Content

FakeAlert-MalDef

Type
Trojan
SubType
-
Discovery Date
03/11/2009
Length
varies
Minimum DAT
5549 (03/10/2009)
Updated DAT
5564 (03/25/2009)
Minimum Engine
5.3.00
Description Added
03/11/2009
Description Modified
03/11/2009 12:46 PM (PT)
Risk Assessment
Corporate User
Low-Profiled
Home User
Low-Profiled

Tab Navigation

Characteristics

FakeAlert-MalDef will install Malware Defender and run a virus scan on the system. It will falsely claim that it found viruses and will require the user to register the product to clean the system.

The following registry keys are added or modified:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Malware Defender 2009\Lic
     "HDDCheck" = 5229FFE094F1F66F09D68757D35A29ED
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    "malwaredef" = C:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\malwaredef.exe
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Defender 2009
    "DisplayName" = Malware Defender 2009
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Defender 2009
    "InstallDate" = 61104803803
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Defender 2009
    "UninstallString" = C:\Program Files\Malware Defender\uninstall.exe

The following files are added:

  • c:\Documents and Settings\[current user]\Start Menu\Programs\Malware Defender 2009\Malware Defender 2009.lnk
  • c:\Documents and Settings\[current user]\Start Menu\Programs\Malware Defender 2009\Uninstall.lnk
  • c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Index\Drivers\hdddriver.dll
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\conf.cfg
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\malwaredef.exe
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\mbase.vdb
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\quarantine.vdb
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\queue.vdb
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\uninstall.exe
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\vbase.vdb

 

Symptoms

  • Presence of previously mentioned registry entries
  • Presence of previously mentioned files

Method of Infection

Trojan do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Distribution channels include spam emails, IRC, P2P networks, newsgroup postings, etc.

Removal

All Users:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants

    N/A

All Information

Overview -

-- Update March 11, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/11/symantec_social_engineering_attack/
--

FakeAlert-MalDef will install Malware Defender and run a virus scan on the system. It will falsely claim that it found viruses and will require the user to register the product to clean the system.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

FakeAlert-MalDef will install Malware Defender and run a virus scan on the system. It will falsely claim that it found viruses and will require the user to register the product to clean the system.

The following registry keys are added or modified:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Malware Defender 2009\Lic
     "HDDCheck" = 5229FFE094F1F66F09D68757D35A29ED
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    "malwaredef" = C:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\malwaredef.exe
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Defender 2009
    "DisplayName" = Malware Defender 2009
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Defender 2009
    "InstallDate" = 61104803803
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Defender 2009
    "UninstallString" = C:\Program Files\Malware Defender\uninstall.exe

The following files are added:

  • c:\Documents and Settings\[current user]\Start Menu\Programs\Malware Defender 2009\Malware Defender 2009.lnk
  • c:\Documents and Settings\[current user]\Start Menu\Programs\Malware Defender 2009\Uninstall.lnk
  • c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Media Index\Drivers\hdddriver.dll
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\conf.cfg
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\malwaredef.exe
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\mbase.vdb
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\quarantine.vdb
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\queue.vdb
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\uninstall.exe
  • c:\Program Files\Malware Defender 2009\vbase.vdb

 

Symptoms

Symptoms -

  • Presence of previously mentioned registry entries
  • Presence of previously mentioned files

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

Trojan do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Distribution channels include spam emails, IRC, P2P networks, newsgroup postings, etc.

Removal -

Removal -

All Users:
Use current engine and DAT files for detection and removal.

Modifications made to the system Registry and/or INI files for the purposes of hooking system startup, will be successfully removed if cleaning with the recommended engine and DAT combination (or higher).

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants -

    N/A