Bitwallet
Overview
Executive Summary
Bitwallet is a specialized Information Stealer (Info-Stealer) specifically designed to locate, exfiltrate, and compromise local cryptocurrency wallets on Windows endpoints. Unlike generic infostealers that grab browser passwords, Bitwallet's primary objective is the direct theft of digital assets (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, etc.) by targeting the wallet files and associated private keys stored on the victim's hard drive.Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities
Bitwallet is frequently distributed via targeted phishing campaigns directed at known cryptocurrency investors, disguised as fraudulent trading bots, or embedded within cracked software and game cheats distributed on peer-to-peer networks. Upon execution, it performs a highly targeted, "smash-and-grab" data harvesting operation:- Targeted File System Scanning: The malware bypasses general system files and immediately initiates a deep scan of `AppData`, `Roaming`, and `Local` directories, explicitly hunting for default cryptocurrency wallet files (e.g., `wallet.dat` for Bitcoin Core, or keystore files for Ethereum wallets like Mist or Geth).
- Browser Extension Targeting: Advanced variants of Bitwallet actively target the local storage databases of popular browser-based cryptocurrency wallets (such as MetaMask or Binance Chain Wallet) to extract encrypted seed phrases and session tokens.
- Exfiltration and Keylogging: Bitwallet often includes a specialized keylogger designed to activate only when the user opens a known cryptocurrency exchange website or wallet application, attempting to capture the master password used to decrypt the stolen `wallet.dat` files. The stolen files and logs are then exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled server.
Threat Assessment
A Bitwallet infection is a critical incident that almost always results in direct, irreversible financial loss. Because cryptocurrency transactions are immutable, once the attacker decrypts the stolen wallet file and transfers the funds, recovery is impossible.Incident Response and Remediation
- Immediate Network Isolation: If the infection is detected early, immediately disconnect the machine from the internet to halt the exfiltration of the `wallet.dat` files.
- Asset Transfer (Emergency): If the user still has access to their funds via a clean device (e.g., a hardware wallet or a mobile app), they must immediately transfer all assets to a newly generated, secure wallet address.
- Endpoint Eradication: The compromised machine must undergo a complete bare-metal wipe and re-image. Re-using the machine without a full wipe guarantees that any new wallets created will be immediately compromised.
Known aliases
Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
This family has been observed using the following ATT&CK techniques: T1555.003 T1005 T1056.001 T1048
Tactical Mitigations
Based on the techniques used by this family, consider the following defensive strategies:
- T1056.001: Implement Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) to monitor for suspicious API calls related to keystroke interception. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to render stolen passwords useless.
Generated Detections (Boilerplate)
These YARA and Sigma rules are auto-generated based on the family name and aliases. They must be heavily tuned before deployment in a production environment.
YARA Rule
rule MALWARE_WIN_BITWALLET {
meta:
description = "Detects Bitwallet (advanced_threat)"
author = "SystemHelpdesk Boilerplate Generator"
date = "2026-07-06"
strings:
$s1 = "bitwallet" ascii wide nocase
$s2 = "trojan.coinstealer" ascii wide nocase
$s3 = "pws.bitwallet" ascii wide nocase
$s4 = "trojanspy.cryptosteal" ascii wide nocase
condition:
uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}Sigma Rule
title: Suspicious Bitwallet Activity
id: ab44bfb81cde083c8f327c1568d51d59
status: experimental
description: Detects generic indicators of the bitwallet malware family.
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection:
Image|endswith:
- '\cmd.exe'
- '\powershell.exe'
CommandLine|contains:
- "*bitwallet*"
- "*trojan.coinstealer*"
- "*pws.bitwallet*"
- "*trojanspy.cryptosteal*"
condition: selection
level: mediumReferences & External Analysis
- Search "bitwallet" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove the Bitwallet Advanced_Threat from Windows?
Manual removal of Bitwallet is highly discouraged as it may leave persistence mechanisms intact. We recommend disconnecting the device from the internet and utilizing a professional incident response service or enterprise-grade EDR software to conduct a full forensic sweep.
Is Bitwallet a virus or a Advanced_Threat?
Bitwallet is classified as a Advanced_Threat. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like Bitwallet typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.
What are the main symptoms of a Bitwallet infection?
Symptoms of Bitwallet can include unexpected system slowness, unauthorized outbound network traffic to unknown IP addresses, disabled security software, and suspicious background processes running from AppData or Temp directories.
Related Families (Category: advanced_threat)
Explore other malware families in the same category:
Protect Your Network Against Advanced_Threats
Want to prevent Bitwallet and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Suspect an Infection? What to do.
Machine-readable
Get this profile as JSON: https://jordanricky1604-ship-it.github.io/malware-families-catalog/api/bitwallet.json
Ecosystem & Interactive Environments
This profile is part of the Malware Families Catalog, a public dataset of 2,899 malware families. The catalog is also published across our ecosystem: Hugging Face, Kaggle, Zenodo, Replit, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, and CodePen.