Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj]

Spectating the Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] detection name usually means that your PC is in big danger. This virus can correctly be identified as ransomware – virus which encrypts your files and asks you to pay for their decryption. Removing it requires some specific steps that must be taken as soon as possible.

Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] detection is a virus detection you can spectate in your system. It generally appears after the provoking actions on your computer – opening the suspicious e-mail messages, clicking the banner in the Web or setting up the program from suspicious resources. From the moment it appears, you have a short time to take action before it starts its malicious action. And be sure – it is much better not to await these destructive effects.

What is Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] virus?

Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] is ransomware-type malware. It looks for the files on your disk drive, encrypts it, and then asks you to pay the ransom for receiving the decryption key. Besides making your files locked, this virus additionally does a lot of damage to your system. It modifies the networking setups in order to prevent you from reading the elimination manuals or downloading the anti-malware program. In rare cases, Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] can additionally prevent the setup of anti-malware programs.

Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] Summary

In summary, Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] ransomware activities in the infected PC are next:

  • Yara rule detections observed from a process memory dump/dropped files/CAPE;
  • Creates RWX memory;
  • Dynamic (imported) function loading detected;
  • Reads data out of its own binary image;
  • CAPE extracted potentially suspicious content;
  • The binary contains an unknown PE section name indicative of packing;
  • Authenticode signature is invalid;
  • Behavioural detection: Injection (Process Hollowing);
  • Executed a process and injected code into it, probably while unpacking;
  • Behavioural detection: Injection (inter-process);
  • Anomalous binary characteristics;
  • Encrypting the files located on the victim’s disks — so the victim cannot use these files;
  • Blocking the launching of .exe files of security tools
  • Blocking the launching of installation files of anti-virus programs

Ransomware has actually been a nightmare for the last 4 years. It is difficult to imagine a more damaging malware for both individual users and companies. The algorithms utilized in Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] (usually, RHA-1028 or AES-256) are not hackable – with minor exclusions. To hack it with a brute force, you need to have more time than our galaxy currently exists, and possibly will exist. However, that malware does not do all these unpleasant things instantly – it can take up to a few hours to cipher all of your files. Therefore, seeing the Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] detection is a clear signal that you must start the clearing procedure.

Where did I get the Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj]?

Ordinary ways of Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] distribution are basic for all other ransomware examples. Those are one-day landing web pages where victims are offered to download the free program, so-called bait e-mails and hacktools. Bait emails are a relatively new strategy in malware distribution – you receive the e-mail that imitates some standard notifications about shipments or bank service conditions shifts. Within the email, there is a malicious MS Office file, or a link which leads to the exploit landing page.

Malicious email spam

Malicious email message. This one tricks you to open the phishing website.

Avoiding it looks fairly easy, however, still needs tons of awareness. Malware can hide in different spots, and it is far better to stop it even before it invades your PC than to rely on an anti-malware program. Standard cybersecurity knowledge is just an important thing in the modern-day world, even if your interaction with a PC remains on YouTube videos. That may save you a great deal of time and money which you would spend while searching for a fix guide.

Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] malware technical details

File Info:

name: 14F0B32B28E86C9656E6.mlwpath: /opt/CAPEv2/storage/binaries/483b3eab70cf765427c78f33618b9708db10eb0aab871b000f20e43689618b50crc32: AB456A35md5: 14f0b32b28e86c9656e684462e5bd64esha1: 2f5cc783ac39cac6adca0e96205674fc8c1eed7dsha256: 483b3eab70cf765427c78f33618b9708db10eb0aab871b000f20e43689618b50sha512: 63c0f4e87682f75ac9acc8fd4400dad85b2c9d818e7d2ea061e3053d6b0e8a4c67808db893b2a87275827cedee45e2278ade759274002fd230db7429b0d5ff50ssdeep: 6144:X4Csg/wAcsP4YeUPeYOwToSAw3HgNzx5Nod3i:ovdAFChSATV5N+ytype: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windowstlsh: T13D240246BE6DDDB1C6045639A84AD28A5A242F807C21E34FC6F3F66FD93BB11849F350sha3_384: 0bb7b26606dbc413cb011ac6bcb3912a99c929adf01481cdb8d15e61782760bb7eab8c8b8698291c8ec0e8fc87250181ep_bytes: 558bec83c4f0b83c414000e8fcf4fffftimestamp: 1992-06-19 22:22:17

Version Info:

CompanyName: SEIKO EPSON CORP.FileDescription: EPSON ScanFileVersion: 3.70LegalCopyright: Copyright (C) SEIKO EPSON CORP. 2002OriginalFilename: Escndv.exeProductName: EPSON ScanProductVersion: 3.7Translation: 0x0000 0x04b0

Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj] also known as:

Bkav W32.AIDetect.malware1
Elastic malicious (high confidence)
DrWeb Trojan.PWS.Panda.3015
MicroWorld-eScan Gen:Variant.Fugrafa.11158
FireEye Generic.mg.14f0b32b28e86c96
McAfee PWS-Zbot-FAMH!14F0B32B28E8
Cylance Unsafe
VIPRE Trojan.Win32.Ransomware.B (v)
Sangfor PUP.Win32.Fugrafa.11158
K7AntiVirus Trojan ( 0040f2c31 )
Alibaba VirTool:Win32/Obfuscator.cacf6e5d
K7GW Trojan ( 0040f2c31 )
Cybereason malicious.b28e86
BitDefenderTheta AI:Packer.853A74E218
VirIT Backdoor.Win32.Generic.BNVG
Symantec Trojan!im
ESET-NOD32 Win32/Spy.Zbot.AAO
TrendMicro-HouseCall TSPY_ZBOT.SM16
Paloalto generic.ml
ClamAV Win.Trojan.Zbot-9763500-0
Kaspersky HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic
BitDefender Gen:Variant.Fugrafa.11158
NANO-Antivirus Trojan.Win32.Panda.dzbnow
Avast Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj]
Tencent Malware.Win32.Gencirc.114de45f
Ad-Aware Gen:Variant.Fugrafa.11158
Sophos Mal/Generic-R + Mal/EncPk-AGD
Comodo TrojWare.Win32.Kryptik.NJDA@4rd0tu
Zillya Trojan.Zbot.Win32.79383
TrendMicro TSPY_ZBOT.SM16
Emsisoft Gen:Variant.Fugrafa.11158 (B)
SentinelOne Static AI – Malicious PE
Jiangmin Trojan.PSW.OnLineGames.fz
Avira TR/Oficla.887956
MAX malware (ai score=99)
Antiy-AVL Trojan/Generic.ASMalwS.51AC0
Kingsoft Win32.Troj.Zbot.fs.(kcloud)
Microsoft PWS:Win32/Zbot!CI
ZoneAlarm HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic
GData Gen:Variant.Fugrafa.11158
Cynet Malicious (score: 99)
AhnLab-V3 Trojan/Win32.Jorik.R39475
VBA32 Malware-Cryptor.Inject.gen
ALYac Gen:Variant.Fugrafa.11158
TACHYON Trojan-Spy/W32.DP-ZBot.214016
Malwarebytes Ransom.FileCryptor
APEX Malicious
Rising Spyware.Zbot!8.16B (CLOUD)
Yandex TrojanSpy.Zbot!8r+w0brEPsM
Ikarus Trojan.Win32.Yakes
MaxSecure Trojan.Malware.7164915.susgen
Fortinet W32/Injector.WCT!tr
AVG Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj]
Panda Trj/Velphi.a
CrowdStrike win/malicious_confidence_100% (D)

How to remove Win32:Citadel-Z [Trj]?

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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