How to remove Mars Stealer

What is Mars Stealer

Mars Stealer is an advanced information-stealing malware that emerged from the lineage of the Oski Stealer. It is designed to extract a variety of sensitive data from infected computers, including but not limited to credentials stored in web browsers, cryptocurrency wallet information, and two-factor authentication (2FA) data. Mars Stealer operates by infiltrating victims’ systems, remaining undetected, and transmitting the stolen data back to the attackers. Mars Stealer is a sophisticated piece of malware that has been making rounds on the internet, primarily targeting users’ sensitive information stored on their computers. This malware is an information stealer, designed to pilfer a wide array of personal and financial data from infected systems. Understanding its operation, infection mechanisms, and effective removal strategies is crucial for maintaining cybersecurity. Removing Mars Stealer from an infected system requires a comprehensive approach, as the malware employs various techniques to avoid detection and removal.

How Mars Stealer infected your system

Mars Stealer employs several sophisticated techniques to infect computers, making it a potent threat to users’ online security:

Malicious Email Attachments and Links: One of the primary distribution methods for Mars Stealer is through phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links. Unsuspecting users who open these attachments or click on these links inadvertently download the malware onto their systems.
Exploitation of Software Vulnerabilities: Mars Stealer can also gain access to computers by exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated software. Attackers often use exploit kits that scan for vulnerable software on users’ computers and then deliver the malware.
Fake Software and Updates: Attackers distribute Mars Stealer by disguising it as legitimate software or software updates. Users downloading software from unverified sources are at risk of inadvertently installing this malware.
Social Engineering and Malvertising: Social engineering tactics and malicious advertisements (malvertising) are also used to trick users into downloading Mars Stealer. These ads may redirect users to malicious websites that automatically download the malware onto their systems.

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

Remove Mars Stealer manually

Manual removal of Mars 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 Mars 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 Mars Stealer using Autoruns

Mars 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 Mars Stealer

Mars Stealer files and folders


{randomname}.exe


Mars Stealer registry keys


no information


Aliases of Mars Stealer

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

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