McAfee > Theat Center > Virus Detail Page

Overview

-- Update October 22, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/21/kanye_west_scareware

--

This is a detection for a trojan that displays misleading fake alerts to entice the user into buying a product to "repair" malware problems. This trojan may masquerade its malicious behavior, and victims are likely to have installed it thinking it is an innocent screensaver program.

Characteristics

-- Update October 22, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/21/kanye_west_scareware

--

This is a detection for a trojan that displays misleading fake alerts to entice the user into buying a product to "repair spyware or malware problems". This trojan may masquerade its malicious behavior, and victims are likely to have installed it thinking it is an innocent screensaver program.

When executed, the following registry entries are created:

• HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19_Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-854245398-796845957-1417001333-500_Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}

The following data/value pair is added for running itself:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Smart Virus Eliminator"
  Data: "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\bd3bf\SM7a4.exe" /s /d

The following files are added:

• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]\Local Settings\Temp\asp2009.exe
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]\Local Settings\Temp\SMVE.ico
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\Current User]\Local Settings\Temp\SMVESys\vd952342.bd
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]\Start Menu\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]Start Menu\Programs\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\bd3bf\SM7a4.exe
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SMVESys\smve.cfg
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]\Desktop\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk

These files are detected as FakeAlert-WPS.

Connections may also be made with the following domains:

• freeav[removed].com
• prest[removed].cn
• gurus[removed].com

The malware will run a fake scan of the host, and intermittantely pop up fake infection warnings. These warnings may appear like the below images:

A fake update warning:

A false warning for remote data leaking:

A false bot infection:

A false Trojan infection:

Symptoms

• Presence of the aforementioned files and registry entries.
• Unexpected network connections to the aforementioned domains.

Method of Infection

Trojans do not self-replicate. They spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Trojans may also be received as a result of poor security practices, or un-patched machines and vulnerable systems. Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer networks, email, newsgroups 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 October 22, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/21/kanye_west_scareware

--

This is a detection for a trojan that displays misleading fake alerts to entice the user into buying a product to "repair" malware problems. This trojan may masquerade its malicious behavior, and victims are likely to have installed it thinking it is an innocent screensaver program.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

-- Update October 22, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/21/kanye_west_scareware

--

This is a detection for a trojan that displays misleading fake alerts to entice the user into buying a product to "repair spyware or malware problems". This trojan may masquerade its malicious behavior, and victims are likely to have installed it thinking it is an innocent screensaver program.

When executed, the following registry entries are created:

• HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19_Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-854245398-796845957-1417001333-500_Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}

The following data/value pair is added for running itself:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Smart Virus Eliminator"
  Data: "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\bd3bf\SM7a4.exe" /s /d

The following files are added:

• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]\Local Settings\Temp\asp2009.exe
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]\Local Settings\Temp\SMVE.ico
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\Current User]\Local Settings\Temp\SMVESys\vd952342.bd
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]\Start Menu\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]Start Menu\Programs\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\bd3bf\SM7a4.exe
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SMVESys\smve.cfg
• %SysRoot%\Documents and Settings\[Current User]\Desktop\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk

These files are detected as FakeAlert-WPS.

Connections may also be made with the following domains:

• freeav[removed].com
• prest[removed].cn
• gurus[removed].com

The malware will run a fake scan of the host, and intermittantely pop up fake infection warnings. These warnings may appear like the below images:

A fake update warning:

A false warning for remote data leaking:

A false bot infection:

A false Trojan infection:

Symptoms

Symptoms -

• Presence of the aforementioned files and registry entries.
• Unexpected network connections to the aforementioned domains.

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

Trojans do not self-replicate. They spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Trojans may also be received as a result of poor security practices, or un-patched machines and vulnerable systems. Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer networks, email, newsgroups 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