Vidar Stealer 2025: The Most Dangerous Infostealer of the Year – Features, Infection Chains & Removal Guide
As we move into late 2025, Vidar Stealer (also known as Vidar Infostealer or Arkei fork) has solidified its position as one of the top three most active information-stealing malware families worldwide. According to multiple threat intelligence reports from Kaspersky, Group-IB, and ANY.RUN, Vidar accounted for over 18% of all stealer logs sold on underground markets in Q3–Q4 2025.
What is Vidar Stealer in 2025?
Vidar Stealer 2025 is a Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) infostealer first seen in late 2018, but the 2025 versions (v55.x – v58.x) are dramatically more sophisticated than earlier builds. Written in C++, Vidar is sold and constantly updated by a threat actor group using the nickname “Vidar@Jabber” or “@Vidar_1337.
In 2025, Vidar has overtaken RedLine as the most distributed stealer on Russian-speaking forums (Exploit.in, XSS.is, Korovka) and Telegram channels.
Why Vidar Dominates in Vidar Stealer 2025
- Extremely low detection rate on VirusTotal (often 4–8/72 in fresh samples )
- Built-in anti-analysis and anti-VM tricks
- Modular plugin system (crypto drainers, clipboard hijackers, 2FA grabbers)
- Lifetime license costs only $300–$700 on underground markets
- Constant updates every 7–14 days
Key Features of Vidar Stealer 2025 (Latest Versions)
| Feature | Description | Danger Level |
|---|---|---|
| Browser Data Theft | Cookies, passwords, autofill, credit cards from 50+ browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera GX, etc.) | Critical |
| Crypto Wallet Drainer | Targets 200+ wallets (MetaMask, Exodus, Atomic, Trust Wallet, Phantom, Ronin) | Critical |
| 2FA & Session Grabber | Steals Discord tokens, Telegram sessions, Steam, Roblox, authentication cookies | High |
| Clipboard Hijacker | Replaces copied crypto addresses with attacker’s wallet | High |
| Screenshot + System Info | Takes desktop screenshot, grabs HWID, IP, installed AV | Medium |
| File Grabber | Steals .txt, .docx, .wallet files under 5 MB from Desktop/Documents | Medium |
| VPN & Messaging Apps | NordVPN, OpenVPN, ProtonVPN configs + Telegram/Signal sessions | High |
New in Vidar Stealer 2025: Vidar now includes an optional Ransomware module and Loader functionality (drops Lumma, Raccoon v2, or XWorm after infection).
How Vidar Stealer 2025 Spreads in 2025 (Top Infection Vectors)
- Cracked Software & Game Cheats – Most common (Adobe Photoshop, Windows activators, Valorant/Fortnite cheats)
- Fake YouTube/TikTok Downloaders – “YouTube to MP3 Premium 2025 crack”
- Malicious Google Ads – Sponsored links for VPNs, trading bots, AI tools
- SEO Poisoning – Top Google results for “Windows 11 Pro key cheap” lead to Vidar droppers
- Powershell & MSI Droppers – Distributed via Discord CDN and fake update sites
- SmokeLoader Campaigns – SmokeLoader now drops Vidar as secondary payload
How to Detect Vidar Stealer 2025 on Your PC (2025 Indicators)
Behavioral Signs
- Sudden CPU usage spikes when idle
- Unknown processes like
svchostt.exe,updatechecker.exe,winlogin.exe - Clipboard being modified without your input
- Antivirus suddenly disabled or deleted
Common File Locations (2025 builds)
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\svchostt\
%Temp%\7z*.tmp\loader.dll
%LocalAppData%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Login Data (encrypted copy)YARA / Sigma Rules
Most AV vendors now detect it as:
- Win32/Vidar
- Trojan:Win32/VidarStealer
- Gen:Variant.MSILHeracles.*
How to Remove Vidar Stealer Completely (Step-by-Step 2025)
- Boot into Safe Mode with Networking
- Run full scans with:
- Malwarebytes Premium (best detection in 2025)
- Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool (free)
- HitmanPro or Emsisoft Anti-Malware
- Use Tron Script or r/KillVidar toolkit from Reddit (trusted in 2025)
- Reset all browsers and revoke sessions (Google, Discord, Telegram, Steam)
- Change ALL passwords from a clean device
- Reinstall Windows if crypto wallets were present (recommended)
Protection Tips Against Vidar in 2025
- Never download cracked software or game cheats
- Use hardware 2FA keys (YubiKey) instead of authenticator apps
- Enable Windows Defender real-time protection + Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules
- Use uBlock Origin + NoScript in browser
- Keep Windows and all software updated
Conclusion: Vidar Stealer Is More Dangerous Than Ever
In 2025, Vidar Stealer has become the go-to infostealer for both low-level script kiddies and professional cybercrime groups. Its low price, frequent updates, and modular design make it extremely hard to defend against.
Stay safe by avoiding cracked software and keeping your system updated. If you think you’ve been infected, act immediately — every hour counts when stealers are involved.
