Updated on: September 4, 2024
Short on time? Here’s how to remove the Altruistics virus:
- Check for Viruses. Use a good antivirus program to scan your entire device and find any issues, including the Altruistics virus (Norton is the best).
- Remove the Virus. Once the scan is done, let the antivirus program delete the Altruistics virus and any other issues it found.
- Stay Safe. Use a strong internet security program to keep your device safe from future viruses and threats (again, Norton is my top pick).
The Altruistics virus is a cryptojacker trojan designed to hijack your system’s resources for the purpose of cryptocurrency mining. Hackers can make lots of money doing this, but none of it will go to you. This sneaky malware can also access your crypto wallets, steal assets, and record your sensitive credentials like passwords. It’s dangerous not only because it slows down your system but also because it puts your financial and personal information at serious risk.
Trying to remove the Altruistics virus manually is challenging, if not impossible. This is because it often reinstalls itself by modifying scheduled tasks. Even if you manage to delete some of its components, it can quickly come back and continue causing serious harm. Using a reliable antivirus is the best way to permanently remove the Altruistics virus. Unfortunately, not all antiviruses are created equal.
I’ve tested and compared many antivirus products, and Norton stands out as the overall best option. But Norton isn’t the only great choice — read on to get the full scoop on how to keep your system safe and virus-free.
Step 1. Identify the Altruistics Virus With Your Antivirus (And Don’t Make the Problem Worse!)
IMPORTANT: Don’t connect your phone, tablet, or any USB drives to the infected computer, or you risk the virus spreading to those devices!
After installing a reliable antivirus, your next step is to run a full scan of your computer. You might think you know where the threat is, but it’s essential that you scan your entire device, as the Altruistics virus is known to replicate itself in various places. A full scan will ensure that every instance of the Altruistics virus is identified and removed.
A full disk scan will find the Altruistics virus and uncover any other hidden threats like spyware or rootkits lurking in your system. It’s crucial to let the scan run until completion. Don’t stop it early when the virus is detected, as there may be multiple instances of it throughout your system.
The scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer. It all depends on your PC and the antivirus you chose, so be patient. During this time, your antivirus will thoroughly analyze every file and process on your computer. If you’re using a top-notch antivirus, the completed scan will have identified and quarantined all malware, including the Altruistics virus. Not every antivirus can detect sneaky threats like the Altruistics virus, so choose wisely.
You can now proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Remove the Altruistics Virus Infection and Delete Any Other Infected Files
Once your antivirus has identified and quarantined the Altruistics virus, it’ll prompt you to delete all the compromised files. Advanced users might want to review the quarantine list to ensure that it doesn’t include any false positives, but for most users, it’s best to trust your antivirus. If Norton flags a file as malware, it’s likely not something you want on your device.
After deleting the compromised files, restart your computer. A restart ensures any residual elements are cleared from your system. Going one step further, I recommend running a second full scan once your device is back on. This will ensure that every trace of the Altruistics virus is gone. The second scan might not take as long since many antivirus programs (including Norton) remember previously scanned files.
Again, be sure to let the scan finish completely. Once it’s done, review and delete any remaining compromised files in your quarantine. You can then breathe a sigh of relief — your device is now malware-free! But remember, new threats are always emerging, so stay vigilant and keep your antivirus up to date.
Step 3. Keep Your Device From Getting Re-Infected
Threats like the Altruistics virus can have huge negative consequences, as you now know. To avoid anything like this from happening in the future, you need to establish strong cybersecurity practices. I recommend taking up the following practices going forward:
- Use a Reliable Antivirus: Using a trustworthy antivirus program is vital to avoid falling victim to threats like viruses, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Look for a solution that offers real-time scanning, automatic updates, and a smart firewall. Norton is a strong choice, delivering excellent malware detection rates, web protection, a range of useful features, and an intuitive interface.
- Always Install Updates: Keeping your software, operating system, and drivers up-to-date is critical for maintaining your device’s security. Hackers often target outdated systems by exploiting known vulnerabilities. Developers release patches and updates to fix these security gaps, so enabling automatic updates ensures you’re always protected. Regularly checking for updates, especially for older software, is critical to keeping you safe.
- Be Cautious with Downloads: Avoid downloading files or clicking on links from untrusted or unknown sources. Cybercriminals often embed malware in seemingly harmless files. Many cases of the Altruistics virus are believed to have come from torrent downloads. Always verify the legitimacy of a website or source before downloading anything. A reputable antivirus like Norton can help by scanning files before they’re downloaded and warning you about unsafe websites.
- Secure Your Network and Devices: Strengthen your home network and IoT (Internet of Things) devices by using strong, unique passwords. Consider using a password manager like 1Password that can help generate and securely store your passwords. Ensure your Wi-Fi network is protected by looking for a lock icon next to your network’s name. If there isn’t one, you’ll need to set a password immediately. And if you need to connect to a public network, safeguard your data by using a VPN like
ExpressVPN .
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
3 Best Antivirus Programs for Removing the Altruistics Virus
Quick summary of the best antiviruses for removing a browser hijacker:
- 🥇 1. Norton — Best antivirus for removing the Altruistics virus from your Windows PC.
- 🥈 2. Bitdefender — Excellent cloud-based antivirus with useful extra features.
- 🥉 3. TotalAV — Beginner-friendly antivirus to remove the Altruistics virus.
How to Manually Remove the Altruistics Virus
A premium antivirus is the best way to get rid of the Altruistics virus. Given the serious potential of this threat to cripple your device, steal your assets, and compromise your personal information, I recommend you take the safest course and use an antivirus.
That said, it might be possible to remove the Altruistics virus on your own. This process isn’t foolproof or 100% effective, but it might be worth trying. These instructions apply to the current Altruistics virus, but it’s possible that a new release will have a different name and that these instructions won’t work.
I’ll show you how to do this on Windows 11, but the process is very similar if you use Windows 10.
Step 1. End the Altruistics Process and Delete It
- Open Task Manager by tapping the Control, Shift, and Escape keys at the same time. Locate the process called “altruistics.exe”. Right-click on it, then select End task.
- Next, you’ll have to delete the task from within the Task Scheduler. Open Task Scheduler by tapping the Windows key, searching for “task scheduler”, then clicking on it when the option appears. Then, click Task Scheduler Library on the left. From there, locate the Altruistics task, right-click on it, and select Delete.
Step 2. Remove Infected Files and Folders
- Press the Windows and R keys at the same time to open the Run dialog box. Then, type “%AppData%” (without the quotation marks). Click OK to open the Application Data folder.
- In the explorer window that opens, look for any suspicious folders, particularly those created roughly around the time you believe the malware was installed. Delete any of these suspicious folders. After that, it’s important to clear your Recycle Bin to remove any last traces of these files and folders.
- Open the Run dialog again by pressing the Windows and R keys, then type “%localappdata%”, click OK, and repeat step 2 above again.
Step 3. Reset Windows
Even if you follow these steps perfectly, there’s no guarantee that the Altruistics virus will be removed from your computer. If the process shows up again, and you don’t want to try using an antivirus, you’ll have to resort to resetting Windows entirely. Here’s how:
- Tap the Windows key and search for “recovery options” in the search bar. When it appears, click on it.
- Click the Reset PC button beside Reset this PC.
- Click Keep my files. This will allow you to reset your PC without losing all of your files. If that still doesn’t work, you can always come back and do this process again while wiping your entire PC. Keep in mind that this will remove all personal data from your PC including music, pictures, documents, downloads, and everything else. If you decide to come back and click Remove everything, you might want to consider backing up all of your personal data first. Wiping your PC is obviously a big deal, which is one reason why using an antivirus is the better solution.
- Click Local reinstall. This will be the fastest procedure since Windows won’t have to be downloaded again — but again, if that doesn’t work, you can come back and choose Cloud download next time, which is a more guaranteed way of resetting Windows 100%.
- Finally, click Reset and allow your PC to do its thing. Follow all on-screen prompts as they come up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I uninstall Altruistics?
The Altruistics virus is designed to be resilient, making it difficult to uninstall through traditional methods. This trojan often embeds itself deep within your system, modifying scheduled tasks and processes to ensure it reinstalls itself even if some components are removed. Its persistence is one of the reasons why manual removal is so challenging.
Using an antivirus program is the most effective way to fully remove the Altruistics virus. These programs are equipped to detect and delete all traces of the virus, preventing it from reappearing.
How do I get rid of unwanted programs that won’t uninstall?
When a program refuses to uninstall, it’s probably embedded in your system. This is true of the Altruistics virus and many other threats. To remove such stubborn programs, you can try using various manual techniques, which may or may not fully remove the virus from your PC.
If you want to remove software like the Altruistics virus (and believe me, you do), using a powerful antivirus program is by far the best method. These programs are designed to remove difficult-to-uninstall malware by thoroughly scanning your system and eliminating all traces of the infection.
What is the Altruistics virus?
The Altruistics virus is a dangerous trojan that infiltrates your system with the primary goal of hijacking resources for cryptocurrency mining. It might also be able to access your crypto wallets and steal sensitive credentials like passwords, making it a significant threat to both your device’s performance and your personal information.
In addition to slowing down your system, the Altruistics virus can cause device overheating and increase your electricity bill due to its intensive resource usage. This makes it essential to remove the virus promptly using a reliable antivirus program.
