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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is CloudGuard?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that CloudGuard is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.

How do I know if my computer is affected by CloudGuard?

You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:



and this Scheduled Task:



How did CloudGuard get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was offered as a parental control.


How do I remove CloudGuard?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

• Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  • Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
  • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Scan now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
• When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
• Reboot your computer if prompted.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of CloudGuard?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes CloudGuard completely.
• This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the CloudGuard adware. 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

You will see this sign in a HijackThis log:

O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{86308DB8-906A-4644-BFB4-ACEB40A65B72}: NameServer = 31.168.224.106,5.135.12.52

You may see these entries in FRST logs:

 (www.CloudGuard.me) C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\CloudGuard.exe
 Tcpip\..\Interfaces\{86308DB8-906A-4644-BFB4-ACEB40A65B72}: [NameServer] 31.168.224.106,5.135.12.52
 () C:\Program Files\CloudGuard

 Task: {EDFF3E8C-6BB7-421F-A360-BB6660939788} - System32\Tasks\CloudScout => C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\CloudGuard.exe [2014-10-26] (www.CloudGuard.me) <==== ATTENTION

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  
---------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CloudGuard
       Adds the file CloudGuard.exe"="10/26/2014 1:01 AM, 528384 bytes, A
       Adds the file config.ini"="11/4/2014 4:20 AM, 893 bytes, A
       Adds the file Info.rtf"="8/20/2014 3:48 PM, 1274 bytes, A
       Adds the file License.rtf"="11/4/2014 3:45 AM, 13694 bytes, A
       Adds the file uninstall.exe"="3/27/2015 8:36 AM, 156665 bytes, A
       Adds the file ZonaTools.XPlorerBar.dll"="10/26/2014 1:00 AM, 67584 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks
       Adds the file CloudScout"="3/27/2015 8:36 AM, 5254 bytes, A

Registry details  
------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CloudGuard]
       "Install_Dir"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\CloudGuard"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\CloudGuard]
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "CloudScout Parental Control"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.10"
       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\CloudGuard.exe"
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "CloudGuard.me"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\uninstall.exe" /S"
       "VersionMajor"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "VersionMinor"="REG_DWORD", 10

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 3/27/2015
Scan Time: 8:52:33 AM
Logfile: mbamCloudGuard.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.01.0.1004
Malware Database: v2015.03.27.04
Rootkit Database: v2015.03.26.01
License: Free
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Disabled
Self-protection: Disabled

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x86
File System: NTFS
User: Malwarebytes

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 298053
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 26 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\CloudGuard.exe, 2896, Delete-on-Reboot, [a9d71a301d6dc67063ec10f633cf3ec2]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 2
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\CloudGuard, Quarantined, [fb85a1a9177364d21d94d471040124dc], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLOUDGUARD, Quarantined, [c1bf4802850568ce92dda82219eabf41], 

Registry Values: 1
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLOUDGUARD|Install_Dir, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard, Quarantined, [c1bf4802850568ce92dda82219eabf41]

Registry Data: 1
Trojan.DNSChanger, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS\Interfaces\{86308DB8-906A-4644-BFB4-ACEB40A65B72}|NameServer, 31.168.224.106,5.135.12.52, Good: (), Bad: (31.168.224.106,5.135.12.52),Replaced,[116f84c629613ff7b8eefbffa75e21df]

Folders: 2
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\CloudGuard, Quarantined, [9fe1e466a5e5ff372c425b6fa360bd43], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard, Delete-on-Reboot, [fb85a1a9177364d21d94d471040124dc], 

Files: 11
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\CloudGuard.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [a9d71a301d6dc67063ec10f633cf3ec2], 
PUP.Optional.CloudScout.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\CloudScout.exe, Quarantined, [344c09418ffb023484c2351152b0ce32], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\CloudGuard\config.ini, Quarantined, [9fe1e466a5e5ff372c425b6fa360bd43], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\CloudGuard\ConsoleApplication1.dll, Quarantined, [9fe1e466a5e5ff372c425b6fa360bd43], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\License.rtf, Quarantined, [fb85a1a9177364d21d94d471040124dc], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\config.ini, Quarantined, [fb85a1a9177364d21d94d471040124dc], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\Info.rtf, Quarantined, [fb85a1a9177364d21d94d471040124dc], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\settings.ini, Quarantined, [fb85a1a9177364d21d94d471040124dc], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [fb85a1a9177364d21d94d471040124dc], 
PUP.Optional.CloudGuard.A, C:\Program Files\CloudGuard\ZonaTools.XPlorerBar.dll, Quarantined, [fb85a1a9177364d21d94d471040124dc], 
PUP.Optional.CloudScout.A, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\CloudScout, Quarantined, [562a73d7c9c16fc7e9c9d96c7b8a9868], 

Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(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.