Qqlogger

Category: spyware · Aliases: Spyware:Win32/QQLogger, Trojan-Spy:Win32/QQLogger, PWS:Win32/QQLogger, Win32/QQLogger, TrojanSpy:Win32/QQPass · Sample count (EMBER 2018): 29 · Enrichment: curated_sourced · Updated: 2026-10-15
Category: SpywareStatus: Automated SignatureFirst seen: 2008Motivation: Account Theft, Virtual Asset Monetization & Identity Hijacking🕸 Explore Relationship Graph⚙ API JSON⚡ Sigma Rule💾 YARA RuleOS: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7
Executive Summary
QQLogger (classified across threat research databases under signatures including Spyware:Win32/QQLogger, Trojan-Spy:Win32/QQLogger, and PWS:Win32/QQLogger) is a specialized credential stealer and spyware trojan active since 2008.

Table of Contents

Overview

QQLogger (classified across threat research databases under signatures including Spyware:Win32/QQLogger, Trojan-Spy:Win32/QQLogger, and PWS:Win32/QQLogger) is a specialized credential stealer and spyware trojan active since 2008. Designed primarily to target Tencent QQ instant messaging clients, gaming portals, and online services popular in East Asia, QQLogger installs system-wide keyboard hooks (via SetWindowsHookEx) and memory scanning routines to intercept user account credentials. Upon execution, QQLogger monitors foreground windows, capturing usernames, passwords, and private chat messages when QQ login windows or web authentication forms are detected. The intercepted credentials are encrypted and exfiltrated over HTTP POST or direct SMTP mail messages to threat actor collection servers.

Known aliases

Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:

Family Pedigree & Lineage

Malware authors regularly fork and iterate upon existing codebases. Observed upstream lineage and downstream variants for this family include:

Known Derivatives & Downstream Variants: Spyware:Win32/Qqlogger.A · Trojanspy:Win32/Qqpass.Gen

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

This family has been observed using the following ATT&CK techniques: T1056.001 · T1555.003 · T1041 · T1071.001 · T1547.001

→ Explore the complete 226-Technique ATT&CK Threat Matrix

Tactical Mitigations

Based on the techniques used by this family, consider the following defensive strategies:

MITRE D3FEND™ Defensive Countermeasures

Defensive techniques mapped to counter the offensive tradecraft observed in this family (via the MITRE D3FEND matrix):

D3FEND IDCountermeasure NameTacticCountered ATT&CKDefensive Guidance
D3-EAFEgress Analysis and FilteringIsolateT1041Enforce perimeter TLS inspection and alert on anomalous outbound data volume ratios transmitting over active C2 channels.
D3-MFAMulti-factor AuthenticationHardenT1056.001Enforce FIDO2 / WebAuthn physical tokens to render keystroke-intercepted passwords useless.
D3-WAFWeb Content Filtering & InspectionFilterT1071.001Block newly registered domains (NRDs) and inspect HTTP Host and URI headers for known C2 profiles.
D3-RPMRegistry Persistence MonitoringDetectT1547.001Audit and restrict write privileges to user and machine-level Registry Run/RunOnce keys using Endpoint Privilege Management.
D3-CVHCredential Vault HardeningHardenT1555.003Enable DPAPI master key audit logging and isolate browser SQLite database files within virtualization-based security containers.

Tiered Detection Rules (Cisco CAIRN Model)

Modern threat detection requires multi-layered rule engineering. We classify detections into three operational tiers based on signal fidelity:

Tier 1 Primitive Artifact Rule (Fast Triage)

Matches raw strings and file markers. Vulnerable to binary repacking and simple obfuscation.

rule MALWARE_WIN_QQLOGGER_T1_ARTIFACT {
    meta:
        description = "Tier 1 Primitive Artifact: Raw string matches for Qqlogger"
        tier = "T1 - Primitive Artifact"
        confidence = "Low-Medium (Fast Triage)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
        date = "2026-10-14"
    strings:
        $s1 = "qqlogger" ascii wide nocase
        $s2 = "spyware:win32/qqlogger" ascii wide nocase
        $s3 = "trojan-spy:win32/qqlogger" ascii wide nocase
        $s4 = "pws:win32/qqlogger" ascii wide nocase
        $s5 = "win32/qqlogger" ascii wide nocase
        $s6 = "trojanspy:win32/qqpass" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}

Tier 2 Behavioral Context Rule (Process Chains & Sigma)

Tracks parent-child process anomalies and suspicious scripting telemetry. Resilient against file renames.

title: SystemHelpDesk Detection - Qqlogger (Spyware) Execution & Triage
id: 3d8b47ff-4622-51ed-b596-b8b13883a0a5
status: production
description: Detects execution, defense evasion, and persistence behaviors associated
  with the Qqlogger malware family. Detects suspicious execution from temporary user
  directories with hidden window flags and background transfer utilities.
references:
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/families/qqlogger
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/defensive/ransomware-protection
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/
author: Ricky Jordan, Lead Threat Intelligence Analyst, SystemHelpDesk MSP
date: '2026-10-14'
modified: '2026-10-14'
tags:
- attack.spyware
- author.ricky-jordan
- source.systemhelpdesk-mfc
- attack.t1056_001
- attack.t1555_003
- attack.t1041
- attack.t1071_001
- attack.t1547_001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_process:
    Image|endswith:
    - \cmd.exe
    - \powershell.exe
    - \cscript.exe
    - \wscript.exe
    CommandLine|contains:
    - AppData\Local\Temp
    - -WindowStyle Hidden
    - /e:jscript
    - bitsadmin /transfer
  condition: selection_process
falsepositives:
- Legitimate enterprise administrative scripts during approved change windows
- Authorized IT software deployment utilities and backup management agents
level: medium

Tier 3 Attribution Fingerprint Rule (High Fidelity)

Deep signature matching distinctive operational fingerprints and payload characteristics.

rule MALWARE_WIN_QQLOGGER_T3_ATTRIBUTION {
    meta:
        description = "Tier 3 Attribution Fingerprint: Heuristic detection for Qqlogger tradecraft"
        tier = "T3 - Attribution Fingerprint"
        confidence = "High (Confirmed Family Signature)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
        date = "2026-10-14"
    strings:
        // Core family identifier & heuristic payload signatures
        $attrib_str = "qqlogger" ascii wide nocase
        $pe_magic = "MZ" ascii
        $net_marker = "http" ascii nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and ($attrib_str and $net_marker) and filesize < 15MB
}
SOC & SIEM Rule Downloads: ⬇ Download YARA Rule (.yar) ⬇ Download Sigma Rule (YAML) ⬇ Download Sigma Rule (JSON) ⚙ Threat Profile API (JSON)

References & External Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Spyware:Win32/QQLogger?

QQLogger is a spyware and password-stealing trojan designed to intercept Tencent QQ accounts, passwords, and chat messages.

How does QQLogger steal account passwords?

It installs Windows keyboard hooks (SetWindowsHookEx) and scans process memory whenever a QQ login dialog is detected.

How does QQLogger exfiltrate stolen credentials?

It packages credentials into encrypted messages and transmits them via HTTP POST requests or SMTP email to the attacker.

How does QQLogger maintain persistence on Windows?

It registers autostart entries in the Windows CurrentVersion\Run registry key and disguises its executable as a system helper.

What remediation steps should be taken if infected with QQLogger?

Immediately change Tencent QQ and associated gaming passwords from a clean device, enable two-factor authentication, and scan the system with Microsoft Defender.

How do I remove the Qqlogger Spyware from Windows?

Manual removal of Qqlogger 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 Qqlogger a virus or a Spyware?

Qqlogger is classified as a Spyware. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like Qqlogger typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.

What are the main symptoms of a Qqlogger infection?

Symptoms of Qqlogger 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.

Protect Your Network Against Spywares

Want to prevent Qqlogger and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Spyware & Keylogger Protection.

📣 Threat Intel Correction or Update?

Notice an outdated IOC, unlisted alias, or disputed attribution? Threat researchers are invited to propose an update on GitHub or contact the SystemHelpDesk research desk. All community revisions are credited in our public CHANGELOG.

Need help with an active incident? Published by the SystemHelpdesk Threat Intelligence Team.

Machine-readable

Get this profile as JSON: https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/api/qqlogger.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.