The FileRepMalware is a malicious Windows program that masquerades as KMSpico, a third-party Windows activation tool that is available on sites such as The Pirate Bay. The original KMSpico is used to activate pirated versions of the Windows OS.
Once it is installed on a Windows PC, the app will download and install adware components that deliver intrusive advertisements and greatly diminish a user’s web surfing experience. The displayed advertisements also serve as conduits for malware that are forcibly downloaded on the victim’s computer. Such malware can be anything from ransomware, such as the cryptoLocker ransomware, to spyware that steals sensitive user information like IP addresses, geo-locations, web browsing history, keystrokes and passwords. The information gathered this way can then be used to perpetrate financial and identity fraud. In some cases, it has also been used for blackmail campaigns.
How Did FileRepMalware Get into My Computer?
There are many potential avenues for the FileRepMalware to infect your computer. The most common means is through bundled software. When you download software from unsecure sites or from the likes of The Pirate Bay, you run the risk of installing software that comes bundled with various kinds of malware, including the FileRepMalware.
Your computer could have also gotten infected if you have clicked on a malicious ad similar to the ones that the FileRepMalware promotes. Finally, the malware may have found its way to your PC through a phishing campaign that involved you or someone else who shares the computer with you, opening an infected attachment.
How to Remove FileRepMalware
To remove the FileRepMalware, you need a powerful anti-malware solution such as Outbyte Antivirus. The antivirus will begin the removal process by first scanning your PC. By scanning, it can determine with certainty whether the files and folders that are associated with the FileRepMalware constitute a security threat or not. This is also an important step considering that the Windows crack, KMSpico, is mostly categorized as a threat by most antivirus programs, even when it is genuine.
Since the FileRepMalware is a well-known virus, Outbyte Antivirus will have no problem identifying it.
Considering that the FileRepMalware is known to modify registry entries, you might also need a PC repair tool that will repair any broken or corrupt registry entries. The repair tool will also make it easier to remove any problematic apps. Most importantly, the repair tool will monitor the processes running on your PC and flag down the ones that are unusual or those that take too much computing resources.
For these two tools to be as effective as possible, you need to run them while taking advantage of multiple Windows repair and recovery utilities, such as System Restore and Safe Mode.
Safe Mode
What is Safe Mode on the Windows OS? If you have ever operated a computer that only had default Windows apps and settings as if the OS has just been installed, then you have an experience of what Safe Mode is. It is a barebones version of Windows that isolates everything else, except the apps and settings that come with the Windows OS.
When you want to remove a malware or troubleshoot performance issues, running your computer on Safe Mode makes the process much easier. Here is how to get to Safe Mode on a Windows 10/11 computer:
- Press the Windows logo and go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
- From the Choose an Option screen that appears after your computer restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After your computer restarts, press F5 to select Safe Mode with Networking.
Safe Mode with Networking will give you access to network resources, such as the internet, where you can download the utility tools that you want, or even read more about the malware removal process.
System Restore
Another Windows recovery process that aids in the thorough removal of the FileRepMalware is System Restore. It involves activating a restore point which is like a ‘screenshot’ of a computer’s settings, apps, configuration, and the state of systems file at a point in time.
Because System Restore is just a ‘snapshot’ of how the OS looked like, it gives you the option of reverting any changes such as updates, settings, and apps that prove to be problematic.
While System Restore will resolve most Windows issues, there is a catch: your PC has to have a restore point that was created before the malware infected your computer. If you have such a restore point, the following are the steps to take to get to the system restore option.
- On the Windows sign-in screen, press the Shift key while selecting Power > Restart.
- On the Choose an Option screen that appears after your computer restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.
- Follow the on-screen directions to complete the system restore process.
You can also get to System Restore by typing ‘create a restore point’ into the Windows search box and going to the System Properties app.
Refresh your PC
The last recovery option that we shall be recommending is the Refresh option. It allows you to refresh your computer with the option of keeping your files intact. The following are the steps to take to refresh your computer:
- Go to Settings > Change PC settings.
- Click Update and recovery.
- Under Refresh your PC without affecting your files, click Get started.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Remember that for the malware removal process to be thorough, you need to use the anti-malware tool that we recommended and use it alongside any of the Windows Recovery options we have presented above.
How to Prevent FileRepMalware from Infecting your Computer
All that you need to do to prevent the FileRepMalware from infecting your computer again is to take extra security measures such as not relying on pirated software, updating your device, not visiting unsecure sites, and verifying the authenticity of email attachments before clicking on them. If you do these things, then no malware will find its way to your computer.