How to Remove Trojan TrickBot: Complete Removal Guide

Trojan TrickBot (also known as TrickLoader or Trickster) is a sophisticated and modular banking trojan that has evolved into one of the most dangerous malware threats. This comprehensive guide will help you understand what Trojan TrickBot is, how it infects computers, and most importantly, how to remove it completely from your system using the specialized Trojan Killer tool.

Common Names	Microsoft: TrojanSpy:Win32/Trickbot ESET: Win32/TrickBot Symantec: Trojan.Trickybot Kaspersky: Trojan-Banker.Win32.Trickster Trend Micro: TrojanSpy.Win32.TRICKBOT
Type	Banking Trojan, Information Stealer, Malware Dropper, Ransomware Facilitator
First Detected	2016
Platforms Affected	Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, Windows Server
Infection Level	Critical
Data Risk	Extremely High – Steals banking credentials, personal information, and can deploy ransomware

What is TrickBot Trojan?

TrickBot is a sophisticated and versatile banking Trojan that first emerged in 2016 as a successor to the Dyre banking malware. Initially designed to steal banking credentials, TrickBot has evolved into a modular malware platform capable of performing a wide range of malicious activities beyond just financial theft.

Security researchers believe TrickBot was developed by the same cybercriminal group that operated Dyre, or at least with access to Dyre’s source code, after Russian authorities disrupted Dyre operations in 2015. Unlike less complex threats such as Wacatac, TrickBot features a modular architecture that allows its operators to easily add new capabilities and target specific organizations.

What makes TrickBot particularly dangerous is its constant evolution and adaptation. The malware receives regular updates and new modules, with its operators rapidly incorporating exploits for newly discovered vulnerabilities. TrickBot is often described as “malware-as-a-service” due to its sophisticated infrastructure and specialized development team.

According to Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit, TrickBot has infected over a million computing devices around the world since 2016. It has become a primary vector for delivering ransomware, particularly Ryuk and Conti, making it a significant threat to organizations across all sectors.

Interesting Facts About Trojan TrickBot

• TrickBot was initially developed as a banking trojan but has evolved into a full-featured malware platform.
• In 2020, Microsoft led a coordinated legal and technical operation to disrupt TrickBot’s infrastructure, but the botnet recovered within weeks.
• TrickBot’s code shares similarities with Dyre banking trojan, suggesting its developers were involved with the earlier malware.
• The malware uses an elaborate command and control (C2) infrastructure that includes proxy nodes to hide the location of its backend servers.
• TrickBot has been associated with the Wizard Spider cybercrime group, which also operates the Ryuk and Conti ransomware operations.

TrickBot Infection Statistics

Based on data collected from various cybersecurity reports and our own threat intelligence:

• TrickBot has infected more than 1 million devices globally since its appearance.
• Healthcare and financial institutions are particularly targeted, representing approximately 55% of all TrickBot infections.
• The average dwell time for TrickBot infections is 45 days before detection.
• Over 40% of TrickBot infections later lead to ransomware deployment.
• TrickBot campaigns have been observed in more than 90 countries, with concentrated activity in North America and Europe.

How TrickBot Trojan Spreads

TrickBot employs multiple sophisticated distribution methods:

• Malicious email campaigns (malspam) containing infected attachments or links
• As a secondary payload delivered by other malware, especially Emotet
• Exploitation of network vulnerabilities to spread laterally within organizations
• Compromised websites and drive-by downloads
• Malvertising campaigns directing users to exploit kits

Learn more about the general mechanisms of how trojans work and spread to better protect your system.

Signs of Trojan TrickBot Infection

Watch for these telltale symptoms indicating a TrickBot infection:

• Unusual network traffic, particularly to unknown or suspicious domains
• Unexpected authentication errors when accessing network resources
• Browser redirects when accessing banking or financial websites
• Unexplained changes to browser configurations or proxy settings
• Disabled Windows Defender or other security tools
• Slow system performance and high CPU/memory usage
• Appearance of unexpected scheduled tasks
• Unauthorized access to accounts, particularly banking services
• Unusual data extraction activities or large outbound data transfers

Dangers of Trojan TrickBot

TrickBot poses significant threats to both individual users and organizations. Here are the main dangers associated with this trojan:

• Theft of Financial Data: TrickBot actively targets banking credentials, payment card information, and cryptocurrency wallets
• Identity Theft: By stealing personal information, TrickBot can facilitate identity theft
• Network Infiltration: Once inside a network, TrickBot can spread laterally across connected systems
• Ransomware Deployment: TrickBot is frequently used as an initial infection vector for deploying ransomware. Recent security analysis shows that TrickBot attacks often lead to subsequent installations of advanced ransomware like LockBit 4.0, which uses multi-threaded encryption and triple extortion tactics to maximize damage
• Persistence: TrickBot can remain dormant in systems for extended periods, activating when triggered
• Attack Platform: The modular nature of TrickBot allows attackers to deploy additional malicious payloads

The risk is particularly high for organizations, as TrickBot’s ability to move laterally through networks and deploy additional payloads can lead to enterprise-wide compromises with significant financial and operational impacts.

Comparing TrickBot to Other Banking Trojans

Understanding how TrickBot compares to other prominent banking trojans helps illustrate its unique threat profile and evolution in the malware ecosystem.

TrickBot represents the modern evolution of banking trojans into full-featured malware platforms. Unlike trojans focused solely on banking theft, TrickBot has expanded to serve multiple criminal purposes simultaneously. Its highly modular architecture allows operators to deploy specific capabilities as needed, from credential theft to network propagation to ransomware deployment. TrickBot’s ability to spread laterally through networks using exploits like EternalBlue makes it particularly dangerous in corporate environments. Perhaps most significantly, TrickBot has become a major initial access vector for ransomware operations, acting as the first stage in multi-phase attacks that can devastate organizations. Its sophisticated command and control infrastructure and constant updates have made it one of the most resilient malware families, able to quickly recover from takedown attempts.

Zeus pioneered many techniques now standard in banking trojans, but lacks TrickBot’s versatility and network propagation capabilities. While Zeus focused almost exclusively on banking theft through web injections and form grabbing, TrickBot has expanded far beyond these functions. Zeus primarily relied on user interaction for spreading (phishing emails, compromised websites), whereas TrickBot can actively spread through networks once it gains initial access. Though Zeus was groundbreaking when it emerged, TrickBot represents the evolution of banking trojans into more comprehensive threat platforms.

Emotet, like TrickBot, evolved from a banking trojan into a multi-purpose malware platform. Interestingly, Emotet and TrickBot frequently work together, with Emotet often serving as the initial infection vector that subsequently downloads TrickBot. Both feature modular designs and sophisticated evasion techniques, but they specialize in different areas. Emotet excels at initial access and distribution through highly convincing phishing campaigns using stolen email content, while TrickBot is particularly effective at credential theft, persistence, and preparing systems for ransomware deployment. Together, they form a particularly dangerous combination in the current threat landscape.

Dridex shares more similarities with TrickBot than other banking trojans, as both evolved from earlier banking malware to become more versatile threats. However, Dridex maintains a stronger focus on financial theft and has less emphasis on network propagation than TrickBot. While Dridex has been linked to ransomware operations (particularly BitPaymer and DoppelPaymer), TrickBot has become more closely associated with major ransomware campaigns like Ryuk and Conti. Both malware families continue to be actively developed and represent significant threats, particularly to financial institutions and their customers.

What distinguishes TrickBot in this landscape is its remarkable adaptability and its pivotal role in the ransomware ecosystem. While it maintains the banking theft capabilities of traditional banking trojans, TrickBot has evolved into a comprehensive attack platform that supports the full spectrum of cybercriminal activities.

How to Remove Trojan TrickBot

1. Removal Using Trojan Killer

Trojan Killer is specifically designed to remove complex trojans, including stubborn TrickBot infections:

1. Download and install Trojan Killer from the official website
2. Run a system scan:
   • Launch the program with administrator privileges
   • Select full system scan
   • Wait for the process to complete (may take 30-60 minutes due to TrickBot’s complexity)
3. Review scan results:
   • The program will display a list of detected threats
   • Look for entries related to TrickBot and its components
4. Remove detected threats:
   • Select all detected TrickBot components
   • Click the “Remove Selected” button
5. Perform a second scan to ensure complete removal
6. Restart your computer to complete the removal process

2. Manual Removal (For Advanced Users)

Warning: Manual removal of TrickBot is extremely challenging due to its sophisticated persistence mechanisms and anti-analysis features. This approach should only be attempted by users with significant technical expertise.

1. Disconnect the infected system from the network to prevent TrickBot from spreading or communicating with its C2 servers
2. Boot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking:
   • Press F8 during computer startup
   • Select “Safe Mode with Networking”
3. Identify and terminate TrickBot processes:
   • Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
   • Look for suspicious processes, particularly those with randomly generated names
   • Common TrickBot process names include:
     • wermgr.exe (not the legitimate Windows Error Reporting service)
     • spoolsv.exe (not the legitimate print spooler service)
     • svchost.exe (not the legitimate service host process)
     • Randomly named executables in unusual locations
   • End these processes
4. Remove TrickBot files:
   • Check these common TrickBot locations:
     • C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Roaming\
     • C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\
     • C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\
     • C:\ProgramData\
     • C:\Windows\Temp\
   • Look for folders with random names containing executable files
   • Delete these suspicious files and folders
5. Clean the registry:
   • Open Registry Editor (regedit)
   • Check these registry locations for suspicious entries:
     • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
     • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
     • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
     • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
   • Look for values pointing to the suspicious files identified earlier
   • Delete these registry entries
6. Remove malicious scheduled tasks:
   • Open Command Prompt as administrator
   • Type schtasks /query /fo LIST /v to list all scheduled tasks
   • Look for tasks with random names or that execute suspicious files
   • Delete suspicious tasks with schtasks /delete /tn "TaskName" /f
7. Check for persistence via WMI:
   • TrickBot often uses WMI for persistence
   • Open PowerShell as administrator
   • Run: Get-WMIObject -Namespace root\Subscription -Class __EventFilter
   • Identify and remove suspicious event filters

3. Network Remediation Steps

Given TrickBot’s network propagation capabilities, these additional steps are critical after removing it from an infected system:

1. Scan all systems on the network for TrickBot infections
2. Change all passwords across the organization, as TrickBot is known to steal credentials
3. Enable multi-factor authentication on all accounts
4. Check for unauthorized accounts that may have been created by attackers
5. Update all systems with the latest security patches, especially for SMB vulnerabilities
6. Review network logs for signs of lateral movement or data exfiltration
7. Consider implementing network segmentation to limit potential spread of future infections

Preventing TrickBot Trojan Infection

Protecting against TrickBot requires a comprehensive security approach:

• Implement robust email security with advanced threat protection
• Keep all systems and software updated with the latest security patches
• Use application whitelisting in enterprise environments
• Apply the principle of least privilege for user accounts
• Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement
• Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions
• Conduct regular security awareness training for all users
• Maintain frequent, tested backups stored offline
• Use multi-factor authentication for all important accounts

These protective measures not only help guard against TrickBot but also against other threats like trojan downloaders and potentially unwanted applications that might create vulnerabilities in your system.

Advanced Technical Analysis of TrickBot (For Security Researchers)

This section provides detailed technical information about TrickBot’s architecture, internals, and detection techniques for security researchers, threat hunters, and incident response professionals.

TrickBot Infrastructure and Architecture

TrickBot employs a sophisticated modular architecture that has evolved significantly since its emergence:

TrickBot’s command and control infrastructure has adopted increasingly sophisticated designs:

Component	Technical Details	Evolution (2025)
Communication Protocol	SSL/TLS encrypted HTTP with custom headers	Added HTTPS with certificate pinning and multi-layer proxy chain
Server Structure	Tiered architecture with front-end proxies	Expanded to include FastFlux DNS and bulletproof hosting
Fallback Mechanism	Multiple hardcoded IP addresses	Implemented dynamic peer-to-peer (P2P) backup communication
Data Encryption	RC4 with custom key derivation	Added AES-256 for module communication and exfiltration

Key TrickBot Modules and Functionality

TrickBot’s modular design includes specialized components for various attack vectors:

• injectDll – Web injection module for credential theft
• systemInfo – System reconnaissance and environment detection
• pwgrab – Password harvesting from browsers and applications
• mailsearcher – Email harvesting and theft
• networkDll – SMB/NetBIOS scanning and lateral movement
• shareDll – Network share enumeration and infection
• importDll – Contact and address book theft
• domainDll – Active Directory enumeration and attack
• outlookDll – Microsoft Outlook data exfiltration
• cookiesDll – Browser cookie theft for session hijacking
• wormDll – Self-propagation across networks (added in 2022)
• antiAnalysisDll – Anti-VM and sandbox detection (added in 2023)
• ransomDll – Ransomware deployment capability (added in 2024)

TrickBot Code Internals and Anti-Analysis Techniques

TrickBot employs sophisticated obfuscation and anti-analysis techniques:

Configuration and Communication Protocol

TrickBot’s configuration format has evolved to a structured JSON-like format encrypted with multiple layers:

TrickBot’s communication protocol uses a structured format for data exfiltration:

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

The following indicators are associated with recent TrickBot activity:

File System Artifacts

Network Indicators

YARA Rules for TrickBot Detection

The following YARA rules can help detect TrickBot components:

PowerShell Detection and Hunting Tools

Security professionals can use these PowerShell commands to hunt for TrickBot artifacts:

Memory Forensics for TrickBot Detection

Forensic analysts can leverage Volatility framework to detect TrickBot:

TrickBot Module Parser

This Python script can help decrypt and analyze TrickBot modules:

TrickBot Prevention and Detection Best Practices

For enterprise security teams, these advanced measures can help prevent and detect TrickBot:

1. Network Traffic Analysis:
   • Implement deep packet inspection for TLS traffic to detect C2 communications
   • Monitor for unusual SSL certificates, especially those with unmatched Common Names
   • Implement DNS filtering to block known TrickBot C2 domains
   • Look for unexpected HTTP POST requests with specific URL patterns and base64 payloads
2. Endpoint Protection Enhancements:
   • Deploy application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized executables
   • Implement AMSI (Antimalware Scan Interface) hooks for PowerShell and .NET
   • Utilize behavior-based detection to identify process injection attempts
   • Monitor for unusual DLL loading in system processes
3. Active Directory Hardening:
   • Implement Protected Users security group for sensitive accounts
   • Enable Credential Guard to protect against LSASS credential theft
   • Deploy tiered administration model to limit exposure of privileged credentials
   • Implement Just-In-Time (JIT) access for administrative accounts
4. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Rules:
   • Create correlation rules for suspicious process creation chains
   • Alert on registry modifications to Run keys with unusual patterns
   • Monitor for suspicious scheduled task creation
   • Track unusual outbound SSL/TLS connections from endpoints

These technical details provide security professionals with the information needed to understand, detect, and respond to TrickBot infections effectively. The malware continues to evolve, making it essential to stay current with the latest indicators and behaviors.

Frequently Asked Questions

TrickBot represents one of the most sophisticated and dangerous malware threats in today’s landscape. Let’s address some common questions about this particularly concerning trojan.

Why is TrickBot considered more dangerous than typical trojans?

TrickBot’s exceptional danger stems from its unique combination of sophisticated capabilities and its role in the broader cybercrime ecosystem. Unlike traditional trojans with fixed functions, TrickBot employs a modular architecture that allows its operators to deploy different capabilities as needed. This adaptability lets TrickBot evolve rapidly in response to defensive measures. Furthermore, TrickBot’s ability to spread laterally through networks using both exploits and stolen credentials means a single infection can quickly compromise entire organizations. Perhaps most alarmingly, TrickBot has become a primary delivery mechanism for ransomware, particularly devastating variants like Ryuk and Conti. This partnership between TrickBot and ransomware operators has created a cybercriminal business model that security professionals often refer to as “big game hunting” – where initial TrickBot infections lead to carefully orchestrated ransomware attacks against high-value targets. This combination of versatility, propagation capabilities, and its role in enabling ransomware attacks makes TrickBot substantially more dangerous than most other trojans.

How does TrickBot evade detection?

TrickBot employs an impressive array of techniques to avoid detection by security solutions. It begins with complex obfuscation of its code, making static analysis difficult. The malware conducts extensive environment checks to detect virtual machines, sandboxes, and analysis tools – if it detects these environments, it alters its behavior or simply remains dormant. TrickBot also leverages fileless infection techniques, operating primarily in memory to minimize its footprint on disk where traditional antivirus might detect it. Its modular structure means the core malware component can be quite small, with additional functionality loaded only when needed. TrickBot further protects itself by disabling security tools through registry modifications and implementing tamper protection against security processes. Perhaps most sophisticated is its command and control infrastructure, which uses encrypted communications and a complex network of proxy nodes to hide its true C2 servers. This multi-layered approach to evasion makes TrickBot particularly challenging for traditional security tools to detect and has contributed significantly to its longevity despite numerous takedown attempts.

Can TrickBot reinfect systems after removal?

Yes, TrickBot is notorious for its ability to persist and reinfect systems even after apparent removal. This resilience stems from several factors. First, TrickBot implements multiple, redundant persistence mechanisms – scheduled tasks, registry modifications, WMI event subscriptions, and service creation. If even one of these mechanisms survives cleanup, the malware can regenerate itself. Second, TrickBot’s network propagation capabilities mean that even if you clean one system, others on the same network may remain infected and can reinfect the cleaned system. Third, TrickBot operators continuously monitor their botnet and may attempt to regain access to systems that appear to have been cleaned. Perhaps most concerning is TrickBot’s ability to steal and utilize legitimate credentials – even if the malware itself is removed, attackers who have harvested administrator credentials can simply log back into the network. This is why comprehensive remediation must include network-wide scanning, credential rotation, and addressing potential backdoors that TrickBot may have established, such as created user accounts or modified Group Policy Objects in Active Directory environments.

What should organizations do after detecting TrickBot?

Discovering a TrickBot infection should trigger an immediate and comprehensive incident response. First, isolate infected systems from the network to prevent lateral movement while maintaining forensic evidence. Engage a specialized incident response team if available, as TrickBot infections often indicate a sophisticated attack that may already extend beyond initially identified systems. Conduct rapid enterprise-wide scanning to identify the full scope of the compromise, paying particular attention to domain controllers and critical servers. Change all passwords throughout the organization, with special priority for administrator accounts, and enforce multi-factor authentication wherever possible. Look for indicators of data exfiltration in network logs and prepare for potential regulatory notifications if sensitive data may have been compromised. Monitor for ransomware deployment, as TrickBot is frequently a precursor to such attacks. After containment and eradication, perform a thorough root cause analysis to identify the initial infection vector and strengthen defenses accordingly. Given TrickBot’s association with ransomware, organizations should also review, test, and potentially activate their ransomware response plans as a precautionary measure.

How effective are TrickBot takedown operations?

The history of TrickBot takedown operations reveals both the value of coordinated action and the remarkable resilience of sophisticated cybercriminal operations. The most significant effort occurred in October 2020, when Microsoft, ESET, Black Lotus Labs, NTT, and others collaborated on a legal and technical operation to disrupt TrickBot’s infrastructure. This operation successfully disabled many command and control servers and significantly disrupted operations temporarily. However, within weeks, TrickBot operators had rebuilt their infrastructure, demonstrating extraordinary adaptability. This pattern has repeated with subsequent takedown attempts. The resilience stems from several factors: TrickBot’s distributed infrastructure with fallback mechanisms, its modular design allowing rapid reconfiguration, and the sophisticated criminal organization behind it with significant resources and technical expertise. Rather than viewing takedowns as failures, security experts now see them as valuable disruptions that temporarily reduce threat activity, provide intelligence on operations, and force attackers to expend resources rebuilding infrastructure. This perspective has shifted the goal from permanent elimination (which is unlikely against sophisticated threats) to sustained pressure that increases attackers’ costs and reduces their overall effectiveness.

The Evolution of Banking Trojans: From Zeus to TrickBot

To fully understand TrickBot’s significance in the cyberthreat landscape, it’s helpful to examine how banking trojans have evolved over time:

Zeus (Zbot) – The pioneer banking trojan that emerged in 2007, Zeus established the fundamental techniques for stealing banking credentials through web injections and form grabbing. Zeus’s source code leak in 2011 led to numerous derivatives and influenced virtually all subsequent banking trojans. Zeus primarily targeted consumer banking and lacked the advanced lateral movement capabilities of later threats.

Emotet – Initially a banking trojan when it appeared in 2014, Emotet evolved into a versatile malware delivery platform. Its sophisticated distribution techniques and persistent botnet infrastructure made it a favorite delivery system for other malware, including TrickBot. Unlike Zeus’s focused approach, Emotet expanded beyond banking theft to become a comprehensive threat platform.

Dridex – Emerging around 2014, Dridex built upon concepts from Zeus while adding advanced evasion techniques. The Dridex operation, attributed to a group called Evil Corp, specialized in targeted attacks against specific regions and industries. Dridex and TrickBot share conceptual similarities in their modular design and integration with ransomware operations.

TrickBot – Appearing in 2016, TrickBot represents the most sophisticated evolution of the banking trojan concept. It combines the credential stealing capabilities pioneered by Zeus with advanced lateral movement techniques, modular architecture, and integration with ransomware operations. TrickBot’s versatility allows it to function as both a primary attack vector and a post-compromise tool for network infiltration and data theft.