TDL4 rootkit around since 2008, recently its authors modified and made TDL4/TDSS rootkit version as “indestructible botnet” if you’re redirected to malicious sites and affiliate links shown in place of search results then your system may be infected with TDL4, most sophisticated rootkit ever. Security vendors BitDefender and Kaspersky released free TDL4 removal tools for Windows users.
TDL4 can infect both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows version, makes it more dangerous. TDL4 uses encrypted custom algorithms to stays deeply hidden from detection from most antivirus solutions. This Bootkit infects Master Boot Record (MBR) which allows to load its code before Windows startup. This rootkit spreads through illegal file sharing sites.
Both BitDefender and Kaspersky offering TDL4/TDSS removal tools for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.
Download TDL4/TDSS Removal tools
Lots of posts on the internet, no successes; got infected, tried it myself. The BitDefender TDL4 Removal Tool does not work, it will not remove the infection.
If you can actually get it to download and run, it can’t even find the infection, let alone remove it.
I’m a Sr. Systems Engineer, so I know what I’m doing and what I’m talking about.
The Kaspersky tool does not work either. It screws up the boot sector while attempting to remove, and if you can get back into Windows after that, the infection is still there.