Hijack.Shell.Gen

Posted: January 8, 2014

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	8/10
Infected PCs:	68

First Seen:	January 8, 2014
Last Seen:	May 22, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Hijack.Shell.Gen is a heuristic alert for PC threats that attempt to compromise the Windows Shell, which consists of graphical interface components like the Taskbar and Start menu. Hijack.Shell.Gen may be just one of several components for rogue security programs, and may be used to trigger fake system alerts or deprive you of access to programs, files and folders. Because Hijack.Shell.Gen is a heavily variable PC threat that may be found along with other threats, malware researchers recommend that victims shut down their PCs, boot via a clean USB device and remove Hijack.Shell.Gen with appropriate anti-malware tools.

he Hijacker that Takes Your Operating System from You

Although malware researchers see browser hijackers very frequently, PC threats that take over your browser aren't the only kinds of hijacker-themed software. Hijack.Shell.Gen is an example of another variant of a hijacker, and one which has more in common with Windows locker Trojans than with a browser hijacker. By monitoring your use of the Windows interface and, when necessary, modifying it, Hijack.Shell.Gen may be put to multiple purposes, all of which are threatening.

Normally, Hijack.Shell.Gen is one of the enabling components of a larger PC threat than itself, such as a variant of the Ukash Virus or a fake system-scanning program (a la the members of WinWebSec or FakeVimes). Symptoms of Hijack.Shell.Gen attacks often may include:

Severe system slowdown.
Fraudulent system warning pop-ups.
Problems with opening various files, folders or applications. These objects may be blocked or even hidden entirely (by hostile modifications to your file-viewing settings).
Unusual spikes in resource usage from your basic Windows processes, such as Svchost.exe or Explorer.exe.

These symptoms are only examples; variants of Hijack.Shell.Gen may perform other functions. Hijack.Shell.Gen also may be installed along with PC threats that don't display these specific issues.

Getting Your Windows Shell Back to Its Old Self

Although Hijack.Shell.Gen's uses are legion, its habit of being installed next to other threats is one of its reliably defining traits. Unfortunately, malware experts have found that most Hijack.Shell.Gen infections are difficult to remove, and even many anti-malware products experience problems in deleting Hijack.Shell.Gen. This is due to the presence of other, more advanced PC threats than Hijack.Shell.Gen, which may reinstall Hijack.Shell.Gen at will. In the worst cases, your PC may be completely inoperable until you boot it in Safe Mode.

However, Safe Mode is recommended, regardless, for a simple way of disabling the threat that may be related to Hijack.Shell.Gen. These PC threats are, like Hijack.Shell.Gen variants, very changeable, but have been known to include backdoor Trojans, scamware and keyloggers. With your PC in Safe Mode, the most strenuous anti-malware-scanning functions at your disposal should be used to delete Hijack.Shell.Gen and disinfect the rest of your computer. Updating your anti-malware program, if it's needed, also is encouraged by malware experts for staying on top of new variants of Hijack.Shell.Gen as they emerge.

Hijack.Shell.Gen

Threat Metric

he Hijacker that Takes Your Operating System from You

Getting Your Windows Shell Back to Its Old Self

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