Content

BraveSentry

Type
Trojan
SubType
Win32
Discovery Date
05/10/2006
Length
Varies
Minimum DAT
4717 (03/13/2006)
Updated DAT
6546 (11/30/2011)
Minimum Engine
5.1.00
Description Added
03/13/2006
Description Modified
11/15/2007 7:35 PM (PT)
Risk Assessment
Corporate User
Low-Profiled
Home User
Low-Profiled

Tab Navigation

Characteristics

-- Update November 15, 2007 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/articles/print.cfm?articleid=97582
--

BraveSentry is a rogue security program that is designed to scan and detect malware on a computer. It may generate false reports in order to lure the user into purchasing their product.

Such a program usually may be installed without user notice and consent. Once installed, BraveSentry generates an active desktop icon.

It creates the following registry key to hook at system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Brave-Sentry: "%TrojDir%\BraveSentry.exe"

(where %TrojDir% is the directory where the trojan was run from)

It also creates the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\DisplayIcon: "%TrojDir%\BraveSentry.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\DisplayName: "Brave-Sentry"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\URLInfoAbout: "http:://www.bravesentry.com/"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\HelpLink: "http://www.bravesentry.com/"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\UninstallString: ""%TrojDir%\Uninstall.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\Scan\AutomaticDeletion: 0x00000000
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\AutomaticStartup: 0x00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\EnableScheduledScan: 0x00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\HScheduledScan: 0x00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\MScheduledScan: 0x00000001

BraveSentry regularly displays a warning alert of potential threats, urging users to purchase the product.

The free version of the software usually only allows users to scan their computers. In order to clean or delete any elements identified as threats, you must enter a valid serial number to activate the software, which requires purchase of the full version.

 


 

Symptoms

  • The appearance of Windows-like security warnings

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).

But in some particular cases, the following steps need to be taken.

Please go to the Microsoft Recovery Console and restore a clean MBR.

On Windows XP:

  • Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the computer.
  • When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
  • Select the Windows installation that is compromised and provide the administrator password.
  • Issue 'fixmbr' command to restore the Master Boot Record
  • Follow onscreen instructions.
  • Reset and remove the CD from CD-ROM drive.


On Windows Vista and 7:

  • Insert the Windows CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the computer.
  • Click on "Repair Your Computer".
  • When the System Recovery Options dialog comes up, choose the Command Prompt.
  • Issue 'bootrec /fixmbr' command to restore the Master Boot Record.
  • Follow onscreen instructions.
  • Reset and remove the CD from CD-ROM drive.

Variants

Variants

    N/A

All Information

Overview -

BraveSentry is a rogue security program that is designed to scan and detect malware on a computer. It may generate false reports in order to lure the user into purchasing their product. This trojan displays a security warning regularly and may be installed without user notice or consent.

-- Update November 15, 2007 --
Variants of BraveSentry have been observed containing modified aesthetic elements.  Some additional examples of BraveSentry’s visual characteristics are as follows.



Aliases

  • Adware_BraveSentry
  • not-a-virus:FraudTool.Win32.BraveSentry.b
  • SpySheriff

Characteristics

Characteristics -

-- Update November 15, 2007 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/articles/print.cfm?articleid=97582
--

BraveSentry is a rogue security program that is designed to scan and detect malware on a computer. It may generate false reports in order to lure the user into purchasing their product.

Such a program usually may be installed without user notice and consent. Once installed, BraveSentry generates an active desktop icon.

It creates the following registry key to hook at system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Brave-Sentry: "%TrojDir%\BraveSentry.exe"

(where %TrojDir% is the directory where the trojan was run from)

It also creates the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\DisplayIcon: "%TrojDir%\BraveSentry.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\DisplayName: "Brave-Sentry"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\URLInfoAbout: "http:://www.bravesentry.com/"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\HelpLink: "http://www.bravesentry.com/"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Brave-Sentry\UninstallString: ""%TrojDir%\Uninstall.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\Scan\AutomaticDeletion: 0x00000000
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\AutomaticStartup: 0x00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\EnableScheduledScan: 0x00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\HScheduledScan: 0x00000001
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Brave-Sentry\MScheduledScan: 0x00000001

BraveSentry regularly displays a warning alert of potential threats, urging users to purchase the product.

The free version of the software usually only allows users to scan their computers. In order to clean or delete any elements identified as threats, you must enter a valid serial number to activate the software, which requires purchase of the full version.

 


 

Symptoms

Symptoms -

  • The appearance of Windows-like security warnings

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).

But in some particular cases, the following steps need to be taken.

Please go to the Microsoft Recovery Console and restore a clean MBR.

On Windows XP:

  • Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the computer.
  • When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
  • Select the Windows installation that is compromised and provide the administrator password.
  • Issue 'fixmbr' command to restore the Master Boot Record
  • Follow onscreen instructions.
  • Reset and remove the CD from CD-ROM drive.


On Windows Vista and 7:

  • Insert the Windows CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the computer.
  • Click on "Repair Your Computer".
  • When the System Recovery Options dialog comes up, choose the Command Prompt.
  • Issue 'bootrec /fixmbr' command to restore the Master Boot Record.
  • Follow onscreen instructions.
  • Reset and remove the CD from CD-ROM drive.

Variants

Variants -

    N/A