Dyre also known as Dyreza, Dyzap or Dyranges is a banking Trojan in the same category as the Zeus malware. Both target login details, passwords, cookies, and user credentials. Its goal is to steal data that is then used to perpetrate financial and identity fraud.
Dyre is used to target Windows computers as well as the most popular browsers i.e. Chrome, Firefox, and the Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer is especially vulnerable to attacks by the Dyre malware as it is old and lacks the level of support enjoyed by the other major browsers.
Cybercriminals use Dyre for advanced persistent threat (ATP) attacks against large corporations. Recent targets include the Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and customers from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
What Does the Dyre Malware Do?
The Dyre malware infects a computer through a series of sophisticated steps. It all begins when the unsuspecting victim falls for a social engineering scam of the sought that requires clicking an infected email or a contaminated social media message.
After clicking the infected email, the malware (now inside the PC) uses browser hooks to forward all login attempts to a drop zone even before SSL gets the chance to encrypt them. The interception can happen as long as the malware remains undetected, giving it enough time to create a comprehensive profile of its victims.
The intercepted data is then sent to cybercriminals who either sell or use the intercepted information for financial, identity fraud, or blackmail. In some cases, hackers can even use the Dyre Trojan to take control of a device. In other cases, the data is used to determine if the victim is a good candidate for a ransomware attack.
The Dyre malware wasn’t always this capable as earlier versions didn’t even send encrypted messages to the command and control server. This shows that the malware is versatile and able to adapt to changing cybersecurity strategies.
Remove Dyre Banking Trojan
Your only chance at removing the Dyre banking Trojan is via a reliable anti-malware solution such as Outbyte Anti-Malware. You might say that well, I already have an antivirus software, how come the Dyre Trojan was still able to infect my computer?
It all depends on a number of things. First, you must ask yourself whether the anti-malware solution software of your choice is ‘free’. If it is, it not likely to stack up well against many malware strains including Dyre.
Secondly, you need to check whether your anti-malware defenses have been disabled as disabling them is one of the common attack modes that viruses use. The fact that they are disabled doesn’t mean that the antivirus is not up to the task of removing the virus. It just means that your anti-malware is not presently working as you would expect.
There is also the matter of how you run your anti-malware and what other support systems you use to complement the removal of the Dyre banking Trojan. We highly recommend that you use the anti-malware when your PC is in Safe Mode and follow this up with a Windows recovery tool such as System Restore.
Finally, don’t forget that the email attachment that instigated the infection in the first place is still somewhere in your browser. Delete it alongside all other files with the help of a PC repair tool.
How to Protect Your Computer Against the Dyre Banking Trojan
To protect your computer against the Dyre banking Trojan, you need to do several things. First, update all the apps on your computer, especially browsers, given that the Dyre banking Trojan seeks to exploit them to intercept the data that you send through them even before it is encrypted.
Secondly, approach emails from unknown sources with caution. Take the time to verify that they are authentic as this will save you from potential harm.
Also, don’t clog your computer with unnecessary files and apps. The more apps you have and don’t use, the more potential infiltration points exist on your device. Unnecessary data including browsing histories, saved logins and passwords also expose you to the risks of having personal information stolen. You don’t have to put yourself in that position if you can help it.
Lastly, keep an eye out for your anti-malware defenses. Make sure that they are working just fine and have not been disabled by some malware entity.