What is Security Tool?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Security Tool is a fake anti-malware application. These so-called "rogues" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have been compromised. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these threats. In extreme cases the false threats are actually the very trojans that advertise or even directly install the rogue. You are strongly advised to follow our removal instructions below.
How do I know if I am infected with Security Tool?
This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:
You will find these icons on your desktop and in your taskbar:
And see these warnings:
How did Security Tool get on my computer?
Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.
How do I remove Security Tool?
Our program Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can detect and remove this rogue application.
- Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.
- Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
- Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
- Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
- Then click Finish.
- If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
- Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
- When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
- Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. Reboot your computer if prompted.
- When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.
Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Security Tool?
- The rogue replaces your hosts file, so you may have to restore the old one. You can find third-party hosts file alternatives at hpHosts or at mvps.org or you can simply reset the default hosts file as outlined here by Microsoft.
How would the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware help protect me?
We hope our application has helped you eradicate this malicious software. If your current security solution let this infection through, you might please consider purchasing the FULL version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware for additional protection.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Security Tool rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
Signs in a HijackThis log:
C:\DOCUME~1\ALLUSE~1\APPLIC~1\69895542\69895542.exe O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.com O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.de O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.fr O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.co.uk O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.com.br O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.it O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.es O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.co.jp O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.com.mx O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.ca O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.com.au O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.nl O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.co.za O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.be O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.gr O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.at O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.se O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.ch O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.pt O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.dk O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.fi O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.ie O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 www.google.no O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 search.yahoo.com O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 us.search.yahoo.com O1 - Hosts: 78.159.110.42 uk.search.yahoo.com O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [69895542] C:\DOCUME~1\ALLUSE~1\APPLIC~1\69895542\69895542.exe
Note: the name of the main executable is random. In this case it was 69895542.exe
Alterations made by the installer:
File System
===============
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\69895542
Adds the file 69895542.exe = 20:20 18/12/09 1192510 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
Adds the file Security Tool.lnk = 20:21 18/12/09 774 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs
Adds the file Security Tool.lnk = 20:21 18/12/09 780 bytes
In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
Alters the file hosts
12:00 28/02/06 734 bytes ==> 20:20 18/12/09 1523 bytes
Registry
===============
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\69895542]
"FirstRun = .S. ...@"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"69895542"="C:\DOCUME~1\ALLUSE~1\APPLIC~1\69895542\69895542.exe"Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.42 Database version: 3386 Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180 12/18/2009 8:34:09 PM mbam-log-2009-12-18 (20-34-09).txt Scan type: Quick Scan Objects scanned: 94677 Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 41 second(s) Memory Processes Infected: 1 Memory Modules Infected: 0 Registry Keys Infected: 0 Registry Values Infected: 1 Registry Data Items Infected: 0 Folders Infected: 1 Files Infected: 3 Memory Processes Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\69895542\69895542.exe (Rogue.SecurityTool) -> Unloaded process successfully. Memory Modules Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Values Infected: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\69895542 (Trojan.FakeAlert.H) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Data Items Infected: (No malicious items detected) Folders Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\69895542 (Rogue.Multiple) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Files Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\69895542\69895542.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert.H) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\Metallica\Desktop\Security Tool.LNK (Rogue.SecurityTool) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\Metallica\Start Menu\Programs\Security Tool.LNK (Rogue.SecurityTool) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention
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