Being like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Winos 4 manifest not merely as malware but, instead, as masters of disguise. This nasty variant makes use of sketchy NSIS installers to bypass your defenses and begin multistage attacks. And the most scary feature? Tweaking Windows Defender itself while carving a safe spot for itself to operate away from detection.
The consequences? Data vanishes, your registry becomes a playground for unauthorized modifications, and your PC transforms into a surveillance hub.
Don’t become a victim. Discover our proven solutions to eradicate this persistent threat and reclaim control of your system.
Why Winos 4.0 Malware is Dangerous
Winos 4.0: A Phantom Menace Lingering in the Shadows. For more than a year, this malign family of malware, the twisted offspring of the ghastly Gh0st RAT, has lurked down in the depths of digital waters. Don’t let the “4.0” fool you: it’s a misnomer, not a number indicating a version. Fast forward to May 22, 2025: Rapid 7 had actually unmasked a particularly nasty Winos 4.0 variant. It was using VPNs and browser installer tools-the very tools we trust!-to push the malicious payload.
Imagine “The Domino Effect” in digital terms: each domino falling down releasing mayhem. It all begins with that seemingly innocent file – a pretender installer disguised as genuine software, as real as “QQBrowser_Setup_x64.exe” and “Lets.15.0.exe.” However, the mask is that of an evil EXE, the first domino causing a cascading action of other malwares. Its real threat is that it’s deceptive. This is not brute-force hacking; here, the attacker uses your trust as a weapon to get around your defenses. One click, and the dominoes start to fall down.
Imagine installing an app while unleashing digital hydra. The so-called “Catena loader,” as called by Rapid7, stealthily puts into the system VBScript launcher, PowerShell loader, a malicious DLL, and configuration files. But here is the best part. It is not a smash-and-grab. The silent PowerShell command adds exclusions with which detection is evaded so that Catena can survive. Following that, the Winos 4.0 malware that this payload delivers can then lie dormant for weeks, waiting to explode.
Winos 4.0 is a phantom menace: a thief in the night stealing passwords and cryptocurrencies. But the true fear lies in the invisibility: like Remcos RAT, it exists only in your computer’s memory, leaving no footprints on your hard drive. Antivirus Program? It wouldn’t even suspect Winos 4.0 to be there, quietly altering the system registry, spying through your webcam, listening to your mic, and capturing screenshots silently. This ghost is the open book of your digital life!
Verify Digital Signatures of All Installers
Digging a little deeper into QQ Browser’s digital DNA: While there exist numerous counterfeits, surviving behind the curtains with bogus installers, this copy bears the true mark from Tencent Technology. A genuine signature amidst a sea of digital deception.
Related : check how to verify the digital signatures in Linux software.
Enable Windows Security App Protections
While the Winos 4.0 malware deceives Windows Defender, there are certain security steps you can take inside Windows Security app.
Lock Down Your System: Stop Rogue NSIS Installers Dead in Their Tracks
So, you think these NSIS installers are harmless? Think again. Cybercriminals are stealthily smuggling malware onto your system with them. However, there are ways to counteract them.
With a single PowerShell command, the attack surface could be strikingly reduced; blocking unauthorized installers with the NSIS. No sweeping bans, no collateral damage just surgical precision in targeting these malignant installers.
Ready to take on the role of protector? Run PowerShell as an administrator and unleash this command to defend your system. Do not wait until it is too late. Protect yourself now.
“` Set
–
MpPreference
–
AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Ids 3B576869
–
A4EC
–
4529
–
8536
–
B80A7769E899
–
AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Actions Enabled “`
Ransomware on the hunt? Stand tall and fortify your defenses! Head to Virus & Threat Protection and then into Manage Ransomware Protection. Is Controlled Folder Access turned off? Flip it on! Allow your trusted applications to pass safely by clicking on Allow an App Through Controlled Folder Access – think of it as your digital VIP list.
Is your PC Windows a sitting duck? Gone are the days. Lock down the PC with second-to-none, dead-simple security tips. For power users: Those infinite Firewall ninjas can kill Winos 4.0 with custom rules in a heartbeat.
Prevent Winos 4.0 Malware from Adding Exclusions to Windows Defender
Winos 4.0 has a dirty mind. Its favorite method is a backdoor parallel entry with Windows Defender that allows it to be excluded from scans undetected. Have no mercy! Secure your systemright now, denying Winos 4.0 any backdoor to infection. Prevention is the best form of defense.
Unleash the full force of PowerShell! Launch it, first, as an administratorthis is your key to the kingdom. Next, put script restrictions into the rearview with one single command, resuming access even to those naughty scripts. When prompted, hitAdeclaring, “I have the power!”
“`
Set-ExecutionPolicy
-Scope
CurrentUser
-ExecutionPolicy
Restricted “`
Hey! Are sneaky PowerShell exclusions sneaking away with your system? You must lock them down! This single command shuts the door on unauthorized exclusions foreveryone of your drives.
“` Remove
–
MpPreference
–
ExclusionPath C:\
,
D:\
,
E:\
,
F:\
,
G:\
,
H
:\
,
I:\
,
J:\
,
K:\
,
L:\
,
M:\
,
N:\
,
O:\
,
P:\
,
Q:\
,
R
:\
,
S:\
,
T:\
,
U:\
,
V:\
,
W:\
,
X:\
,
Y:\
,
Z:\ “`
Related : Autoruns is used in Windows to manage many scheduled tasks.
Use Autoruns to Detect Fake NSIS Entries
“Welcome” means that the PC is opening with “unwelcome guests.” Autoruns, this shadowy application from Microsoft, is your digital bouncer, sniffing out startup programs that are not welcome, such as bogus NSIS entries. It is the early warning system that smells out the Winos 4.0 malware and its nasty companionsbeforethey unleash their killing payloads.
Go ahead and let Autoruns dive deep into a window system: No standing in line to install, please. Just grab a zipped copy from Sysinternals, unpack it somewhere, and hit autoruns64.exe (in case it is a 64-bit machine). A large panorama of all the active logon, scheduled task, and running process waves at you. Suspicious entries will be flagged in the warning sign in red. Complete the crackdown on any NSIS installer sighting occurrences! They are marked clearly for you to investigate.
Think of these Windows app installers as being completely safe; were they to get a green light from SmartScreen and receive a nod from Windows Security, how could they be unsafe? Winos 4.0 cleverly takes advantage of this misplaced confidence to allow malware to pass by your defenses disguised as legitimate VPNs and browsers. Your trust is the portal they enter.
Nothing can be more important for your system health: always check the installer’s genuineness, using any or all of the methods above. This type of application of unauthorized scripts to a PowerShell environment can defensively gain a rocket boost. Always try to put any installer into VirusTotal or a similar service for malware scanning before running it.
Thanks for reading Winos 40 Malware Alert: Protect Your PC from Fake NSIS Installers
