Finance Department Secure Document Email Virus: How the Fake PDF Installs a RAT

A confidential disbursement document from the Finance Department sounds like something an employee cannot ignore. That is exactly why this malicious email uses an internal-business disguise instead of an obvious prize or payment lure.

The document is fake. Its Open Document button leads to a counterfeit reader-update page that downloads a ZIP archive containing a trojanized remote-access tool. Running it can give criminals quiet control of the computer.

Overview

The Finance Department Secure Document email is a confirmed malspam campaign, not a legitimate file-sharing notification. It claims that a confidential disbursement agreement has been shared through a service called Resursas Secure Document Portal.

The message may address the recipient by name, show a preview for a file such as [name]_Disbursement_Agreement.pdf, and describe it as a small Adobe PDF document. A prominent Open Document button provides the next step.

That button does not open a PDF. It leads to fp.qdiuly[.]net, where a page designed to resemble a software download site claims that the visitor’s document reader is outdated. The site then starts downloading Adobe_Acrobat_Reader_en_Install.zip.

Inside the archive is a modified build of ScreenConnect. ScreenConnect is a legitimate remote-support product, but the version distributed in this campaign has been configured as a remote access trojan. The legitimate developer and Adobe are not involved in the attack.

Once executed, the program connects the computer to infrastructure controlled by criminals. They may view the screen, browse or copy files, record keystrokes, steal saved passwords and install additional malware. Because remote-support software is designed to operate quietly, the compromise may not produce an obvious warning.

This is more dangerous than a simple fake-login page. The attacker is not collecting one password through a form; the goal is to establish an ongoing foothold inside the Windows computer and use that access for surveillance, credential theft or a larger intrusion.

• Pretends to be an internal Finance Department notification
• Shows a convincing confidential PDF preview
• Redirects to a domain unrelated to the employer or document service
• Invents an outdated-reader problem to justify a download
• Distributes a ZIP archive containing trojanized remote-access software

Is the Finance Department Secure Document Email Legitimate?

No. This specific message is malicious. A genuine internal document should open through the company’s known collaboration platform, document system or employee portal. It should not require a software update from fp.qdiuly.net or another unfamiliar domain.

The presence of a real employee name, a PDF icon or a familiar finance term does not validate the email. Those details can be copied from public company pages, breached mailboxes or earlier business correspondence.

How the Finance Department Document Malware Attack Works

Step 1: The email creates a believable workplace task

The recipient is told that the Finance Department shared a confidential disbursement document. The request feels routine enough to lower suspicion but important enough to demand attention.

Step 2: A PDF preview makes the message feel specific

The email displays the recipient’s name, a professional filename and a file-size label. These visual details make a mass-distributed lure resemble a real document notification.

Step 3: Open Document leads away from the company

The button directs the browser to an unrelated external website. The destination is controlled or abused by the campaign and has no authority to deliver an internal finance file.

Step 4: A fake update page starts a ZIP download

Instead of showing the promised PDF, the page claims that document software is outdated. The unexpected update explains why an archive is downloaded and encourages the victim to run it.

Step 5: Trojanized ScreenConnect establishes remote access

Launching the installer activates a maliciously configured copy of a legitimate support tool. It connects the computer to the attacker’s server without providing the finance document.

Step 6: The attacker explores the compromised computer

The operator can watch activity, retrieve files, capture credentials and deploy additional payloads. The access can also be used to move toward company accounts or other devices.

What the Remote Access Trojan Can Do

A trojanized remote-support program can give the operator capabilities similar to someone sitting at the computer. The exact actions depend on the attacker’s objectives and the permissions available to the infected account.

• View the desktop and monitor activity in real time
• Browse, copy, upload or delete local and network-accessible files
• Capture keystrokes and passwords entered after infection
• Search browsers and applications for stored credentials
• Install information stealers, ransomware or other malware
• Use the compromised machine to impersonate the employee

Red Flags in the Fake Secure Document Email

• You were not expecting a disbursement agreement
• The sender address does not match your employer’s real domain
• The named document portal is not a service your company normally uses
• The button opens fp.qdiuly[.]net or another unrelated host
• A PDF suddenly requires a ZIP-based reader update
• The download begins before the promised document is displayed

What to Do If You Received the Email

1. Do not click Open Document or download the archive
2. Contact the Finance Department through a known phone number or internal chat
3. Report the message to the IT or security team as a suspected malware email
4. Preserve the email for investigation if your organization requests it
5. Delete the message after it has been reported

What to Do If You Interacted With the Download

If you clicked the link but downloaded nothing

Close the page and report the email. Clear the site’s downloads and cookies if necessary. Merely viewing the page does not install the RAT, but do not accept notifications or run anything it offers.

If the ZIP downloaded but you did not open it

Delete the archive from the Downloads folder and empty the Recycle Bin. Run a security scan for reassurance and tell the IT team where the file originated.

If you extracted or ran the installer

Treat the computer as compromised. Disconnect it from Wi-Fi and Ethernet to interrupt remote access, but do not power it off if a company incident-response team needs to preserve evidence. Contact IT immediately from another device.

Do not sign in to email, banking or company services on the affected computer. Change important passwords from a separate clean device, beginning with email and business accounts, and revoke active sessions where possible.

Scan and Remove the Malware From Windows

A full security scan is necessary because removing the downloaded ZIP does not remove a program that has already run. Additional payloads or persistence settings may remain even if ScreenConnect is no longer visible.

If you suspect your computer is infected with malware — slow performance, pop-ups, redirects, or programs you don’t recognize — follow the free step-by-step removal guide below to find and remove it.

Remove Malware from Windows [Step-by-Step Guide]

• STEP 1: Uninstall malicious programs from Windows
• STEP 2: Reset browsers back to default settings
• STEP 3: Use Rkill to terminate suspicious programs
• STEP 4: Use Malwarebytes to remove Trojans and unwanted programs
• STEP 5: Use HitmanPro to remove rootkits and other malware
• STEP 6: Use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and adware
• STEP 7: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner

STEP 1: Uninstall malicious programs from Windows

First, we’ll manually check your computer for unknown or malicious programs. Adware and browser hijackers often have a working uninstall entry — removing them this way takes care of the easy part before we run the scanners.

With the malicious programs removed, you’re ready for the next step in this guide.

STEP 2: 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 a Chrome or Edge reset turns off all your extensions, and a Firefox refresh removes them. Your bookmarks and favorites stay 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.

STEP 3: Use Rkill to terminate suspicious programs

Next, we’ll download and run Rkill to stop any suspicious processes running in the background. This prevents the malware from interfering with the removal tools in the following steps.

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.

1. 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.

   

   RKillStops malware processes so other tools can run

   Download RKillOpens the BleepingComputer download page in a new tab.

2. 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 4: Use Malwarebytes to remove Trojans and unwanted programs

Now we’ll install Malwarebytes and run a full scan to detect and remove infections, adware, and potentially unwanted programs from your computer.

Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and trusted anti-malware tools for Windows — and it’s completely free for removing infections. It catches threats that many antivirus programs miss, including adware, browser hijackers, and trojans. Follow the steps below to scan your PC and remove what Malwarebytes finds.

1. Download Malwarebytes

   Click the button below to download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows from the official source. The free version is all you need — it will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software at no cost.

   

   Malwarebytes Free for WindowsScans and removes malware at no cost

   Download MalwarebytesOfficial installer for Windows 11 and 10. Your download starts right away.Want real-time protection? See Malwarebytes Premium

2. Install Malwarebytes

   When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the MBSetup file. If Windows shows a User Account Control pop-up, click “Yes” to allow the installation.

   

3. Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes

   The setup wizard will walk you through a few quick screens:

   • Choose where you’re installing the program — “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” — then click Next.

     

   • Malwarebytes will now install on your device. This usually takes under a minute.

     

   • When installation is complete, the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen will open automatically.

     

   • On the final screen, click Open Malwarebytes to launch the program.

     

4. Optional: Check for rootkits with a Custom Scan

   You don’t need to change any settings for a normal scan. The standard Threat Scan in the next step is enough for most problems, so you can go straight to it.

   If you also want to check for rootkits, use a Custom Scan. In current versions of Malwarebytes, rootkit scanning is only available there:

   1. On the Scanner tile, click the three-dot menu and select Advanced Scan.
   2. Choose Custom Scan. In its options, check Scan for rootkits.
   3. Select your system drive (usually C:\) as the location to scan, then start the scan. It takes longer than a Threat Scan.
   4. When it finishes, review and quarantine the results as described in the steps below.

   Rootkit scanning isn’t available on Windows devices with ARM processors.

5. Start the Scan

   Click the blue Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its virus database and start checking your computer for malware.

   

6. Wait for the Scan to Finish

   The scan checks your entire system for browser hijackers and other malicious programs, so it can take 5 to 20 minutes depending on your computer. Feel free to do something else — just check back occasionally to see the progress.

   

7. Quarantine the Detected Threats

   When the scan is done, you’ll see a list of everything Malwarebytes found — malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. Click the “Quarantine” button to remove all of them at once.

   

   Malwarebytes will now remove the malicious files and registry entries and move them safely into quarantine.

   

8. Restart Your Computer

   Some threats can only be fully removed after a reboot. If Malwarebytes asks you to restart, click Yes. Once you’re logged back in, Malwarebytes has finished removing the threats it found.

   

STEP 5: Use HitmanPro to remove rootkits and other malware

Next, we’ll run a second-opinion scan with HitmanPro to catch Trojans, rootkits, and other malicious programs that may have survived the previous step.

HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner — it’s designed to catch what your main antivirus might have missed. Instead of relying on a single detection engine, it checks the behavior of files in the locations where malware usually hides. Anything suspicious is checked online, where it’s analyzed by several antivirus engines in HitmanPro’s Scan Cloud.

Good news: scanning is completely free, with no limits. You only need a license when it’s time to remove what was found — and even then, you can activate a free one-time 30-day trial to remove what it finds at no cost. The trial works once per computer. After that, removal needs a paid license, and the purchase screen shows the current price.

1. Download HitmanPro

   Click the button below to download HitmanPro. Remember — the scan is free, so you have nothing to lose by checking your PC.

   

   HitmanProSecond-opinion malware scanner from Sophos

   Download HitmanProFree scan. Removing threats needs the free 30-day trial. Opens the official HitmanPro page in a new tab.

2. Install HitmanPro

   When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the file “hitmanpro_x64.exe”. (On 32-bit Windows 10, the file is named “hitmanpro.exe”.)

   

   If a User Account Control pop-up asks whether HitmanPro can make changes to your device, click “Yes” to continue.

   

3. Follow the On-Screen Prompts

   On the HitmanPro start screen, click “Next” to begin the system scan. No lengthy setup required — it goes straight to work.

   

   

4. Wait for the Scan to Finish

   HitmanPro will now check your computer for malicious programs. This usually takes just a few minutes thanks to its cloud-based scanning.
   

5. Review the Results and Click “Next”

   When the scan is done, HitmanPro will show you everything it found. Click “Next” to remove the detected threats.

   

6. Click “Activate Free License”

   To remove the malicious files, click the “Activate free license” button. This starts your free 30-day trial — no payment details needed — and unlocks the full cleanup.
   

   When the removal is complete, HitmanPro will show a summary of everything it cleaned. Click Next, then click Reboot if prompted. If there’s no reboot prompt, click Close. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they come back, save the HitmanPro log and ask for help in our forum.

STEP 6: Use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and adware

We’ll now use AdwCleaner to remove malicious browser policies and unwanted browser extensions — the leftovers that keep hijacking your browser settings even after the malware itself is gone.

AdwCleaner is a free on-demand scanner that specializes in adware, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars — the exact threats that mainstream antivirus programs often miss. It also includes tools that repair the damage malware leaves behind, like hijacked browser settings and malicious policies. It’s a quick scan that’s well worth running.

1. Download AdwCleaner

   Click the button below to download AdwCleaner — it’s free, portable, and requires no installation.

   

   Malwarebytes AdwCleanerRemoves adware and unwanted programs at no cost

   Download AdwCleanerOpens the official download page in a new tab.

2. Run AdwCleaner

   Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named “adwcleaner.exe“. There’s no installation — the program starts right away.
   

   If Windows asks whether you want to allow AdwCleaner to run, click “Yes“. When the license agreement appears, click I agree to continue.

   

3. Leave “Reset Chrome policies” off unless you need it

   AdwCleaner can reset Chrome policies, the settings that malware sometimes uses to lock your browser so you can’t change it back. This option removes every Chrome policy, including legitimate ones set by an employer, a school, or parental-control software, so leave it off for a normal scan.

   AdwCleaner applies this option only if you run Basic Repair at the end of the cleanup. Malwarebytes advises running Basic Repair only when a support agent asks you to, and it also runs every other repair action that is turned on in the same list. If this is your own personal PC and chrome://policy in Chrome lists policies you didn’t set, ask for help in our forum instead. On a work or school computer, ask the IT administrator.

4. Start the Scan

   Click “Dashboard” on the left side of the window, then click the “Scan Now” button.

   

5. Wait for the Scan to Finish

   AdwCleaner will now check your computer for adware and other malware. This usually takes only a few minutes — it’s one of the fastest scanners around.

   

6. Quarantine the Detected Threats

   When the scan finishes, AdwCleaner lists everything it found. Review the list and uncheck any program you installed on purpose and want to keep, then click Next. If AdwCleaner also found preinstalled software, it shows that list next. Review it the same way, then click “Quarantine“. Older versions show the Quarantine button on the first list, as in the image below.

   

7. Click “Continue” to Finish the Cleanup

   Save any open work first — AdwCleaner needs to close your open programs before it can clean. When you’re ready, click the “Continue” button.
   

   AdwCleaner will now move the selected items to quarantine. If it asks you to restart your PC, allow it. When you’re back in Windows, AdwCleaner may offer a Basic Repair. Click Skip Basic Repair. Malwarebytes recommends running Basic Repair only when a support agent asks you to. Then check whether the problems you noticed have stopped.

STEP 7: Perform a final check with ESET Online Scanner

Finally, we’ll run ESET Online Scanner as a last check for anything the earlier scans missed. A clean result is a good sign, but no scanner can guarantee that a computer is malware-free.

ESET Online Scanner is a free second-opinion scanner that performs a deep, full-system check for viruses, trojans, rootkits, and other malware. We use it as the final step because it’s thorough and can catch threats the earlier scans missed. A clean result is a good sign, but no scanner can guarantee that a computer is malware-free.

1. Download ESET Online Scanner

   Click the button below to download ESET Online Scanner.

   

   ESET Online ScannerFree one-time malware scan from ESET

   Download ESET Online ScannerOpens the official download page in a new tab.

2. Run the Installer

   When the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click “esetonlinescanner.exe“.
   

3. Install ESET Online Scanner

   On the start screen, select your language from the drop-down menu and click Get started.

   

   On the Terms of use screen, click Accept.
   

   Choose your preferences for the Customer Experience Improvement Program and the Detection feedback system (either choice is fine), then click Continue.
   

4. Start a Full Scan

   Click Full Scan — this checks your entire computer, not just the common hiding spots.

   

   Select Enable for Detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications — this lets ESET catch adware and bundled junk programs, not just viruses. Then click Start scan.

   

5. Wait for the Scan to Finish

   ESET will now check every file on your computer. Because it’s a full scan, this can take a while — often an hour or more, depending on how much data you have. Leave it running in the background and check on it from time to time.

   

6. Review the Results

   When the scan completes, the Found and resolved detections screen appears. Detected threats are usually cleaned and quarantined automatically. Click View detailed results to see exactly what was removed, and ask for help in our forum if any item could not be cleaned.
   

   If ESET found nothing, restart your computer and check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, ask for help in our forum.

When you’ve finished these steps, check whether the problems you noticed have stopped. If they continue, see the options below.

If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:

• Run a computer scan with ESET Online Scanner
• Ask for help in our Windows Malware Removal Help & Support forum.

Check Accounts and Company Access After the Infection

• Review email and cloud-account sign-in history
• Revoke unfamiliar sessions, app passwords and access tokens
• Check browser-saved passwords and replace exposed credentials
• Inspect sent mail and collaboration tools for attacker messages
• Ask IT to review endpoint, VPN and network logs
• Notify financial partners if payment information was accessible

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ScreenConnect itself malware?

No. ScreenConnect is legitimate remote-support software. Criminals can configure or repackage legitimate tools for unauthorized access, which is what makes this installer dangerous.

Can reading the email infect the computer?

No. The infection chain requires the recipient to follow the link, download the archive and run the program inside. Reading or deleting the message does not activate the RAT.

Why does the email use a PDF preview if the download is a ZIP?

The PDF preview creates trust. The fake outdated-reader warning then gives the attacker a reason to replace the expected document with executable content inside an archive.

The Bottom Line

The Finance Department Secure Document email is a malware-delivery trap. Its confidential PDF, named recipient and professional portal language all lead to a trojanized remote-access installer.

Do not use the Open Document button. If the installer was executed, disconnect the computer, contact the security team, scan the entire system and change exposed passwords from a clean device.