ValleyRAT Trojan

Urgent threat—this Remote Access Trojan grants stealthy control of your PC.

Threat Overview Table

Category	Details
Threat Type	Remote Access Trojan (RAT) / Malware Infection
Detection Names	Avast: Win64:TrojanX-gen [Trj]; ESET: Variant Of Generik.MUISBVQ; Kaspersky: Trojan.Win32.RegistryStorage.mq; Microsoft: TrojanDownloader:Win32/ValleyRat!rfn
Symptoms	Usually silent: no visible alert. May cause sluggishness, freezing, storage anomalies, or modified system settings
Damage & Distribution	Records keystrokes, screenshots, can shut down processes, remove logs; installed via phishing, trojanized installers, malicious files, fake browser downloads, or compromised binaries (e.g., Douyin, gaming apps); uses DLL side‑loading, in‑memory execution, scheduled tasks, registry C2 entries
Danger Level	High—fully stealthy, persistent, enables remote surveillance and control
Removal Tool	SpyHunter

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How ValleyRAT Trojan Virus Installs on Systems

ValleyRAT uses a multi-stage infection strategy. The attacker often tricks users through phishing emails, bogus download links, or fake installers pretending to be legitimate software—including fake Chrome setups or spoofed gaming apps. Once executed, it launches in-memory through DLL side-loading or shellcode injection, often hijacking trusted apps to avoid detection.

In recent campaigns, attackers have even exploited signed Windows drivers to disable security tools and sneak ValleyRAT past modern defenses. By modifying timestamps or metadata, they successfully bypassed driver blocklists that would normally halt this behavior.

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What Data ValleyRAT Tries to Steal

ValleyRAT grants the attacker complete remote control over the infected machine. It’s capable of:

• Logging keystrokes and capturing screenshots to spy on user activity
• Shutting down active processes and wiping logs to avoid detection
• Creating persistent footholds through scheduled tasks, registry edits, and auto-elevation bypass

Once embedded, it silently communicates with a command-and-control server and can be instructed to download more malicious modules or harvest sensitive data.

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Persistence Tactics Used by ValleyRAT

This RAT is designed to remain active even after system reboots or user intervention. It uses several stealthy persistence techniques:

• Kill-switch behavior that checks for the presence of specific apps like WeChat or DingTalk—if absent, the malware exits to avoid suspicion
• Registry-stored C2 settings for flexible updates to its command-and-control infrastructure
• In-memory execution so it leaves no traceable files on disk
• Reflective DLL injection and driver hijacking to keep running without triggering most antivirus solutions
• UAC bypass using legitimate Windows tools like eventvwr.msc, which tricks the OS into launching the malware with elevated privileges

These tactics make ValleyRAT particularly dangerous for both home and enterprise systems.

Manual Trojan Malware Removal Guide

Step 1: Boot into Safe Mode

1. Restart your computer.
2. Before Windows starts, press the F8 key (or Shift + F8 on some systems).
3. Select Safe Mode with Networking from the Advanced Boot Options menu.
4. Press Enter to boot.

This prevents the Trojan from running and makes it easier to remove.

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Step 2: Identify and Stop Malicious Processes

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab (or Details in Windows 10/11).
3. Look for suspicious processes using high CPU or memory, or with unfamiliar names.
4. Right-click on the suspicious process and select Open File Location.
5. If the file is in a temporary or system folder and looks unfamiliar, it is likely malicious.
6. Right-click the process and choose End Task.
7. Delete the associated file in File Explorer.

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Step 3: Remove Trojan-Related Files and Folders

1. Press Win + R, type %temp%, and press Enter.
2. Delete all files in the Temp folder.
3. Also check these directories for unfamiliar or recently created files:
   • C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Local\Temp
   • C:\Windows\Temp
   • C:\Program Files (x86)
   • C:\ProgramData
   • C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roaming
4. Delete suspicious files or folders.

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Step 4: Clean Trojan Malware from Registry

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following paths:
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
3. Look for entries launching files from suspicious locations.
4. Right-click and delete any entries you don’t recognize.

Warning: Editing the registry can harm your system if done improperly. Proceed with caution.

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Step 5: Reset Browser Settings

Google Chrome

1. Go to Settings > Reset Settings.
2. Click Restore settings to their original defaults and confirm.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Go to Help > More Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click Refresh Firefox.

Microsoft Edge

1. Go to Settings > Reset settings.
2. Click Restore settings to their default values.

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Step 6: Run a Full Windows Defender Scan

1. Open Windows Security via Settings > Update & Security.
2. Click Virus & threat protection.
3. Choose Scan options, select Full scan, and click Scan now.

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Step 7: Update Windows and Installed Software

1. Press Win + I, go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates and install all available updates.

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Automatic Trojan Removal Using SpyHunter

If manually removing the Trojan seems difficult or time-consuming, using SpyHunter is the recommended method. SpyHunter is an advanced anti-malware tool that detects and eliminates Trojan infections effectively.

Step 1: Download SpyHunter

Use the following official link to download SpyHunter: Download SpyHunter

For full instructions on how to install, follow this page: Official SpyHunter Download Instructions

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Step 2: Install SpyHunter

1. Locate the SpyHunter-Installer.exe file in your Downloads folder.
2. Double-click the installer to begin setup.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

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Step 3: Scan Your System

1. Open SpyHunter.
2. Click Start Scan Now.
3. Let the program detect all threats, including Trojan components.

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Step 4: Remove Detected Malware

1. After the scan, click Fix Threats.
2. SpyHunter will automatically quarantine and remove all identified malicious components.

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Step 5: Restart Your Computer

Restart your system to ensure all changes take effect and the threat is completely removed.

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Tips to Prevent Future Trojan Infections

• Avoid downloading pirated software or opening unknown email attachments.
• Only visit trusted websites and avoid clicking on suspicious ads or pop-ups.
• Use a real-time antivirus solution like SpyHunter for ongoing protection.
• Keep your operating system, browsers, and software up to date.

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Conclusion

ValleyRAT is more than just a data-stealing Trojan—it’s a highly evasive, persistent backdoor operated by a well-organized threat actor. It’s capable of full system compromise, and many traditional antivirus tools may miss it due to its fileless techniques and abuse of trusted components.

If you suspect ValleyRAT is on your system, immediate action is essential. Use a trusted anti-malware scanner that can detect in-memory threats and root out registry-based persistence.