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.

Characteristics

This spyware trojan is created with the Hiddukel application. This application is designed to build files for the purpose of spying on others. The application itself is detected as the Hiddukel application with the command-line scanner and the /PROGRAM switch (or VirusScan 7), while the trojans it creates are detected as Spy-Hiddukel.

The Spy-Hiddukel trojan can vary from sample to sample as various options can be specified at the time of creation. For example, it can change what applications it will monitor, timing triggers, whether it stays resident in memory, or filenames. This description is meant simply as a guide. Newer variants of this trojan may require the latest DAT/Engine files.

Typically the executable will be copied to the WINDOWS SYSTEM directory as Hiddukel.exe and Hiddekel.dll (though almost any valid file name is possible).

The following registry entry is created: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command\
"(Default)" = "%trojan path%" "%1" %*

Event-logging includes: Application usage, client IP address, typed keystrokes or other input etc.

This data can be mailed to an address specified by the author, as well as the SMTP server to be used for mailing.

Symptoms

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

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, email, 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 -

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.

Characteristics

Characteristics -

This spyware trojan is created with the Hiddukel application. This application is designed to build files for the purpose of spying on others. The application itself is detected as the Hiddukel application with the command-line scanner and the /PROGRAM switch (or VirusScan 7), while the trojans it creates are detected as Spy-Hiddukel.

The Spy-Hiddukel trojan can vary from sample to sample as various options can be specified at the time of creation. For example, it can change what applications it will monitor, timing triggers, whether it stays resident in memory, or filenames. This description is meant simply as a guide. Newer variants of this trojan may require the latest DAT/Engine files.

Typically the executable will be copied to the WINDOWS SYSTEM directory as Hiddukel.exe and Hiddekel.dll (though almost any valid file name is possible).

The following registry entry is created: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command\
"(Default)" = "%trojan path%" "%1" %*

Event-logging includes: Application usage, client IP address, typed keystrokes or other input etc.

This data can be mailed to an address specified by the author, as well as the SMTP server to be used for mailing.

Symptoms

Symptoms -

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

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, email, 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