Discord Virus: How to Protect Yourself

VeePN Research Lab

Mar 9, 2023

9 min read

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If you like to chat with your friends or teammates in Discord, it’s worth keeping a close eye on your security. The thing is that the number of cyberattacks targeted at this social media platform has increased tremendously. According to a recent Sophos study, hackers are striving to spread different types of malware, targeting over 150 million active Discord users.

Sounds alarming? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading this article to find out what Discord malware is, how to remove it, and what you can do to prevent such threats.

What is Discord malware?

Let’s start with the basics and define Discord viruses.

Discord malware is any kind of virus or other malicious activity detected on the Discord application or distributed through this platform. There are numerous types of malware that may infect Discord users’ devices, including Remote Access Trojans (RAT), spyware, and adware. Let’s take a closer look at these viruses.

Remote Access Trojan (RAT) is malware spread by malicious links in Discord messages. With the help of RAT, hackers get remote control over your device. As a result, they can steal sensitive data, monitor your activities, and even spy on your phone.
Spyware hides in your device’s system once it reaches you via the Discord app. It’s extremely difficult to detect such malware, as it doesn’t reveal itself while secretly stealing your private data.
Adware is mostly distributed via intrusive ads and infected pop-ups. Such viruses get to your device once you accidentally click on such an ad.

As you see, there are many different types of Discord malware attacks, as well as malicious techniques hackers adopt to spread them. Let’s look at the most common distribution approaches in more detail.

How is Discord malware distributed?

Whether you’re using Discord to communicate with your friends or participate in a gaming or developer community, malicious actors may trick you and spread malware in many ways. In particular, some recent surveys show a very disturbing trend. According to SecurityBrief research, minors aged 11-18 use the Discord platform to distribute malware for cash. The types of malware spread by teens vary, from credential theft and crypto mining to ransomware.

So what should you watch out for? Let’s find out.

Malicious links

One of the most typical social engineering threats spread within communication apps like Discord is the distribution of malicious links. For example, phishing campaigns involve messages users get from their friends or strangers. Such a message may look completely innocent and encourage you to click on the provided link. However, once you open it, your device will get infected with malware striving to compromise your private data, like Discord credentials.

Such attacks mostly target various communities, such as gamers and crypto traders. The example below shows how malicious actors trick users with a crypto scam.

An example of a crypto scam in Discord — Source: Cryptonomist

Infected files

Not only links, but also attached files in Discord can be dangerous. Hackers often spread viruses by encouraging users to download files infected with viruses. Just like a malicious link, such a file may not look harmful or suspicious. But it likely contains a specific type of malware striving to get to your device.

Here is an example of a recent “Try my game” Discord scam persuading users to download an infected file.

A "Try my game" Discord scam with an infected file attached — Source: Reddit

Modified installation files

Installing the Discord app from an unofficial website is another typical cause of infecting your device with Discord viruses. The thing is that an illegitimate file may be modified by hackers and running malicious JavaScript code. When installed, such files activate carefully concealed malware so that you won’t even suspect something went wrong. Such viruses are very challenging to detect and remove with traditional antivirus software, as it may fail to recognize an evil clone of Discord.

Harmful bots

Discord bots automate and streamline many processes in the app. In particular, this artificial intelligence feature bans platform offenders, welcomes new members, moderates chats, and more. However, you should also be aware of the Discord bots’ dark side. Hackers often use this technology to spread malicious content, including phishing links, file attachments, or else. For instance, the most famous Discord Spidey Bot has infected over 250 million users worldwide. So it’s worth being careful with this Discord feature and avoiding messages sent by unidentified bots.

However, if you didn’t manage to protect yourself against a Discord virus, do not despair. Let’s look at the most effective ways to remove Discord malware from your device or web browser.

How to get rid of Discord viruses?

There are several ways to eliminate Discord viruses. It will be easier if you know where exactly the virus is hiding. However, as it can be quite challenging to detect, it’s better to take all steps listed below.

How to remove Discord viruses from your device?

Discord malware is equally harmful to all operating systems. Here is how you can remove it from your Windows or macOS device.

Step 1. Get strong antivirus software

Powerful antivirus software is a must because such a tool will help you conduct a Discord malware check, detect viruses, and eliminate risks before they become critical. If you stick to this approach, follow these simple steps:

Choose and install a premium antivirus tool
Open antivirus and scan your Windows or macOS system
Complete the guidelines provided by your antivirus

Step 2. Uninstall the Discord app manually

If you suspect that your Discord app is running malicious JavaScript code, even the most powerful antivirus may be useless. To address this challenge, you can remove your Discord app from the device and reinstall it from the official website. Here is how to uninstall Discord from your PC.

For Windows:

Open your PC settings and go to the Apps section
Find the Discord app and click on the Uninstall button
Reinstall the app from the legitimate Discord website

For macOS:

Open Finder and select the Applications section
Find the Discord app and move it to the Trash
Enter your password and empty the Trash
Reinstall the app from the official Discord website

How to remove Discord viruses from your browser?

Removing Discord malware from your PC may not be enough since your browser can be infected as well. Here’s how to remove viruses from Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.

Chrome, Edge, or Firefox

Let’s consider getting rid of Discord malware on Google Chrome. Note that the trick is also suitable for Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox.

Open Google Chrome settings and head to the Advanced section

Find the Reset settings section

Choose the Restore settings to their original defaults option

Restore settings to their original defaults

Reset settings

You can do the same in Firefox by finding Settings > Home > Restore defaults.

In Microsoft Edge, go to Settings > Reset Settings > Restore settings to their default values.

Safari

Here’s how to remove a Discord virus from your Safari browser.

Go to the Safari menu, find Clear History > All history and confirm the action

Enter the Safari menu once again and open Preferences

Choose the Privacy section and click on Manage website data > Remove all

Open Privacy settings > Manage Website Data > Remove

Remove all distrustful components from the Extensions section

In the Advanced section, select the Show Develop menu in menu bar option

Select Show Develop menu in menu bar in the Advanced section

Now, find the Develop button and select the Empty Caches option

How to prevent a Discord cyber attack?

If you’re an active Discord user, do not wait until malware infects your device. Here are several methods to keep yourself away from Discord viruses.

1. Install Discord from the official website

Cybercriminals often use unofficial sites to clone legitimate software and trick users into installing apps infected with malware. To mitigate the risk of getting a malicious Discord application, download it only from the official website.

2. Do not click on suspicious links

As mentioned above, malicious actors can distribute viruses by hijacking social accounts or applying social engineering techniques and phishing attacks. So, if you get a suspicious message, even from a person you know, think twice before clicking any link.

3. Update your software

Outdated software is more vulnerable to viruses as it may lack some essential security features. That’s why don’t forget to regularly update your apps, operating system, and antivirus programs.

4. Use a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the most effective prevention measures against malware. Make sure you have one switched on when surfing the web or communicating via social apps like Discord. A VPN doesn’t only hide your IP address, making your online presence anonymous, but also helps you stay away from potentially harmful sites, links, and pop-ups. On top of that, a virtual private network will protect your connection wherever you are, even when using public WiFi.

Shield yourself against Discord malware attacks with VeePN

Looking for a result-driven solution to avoid Discord viruses and other potential cyberattacks? Choose VeePN! It’s a top-rated VPN service offering a wide range of powerful privacy and security features. In particular, NetGuard will protect you from malicious links, infected websites, and dangerous pop-ups. Try VeePN now and safeguard yourself with a 100% money-back guarantee.

FAQs

What is malware?

Malware is a file, code, or software program designed with malicious intent. Mostly, it strives to infect, harm, or spy on a device, network, or service. Some of the most widespread malware types are computer viruses, Trojan horses, warms, ransomware, spyware, adware, and more. Malware can be distributed via email links or attachments, embedded code, infected applications, or malicious websites.

How to remove Discord malware?

To remove Discord malware from your device, you can take the following actions:

Install powerful antivirus software
Remove and reinstall Discord on your device

To get rid of Discord viruses in your web browser, you should either restore browser settings to the original defaults (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) or remove all website data and empty caches (Safari). For more information, read this article.

Is Discord a safe app?

The Discord app is safe to use if you stick to the proper privacy settings. However, as with any other communication service, Discord can pose certain cyber threats. In particular, some of the most common malware in Discord is Remote Access Trojan (RAT), spyware, and adware. To mitigate those risks, you should follow specific security practices described in this article.