Removal instructions for ErrorWiz

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is ErrorWiz?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that ErrorWiz 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 ErrorWiz?

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 this warning during install and start-up:



How did ErrorWiz get on my computer?

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

How do I remove ErrorWiz?

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 ErrorWiz?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes ErrorWiz completely.

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 ErrorWiz 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:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ErrorWiz] C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\ErrorWiz.exe /scan

Alterations made by the installer:

File system 
---------------------------------------------
	Adds the folder C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz
	   Adds the file blockprocess.dll"="10/1/2009 11:29 AM, 671984 bytes, A
	   Adds the file ErrorWiz.exe"="10/1/2009 11:29 AM, 8023280 bytes, A
	   Adds the file ErrorWiz.exe.manifest"="10/25/2007 8:15 AM, 868 bytes, A
	   Adds the file unins000.dat"="2/20/2010 12:53 PM, 2100 bytes, A
	   Adds the file unins000.exe"="2/20/2010 12:52 PM, 708378 bytes, A
	Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ErrorWiz
	   Adds the file ErrorWiz on the Web.pif"="2/20/2010 12:53 PM, 2855 bytes, A
	   Adds the file ErrorWiz.lnk"="2/20/2010 12:53 PM, 770 bytes, A
	   Adds the file Uninstall ErrorWiz.lnk"="2/20/2010 12:53 PM, 770 bytes, A
	Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\ErrorWiz
	   Adds the file settings.ini"="2/20/2010 12:59 PM, 238 bytes, A
	In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
	   Adds the file ErrorWiz.lnk"="2/20/2010 12:53 PM, 776 bytes, A
	In the existing folder C:\Users\Public\Desktop
	   Adds the file ErrorWiz.lnk"="2/20/2010 12:53 PM, 752 bytes, A


Registry
------------------------------------------
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	   "ErrorWiz"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\ErrorWiz.exe /scan"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{73E0BD4D-0A0F-4C5D-BDB0-FC2B18ADDE1A}_is1]
	   "DisplayName"="REG_SZ, "ErrorWiz 1.3"
	   "HelpLink"="REG_SZ, "www.errorwiz.com"
	   "Inno Setup: App Path"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz"
	   "Inno Setup: Deselected Tasks"="REG_SZ, ""
	   "Inno Setup: Icon Group"="REG_SZ, "ErrorWiz"
	   "Inno Setup: Selected Tasks"="REG_SZ, "desktopicon,quicklaunchicon"
	   "Inno Setup: Setup Version"="REG_SZ, "5.2.3"
	   "Inno Setup: User"="REG_SZ, "{username}"
	   "InstallDate"="REG_SZ, "20100220"
	   "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\"
	   "NoModify"="REG_DWORD, 1
	   "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD, 1
	   "Publisher"="REG_SZ, "SolidQuest Inc."
	   "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\unins000.exe" /SILENT"
	   "UninstallString"="REG_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\unins000.exe""
	   "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ, "www.errorwiz.com"
	   "URLUpdateInfo"="REG_SZ, "www.errorwiz.com"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.44
Database version: 3767
Windows 6.0.6000
Internet Explorer 7.0.6000.16386

2/20/2010 8:00:48 PM
mbam-log-2010-02-20 (20-00-48).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 95247
Time elapsed: 7 minute(s), 7 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 2
Files Infected: 8

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{73E0BD4D-0A0F-4C5D-BDB0-FC2B18ADDE1A}_is1 (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\ErrorWiz (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\ErrorWiz\settings.ini (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\blockprocess.dll (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\ErrorWiz.exe (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\ErrorWiz.exe.manifest (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\unins000.dat (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\ErrorWiz\unins000.exe (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Public\Desktop\ErrorWiz.lnk (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\ErrorWiz.lnk (Rogue.ErrorWiz) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

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.