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The Daily Insight

PWS:Win32/Zbot.I

Author

Daniel Foster

Updated on March 09, 2026

What is PWS:Win32/Zbot.I infection?

In this short article you will locate regarding the meaning of PWS:Win32/Zbot.I and its unfavorable effect on your computer system. Such ransomware are a kind of malware that is elaborated by on-line frauds to demand paying the ransom money by a victim.

In the majority of the instances, PWS:Win32/Zbot.I infection will instruct its victims to start funds move for the objective of counteracting the modifications that the Trojan infection has introduced to the victim’s gadget.

PWS:Win32/Zbot.I Summary

These adjustments can be as adheres to:

  • The binary likely contains encrypted or compressed data. In this case, encryption is a way of hiding virus’ code from antiviruses and virus’ analysts.
  • Network activity detected but not expressed in API logs. Microsoft built an API solution right into its Windows operating system it reveals network activity for all apps and programs that ran on the computer in the past 30-days. This malware hides network activity.
  • Anomalous binary characteristics. This is a way of hiding virus’ code from antiviruses and virus’ analysts.
  • Ciphering the records located on the sufferer’s disk drive — so the victim can no more make use of the data;
  • Preventing normal accessibility to the target’s workstation. This is the typical behavior of a virus called locker. It blocks access to the computer until the victim pays the ransom.
z.whorecord.xyzGen:Variant.Ransom.Cryak.35
a.tomx.xyzGen:Variant.Ransom.Cryak.35

PWS:Win32/Zbot.I

One of the most typical networks whereby PWS:Win32/Zbot.I Ransomware Trojans are injected are:

  • By means of phishing emails;
  • As a repercussion of user winding up on a resource that holds a malicious software;

As quickly as the Trojan is effectively infused, it will either cipher the information on the target’s computer or prevent the device from working in an appropriate fashion – while additionally placing a ransom note that mentions the demand for the victims to effect the payment for the purpose of decrypting the papers or recovering the data system back to the initial condition. In a lot of circumstances, the ransom money note will turn up when the client restarts the COMPUTER after the system has currently been harmed.

PWS:Win32/Zbot.I distribution channels.

In numerous corners of the globe, PWS:Win32/Zbot.I grows by jumps as well as bounds. Nevertheless, the ransom notes and also methods of obtaining the ransom quantity might differ depending on certain neighborhood (local) setups. The ransom money notes and methods of extorting the ransom amount might differ depending on certain local (local) setups.

Ransomware injection

For example:

    Faulty notifies concerning unlicensed software.

    In specific areas, the Trojans often wrongfully report having discovered some unlicensed applications enabled on the target’s tool. The alert after that requires the user to pay the ransom.

    Faulty statements concerning illegal content.

    In nations where software piracy is much less prominent, this technique is not as reliable for the cyber scams. Alternatively, the PWS:Win32/Zbot.I popup alert might falsely claim to be originating from a police organization and will report having located child porn or various other prohibited information on the gadget.

    PWS:Win32/Zbot.I popup alert might wrongly assert to be acquiring from a law enforcement organization and also will certainly report having located child pornography or various other illegal data on the gadget. The alert will similarly consist of a requirement for the individual to pay the ransom money.

Technical details

File Info:

crc32: 1CAFDE7Dmd5: f5109df12aa0d093eae20d8e75757215name: F5109DF12AA0D093EAE20D8E75757215.mlwsha1: 9f303380ef5776e890134a67aabf998a1e6acb38sha256: 4f91aa0c2ecb46365dd0cbcd23a60bd9b472cfdbfa6e10083119aff9b0e7a229sha512: 150eef4b6d4b9dc04e3fbdde34ebd5127fd3ec1ce6459a206498c85e65569c8360cf042c717bf1b26b97783a93b5d786f2d3c226d9f327e4064bbd991b85b9aassdeep: 12288:8qXZ9BXigsyKTEQ4QAuLXmZmkfbBo3uo/:8Y9JKTEDuLKI3xtype: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows

Version Info:

LegalCopyright: Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1981-1999InternalName: dllhost.exeFileVersion: 5.00.2195.6692CompanyName: Microsoft CorporationProductName: Microsoft(R) Windows (R) 2000 Operating SystemProductVersion: 5.00.2195.6692FileDescription: COM SurrogateOriginalFilename: dllhost.exeTranslation: 0x0409 0x04b0

PWS:Win32/Zbot.I also known as:

GridinSoftTrojan.Ransom.Gen
Elasticmalicious (high confidence)
MicroWorld-eScanGen:Variant.Ransom.Cryak.35
FireEyeGeneric.mg.f5109df12aa0d093
Qihoo-360HEUR/QVM20.1.Malware.Gen
CylanceUnsafe
VIPRETrojan.Crypt.FKM.Gen (v)
SangforTrojan.Win32.Save.a
K7AntiVirusTrojan ( 0055dd191 )
BitDefenderGen:Variant.Ransom.Cryak.35
K7GWTrojan ( 0055dd191 )
Cybereasonmalicious.12aa0d
APEXMalicious
Paloaltogeneric.ml
ClamAVWin.Trojan.Zbot-5672
AlibabaTrojanPSW:Win32/Kryptik.9312fc54
NANO-AntivirusVirus.Win32.Gen.ccmw
RisingDropper.Generic!8.35E (C64:YzY0OudadMEHxCjW)
Ad-AwareGen:Variant.Ransom.Cryak.35
SophosMal/Generic-R + Mal/EncPk-ND
ComodoMalware@#3o9gkrh2l03jr
F-Secure
DrWebTrojan.PWS.Panda.114
ZillyaTrojan.Zbot.Win32.1676
McAfee-GW-EditionBehavesLike.Win32.Generic.gc
IkarusTrojan.Win32.Crypt
WebrootW32.InfoStealer.Zeus
AviraTR/Dropper.Gen
MAXmalware (ai score=88)
Antiy-AVLTrojan[Spy]/Win32.Zbot
ArcabitTrojan.Ransom.Cryak.35
ZoneAlarmUDS:DangerousObject.Multi.Generic
MicrosoftPWS:Win32/Zbot.I
CynetMalicious (score: 100)
AhnLab-V3Spyware/Win32.Zbot.C2759019
BitDefenderThetaAI:Packer.249DABFC1F
ALYacGen:Variant.Ransom.Cryak.35
TACHYONTrojan-Spy/W32.ZBot.434176.K
VBA32BScope.Malware-Cryptor.Win32.Vals.22
Malwarebytes
PandaGeneric Malware
ESET-NOD32a variant of Win32/Kryptik.ALZ
TencentWin32.Trojan.Dropper.Eami
SentinelOneStatic AI – Malicious PE
eGambitUnsafe.AI_Score_77%
FortinetW32/PackZbot.HJ!tr
AVGWin32:Konar-B [Trj]
AvastWin32:Konar-B [Trj]
CrowdStrikewin/malicious_confidence_100% (D)

How to remove PWS:Win32/Zbot.I ransomware?

There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent PC threats than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft">2.

Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:

Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware

Run the setup file.

When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your system.

Run Setup.exe

An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Setup

Press “Install” button.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Install

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Splash-Screen

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your system for PWS:Win32/Zbot.I files and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scanning

Click on “Clean Now”.

When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan Result

Are Your Protected?

GridinSoft Anti-Malware will scan and clean your PC for free in the trial period. The free version offer real-time protection for first 2 days. If you want to be fully protected at all times – I can recommended you to purchase a full version:

Full version of GridinSoft

Full version of GridinSoft Anti-Malware

If the guide doesn’t help you to remove PWS:Win32/Zbot.I you can always ask me in the comments for getting help.

References

  1. GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site:
  2. More information about GridinSoft products: