Emotet is a banking malware that attempts to infect computers and steal sensitive information. This malware mostly spreads by spam and phishing emails via infected attachments and embedded malicious URLs. It has worm-like capabilities to spread to other connected computers. It also collects the victim’s contact list and sends itself to the email addresses in the contact list.

How bad is this?

Emotet gathers and steals user credentials of various applications that violate user privacy. It also compromises system security with backdoor capabilities that can execute malicious commands.

It also knows if it’s running inside a virtual machine (VM) and will lay dormant if it detects a sandbox environment, preventing detection and analysis.

How can I prevent and remove this type of malware infection?

Run the Trend Micro Anti-Threat Toolkit.

1. Download the Anti-Threat Toolkit:

   Online Scan / Clean Tool (32-bit)
   Online Scan / Clean Tool (64-bit)

   To know what operating system type you're on, see the link below.
   How to determine whether a computer is running a 32-bit version or 64-bit version of the Windows operating system

2. Read the Trend Micro License Agreement. Once you click I Accept, the download will start.
3. Right-click on the tool, then click Run as administrator.
4. Click Yes when the User Account Control window appears.
5. Click Scan Now when the Trend Micro Anti-Threat Toolkit window appears.

   

   The scan may take some time. The tool will scan your computer and list the threats it finds.

6. The tool will show a summary of the scan. Click Fix Now to clean your computer.

   If no threats are found, close the Anti-Threat Tookit window, then proceed to Step 8.

7. Click Close to close the Anti-Threat Toolkit after your computer has been cleaned.

   A new browser window will open once the Anti-Threat Toolkit is closed.

8. Click Proceed to send the information the tool collected to Trend Micro Technical Support.
   You will receive a temporary ID number that you can use when you contact Trend Micro Technical Support and a Trend Micro Anti-Threat Toolkit folder will appear on the same folder where you ran the tool.
9. Go to Trend Micro Anti-Threat Toolkit folder > Output. You will find a .ZIP file with the filename containing the timestamp and GUID.

   

10. Contact Vanessa, our Social Media ambassador in Facebook messenger, and provide the temporary ID number and the .ZIP file for further analysis.

Run Trend Micro HouseCall for Home Users

Scan your computer for malware using our free tool: Trend Micro HouseCall for Home Users.

Update your Windows Operating System

Updating your Windows Operating System can help improve your device's security. It is highly recommended that you check for Windows Update every time to keep your device safe. For the instructions, refer to this article: How to update Windows Operating System.

Install a Security software

Installing a security software will protect your computer against viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other unwanted invaders that can make your computer "sick". Learn more about our software: Maximum Security: Complete multi-device protection.