How to remove the Wacatac Trojan virus
Is your computer showing a Wacatac warning? This could be a sign that it’s been infected with a Wacatac Trojan virus, or Trojan:Script/Wacatac.b!ml. This virus disguises itself as legitimate software and mainly targets Windows devices.
You must remove the virus as soon as it’s detected, or it may lead to further malware infections, add your device to a botnet, or steal your personal data. Unfortunately, it’s often difficult to detect a Wacatac virus. It doesn’t have many symptoms, and Windows devices sometimes report false positives – software that looks malicious but is legitimate.
To help you with this, I provide a detailed guide below on how to successfully remove a Wacatac virus either manually or with an antivirus program.
What is the Wacatac.b!ml Trojan?
The Wacatac Trojan virus is a malicious program that affects Windows devices. A Wacatac Trojan can download and install other malware onto your computer or record your keystrokes to steal personal information, such as login credentials or bank account details. Wacatac could also add your device to a botnet by creating backdoors, which allow other devices to access and remotely control your device. A botnet is usually then used for executing DDoS attacks, crypto mining, or other malicious attacks.
The worst thing about Trojan viruses such as Wacatac is that they are very stealthy and rarely exhibit any symptoms that could alert you that something is wrong. Nevertheless, if you notice some suspicious processes going on or unknown programs getting installed, it is likely that your device has been infected with Wacatac or another type of malware.
| Name | Wacatac, Trojan:Win32/Wacatac |
| Type | Virus, Trojan |
| Device | Windows |
| Symptoms | No symptoms |
| Damage | Installing other malware, keystroke monitoring, personal data theft, your device added to a botnet |
How did Wacatac get into my computer?
Trojans generally get into devices disguised as legitimate programs. However, the Wacatac virus can get into your computer in other ways as well:
- By downloading legitimate-looking software from an unofficial source, such as torrenting sites, forums, and similar.
- By downloading a cracked version of a program. It could be any type of illegally obtained software, but video game cracks contain malware most often.
- By clicking on a malicious link in a spam or phishing email. Sometimes, it may be difficult to recognize phishing emails, and clicking on a link in one often leads to malware, stolen personal information, and financial loss.
- By downloading files from a P2P platform. Torrenting sites contain all kinds of software and files, and many of them may be malicious. Always take great care and precautions when downloading files from a P2P website.
- By clicking on a malicious ad or pop-up. Pop-ups that congratulate you on winning the newest iPhone or warn you about an infected browser often lead to malware installations or browser hijacking. Never click on such ads.
How to get rid of Trojan:Win32/Wacatac malware
The Wacatac virus can be pretty difficult to remove, but there are ways. Your best bet is to use antivirus software to detect and get rid of the Wacatac Trojan. Otherwise, you can also try removing it from your PC manually. Below are two detailed guides on how to get rid of Trojan:Win32/Wacatac malware.
Remove Wacatac with antivirus software
To remove the Wacatac virus with antivirus software, follow the steps below:
- Choose a reputable antivirus program and sign up for the subscription. I recommend TotalAV, now 80% off.
- Download and install antivirus software on your Windows device.
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Run a full system scan.
- Follow further instructions provided by the antivirus program.
Remove Wacatac from your Windows manually
To remove the Wacatac Trojan from your Windows PC manually, follow the guide below.
Step 1: Stop the Wacatac Trojan process
Follow the steps below to stop malware processes on your PC:
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In the Windows search bar type “Task Manager”. Click to open.
- Scroll through the list and look for suspicious processes. These can be apps you don't remember downloading or any installation processes that you yourself have not started. If you are not sure, it is always a good idea to use an antivirus such as TotalAV to scan your device and deal with threats.
- When you find it, select it and click End task. Confirm.
Step 2: Remove malicious programs from your Windows device
Some types of malware, including Trojans, further damage your device by installing dangerous software (such as spyware) on your device without permission. With the Wacatac virus, it's crucial that you go through all of the programs on your PC and remove all the harmful ones.
Follow the guide to safely remove malware from your Windows device:
- Boot your computer into safe mode: press Windows + R key at the same time
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In the Run box type “msconfig”
- In the newly opened System Configuration window, choose the Boot tab.
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Select the Safe Boot option and confirm by clicking Apply and then OK.
- You will be prompted to restart your computer in Safe mode. Confirm by clicking on Restart.
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Right-click on the Start menu and open Settings.
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On the left side, find and click on Apps, then Installed Apps.
- Look for anything suspicious that you don’t remember downloading. If you are not sure, you can always use Google to find more info about any software that appears suspicious.
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If you find a malicious app, click on the three dots “...” and select Uninstall.
- Follow further instructions provided by the uninstallation process.
Step 3: Reset browser settings
Trojans and any other kind of malware often tamper with your browser settings or install browser hijackers or adware. These types of threats are designed to keep your device affected and your data accessible to threat actors. Even if your browser seems fine, some threats could still be lurking in the back. So, it is in your best interest to remove any suspicious extensions and reset your browser settings after your device has been infected with malware.
Follow the instructions below to reset settings in Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge browsers:
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Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the Chrome browser
- Select Settings
- Click on Reset settings
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Select Restore settings to their original defaults
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Confirm by clicking on Reset settings
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Click on three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of your browser and select Help
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Select More troubleshooting information
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Click on Refresh Firefox
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Confirm by clicking on Refresh Firefox again
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Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings
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On the left panel, find and select Reset settings
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Click on Restore settings to their default values
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Confirm by clicking Reset
How can I protect my PC against viruses?
Malware infections are not a joke and can lead to very serious consequences, such as identity theft or financial loss. Protecting your device and data is crucial. Here are some of our recommendations and tips to keep your device protected against viruses and other threats at all times:
- Use antivirus software. Quality antivirus software with high protection rates will keep your device safe at all times via powerful malware detection and real-time protection. If your device gets infected, you will immediately be alerted, and the antivirus will remove the threat. To find the best antivirus for your PC, take a look at our Windows antivirus recommendations.
- Keep your OS and applications updated. Updates often contain crucial security patches and fixes for bugs. Keeping your apps and devices updated reduces the risk of getting a malware infection.
- Never click on suspicious ads. Pop-up ads and banners promising you an Apple Watch or flashing warnings about an infected device often lead to malware infections or browser hijackers. Never click on these ads and exit the malicious page immediately.
- Never click on links or open attachments in suspicious emails. Links could lead you to malicious websites, and attachments may contain malware. If you’re not sure if the email comes from a trusted source, never open any links or attachments, and report the sender.
- Do not click on suspicious links on social media platforms and messaging apps. Malicious actors have taken to hacking personal accounts and posting or sending malicious links via direct messages to the person’s contacts.
- Download apps and software only from official sources. Apps and programs from torrenting websites or community forums often contain malware.
Conclusion
The Wacatac Trojan is a virus that infects your device disguised as a legitimate program. Its dangers include infecting your device with other malware, stealing your data by monitoring the keystrokes, or adding your PC to a botnet. It typically infects Windows devices.
Since the Wacatac virus is usually very stealthy and doesn’t have many symptoms, it can be hard to detect and remove it. Nevertheless, some of the ways to deal with Wacatac are to use an antivirus program such as TotalAV or remove it manually.
Once you’ve gotten rid of the virus, make sure to take all the necessary precautions to avoid malware infections in the future. Keep your device updated and download apps only from legitimate sources.
FAQ
Can Wacatac be a false positive?
Yes, a Wacatac alert can be a false positive, especially if you are downloading compressed files. If you get a warning from your antivirus software that a threat was detected, take all the necessary steps to ensure it is a legitimate threat. Never open files if you’re not sure whether it’s safe to do so.
Can Windows Defender remove Wacatac?
Windows Defender might not be enough to remove malware, including Trojans such as Wacatac. It can detect malicious software, but removing it is beyond its capabilities. If your device got infected with Wacatac, use a trustworthy and powerful antivirus such as TotalAV.
Is Wacatac.b!ml safe?
No, Wacatac.b!ml is a Trojan virus and can cause serious damage to your computer and personal data. It can infect your PC with other malware, add it to a botnet, or steal your personal data.
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