McAfee > Theat Center > Virus Detail Page

Overview

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Aliases

• Downloader.Trojan (Symantec)

• Trj/Vanti.U (Panda)

• TROJ_DLOADER.CBW (Trend)

• Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Delf.ade (AVP)

• Trojan.MulDrop.3308 (Dr Web)

Characteristics

Downloaders are designed to pull files from a remote website and execute the files that have been downloaded.

It is trivial for the malware author to modify the Downloader to refer to a different website or web address.
Therefore, it is not possible to guarantee which website and/or port is being communicated with.

Also, as the website being communicated with is normally controlled by the malware author, any files being downloaded can be remotely modified and the behaviour of these new binaries altered - possibly with every user infection.

The following activities were observed while testing this trojan:

Two files were added on the system:

• c:\program files\explored.exe ( 20,007 bytes ) 
• %WINDIR%\system32\systemld.dll  (24,064 bytes)

The trojan then configured itself to load at startup by writting a new registry key:

•   hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run
    \explored.exe="C:\Program Files\explored.exe"

Networks connections were made via ports 80 and 1084.

Symptoms

Presence of the files listed above, and reference of the file explored.exe in the registry key listed.

Desktop firewall program alerting that a foreign program is trying to access the Internet.

Method of Infection

Downloaders are not viruses, and as such do not themselves contain any method to replicate. However they may themselves be downloaded by other viruses and/or Trojans to be installed on the user's system.

Many of these additionally are mass spammed by the author to entice people into double-clicking on them.

Alternatively they may be installed by visiting a malicious web page (either by clicking on a link, or by the website hosting a scripted exploit which installs the Downloader onto the user's system with no user interaction.

Removal

AVERT recommends to always use latest DATs and engine. This threat will be cleaned if you have this combination.

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants

N/A

All Information

Overview -

This is a trojan detection. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that they are beneficial or wanted. The most common installation methods involve system or security exploitation, and unsuspecting users manually executing unknown programs. Distribution channels include email, malicious or hacked web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Aliases

• Downloader.Trojan (Symantec)

• Trj/Vanti.U (Panda)

• TROJ_DLOADER.CBW (Trend)

• Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Delf.ade (AVP)

• Trojan.MulDrop.3308 (Dr Web)

Characteristics

Characteristics -

Downloaders are designed to pull files from a remote website and execute the files that have been downloaded.

It is trivial for the malware author to modify the Downloader to refer to a different website or web address.
Therefore, it is not possible to guarantee which website and/or port is being communicated with.

Also, as the website being communicated with is normally controlled by the malware author, any files being downloaded can be remotely modified and the behaviour of these new binaries altered - possibly with every user infection.

The following activities were observed while testing this trojan:

Two files were added on the system:

• c:\program files\explored.exe ( 20,007 bytes ) 
• %WINDIR%\system32\systemld.dll  (24,064 bytes)

The trojan then configured itself to load at startup by writting a new registry key:

•   hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\run
    \explored.exe="C:\Program Files\explored.exe"

Networks connections were made via ports 80 and 1084.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

Presence of the files listed above, and reference of the file explored.exe in the registry key listed.

Desktop firewall program alerting that a foreign program is trying to access the Internet.

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

Downloaders are not viruses, and as such do not themselves contain any method to replicate. However they may themselves be downloaded by other viruses and/or Trojans to be installed on the user's system.

Many of these additionally are mass spammed by the author to entice people into double-clicking on them.

Alternatively they may be installed by visiting a malicious web page (either by clicking on a link, or by the website hosting a scripted exploit which installs the Downloader onto the user's system with no user interaction.

Removal -

Removal -

AVERT recommends to always use latest DATs and engine. This threat will be cleaned if you have this combination.

Additional Windows ME/XP removal considerations

Variants

Variants -

N/A