSW.Win32.Hooker.based
BitDefender Trojan.Ransom.Cerber.1
NANO-Antivirus Trojan.Win32.Hooker.fgwv
ViRobot Trojan.Win32.Keylogger.F
MicroWorld-eScan Trojan.Ransom.Cerber.1
Tencent Malware.Win32.Gencirc.116d8fb1
Ad-Aware Trojan.Ransom.Cerber.1
Sophos Troj/Hooker-A
Comodo TrojWare.Win32.PSW.Hooker.A@46w3
BitDefenderTheta AI:Packer.9A9A93DD1A
VIPRE Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT
TrendMicro TROJ_PSHOOKER.A
McAfee-GW-Edition PWS-Hooker
FireEye Generic.mg.73379b9249cef387
Emsisoft Trojan.Ransom.Cerber.1 (B)
SentinelOne Static AI – Suspicious PE
Jiangmin Trojan/PSW.Hooker.a
Webroot W32.Gen.Bt
Avira TR/PSW.Hooker.A2
Microsoft PWS:Win32/Hooker
Arcabit Trojan.Ransom.Cerber.1
GData Trojan.Ransom.Cerber.1
AhnLab-V3 Win-Trojan/Hooker.21504_v24
McAfee PWS-Hooker
MAX malware (ai score=99)
VBA32 BScope.TrojanPSW.Hooker
Malwarebytes Malware.AI.2194920081
Panda Trj/PSW.Hooker.A
TrendMicro-HouseCall TROJ_PSHOOKER.A
Rising Trojan.PSW.Hooker.ec (CLOUD)
Ikarus Trojan-PWS.Win32.Hooker
Fortinet W32/PWS.HOOK.A!tr
AVG Win32:KeyHooker [Trj]
Paloalto generic.ml

How to remove PWS:Win32/Hooker ransomware?

Unwanted application has ofter come with other viruses and spyware. This threats can steal account credentials, or crypt your documents for ransom.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft1

There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent PC threats than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft2.

Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:

Run the setup file.

When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your system.

Run Setup.exe

An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Setup

Press “Install” button.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Install

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Splash-Screen

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your system for PWS:Win32/Hooker files and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scanning

Click on “Clean Now”.

When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan Result

Are Your Protected?

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will scan and clean your PC for free in the trial period. The free version offer real-time protection for first 2 days. If you want to be fully protected at all times – I can recommended you to purchase a full version:

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If the guide doesn’t help you to remove PWS:Win32/Hooker you can always ask me in the comments for getting help.

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References

  1. GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
  2. More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison

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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