How to Recognize and Remove Rootkit | Free Antivirus

Why is my computer so slow? How come my background image has changed? This blue screen again?! Ah! Your computer may be infected with a rootkit!

What is a Rootkit?

A rootkit is an application (or a collection of applications) that hides on your device or hides another application, such as adware (adware) or spyware (spyware). Rootkits lurk in the lower layers of the operating system (OS), especially in API function calls or undocumented OS functions, which make them virtually undetectable by common anti-malware software.

Where does the term "rootkit" come from? On Unix and Linux operating systems, the system administrator, an almighty account with full privileges and unrestricted access (the equivalent of the administrator account on Windows) is called "  root  ". Applications that allow unauthorized root / administrator-level access to the device and restricted areas are called “kits”.

Putting the two terms together, you get the term "rootkit": a program that gives someone (for legitimate purposes or not) privileged access to a computer or mobile device. This person can then control the device remotely, without the user's knowledge.

Unfortunately, rootkits are often designed to create unauthorized access to a computer, allowing cybercriminals to steal personal or financial data, install malware, or recruit computers into a botnet to circulate as spam or participate in denial of service (DDoS).

It's like a burglar wants to enter your home. He would dress in black so as not to be seen in the dark and move silently so as not to be detected. But unlike the burglar who steals and escapes, the rootkit settles on your computer and over time steals data or manipulates what is there.

What is the Difference Between a Rootkit and a Virus?

By itself, a rootkit is not a virus. A computer virus is a program or a piece of code designed to damage a computer by corrupting system files, wasting resources, destroying data, or simply disrupting it. The main difference is that viruses use a computer's resources to replicate and spread among files or to other computers without the user's consent.

Unlike viruses, rootkits are not necessarily harmful. What is dangerous are the different forms of malware that a rootkit can deliver, which can be used to manipulate a computer's OS and give administrator access to remote users. This explains both their bad reputation and also their popularity among cybercriminals.

Protegent360's Free Antivirus is your best defense against rootkits and other types of threats. Scan your devices for rootkits and remove them at the source, and protect yourself against future malware with Protegent360. And this, free of charge.

Is Rootkit Malware?

A rootkit is closely related to malware, which is malicious software designed to steal data, damage devices, demand ransoms, and perform other illegal activity. Malware includes viruses, Trojans, spyware, worms, ransomware (ransomware), and many other types of software.

Modern rootkits cover the harmful effects of malware.

How to Recognize a Rootkit

In essence, rootkits are difficult to detect. Indeed, they know very well how to camouflage themselves. Even commercially available products that look like harmless third-party apps can contain rootkit-based functionality. Rootkits can disguise the activities and information of an OS, and therefore prevent their bad behavior from being seen.

Tell-tale signs of the presence of a malicious rootkit  :

• Blue screen: You receive Windows error messages or a blue screen with white text, and your computer constantly needs to be restarted.
• Strange Elements:  Your web browser is behaving in unusual ways (redirects to Google links or unknown bookmarks).
• No response:  Your computer is slow, hangs or does not respond to any mouse or keyboard requests.
• Excessive Network Traffic:  Web pages or network activity appear intermittent or not performing well due to excessive network traffic.
• Unexpected things:  Windows settings have changed without your permission. For example, your screensaver has changed or the taskbar has disappeared.

How to Remove a Rootkit?

Detecting and removing rootkits is not an exact science as there are many ways they can be installed. Even if you erase all data from a device, sometimes a rootkit survives. The good news:  an antivirus with a rootkit scanner like Protegent360's can ward off malware. Our anti-rootkit technology, included in Protegent360's Free Antivirus, detects, blocks, and removes rootkits and other forms of malware.