How to remove Katz Stealer

What is Katz Stealer

Katz Stealer is a sophisticated stealer-type malware promoted as Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS), allowing cybercriminals to purchase and deploy it for data theft operations. Designed for stealth, Katz Stealer leverages advanced anti-detection and anti-analysis techniques, including process hollowing and geofencing, to evade security measures and avoid infecting devices in certain regions. Once active, it collects a wide array of sensitive information from infected systems, such as system details, hardware specifications, IP addresses, and geolocation data. The malware primarily targets Chromium-based and Gecko-based browsers, extracting browsing histories, saved credentials, cookies, and data from over 100 browser extensions, with a particular focus on cryptocurrency wallets. Additional targets include email clients, messaging platforms, FTP clients, VPN software, and gaming accounts, making Katz Stealer a versatile and dangerous threat. It can also exfiltrate files based on specific keywords, take screenshots, and monitor clipboard activity for valuable data. Distribution methods are diverse, including phishing campaigns, malvertising, malicious downloads, and software cracks. Infections by Katz Stealer can lead to severe privacy breaches, financial loss, and identity theft, underscoring the importance of robust cybersecurity practices and timely malware removal.

How Katz Stealer infected your system

Katz Stealer is a formidable piece of malware that infiltrates computers through various deceptive methods, capitalizing on unsuspecting users’ interactions with malicious content. This stealer-type malware often makes its way into systems via phishing campaigns, where cybercriminals send out emails containing infected attachments or links designed to resemble legitimate communications. Additionally, Katz can be distributed through malvertising, where users unknowingly click on seemingly benign advertisements that lead to harmful downloads. It also exploits fake software downloads and SEO poisoning, tricking users into downloading what they believe to be genuine applications or updates. Once activated, Katz typically arrives in GZIP archives containing malicious JavaScript, which initiates a PowerShell script to download a .NET-based loader, effectively injecting the malware into legitimate processes. This multi-layered approach allows Katz Stealer to penetrate systems stealthily, making it crucial for users to remain vigilant and employ robust security measures to prevent infection.

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

Remove Katz Stealer manually

Manual removal of Katz Stealer 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 Katz Stealer 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 Katz Stealer using Autoruns

Katz Stealer 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 Katz Stealer

Katz Stealer files and folders


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Katz Stealer registry keys


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Aliases of Katz Stealer

How to protect from threats, like Katz Stealer, in future

Standard Windows protection or any decent third-party antivirus (Norton, Avast, Kaspersky) should be able to detect and remove Katz Stealer. However, if you got infected with Katz Stealer with existing and updated security software, you may consider changing it. To feel safe and protect your PC from Katz Stealer 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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