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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.


What is TheDefend?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that TheDefend 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 TheDefend?

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:









And find this in your Windows Security Center:



How did TheDefend get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was downloaded by another trojan, but a less intrusive version can be downloaded from their home-page.

How do I remove TheDefend?

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 TheDefend?

No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes TheDefend 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 TheDefend 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\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\3boum4sx.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\0hl9pwlm.exe
C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend\TheDefend.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [000cb77d.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\000cb77d.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [000d88cc.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\000d88cc.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [3boum4sx.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\3boum4sx.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TheDefend.exe] C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend\TheDefend.exe

Note: the number of randomized startup entries can vary, depending on the install, from zero for the clean installer to several when it was dumped by the trojan.

Alterations made by the installer:

File System
  ===============
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
	  Adds the file TheDefend.lnk = 13:41 19/12/09 777 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\TheDefend
	  Adds the file 3 Uninstall.lnk = 13:41 19/12/09 1697 bytes
	  Adds the file 2 Homepage.lnk = 13:41 19/12/09 1164 bytes
	  Adds the file 1 TheDefend.lnk = 13:41 19/12/09 1697 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp
	  Adds the file 0hl9pwlm.exe = 13:38 19/12/09 40448 bytes
	  Adds the file 3boum4sx.exe = 13:38 19/12/09 360960 bytes
	  Adds the file lv95agj5.exe = 13:38 19/12/09 1735145 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend
	  Adds the file uninstall.exe = 13:41 19/12/09 75638 bytes
	  Adds the file TheDefend.exe = 13:41 19/12/09 1638912 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32
	  Adds the file 000cba8b.exe = 13:38 19/12/09 40448 bytes
	  Adds the file 3boum4sx.exe = 13:38 19/12/09 360960 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*]
	  "000cba8b.exe"="-559030596"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TheDefend]
	  "Install_Dir"="'C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend'"
	  "Lang"="'English'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "000cba8b.exe"="'C:\WINDOWS\system32\000cba8b.exe'
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\TheDefend]
	  "NoRepair"="1"
	  "NoModify"="1"
	  "UninstallString"="'C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend\uninstall.exe'"
	  "DisplayName"="'TheDefend'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TheDefend]
	  "AgentsSettings"="1"
	  "CurrentVersion"="'771eb5b6f272744584a5567cff88f8a7822ebcb793afa9f7241dae99c29638f5b31d26c14869
cc06c667274904dad2815e2382b23d0291fe2c877a7c2bc1926bb9bd973888e35a575e06fbed2dff
c
1c53a256632dbf82d77c28267a6c1743a04c40b5bfb012dc0bf4ef5d4737060d5b9'
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "3boum4sx.exe"="'C:\WINDOWS\system32\3boum4sx.exe'"
	  "TheDefend.exe"="'C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend\TheDefend.exe'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.42
Database version: 3392
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

12/19/2009 2:00:50 PM
mbam-log-2009-12-19 (14-00-50).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 94848
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 38 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 2
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 3
Registry Values Infected: 3
Folders Infected: 3
Files Infected: 11

Memory Processes Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\Metallica\Local Settings\Temp\0hl9pwlm.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Unloaded process successfully.
C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend\TheDefend.exe (Rogue.Multiple) -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\TheDefend (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TheDefend (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\TheDefend (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\000cba8b.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert.H) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\thedefend.exe (Rogue.Multiple) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\3boum4sx.exe (Rogue.Installer) -> Delete on reboot.

Folders Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\TheDefend (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\000cba8b.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert.H) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Metallica\Local Settings\Temp\0hl9pwlm.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend\TheDefend.exe (Rogue.Multiple) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\WINDOWS\system32\3boum4sx.exe (Rogue.Installer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\Metallica\Local Settings\Temp\3boum4sx.exe (Rogue.Installer) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\Metallica\Local Settings\Temp\lv95agj5.exe (Rogue.Installer) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\TheDefend\1 TheDefend.lnk (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\TheDefend\2 Homepage.lnk (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\TheDefend\3 Uninstall.lnk (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\TheDefend Software\TheDefend\uninstall.exe (Rogue.TheDefend) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\TheDefend.LNK (Rogue.TheDefend) -> 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.