Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate – How to Spot and Remove Malware
Written by: Stelian Pilici
Published on:
Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate is a key Windows process that manages Component Object Model (COM) objects. Malware often disguises itself as dllhost.exe COM Surrogate to hide its activities. This guide examines dllhost.exe COM Surrogate in depth.
This article contains:
What is Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate?
Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate is a process that hosts COM server objects, allowing them to run in isolated surrogate processes for stability and security. Its responsibilities include:
Loading COM objects into surrogated host processes
Managing the lifecycle of COM-based components
Providing COM services like security, threading, and transactions
Enabling inter-process COM communications
Implementing COM process isolation and integrity levels
By hosting COM objects separately, dllhost.exe COM Surrogate prevents faulty components from crashing applications and contains threats.
File Details
Here are some quick facts on dllhost.exe COM Surrogate:
Location: C:\Windows\System32
Default name: dllhost.exe
Digitally signed by: Microsoft Corporation
Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate runs from System32 and has Microsoft’s digital signature.
Normal Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate Behavior
When operating properly, dllhost.exe COM Surrogate exhibits this behavior:
Multiple instances – Many dllhost.exe processes run, each hosting different COM objects.
Changing processes – Dllhost.exe processes start and stop dynamically based on COM object usage.
Child COM processes – Legitimate dllhost instances spawn COM DLL-based processes only.
Typical resource usage – Utilizes minimal memory and CPU itself, increased only by hosted COM activity.
No direct internet access – Dllhost.exe does not make outbound connections itself.
If dllhost.exe aligns with these parameters, it is legitimate and trusted.
How Malware Abuses Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate
Cybercriminals leverage dllhost.exe COM Surrogate to covertly infect systems using techniques like:
Name spoofing – Malware calls itself dllhost.exe to appear as a legitimate process.
COM hijacking – Malware registers itself as a COM object so dllhost.exe loads it into memory.
Elevation – Gaining dllhost.exe’s heightened privileges to bypass security controls.
Persistence – Malware adds itself to the registry to persistently restart as dllhost.exe.
Stealth – Blending in as dllhost.exe allows malware to disguise its activities.
Once embedded into dllhost.exe, malware can:
Steal sensitive data and credentials
Access protected system resources
Download payloads and additional threats
Establish backdoors for remote access
Disable security software
Spread infections across networks
How to Spot Malicious Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate
While devious, counterfeit dllhost.exe exhibits these telltale signs:
Verify location – Legitimate dllhost runs only from System32. Other locations point to an imposter.
Check process metadata – Properties like command lines and parent processes should align to COM. Anomalies are suspicious.
Confirm digital signature – Authentic dllhost.exe contains Microsoft’s digital signature. Malware often lacks a valid signature.
Review active COM objects – Cross check running COM objects against dllhost processes. Mismatching items indicate a fake.
Examine child processes – Malware dllhost may spawn non-COM executables and other suspicious programs.
Monitor resource usage – Malicious dllhost tends to consume more memory, CPU and disk usage than legitimate processes.
Inspect network traffic – Real dllhost does not make direct internet connections. Outbound traffic indicates malware.
Run an antivirus scan – Antivirus can detect known dllhost malware variants through signature matching.
Spotting these red flags helps identify malicious dllhost.exe threats impersonating COM Surrogate.
Removing Malicious Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate
This malware removal guide may appear overwhelming due to the number of steps and numerous programs that are being used. We have only written it this way to provide clear, detailed, and easy-to-understand instructions that anyone can use to remove malware for free. Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubts at any point, stop and ask for our assistance.
To remove the Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate Trojan and other malware from your computer, follow these steps:
STEP 1: Use Rkill to terminate malicious processes
In this first step, we will download and run Rkill to terminate malicious processes that may be running on your computer.
RKill is a program that was developed at BleepingComputer.com that attempts to terminate known malware processes so that your normal security software can then run and clean your computer of infections. When RKill runs it will kill malware processes and then removes incorrect executable associations and fixes policies that stop us from using certain tools.
Download Rkill.
You can download RKill to your computer from the below link. When at the download page, click on the Download Now button labeled iExplore.exe. We are downloading a renamed version of Rkill (iExplore.exe) because some malware will not allow processes to run unless they have a certain filename.
RKILL DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new page from where you can download Rkill)
Run RKill.
After downloading, double-click the iExplore.exe icon to kill malicious processes. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder. The program may take some time to search for and end various malware programs.
When it is finished, the black window will close automatically and a log file will open. Do not restart your computer. Proceed to the next step in this guide.
STEP 2: Uninstall malicious programs from Windows
In this second step, we will manually check if any unknown or malicious programs are installed on the computer. Sometimes adware and browser hijackers can have a usable Uninstall entry that can be used to remove them.
Windows 11Windows 10Windows 8Windows 7
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
First, open Windows Settings by pressing Windows+I on your keyboard. You can also right-click your Start button and select “Settings” from the list.
In the Settings app, click on “Apps” and then “Apps & features”.
When Settings opens, click “Apps” in the sidebar, then select “Apps & Features”.
Find the malicious program in the list of installed apps and uninstall it.
In Apps & Features settings, scroll down to the app list and search for unknown or suspicious programs. To make things easier, you can sort all installed programs by their installation date. To do this, click “Sort by” and select “Install date”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. When you find a malicious program, click the three dots button beside it and select “Uninstall” in the menu that appears.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Uninstall, then follow the prompts to uninstall the malicious program.
Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read them closely.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app. You can also ope the Settings app by clicking the Start button on the taskbar, then select “Settings” (gear icon).
In the Settings app, click on “Apps”.
When the “Windows Settings” window opens, click on “Apps“. By default, it should open “Apps and Features” but if it doesn’t, select it from the list on the left.
Find the malicious program in the list of installed apps and uninstall it.
In Apps & Features settings, scroll down to the app list and search for unknown or suspicious programs. To make things easier, you can sort all installed programs by their installation date. To do this, click “Sort by” and select “Install date”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. When you find a malicious program, click on it and select “Uninstall” in the menu that appears.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Uninstall, then follow the prompts to uninstall the malicious program.
Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
Go to “Program and Features”.
Right-click on the Start button in the taskbar, then select “Programs and Features”. This will take you directly to your list of installed programs.
Search for malicious program and uninstall it.
The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the list until you find any unknown or suspicious program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall malicious program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall malicious program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
Open the “Control Panel”.
Click on the “Start” button, then click on “Control Panel“.
Click on “Uninstall a Program”.
When the “Control Panel” appears, click on “Uninstall a Program” from the Programs category.
Search for malicious programs and uninstall them.
The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the list until you find any suspicious or unknown program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall malicious program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall malicious program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
If you are experiencing difficulty while attempting to uninstall a program, you can use Revo Uninstaller to completely remove the unwanted program from your computer.
Now that the malicious programs have been removed from your computer, we can proceed with the next step in this guide.
STEP 3: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this step, we will remove spam notifications, malicious extensions, and change to default any settings that might have been changed by malware. Please note that this method will remove all extensions, toolbars, and other customizations but will leave your bookmarks and favorites intact. For each browser that you have installed on your computer, please click on the browsers tab below and follow the displayed steps to reset that browser.
ChromeFirefoxMicrosoft EdgeInternet Explorer
Reset Chrome for Windows to default settings
We will now reset your Chrome browser settings to their original defaults. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be cleared.
Click the three dots in the top-right corner and then click on “Settings”.
Open Chrome and click on the menu button (represented by three vertical dots) in the top right corner of the window. In the dropdown menu that opens, click “Settings“.
Click “Advanced”.
Chrome’s “Settings” should now be displayed in a new tab or window, depending on your configuration. In the left sidebar, click on the “Advanced” link.
Click “Reset and clean up”.
In the left sidebar, under the “Advanced” section, click on “Reset and clean up“.
Click “Reset settings to their original defaults”.
In the main window, the “Reset and clean up” section is visible, as shown in the screenshot below. Click on “Reset settings to their original defaults“.
Click “Reset settings”.
A confirmation dialog will now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset settings” button.
(Optional) Reset Chrome Data Sync.
In case a malicious extension reinstalls itself even after performing a browser reset, you have an additional option to reset the data sync for your browser. To do this, navigate to chrome.google.com/sync and click on the Clear Data button.
Reset Firefox for Windows to default settings
We will now reset your Firefox browser settings to their default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.
Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and then click on “Help”.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
Click “More troubleshooting information”.
From the Help menu, click on “More troubleshooting information“.
Click on “Refresh Firefox”
When the “Troubleshooting Information” page opens, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button.
Confirm that you want to reset your browser settings.
To finish the reset process, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Click “Finish”.
Firefox will now close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on “Finish“.
Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.
Reset Microsoft Edge to default settings
We will now reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings to their default. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be cleared.
Click the three dots in the top-right corner and then click on “Settings”.
In the top right corner, click on Microsoft Edge’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal dots. When the drop-down menu appears, click on “Settings“.
Click on “Reset Settings”.
On the left side of the window, click on “Reset Settings“.
Click on “Restore settings to their default values”.
In the main window, click on “Restore settings to their default values“.
Click “Reset”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset” button. Microsoft Edge will now erase all your personal data, browsing history, and disable all installed extensions. Your bookmarks, though, will remain intact and still be accessible.
Reset Internet Explorer to default settings
We will now reset your Internet Explorer browser settings to their default. You can reset Internet Explorer settings to return them to the state they were in when Internet Explorer was first installed on your computer.
Go to “Internet Options”.
Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon in the upper-right part of your browser, then select “Internet Options“.
Select the “Advanced” tab, then click “Reset”
In the “Internet Options” dialog box, select the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Reset”.
In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” checkbox, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Close”.
When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. Close your browser and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
STEP 4: Use Malwarebytes to remove for Trojans and Unwanted Programs
In this next step, we will we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present on your computer.
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes for Windows
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
STEP 5: Use HitmanPro to remove Rootkits and other Malware
In this fifth step, while the computer is in normal back, we will download and run a scan with HitmanPro to remove Trojans, rootkits, and other malicious programs.
HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner that takes a unique cloud-based approach to malware scanning. HitmanPro scans the behavior of active files and also files in locations where malware normally resides for suspicious activity. If it finds a suspicious file that’s not already known, HitmanPro sends it to its clouds to be scanned by two of the best antivirus engines today, which are Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
Although HitmanPro is shareware and costs $24.95 for 1 year on 1 PC, there is no limit on scanning. The limitation only kicks in when there is a need to remove or quarantine detected malware by HitmanPro on your system and by then, you can activate the one-time 30-days trial to enable the cleanup.
Download HitmanPro.
You can download HitmanPro by clicking the link below.
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
Install HitmanPro.
When HitmanPro has finished downloading, double-click on “hitmanpro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows) to install this program on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
You may be presented with a User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow HitmanPro to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
When HitmanPro starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below. Click on the “Next” button to perform a system scan.
Wait for the HitmanPro scan to complete.
HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for malicious programs.
Click on “Next”.
When HitmanPro has finished the scan, it will display a list of all the malware that it has found. Click on the “Next” button to have HitmanPro remove the detected items.
Click on “Activate free license”.
HitmanPro may now require to activate the free 30-days trial to remove the malicious files. To do this, click on the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
When the malware removal process is complete, it will display a screen that shows the status of the various programs that were removed. At this screen, you should click on the Next button and then if prompted you should click on the Reboot button. If HitmanPro does not prompt you to reboot, please just click on the Close button.
STEP 6: Use AdwCleaner to remove Malicious Browser Policies and Adware
In this next step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and unwanted browser extensions from your computer.
AdwCleaner is a free popular on-demand scanner that can detect and remove malware that even the most well-known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to find. This on-demand scanner includes a lot of tools that can be used to fix the side effects of adware. browser hijackers and other malware.
Download AdwCleaner.
You can download AdwCleaner by clicking the link below.
ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new web page from where you can download AdwCleaner)
Double-click on the setup file.
Double-click on the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe” to start AdwCleaner. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
AdwCleaner program will now open and you will be presented with the program’s license agreement. After you read it, click on the I agree button if you wish to continue. If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
Enable “Reset Chrome policies” to remove malicious browser policies.
When AdwCleaner starts, on the left side of the window, click on “Settings” and then enable “Reset Chrome policies“.
Click on the “Scan” button.
On the left side of the AdwCleaner window, click on “Dashboard” and then click “Scan” to perform a computer scan.
Wait for the AdwCleaner scan to finish.
AdwCleaner will now scan your computer for malware. This process can take a few minutes.
Click on “Quarantine” to remove malware.
When the AdwCleaner scan is completed it will display all of the items it has found. Click on the “Quarantine” button to remove the malicious programs from your computer.
Click on “Continue” to remove the malicious programs.
AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to close any open programs before it starts to clean. Click on the “Continue” button to finish the removal process.
AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. When the malware removal process is complete, you may be asked to restart your computer.
STEP 7: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner
This step involves installing and running a scan with ESET Online Scanner to check for any additional malicious programs that may be installed on the computer..
ESET Online Scanner is a free second-opinion scanner, designed to rescue your computer from malware (viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have infected your computer despite all the security measures you have taken (such as anti-virus software, firewalls, etc.).
Download ESET Online Scanner.
You can download ESET Online Scanner by clicking the link below.
Double-click on esetonlinescanner.exe to run the installer.
When ESET Online Scanner has finished downloading, double-click on “esetonlinescanner.exe” to install it program on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Install ESET Online Scanner.
When ESET Online Scanner starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below. Select your desired language from the drop-down menu and click Get started.
In the Terms of use screen, click Accept.
Select your preference for the Customer Experience Improvement Program and the Detection feedback system and click Continue.
Start a Full Scan with ESET Online Scanner
Click on Full Scan to perform an in-depth inspection of the entire computer.
Select Enable for Detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications, then click Start scan.
Wait for the ESET Online Scanner scan to finish.
ESET Online Scanner will now begin to scan your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
ESET Online Scanner will automatically remove the malicious files.
At the end of the scan, the Found and resolved detections screen will be displayed. You can click View detailed results to view specific information. Detected threats are automatically cleaned and quarantined.
STEP 8: Run the System File Checker (SFC) tool
In this step, we will use System File Checker (SFC) tool to detect and repair files that may have been corrupted by malware.
The SFC tool scans all protected system files on your computer and replaces any files that are corrupt or damaged with a cached copy that is stored in a compressed folder at %WinDir%\System32\dllcache. By running the SFC tool, you can help ensure that your system is functioning properly and fix any issues.
Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
To open the Command Prompt as an administrator in Windows, type “cmd” in the search bar and then right-click on the Command Prompt result and select “Run as administrator” as shown in the image below. A User Account Control (UAC) prompt will appear asking for permission to allow the program to run. Click “Yes”.
Type “sfc /scannow”.
You will now be presented with a black screen called the ‘Administrator: Command Prompt’. On this screen, type “sfc /scannow” to scan for and repair any corrupt system files.
Restart your computer.
Restart your computer if sfc /scannow repaired files. System File Checker may or may not prompt you to restart but even if it doesn’t, you should restart anyway.
Run again sfc /scannow.
Run again sfc /scannow to check if the files were repaired.
STEP 9: Run the Disk Check tool
As a final step, we will utilize the Disk Check tool, commonly referred to as “chkdsk,” to identify and resolve any issues that were caused by malware.
This tool checks your hard disk for errors and can fix any issues it finds. To use the Disk Check tool, you will need to open the command prompt and enter the “chkdsk” command followed by the drive letter (e.g., “chkdsk C:”). You can also add the “/f” flag to the command to instruct the tool to fix any errors it finds. By running the Disk Check tool, you can help ensure that your hard disk is functioning properly and fix any issues that may be causing high disk usage.”
Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
To open the Command Prompt as an administrator in Windows, type “cmd” in the search bar and then right-click on the Command Prompt result and select “Run as administrator” as shown in the image below.
A User Account Control (UAC) prompt will appear asking for permission to allow the program to run. Click “Yes”.
Type “chkdsk /f /r”
You will now be presented with a black screen called the ‘Administrator: Command Prompt’. On this screen, type “chkdsk /f /r” to repair any errors on your hard drive.
Restart your computer
The Disk Check tool may require you to restart your computer in order to complete the scan and repair process. Type “Y” and click on Enter, then restart the computer.
A CHKDSK command can take a long time, especially when performed on larger drives. Once it’s done, however, it will present a summary of results including total disk space, byte allocation, and, most importantly, any errors that were found and corrected.
Your computer should now be free of the Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate Trojan and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate provides vital isolation and security for COM processes. However malware abuse remains an ongoing nuisance. Staying vigilant to warning signs and using removal best practices allows you to confidently detect and eliminate fraudulent dllhost.exe threats.
Keep your eyes peeled for shady dllhost.exe activity and apply sound security hygiene to ensure this essential Windows process works safely for you, not against you.
How to Stay Safe Online
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
26 thoughts on “Dllhost.exe COM Surrogate – How to Spot and Remove Malware”
thank you so much all this program have save my computer from the virus thank you so muc
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THANKS!!!
This is the perfect removal tools.
Thank you so much
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THANK YOU!!!!! Ive done steps 1 and 2 and already see a night and day difference. :)
Hello,
You are most likely infected with Trojan.Poweliks. so I would suggest that you first run ESET as seen in STEP 1, then try to find the malicious files.
Thank you! Got it the first try, ESET powerliks.
My daughter had been dealing with the COM Surrogate problem for several months. The ESET solution worked like a champ. Thank you so very much for saving her and I from this headache.
didnt work
thanks for these solutions really helpful stay blessed………….
You can’t imagine how much pain and headache you have saved me. Like the below user said, i was really helpless before i got to this website, and i could finally rid my computer of this beast that has messed with not just my work, but my time as well in trying to figure out what was wrong, and had created a huge nightmare for me over the past few weeks. Really really thankyou very much for all of this.
I would like here to thank you for the save from the very annoying , med-risked and disgusting adware “Candy-box.Biz”. I really couldn’t do anything before I arrived at your forum and executed all what you recommended and the result for the moment was a clean computer. Thanks alot, I really appreciate you and wish you a great success and accomplishement as you substantiate the meaning of humanity in the depths of your kind self.
Stelian, I notice in your guide posted here that you replaced programs from a few weeks ago. For instance, I notice Step 1 a few weeks ago referred to ComboFix and now you are recommending ESET Powerlinks Cleaner. You also removed Rogue Killer which was Step 2 a few weeks ago. Any particular reason why? If I used the older 6-step process will I expect problems? Thanks.
Finally! Free from this bloodsucking virus! Thank you. This plan worked perfect!
Update from 20 days ago. Computer working fine!
This is awesome worked perfect thanks……….
This worked like a charm. Following it (pretty much) word-for-word, it did what it said it would do. Thanks, Stelian, for providing a simple, straight-forward document as a resolve for such removals. Awesome.
thanks you so much for the wonderful post. However, HitmanPro is not available for free trial any more.
This is an update from a comment I left 5 days ago. I went through the steps with some trepidation and it took me all day because I ran into trouble not being able to download. I figured that out and then lost my file that enables you to connect to the Wi-Fi which of course I lost internet connection. I figured that out by rebooting two times; could not get Emsisoft emergency kit to run, had to use the search and find files on my start menu to find the download and open it there to run it. Been using the computer for a few hours now and I haven’t encountered any problems. I will update this comment in a few days after I had time to use the computer more. Thanks Stelian for this information, well done..
This worked. I’m not sure you need to go through all the steps. I was fixed after the Hitman step.
Great information in an easy to follow format! This cleaned up my issues…thanks!
Thanks it did the trick !
This is a great guide! It was very easy to follow and well explained. Thank you so much for your help!
My hero! Kudos!
Thanks!!
Thank you!! Hitmapro did the job for me!!
Comments are closed.
Meet Stelian Pilici
Stelian leverages over a decade of cybersecurity expertise to lead malware analysis and removal, uncover scams, and educate people. His experience provides insightful analysis and valuable perspective.
thank you so much all this program have save my computer from the virus thank you so muc
There are so e thieves stealing money and things , one is carlos sotelo pascual peruvian and the other is daniel, i am a musician , my name is paulo and the artist name is Hoju, please be aware of people calling you or contacting you with voice changer programs or fake acounts .thank you and i will be using this software and support as soon as i can, keep up the good work…..am kile
THANKS!!!
This is the perfect removal tools.
Thank you so much
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
This was a real help
THANK YOU!!!!! Ive done steps 1 and 2 and already see a night and day difference. :)
Hello,
You are most likely infected with Trojan.Poweliks. so I would suggest that you first run ESET as seen in STEP 1, then try to find the malicious files.
Thank you! Got it the first try, ESET powerliks.
My daughter had been dealing with the COM Surrogate problem for several months. The ESET solution worked like a champ. Thank you so very much for saving her and I from this headache.
didnt work
thanks for these solutions really helpful stay blessed………….
You can’t imagine how much pain and headache you have saved me. Like the below user said, i was really helpless before i got to this website, and i could finally rid my computer of this beast that has messed with not just my work, but my time as well in trying to figure out what was wrong, and had created a huge nightmare for me over the past few weeks. Really really thankyou very much for all of this.
I would like here to thank you for the save from the very annoying , med-risked and disgusting adware “Candy-box.Biz”. I really couldn’t do anything before I arrived at your forum and executed all what you recommended and the result for the moment was a clean computer. Thanks alot, I really appreciate you and wish you a great success and accomplishement as you substantiate the meaning of humanity in the depths of your kind self.
Stelian, I notice in your guide posted here that you replaced programs from a few weeks ago. For instance, I notice Step 1 a few weeks ago referred to ComboFix and now you are recommending ESET Powerlinks Cleaner. You also removed Rogue Killer which was Step 2 a few weeks ago. Any particular reason why? If I used the older 6-step process will I expect problems? Thanks.
Finally! Free from this bloodsucking virus! Thank you. This plan worked perfect!
Update from 20 days ago. Computer working fine!
This is awesome worked perfect thanks……….
This worked like a charm. Following it (pretty much) word-for-word, it did what it said it would do. Thanks, Stelian, for providing a simple, straight-forward document as a resolve for such removals. Awesome.
thanks you so much for the wonderful post. However, HitmanPro is not available for free trial any more.
This is an update from a comment I left 5 days ago. I went through the steps with some trepidation and it took me all day because I ran into trouble not being able to download. I figured that out and then lost my file that enables you to connect to the Wi-Fi which of course I lost internet connection. I figured that out by rebooting two times; could not get Emsisoft emergency kit to run, had to use the search and find files on my start menu to find the download and open it there to run it. Been using the computer for a few hours now and I haven’t encountered any problems. I will update this comment in a few days after I had time to use the computer more. Thanks Stelian for this information, well done..
This worked. I’m not sure you need to go through all the steps. I was fixed after the Hitman step.
Great information in an easy to follow format! This cleaned up my issues…thanks!
Thanks it did the trick !
This is a great guide! It was very easy to follow and well explained. Thank you so much for your help!
My hero! Kudos!
Thanks!!
Thank you!! Hitmapro did the job for me!!