How to remove Cutwail malspam

What is Cutwail malspam

Cutwail malspam is a sophisticated malware campaign designed to transform infected computers into spambots, thereby enabling the mass distribution of spam emails. These emails often contain malicious attachments, typically disguised as legitimate documents like invoices or payment details, with the aim of tricking recipients into opening them. Once the attachments are opened, they usually prompt the user to enable macros in a Microsoft Excel file, which then facilitates the installation of additional malware such as Dridex or Hermes ransomware. Dridex is notorious for stealing sensitive information like banking credentials through keylogging, while Hermes ransomware encrypts the victim’s data, demanding a ransom for decryption. The financial and data losses caused by these infections can be severe, making it critical to avoid opening suspicious email attachments. Cybercriminals leverage social engineering tactics to increase the likelihood of their malicious payloads being executed, thereby expanding their botnet operations and proliferating other forms of malware. Regular use of reputable antivirus software and adherence to safe browsing practices are essential measures to mitigate the risks posed by Cutwail malspam.

How Cutwail malspam infected your system

Cutwail malspam, a notorious trojan, infects computers primarily through malicious email campaigns. Cybercriminals craft emails with seemingly legitimate subjects related to invoices or payments, tricking recipients into opening attached files, often Microsoft Excel documents. Once the attachment is opened, it prompts the user to enable macros, which triggers the installation of the Cutwail malware. This malware then converts the infected computer into a spambot, sending out further malicious emails. Additionally, Cutwail often acts as a delivery mechanism for other malware, such as Dridex and various ransomware, amplifying the potential damage by stealing sensitive information and encrypting files for ransom. To avoid infection, users should be cautious of unsolicited emails and avoid enabling macros in documents from unknown sources.

1. Download Cutwail malspam Removal Tool
2. Use Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool to remove Cutwail malspam
3. Use Autoruns to remove Cutwail malspam
4. Files, folders and registry keys of Cutwail malspam
5. Other aliases of Cutwail malspam
6. How to protect from threats, like Cutwail malspam

Remove Cutwail malspam manually

Manual removal of Cutwail malspam by inexperienced users may become a difficult task because it does not create entries in Add/Remove Programs under Control Panel, does not install browser extensions, and uses random file names. However, there are pre-installed instruments in the Windows system, that allow you to detect and remove malware without using third-party applications. One of them is Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. It comes with Windows Update in Windows 11, 10, 8. 8.1. For older operating system you can download it here: 64-bit version | 32-bit version.

Remove Cutwail malspam using Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

1. Type mrt in the search box near Start Menu.
2. Run mrt clicking on found item.
3. Click Next button.
4. Choose one of the scan modes Quick scan, Full scan, Customize scan (Full scan recommended).
5. Click Next button.
6. Click on View detailed results of the scan link to view the scan details.
7. Click Finish button.

Remove Cutwail malspam using Autoruns

Cutwail malspam often sets up to run at Windows startup as an Autorun entry or Scheduled task.

1. Download Autoruns using this link.
2. Extract the archive and run Autoruns.exe file.
3. In Options menu make sure there are checkboxes near Hide Empty Locations, Hide Microsoft Entries, and Hide Windows Entries.
4. Search for suspicious entries with weird names or running from locations like: C:\{username}\AppData\Roaming.
5. Right-click on suspicious entry and choose Delete. This will prevent the threat to run at startup.
6. Switch to Scheduled Tasks tab and do the same.
7. To remove files themselves, click on suspicious entries and choose Jump to Entry…. Remove files or registry keys found.

Remove files, folder and registry keys of Cutwail malspam

Cutwail malspam files and folders


{randomname}.exe


Cutwail malspam registry keys


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Aliases of Cutwail malspam

How to protect from threats, like Cutwail malspam, in future

Standard Windows protection or any decent third-party antivirus (Norton, Avast, Kaspersky) should be able to detect and remove Cutwail malspam. However, if you got infected with Cutwail malspam with existing and updated security software, you may consider changing it. To feel safe and protect your PC from Cutwail malspam on all levels (browser, e-mail attachments, Word or Excel scripts, file system) we recommend a leading provider of internet security solutions – BitDefender. Its solutions both for home and business users proved to be one of the most advanced and effective. Choose and get your BitDefender protection via the button below:

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