Altruistics Virus: A Dangerous Cryptojacking Trojan – Removal Guide and Prevention Tips

The Altruistics virus is a type of Trojan horse malware that infiltrates computers by disguising itself as legitimate software or bundling with other programs from untrustworthy sources. Once installed, it clandestinely utilizes your system’s CPU and GPU resources to mine cryptocurrency for cybercriminals, a process known as cryptojacking. This activity can significantly degrade system performance, cause overheating, and increase electricity consumption.

Altruistics Virus Summary

Symptoms of Infection

If your computer is infected with the Altruistics virus, you may observe the following symptoms:

• Decreased Performance: The malware consumes a significant portion of your system’s processing power, leading to noticeable slowdowns.
• Overheating: Continuous high CPU and GPU usage can cause your computer to overheat, potentially damaging hardware components.
• Unfamiliar Processes: In the Task Manager, you might notice unfamiliar processes such as “Altruistics.exe” or other variations consuming substantial resources.
• Increased Electricity Usage: The intensive resource consumption can lead to higher electricity bills.

Distribution Methods

The Altruistics virus primarily spreads through:

• Bundled Software: It often comes packaged with software downloaded from unreliable or third-party sources.
• Phishing Emails: Malicious email attachments or links can install the malware when opened.
• Fake Software Updates: Prompting users to install bogus updates that carry the malware.

Removal Guide

To effectively remove the Altruistics virus from your system, follow these steps:

1. Terminate Malicious Processes
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
   • Navigate to the “Processes” tab.
   • Look for processes named “Altruistics.exe” or other unfamiliar names consuming high resources.
   • Right-click on the suspicious process and select “End Task.”
2. Uninstall Suspicious Programs
   • Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter to open the “Programs and Features” window.
   • Sort the installed programs by date to identify recent installations.
   • Locate any unfamiliar or suspicious programs, right-click, and select “Uninstall.”
3. Remove Malicious Files and Folders
   • Press Win + R, type %AppData%, and press Enter.
   • Look for folders associated with the Altruistics virus (e.g., recently created folders with random names).
   • Delete these folders.
   • Repeat the process with %LocalAppData%, %ProgramData%, %WinDir%/Temp, and %Temp% directories.
4. Remove Malicious Scheduled Tasks
   • Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter to open the Task Scheduler.
   • In the “Task Scheduler Library,” look for tasks with unfamiliar or suspicious names.
   • Right-click on the suspicious task and select “Delete.”
5. Run a Full System Scan with SpyHunter
   • Download and install SpyHunter.
   • Open SpyHunter and update it to the latest virus definitions.
   • Perform a full system scan to detect and remove any remaining traces of the Altruistics virus.
6. Reset Browser Settings: For each browser installed on your system, reset the settings to their default configurations to remove any malicious extensions or settings.

Preventive Measures

To safeguard your system against future infections:

• Download Software from Trusted Sources: Only install software from reputable websites or official sources.
• Be Cautious with Email Attachments: Avoid opening attachments or clicking on links from unknown or suspicious emails.
• Keep Your System Updated: Regularly update your operating system and all installed software to patch security vulnerabilities.
• Use Reliable Security Software: Install and maintain reputable antivirus and anti-malware programs to provide real-time protection.
• Regularly Back Up Important Data: Maintain backups of your essential files to prevent data loss in case of malware infection.

By following these steps and implementing preventive measures, you can effectively remove the Altruistics virus from your system and protect against future threats.