Have you received numerous messages or emails from an email user that end with vzwpix.com? You’re not alone. Many people have lamented about receiving such messages, some receiving up to 30 emails in one hour.
Security researchers identified them as an ‘‘email virus’’ on a phishing expedition. The vzwpix email virus can be so frustrating, especially since it comes in large numbers simultaneously.
We dug deep into these messages and emails to know what the vzwpix email virus is, how you can remove it, and what it does.
Is the Vzwpix Email Virus a Trojan?
Scammers have become creative, and they are always inventing new ways to infect the devices of unsuspecting users with malware. Most phishing attempts have become treacherous, such as a carefully crafted message or email on a random malicious website to an unsuspecting number. One such example is the Vzwpix email virus.
The Vzwpix email virus is a multipurpose trojan-malware tool that scammers use to make unsuspecting users install the malware in their device.
Usually, users will receive an email or a message from an unidentified email address, which contains a spoofed ten-digit phone number and ends with @vztext.com. Initially, the email appears to have a picture attachment because of its name (for example, 8400587498Img_Picture), but this is just a Zip file with an obfuscated executable (exe) format.
What Does the Vzwpix Email Virus Do?
People know Vzwpix, or Vzwpix.com, as a legitimate multimedia messaging service provided by Verizon. It allows people to send emails using their phones, which often has a sender’s number. Scammers take advantage of this service’s fame and imitate an original email address through spoofing.
The spoofed email often contains different themes, such as information about a delivery or a receipt. The scammer uses social engineering to hide their real identity and prevent users from identifying their scam intention. Users then trust the scammer and download the “picture,” which then infects their devices.
The malware that will be extracted from the malicious .exe file will depend on what the attackers compiled before sending the message or email. The malware will vary in types including:
- Ransomware
- Remote access trojan (RAT)
- Backdoor
- Rootkit
- Adware
- Spyware
- Keylogger
As a result, users can suffer any of the following damages:
- Unending, annoying ads, and popups or browser redirects because of adware
- Financial losses because of banking malware
- Ransomware infection
- Identity theft
- Compromises of personal details (such as banking details, social security number, or credit card information)
- Infiltration by a botnet or other malware, among others
You need to familiarize yourself with Vzwpix email virus and other phishing emails to avoid becoming a victim.
How to Get Rid of Vzwpix Email Virus
You can get rid of the Vzwpix email virus easily. However, the technique you use will depend on the particular malware executed by the Vzwpix email virus during download.
First, you need to know that if you did not click (or double-click) the suspicious image file or link attachment on your email. In this case, the malware may have not yet infected your device.
You can remove Vzwpix email virus in two ways:
- Use anti-malware software, or
- Remove it manually through the Safe Mode with Networking.
Use a Quality Anti-Malware
To remove the Vzwpix email virus from your device’s system, you can use a reputable anti-malware software. It’s important to choose one that’s regularly updated to ensure it can handle the latest threats. This is the method we recommend because it is simple and easy.
Before you use the anti-malware program, ensure it is fully updated to have a more significant impact on the new version of the malware.
Manually Remove Vzwpix Email Virus
We recommend this method for people who have advanced knowledge and skills in computer usage. This method will result in the prompt removal of the malware from your system with all its roots.
For the manual process, follow these steps:
- Back up all your files and folders in safe storage.
- Boot your PC into Safe Mode with Networking.
- Clean all the registries created by the remove malware on your PC in the Command P The usually targeted Windows registries are:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce - Locate files created by the remove Vzwpix email virus.
- On your device, locate This PC or My PC or My Computer from the quick access bar.
- Locate the ‘‘search’’ box and type ‘‘fileextension:’’ then type the file extension, for instance, “Vzwpix.com.exe.”
- Locate the infected file or folder and delete it.
- Boot your PC back with normal mode.
- Again, initiate a full system scan using the anti-malware program, so all the malicious components can be terminated for good.
Key Questions and Answers about the Vzwpix Email Virus
How does the Vzwpix email virus infect devices?
The Vzwpix email virus typically spreads through phishing emails containing spoofed email addresses and malicious attachments in the form of executable (exe) files. When users unknowingly download and open these files, their devices become infected.
What damages can the Vzwpix email virus cause?
The Vzwpix email virus can result in various damages, including relentless ad pop-ups, browser redirects, financial losses due to banking malware, ransomware infections, identity theft, and compromise of personal details such as banking information, social security numbers, and credit card data.
How can I remove the Vzwpix email virus?
There are two methods to remove the Vzwpix email virus. One is to use a reputable anti-malware software, which can automatically scan and remove the virus. The other option is to manually remove the virus by booting your PC into Safe Mode with Networking and cleaning the registry and files associated with the malware.
How can I prevent the Vzwpix email virus from infecting my device?
To prevent the Vzwpix email virus and similar phishing emails, exercise caution when opening emails from unknown sources or suspicious attachments. Avoid clicking on links or downloading files from unverified sources. Additionally, keep your anti-malware software up to date, use strong passwords, and enable multi-factor authentication for enhanced security.
Final Thoughts
Vzwpix may keep reinstalling itself multiple times if you fail to delete its roots and core files. We recommend that you remove it completely and scan for all malicious programs that may have been installed with it.
We believe that you already understand the Vzwpix email virus, and know how to get rid of it. Do you have any other information regarding Vzwpix email virus? Kindly share in the comments section.
If we have not clicked the sent links or images, and thus have not downloaded the virus, how do we stop receiving the messages from the scammers? I keep blocking their email addresses only for them to send it from a different email address. I’m receiving their messages as texts on my phone rather than emails.
I receive a lot of emails from various phone numbers followed by vzpix.com. I received 3 today alone. I have never opened them. I just delete them. I don’t understand why they keep sending them.