McAfee > Theat Center > Virus Detail Page

Overview

Overview -
-- Update July 23, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/21/andrews_video_malware_ruse/

--

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 e-mail, malicious or hacked Web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Characteristics

Overview -
-- Update July 23, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/21/andrews_video_malware_ruse/

--

This Trojan is downloaded by FakeAlert-DA.

This is usually save in the following folder:

• %Temp%\a.exe
• %Temp%\b.exe
• %Temp%\c.exe

Once executed it drops the following files:

• %Windir%\msa.exe - detected as FakeAlert-EL
• %SystemDir%\msxml71.dll - detected as FakeAlert-EQ
• %Windir%\Tasks\{5B57CF47-0BFA-43c6-ACF9-3B3653DCADBA}.job
• %Windir%\Tasks\{783AF354-B514-42d6-970E-3E8BF0A5279C}.job

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)

It then creates autostart entry in the registry:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\

Cognac = %Temp%\b.exe"

It also creates other registries:

• HKCU\Software\Cognac
• HKCU\Software\ColdWare

Symptoms

This symptoms of this detection are the files, registry, and network communication referenced in the characteristics section.

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, e-mail, 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 -

Overview -
-- Update July 23, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/21/andrews_video_malware_ruse/

--

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 e-mail, malicious or hacked Web pages, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), peer-to-peer networks, etc.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

Overview -
-- Update July 23, 2009 --
The risk assessment of this threat has been updated to Low-Profiled due to media attention at:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/21/andrews_video_malware_ruse/

--

This Trojan is downloaded by FakeAlert-DA.

This is usually save in the following folder:

• %Temp%\a.exe
• %Temp%\b.exe
• %Temp%\c.exe

Once executed it drops the following files:

• %Windir%\msa.exe - detected as FakeAlert-EL
• %SystemDir%\msxml71.dll - detected as FakeAlert-EQ
• %Windir%\Tasks\{5B57CF47-0BFA-43c6-ACF9-3B3653DCADBA}.job
• %Windir%\Tasks\{783AF354-B514-42d6-970E-3E8BF0A5279C}.job

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)

It then creates autostart entry in the registry:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\

Cognac = %Temp%\b.exe"

It also creates other registries:

• HKCU\Software\Cognac
• HKCU\Software\ColdWare

Symptoms

Symptoms -

This symptoms of this detection are the files, registry, and network communication referenced in the characteristics section.

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, e-mail, 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