Fast and Free Win32/Sality Remover — Restore Your PC TodayWin32/Sality is a family of Windows malware first identified in the mid‑2000s that combines file‑infecting and backdoor capabilities. It can corrupt executable files, spread across removable drives and networks, disable security tools, and download additional threats. If you suspect an infection, acting quickly and carefully can save your data and reduce downtime. This guide explains safe, free methods to detect, remove, and recover from Win32/Sality infections.
How to recognize Win32/Sality infection
Common indicators of infection include:
- Unexpected slowdowns, crashes, or blue screens.
- .exe files that no longer run or are corrupted.
- Unknown processes or network connections using significant bandwidth.
- Disabled antivirus, firewall, or Windows Security services.
- Strange entries in startup locations or scheduled tasks.
- Multiple copies of suspicious files on removable drives.
If you see several of these signs, proceed with caution; Sality variants are designed to hide and resist removal.
Before you start — safety checklist
- Back up critical personal files (documents, photos) to an external drive you will not reattach to the infected PC until it’s clean. Do not back up executables or program folders.
- Disconnect the affected PC from the network and Internet to stop lateral spread and external control.
- Prepare a clean USB drive to download tools on a different (clean) computer, if needed.
- Note any special software or license keys you may need to reinstall.
Tools you’ll need (all free)
- A current, reputable antivirus/antimalware scanner (Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Free for on‑demand scans).
- Microsoft Defender Offline (bootable rescue environment) or another bootable rescue disk (Kaspersky Rescue Disk, Bitdefender Rescue CD).
- Autoruns (Sysinternals) to inspect startup entries.
- Process Explorer (Sysinternals) for deeper process inspection.
- TDSSKiller (if rootkit behavior suspected).
- A clean Windows installation media (for worst‑case recovery).
Step 1 — Run an offline scan (recommended first)
Because Sality can interfere with on‑running security tools, the safest first step is a bootable offline scan.
- On a clean computer, download the official Microsoft Defender Offline ISO or another rescue ISO and create a bootable USB.
- Boot the infected PC from the USB (change boot order in BIOS/UEFI).
- Let the rescue environment fully update definitions (if possible) and run a full system scan.
- Quarantine or remove any detected malware.
- Reboot into Windows and keep the machine offline.
Offline scanning reduces the chance that Sality will block or hide from the scanner.
Step 2 — On‑demand scanning with multiple engines
After an offline scan, run additional on‑demand scans within Windows:
- Update Windows Defender and run a full scan.
- Run Malwarebytes Free (perform a full scan).
- Use another reputable on‑demand scanner (ESET Online Scanner, Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool) if available.
Different engines catch different variants; using multiple scanners increases detection chance.
Step 3 — Clean startup and autoruns
Even after detection, remnants may persist in startup locations.
- Run Autoruns as Administrator.
- Carefully review entries under Logon, Services, Scheduled Tasks, Drivers, and Explorer Context Menu.
- Disable entries that reference unknown executables, odd paths (temporary folders, %AppData% subfolders), or names matching scanner detections.
- Do not remove entries if you’re certain they belong to legitimate software; instead, disable and test.
- Reboot and run another full scan.
Autoruns helps expose hidden persistence mechanisms Sality uses.
Step 4 — Inspect and clean processes
Use Process Explorer to identify suspicious processes still running.
- Look for unsigned executables, processes with random or unusual names, or processes that host multiple network connections.
- If you find a suspicious process, right‑click → Kill Process Tree, then delete the file after rebooting to safe mode if necessary.
- Re-scan deleted locations with your on‑demand tools.
Be cautious killing system processes; research any unknown name before terminating.
Step 5 — Remove infected executables and repair damage
Sality often infects .exe files. When scanner reports many infected executables, you have choices:
- Let the AV quarantine/delete infected files.
- Replace affected program files by reinstalling the applications (recommended for system or program files).
- For user-created executables you trust, restore from clean backups. Do not run unknown .exe files even if they appear repaired.
If critical system files are damaged, use Windows System File Checker:
- Run Command Prompt as admin: sfc /scannow
- If sfc cannot repair everything, follow with DISM (Windows ⁄11): DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Step 6 — Check removable drives and network shares
Sality spreads via removable media and mapped/network drives.
- With the PC still offline and tools updated, scan each connected USB drive and network share.
- Enable viewing of hidden/system files and delete suspicious autorun.inf files and unknown executables.
- Reformat infected removable drives after copying only clean personal files.
Never reconnect removable media to other machines until they’re clean.
Step 7 — Restore networking and harden the system
After thorough cleaning:
- Reconnect to the network and update Windows and all software immediately.
- Install and enable real‑time protection from a reputable AV product. Windows Defender is built‑in and effective when up to date.
- Change passwords for local accounts and any online services used on the infected PC (preferably from a different clean device).
- Enable Windows Firewall and review open ports/services.
- Disable autorun/autoplay for removable drives: use Group Policy or set registry keys to prevent automatic execution.
When to consider a full reinstall
If:
- Multiple core system components are corrupted,
- Scans repeatedly re-detect Sality, or
- You cannot confidently identify and remove all persistence mechanisms,
a clean OS reinstall is the most reliable option. Back up only personal, non-executable files first.
Data recovery and preventing data loss
- If files were encrypted or corrupted, try restoring from backups or previous versions (Windows File History, System Restore, cloud backups).
- Use antivirus logs to identify when the infection began to decide which backups are safe to restore.
- After recovery, maintain regular offline backups and a versioned backup strategy.
Quick checklist (summary)
- Disconnect from the network.
- Boot and scan with Microsoft Defender Offline or another rescue disk.
- Run multiple on‑demand scanners inside Windows.
- Use Autoruns and Process Explorer to remove persistence.
- Scan and clean removable drives.
- Update, enable real‑time protection, change passwords.
- Reinstall Windows if removal fails.
Final notes
Win32/Sality is resilient and can require repeated, layered cleaning steps. If you’re uncomfortable performing these actions, consider enlisting a trusted IT professional. If you decide to do a reinstall, ensure you have installers and license keys for any essential software before wiping the system.
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