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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is PC Spider?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PC Spider 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 PC Spider?

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 PC Spider get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.

How do I remove PC Spider?

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 PC Spider?

• The shortcut called PC-Spider on the desktop can be deleted if it belonged to the rogue. If you are unsure, compare the icon to the one posted above.

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 PC Spider 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:\Program Files\PC-Spider\pcspiux.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PC-Spider] C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\pcspiup.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

  File System
  ===============
    In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
      Adds the file PC-Spider.lnk"="15:11 14/01/12 1512 bytes
    In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu
      Adds the file PC-Spider.lnk"="15:11 14/01/12 1512 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\PC-Spider
      Adds the file uninstall.exe"="15:05 14/01/12 110592 bytes
      Adds the file psicon.ico"="15:05 14/01/12 43646 bytes
      Adds the file pcspiux.exe"="15:05 14/01/12 2449408 bytes
      Adds the file pcspiup.exe"="15:11 14/01/12 122880 bytes
      Adds the file pcspieye.exe"="15:05 14/01/12 208896 bytes
      Adds the file libmysql.dll"="15:05 14/01/12 249856 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\DataBase
      Adds the file PCSpiData042.cft"="15:11 14/01/12 145620 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData041.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 125581 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData040.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 29596 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData039.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 31569 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData038.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 22884 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData037.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 34729 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData036.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 27302 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData035.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 29460 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData034.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 29888 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData033.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 30874 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData032.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 31476 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData031.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 20800 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData030.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 28365 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData029.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 26391 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData028.cft"="15:10 14/01/12 19069 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData027.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 19735 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData026.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 27929 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData025.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 26699 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData024.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 28527 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData023.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 11416 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData022.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 3740 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData021.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 17586 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData020.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 8276 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData019.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 33167 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData018.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 166244 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData017.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 230121 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData016.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 209418 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData015.cft"="15:09 14/01/12 207475 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData014.cft"="15:08 14/01/12 167998 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData013.cft"="15:08 14/01/12 232224 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData012.cft"="15:08 14/01/12 232169 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData011.cft"="15:08 14/01/12 203096 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData010.cft"="15:07 14/01/12 246586 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData009.cft"="15:07 14/01/12 197251 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData008.cft"="15:07 14/01/12 241313 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData007.cft"="15:07 14/01/12 233457 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData006.cft"="15:07 14/01/12 177283 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData005.cft"="15:06 14/01/12 247673 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData004.cft"="15:06 14/01/12 249015 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData003.cft"="15:06 14/01/12 259309 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData002.cft"="15:06 14/01/12 223744 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData001.cft"="15:06 14/01/12 253789 bytes
      Adds the file PCSpiData000.cft"="15:06 14/01/12 246228 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\pcspiup.exe]
      "(Default)"="'C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\pcspiup.exe'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\PC-Spider\Settings]
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\PC-Spider\Recent File List]
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC-Spider]
      "Update"="'1'"
      "Inst"="'C:\Program Files\PC-Spider'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC-Spider\Update]
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC-Spider\Sys_b]
      "2012-01-14-15-21"="'2012-01-14-15-21'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PC-Spider\Setup]
      "AutoRun"="'0'"
      "Tray"="'0'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\New Windows\Allow]
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PC-Spider]
      "UninstallString"="'C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\uninstall.exe'"
      "DisplayName"="'PC-Spider'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
      "NoRecentDocsMenu"="1"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
      "PC-Spider"="'C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\pcspiup.exe'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.60.0.1800
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: v2012.01.14.02

Windows XP Service Pack 3 x86 NTFS
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702
{username} :: MBAM-D3E8C91ACC [administrator]

1/14/2012 3:24:40 PM
mbam-log-2012-01-14 (15-24-40).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 149549
Time elapsed: 1 minute(s), 3 second(s)

Memory Processes Detected: 1
C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\pcspiux.exe (Trojan.FakeAV.K) -> 1380 -> Delete on reboot.

Memory Modules Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Detected: 1
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\pcspiup.exe (Rogue.PCSpider) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Detected: 1
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run|PC-Spider (Trojan.Downloader.K) -> Data: C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\pcspiup.exe -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files Detected: 3
C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\pcspiux.exe (Trojan.FakeAV.K) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Program Files\PC-Spider\pcspiup.exe (Trojan.Downloader.K) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\PS_Setup.exe (Rogue.Installer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

(end)

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
• Malware Execution Prevention

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.