Content

FakeAlert-DI

Type
Trojan
SubType
Win32
Discovery Date
05/28/2009
Length
varies
Minimum DAT
5629 (05/28/2009)
Updated DAT
5761 (10/04/2009)
Minimum Engine
5.2.00
Description Added
05/28/2009
Description Modified
09/29/2009 10:06 PM (PT)
Risk Assessment
Corporate User
Low
Home User
Low

Tab Navigation

Characteristics

----Updated September 30, 2009-----

Rogue Antivirus Softaware "Personal Antivirus" has been repackaged and now called "Alpha Antivirus".

The following websites host this new family:

  • mycompinfo17.com
  • internetantivirusproscanner.com
  • mycomputeronlinescan11.com
  • internetsecurityscan.com

The following files are added upon execution:

  • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\start menu\AlphaAV\Alpha Antivirus.lnk
  • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\start menu\AlphaAV\uninstall.lnk
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\uninstall\AlphaAV\uninstall.lnk
  • %PROGRAMFILES%\AlphaAV\AlphaAV.exe - detected as FakeAlert-DI
  • %USERPROFILE%\desktop\Alpha Antivirus.lnk
  • %WINDIR%\system32\msnaoladdon.dll - detected as FakeAlert-EQ

The following registry is added:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\Run\
AlphaAV= c:\program files\AlphaAV\AlphaAV.exe

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{a77d3539-581d-450c-9e44-a84c415a6172}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{a77d3539-581d-450c-9e44-a84c415a6172}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{a77d3539-581d-450c-9e44-a84c415a6172}

Then it launches the Alpha Antivirus to show fake malware scan reports.

Other pop-up messages:

 

---------------

This Trojan is usually downloaded from malicious websites performing fake online scan. The following are some website that hosts this Trojan:

  • spyware-scannerv3.com
  • thesecureyourpc.com

This can also be downloaded by Generic FakeAlert!htm and saves it as %USERPROFILE%\local settings\temp\setup-{random}.exe

Upon execution, it downloads Rogue Antispyware Softaware "Personal Antivirus" from the above website and executes it.

The following files are added:

  • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\start menu\personalav\personal antivirus.lnk
  • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\start menu\personalav\uninstall.lnk
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\uninstall\personalav\uninstall.lnk
  • %PROGRAMFILES%\personalav\pav.exe - detected as FakeAlert-DI
  • %USERPROFILE%\desktop\personal antivirus.lnk
  • %WINDIR%\system32\msxmlm.dll - detected as FakeAlert-EQ

Note:%WinDir% = \WINDOWS (Windows 9x/ME/XP/Vista), \WINNT (Windows NT/2000)
%SystemDir% = \WINDOWS\SYSTEM (Windows 98/ME), \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 (Windows XP/Vista), \WINNT\SYSTEM32 (Windows NT/2000)
%ProgramFiles% = \Program Files

The following registry is added:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\run\
personalav = c:\program files\personalav\pav.exe

The trojan shows the following fake warnings in bubble warning.

Then it launches the Personal Antivirus to show fake malware scan reports.

Then it asks the infected user to register and purchase the product to remove the infection.

Symptoms

Presence of the mentioned files and registry keys

Method of Infection

Trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer 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 -

----Updated September 30, 2009-----

Personal Antivirus has been repackaged as Alpha Antivirus.

-------------

This is a detection for a trojan that displays misleading fake alerts to entice the user into buying a product to "repair" malware problems.

 

Characteristics

Characteristics -

----Updated September 30, 2009-----

Rogue Antivirus Softaware "Personal Antivirus" has been repackaged and now called "Alpha Antivirus".

The following websites host this new family:

  • mycompinfo17.com
  • internetantivirusproscanner.com
  • mycomputeronlinescan11.com
  • internetsecurityscan.com

The following files are added upon execution:

  • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\start menu\AlphaAV\Alpha Antivirus.lnk
  • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\start menu\AlphaAV\uninstall.lnk
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\uninstall\AlphaAV\uninstall.lnk
  • %PROGRAMFILES%\AlphaAV\AlphaAV.exe - detected as FakeAlert-DI
  • %USERPROFILE%\desktop\Alpha Antivirus.lnk
  • %WINDIR%\system32\msnaoladdon.dll - detected as FakeAlert-EQ

The following registry is added:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\Run\
AlphaAV= c:\program files\AlphaAV\AlphaAV.exe

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{a77d3539-581d-450c-9e44-a84c415a6172}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{a77d3539-581d-450c-9e44-a84c415a6172}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{a77d3539-581d-450c-9e44-a84c415a6172}

Then it launches the Alpha Antivirus to show fake malware scan reports.

Other pop-up messages:

 

---------------

This Trojan is usually downloaded from malicious websites performing fake online scan. The following are some website that hosts this Trojan:

  • spyware-scannerv3.com
  • thesecureyourpc.com

This can also be downloaded by Generic FakeAlert!htm and saves it as %USERPROFILE%\local settings\temp\setup-{random}.exe

Upon execution, it downloads Rogue Antispyware Softaware "Personal Antivirus" from the above website and executes it.

The following files are added:

  • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\start menu\personalav\personal antivirus.lnk
  • %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\start menu\personalav\uninstall.lnk
  • %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\uninstall\personalav\uninstall.lnk
  • %PROGRAMFILES%\personalav\pav.exe - detected as FakeAlert-DI
  • %USERPROFILE%\desktop\personal antivirus.lnk
  • %WINDIR%\system32\msxmlm.dll - detected as FakeAlert-EQ

Note:%WinDir% = \WINDOWS (Windows 9x/ME/XP/Vista), \WINNT (Windows NT/2000)
%SystemDir% = \WINDOWS\SYSTEM (Windows 98/ME), \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 (Windows XP/Vista), \WINNT\SYSTEM32 (Windows NT/2000)
%ProgramFiles% = \Program Files

The following registry is added:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\currentversion\run\
personalav = c:\program files\personalav\pav.exe

The trojan shows the following fake warnings in bubble warning.

Then it launches the Personal Antivirus to show fake malware scan reports.

Then it asks the infected user to register and purchase the product to remove the infection.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

Presence of the mentioned files and registry keys

Method of Infection

Method of Infection -

Trojans do not self-replicate. They are spread manually, often under the premise that the executable is something beneficial. Distribution channels include IRC, peer-to-peer 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