Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM

What is Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM infection?

In this short article you will find concerning the definition of Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM and also its adverse effect on your computer. Such ransomware are a type of malware that is clarified by on-line frauds to demand paying the ransom money by a target.

In the majority of the cases, Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM ransomware will certainly instruct its victims to start funds transfer for the purpose of neutralizing the amendments that the Trojan infection has introduced to the sufferer’s tool.

Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM Summary

These adjustments can be as adheres to:

  • The binary likely contains encrypted or compressed data. In this case, encryption is a way of hiding virus’ code from antiviruses and virus’ analysts.
  • The executable is compressed using UPX;
  • 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;
  • Collects information to fingerprint the system. There are behavioral human characteristics that can be used to digitally identify a person to grant access to systems, devices, or data. Unlike passwords and verification codes, fingerprints are fundamental parts of user’s identities. Among the threats blocked on biometric data processing and storage systems is spyware, the malware used in phishing attacks (mostly spyware downloaders and droppers), ransomware, and Banking Trojans as posing the greatest danger.
  • Ciphering the papers situated on the target’s disk drive — so the victim can no more make use of the information;
  • Preventing regular accessibility to the victim’s workstation;

Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM

One of the most typical channels through which Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM Ransomware are infused are:

  • By means of phishing e-mails;
  • As a repercussion of user winding up on a resource that holds a destructive software;

As quickly as the Trojan is successfully injected, it will certainly either cipher the data on the victim’s computer or avoid the gadget from working in a correct way – while additionally placing a ransom note that discusses the demand for the sufferers to effect the settlement for the function of decrypting the papers or restoring the documents system back to the preliminary condition. In most instances, the ransom note will certainly come up when the customer reboots the COMPUTER after the system has already been damaged.

Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM distribution networks.

In numerous edges of the globe, Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM grows by leaps as well as bounds. Nevertheless, the ransom money notes and also techniques of obtaining the ransom amount may vary relying on certain regional (regional) settings. The ransom notes as well as tricks of obtaining the ransom money quantity might vary depending on certain regional (local) settings.

Ransomware injection

For example:

    Faulty informs concerning unlicensed software application.

    In specific areas, the Trojans usually wrongfully report having actually identified some unlicensed applications allowed on the sufferer’s device. The alert after that demands the customer to pay the ransom money.

    Faulty statements about prohibited material.

    In countries where software application piracy is much less popular, this approach is not as efficient for the cyber scams. Additionally, the Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM popup alert may falsely assert to be stemming from a law enforcement institution and also will certainly report having located child pornography or other illegal information on the gadget.

    Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM popup alert might incorrectly claim to be deriving from a law enforcement institution and will certainly report having located kid porn or other unlawful data on the device. The alert will in a similar way have a requirement for the user to pay the ransom.

Technical details

File Info:

crc32: 514E9966md5: 99d4f917753dfc7e88d376a40fcb81d9name: 99D4F917753DFC7E88D376A40FCB81D9.mlwsha1: 91deafb27ec16859b004a7b0a72feb112e6656fbsha256: 0e2e0c67686eebaa20d98b5970d7e7af8089ce4f06f03ce84b77e0ddd38bb0cfsha512: f6c670902324ccdc92769423387c14e9a9b6f531337f29e1375cdd279a52e186a9ff47e701565206e8795fb1e24b2f77c58e8e374ffdc879f2f91fe453de9a2bssdeep: 6144:8QbgPleIbfzwZvndpoQ/Xg1CIWNdEpe3rMT/U5A4fZHntQjtsCWALpOv4UBS:1gPlVbfi/oQ/Q1CApJ/h4tt0eCWAl6Dtype: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows, UPX compressed

Version Info:

0: [No Data]

Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM also known as:

GridinSoft Trojan.Ransom.Gen
Bkav W32.AIDetect.malware1
K7AntiVirus Spyware ( 0053345d1 )
Elastic malicious (high confidence)
DrWeb Trojan.Siggen8.20624
ClamAV Win.Malware.WebMonitorRAT-7663776-1
McAfee Artemis!99D4F917753D
Cylance Unsafe
Zillya Trojan.Agent.Win32.903978
Sangfor Trojan.Win32.Save.a
CrowdStrike win/malicious_confidence_70% (D)
Alibaba Ransom:Win32/Blocker.98aa67d5
K7GW Spyware ( 0053345d1 )
Cybereason malicious.7753df
Symantec ML.Attribute.HighConfidence
ESET-NOD32 a variant of Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM
APEX Malicious
Avast FileRepMalware
Cynet Malicious (score: 100)
Kaspersky Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Blocker.lcft
BitDefender Generic.Keylogger.2.06230B5D
NANO-Antivirus Trojan.Win32.Hijacker.femegb
MicroWorld-eScan Generic.Keylogger.2.06230B5D
Tencent Win32.Trojan.Hijacker.Hwwi
Ad-Aware Generic.Keylogger.2.06230B5D
Sophos Mal/Generic-S
Comodo Malware@#27rpujquzxstw
BitDefenderTheta Gen:NN.ZexaF.34678.vmGfa0DJaFl
McAfee-GW-Edition BehavesLike.Win32.Generic.fc
FireEye Generic.mg.99d4f917753dfc7e
Emsisoft Generic.Keylogger.2.06230B5D (B)
SentinelOne Static AI – Malicious PE
Jiangmin Trojan.Blocker.ioz
Avira TR/Hijacker.Gen
eGambit Unsafe.AI_Score_99%
Microsoft Trojan:Win32/Occamy.B
Arcabit Generic.Keylogger.2.06230B5D
ZoneAlarm HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic
GData Generic.Keylogger.2.06230B5D
AhnLab-V3 Trojan/Win32.Agent.R238153
Acronis suspicious
VBA32 BScope.TrojanRansom.Blocker
MAX malware (ai score=100)
Panda Trj/Genetic.gen
Rising Spyware.Agent!8.C6 (TFE:5:bHBfDUYO4XE)
Yandex Trojan.GenAsa!fLAJmSpmeiY
Ikarus Trojan-Spy.Agent
Fortinet W32/Generic.AC.4159be!tr
AVG FileRepMalware
Paloalto generic.ml
Qihoo-360 Win32/Ransom.Blocker.HwsBEpsA

How to remove Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM virus?

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

Run the setup file.

Run Setup.exe
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 Scanning

Click on “Clean Now”.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan Result

Are Your Protected?

Full version of GridinSoft

If the guide doesn’t help you to remove Win32/Spy.Agent.PQM you can always ask me in the comments for getting help.

References

    About the author

    Robert Bailey

    Security engineer focused on malware behavior, removal workflows, and Windows hardening. Robert reviews threat articles for practical accuracy, checking detection names, symptoms, and cleanup steps before publication.

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