What is MalwareRemovalBot?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that MalwareRemovalBot 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 MalwareRemovalBot?
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 MalwareRemovalBot get on my computer?
Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. I downloaded this one from their site after finding an advertisement for it.
How do I remove MalwareRemovalBot?
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 MalwareRemovalBot?
No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes MalwareRemovalBot 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 MalwareRemovalBot 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\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MalwareRemovalBot] C:\Program Files\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot.exe -boot
Alterations made by the installer:
File System =============== In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop Adds the file MalwareRemovalBot.lnk = 13:53 13/12/09 1866 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\MalwareRemovalBot Adds the file MalwareRemovalBot on the Web.lnk = 13:53 13/12/09 1866 bytes Adds the file MalwareRemovalBot.lnk = 13:53 13/12/09 1866 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot Adds the file rs.dat = 13:55 13/12/09 63 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot\Log Adds the file 2009 Dec 13 - 01_53_56 PM_512.log = 13:53 13/12/09 4476 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot\Settings Adds the file ScanResults.pie = 13:55 13/12/09 2261 bytes Adds the folder C:\Program Files\MalwareRemovalBot Adds the file MalwareRemovalBot.url = 19:44 07/05/08 132 bytes Adds the file vistaCPtasks.xml = 22:45 07/12/09 696 bytes Adds the file MalwareRemovalBot.exe = 22:45 07/12/09 19812352 bytes Adds the file DataBase.ref = 22:45 07/12/09 4619236 bytes In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\Tasks Adds the file MalwareRemovalBot Scheduled Scan.job = 13:53 13/12/09 552 bytes Registry =============== [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}] "System.ApplicationName"="Antispyware LLC.MalwareRemovalBot" "System.ControlPanel.Category"="10" "System.Software.TasksFileUrl"=hex(2):43,3a,5c,50,72,6f,67,72,61,6d,20,46,69,6c,65,73,5c,4d,61,6c,77,61,72,65,52,6 5,6d,6f,76,61,6c,42,6f,74,5c,76,69,73,74,61,43,50,74,61,73,6b,73,2e,78,6d,6c,00, [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}\DefaultIcon] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\MalwareRemovalBot\\MalwareRemovalBot.exe\", 0" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}\Shell\Open\Command] @="C:\\Program Files\\MalwareRemovalBot\\MalwareRemovalBot.exe" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}\ShellFolder] "Attributes"=dword:00000004 "WantsFORPARSING"="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Features\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B] "AntiSpywareApplication"="" "ProductName"="MalwareRemovalBot" "PackageCode"="48C7F013370EDA04B809085C89A2353F" "Language"=dword:00000409 "Version"=dword:01090d5d "Assignment"=dword:00000001 "AdvertiseFlags"=dword:00000184 "InstanceType"=dword:00000000 "AuthorizedLUAApp"=dword:00000000 "Clients"=hex(7):3a,00,00, [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B\SourceList] "PackageName"="MalwareRemovalBot.msi" "LastUsedSource"=hex(2):6e,3b,31,3b,43,3a,5c,44,4f,43,55,4d,45,7e,31,5c,4d,45,54,41,4c,4c,7e,31,5c,4 c,4f,43,41,4c,53,7e,31,5c,54,65,6d,70,5c,37,7a,53,38,2e,74,6d,70,5c,00, [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B\SourceList\Media] "1"=";" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B\SourceList\Net] "1"=hex(2):43,3a,5c,44,4f,43,55,4d,45,7e,31,5c,4d,45,54,41,4c,4c,7e,31,5c,4c,4f,43,41,4 c,53,7e,31,5c,54,65,6d,70,5c,37,7a,53,38,2e,74,6d,70,5c,00, [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\UpgradeCodes\50E90EC4EC063D44BB935A0D02415732] "FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B"="" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot\RegInfo] [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot\Settings] "Startup"=dword:00000001 "LogActivities"=dword:00000001 "ScanActiveProcs"=dword:00000001 "ScanWinReg"=dword:00000001 "ScanCookie"=dword:00000001 "ScanFiles"=dword:00000001 "ScanP2P"=dword:00000001 "ScanDeep"=dword:00000000 "AllDrives"=dword:00000000 "DeepScanScheduledScans"=dword:00000001 "DownloadUpdates"=dword:00000001 "NumberOfScans"=dword:00000001 "LastScanTime"="December 13, 2009" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}] @="MalwareRemovalBot" "InfoTip"="Scans your computer for malicious or potentially unwanted applications" "{305ca226-d286-468e-b848-2b2e8e697b74} 2"=dword:0000000a "SearchHelper"="MalwareRemovalBot" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "MalwareRemovalBot"="C:\\Program Files\\MalwareRemovalBot\\MalwareRemovalBot.exe -boot" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}] @="MalwareRemovalBot" "InfoTip"="Scans your computer for malicious or potentially unwanted applications" "{305ca226-d286-468e-b848-2b2e8e697b74} 2"=dword:0000000a "SearchHelper"="MalwareRemovalBot" "System.ApplicationName"="Antispyware LLC.MalwareRemovalBot" "System.ControlPanel.Category"="10" "System.Software.TasksFileUrl"=hex(2):43,3a,5c,50,72,6f,67,72,61,6d,20,46,69,6c,65,73,5c,4d,61,6c,77,61,72,65,52,6 5,6d,6f,76,61,6c,42,6f,74,5c,76,69,73,74,61,43,50,74,61,73,6b,73,2e,78,6d,6c,00, [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}\DefaultIcon] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\MalwareRemovalBot\\MalwareRemovalBot.exe\", 0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}\Shell\Open\Command] @="C:\\Program Files\\MalwareRemovalBot\\MalwareRemovalBot.exe" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}\ShellFolder] "Attributes"=dword:00000004 "WantsFORPARSING"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Features\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B] "AntiSpywareApplication"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B] "ProductName"="MalwareRemovalBot" "PackageCode"="48C7F013370EDA04B809085C89A2353F" "Language"=dword:00000409 "Assignment"=dword:00000001 "AdvertiseFlags"=dword:00000184 "InstanceType"=dword:00000000 "AuthorizedLUAApp"=dword:00000000 "Clients"=hex(7):3a,00,00, [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B\SourceList] "PackageName"="MalwareRemovalBot.msi" "LastUsedSource"=hex(2):6e,3b,31,3b,43,3a,5c,44,4f,43,55,4d,45,7e,31,5c,4d,45,54,41,4c,4c,7e,31,5c,4 c,4f,43,41,4c,53,7e,31,5c,54,65,6d,70,5c,37,7a,53,38,2e,74,6d,70,5c,00, [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B\SourceList\Media] "1"=";" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B\SourceList\Net] "1"=hex(2):43,3a,5c,44,4f,43,55,4d,45,7e,31,5c,4d,45,54,41,4c,4c,7e,31,5c,4c,4f,43,41,4 c,53,7e,31,5c,54,65,6d,70,5c,37,7a,53,38,2e,74,6d,70,5c,00, [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\UpgradeCodes\50E90EC4EC063D44BB935A0D02415732] "FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace\{9D3CF193-58E5-40d5-BA60-233F4C216E37}] @="MalwareRemovalBot" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folders] "C:\\Program Files\\MalwareRemovalBot\\"="1" "C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start Menu\\Programs\\MalwareRemovalBot\\"="" "C:\\WINDOWS\\Installer\\{E972EDCF-8718-4A8F-9098-5C602E98F1B6}\\"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UpgradeCodes\50E90EC4EC063D44BB935A0D02415732] "FCDE279E8178F8A40989C506E2891F6B"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{E972EDCF-8718-4A8F-9098-5C602E98F1B6}] "AuthorizedCDFPrefix"="" "Comments"="" "Contact"="" "DisplayVersion"="1.9.3421" "HelpLink"="" "HelpTelephone"="" "InstallDate"="20091213" "InstallLocation"="C:\\Program Files\\MalwareRemovalBot\\" "InstallSource"="C:\\DOCUME~1\\{username}\\LOCALS~1\\Temp\\7zS8.tmp\\" "ModifyPath"=hex(2):4d,73,69,45,78,65,63,2e,65,78,65,20,2f,58,7b,45,39,37,32,45,44,43,46,2d,38,3 7,31,38,2d,34,41,38,46,2d,39,30,39,38,2d,35,43,36,30,32,45,39,38,46,31,42,36,7d, 0 0, "NoModify"=dword:00000001 "Publisher"="Antispyware LLC" "Readme"="" "Size"="" "EstimatedSize"=dword:00005d4c "UninstallString"=hex(2):4d,73,69,45,78,65,63,2e,65,78,65,20,2f,58,7b,45,39,37,32,45,44,43,46,2d,38,3 7,31,38,2d,34,41,38,46,2d,39,30,39,38,2d,35,43,36,30,32,45,39,38,46,31,42,36,7d, 0 0, "URLInfoAbout"="" "URLUpdateInfo"="" "VersionMajor"=dword:00000001 "VersionMinor"=dword:00000009 "WindowsInstaller"=dword:00000001 "Version"=dword:01090d5d "Language"=dword:00000409 "DisplayName"="MalwareRemovalBot"
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.42 Database version: 3352 Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180 12/13/2009 2:08:28 PM mbam-log-2009-12-13 (14-08-28).txt Scan type: Quick Scan Objects scanned: 92807 Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 17 second(s) Memory Processes Infected: 1 Memory Modules Infected: 0 Registry Keys Infected: 9 Registry Values Infected: 5 Folders Infected: 5 Files Infected: 11 Memory Processes Infected: C:\Program Files\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot.exe (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Unloaded process successfully. Memory Modules Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Infected: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{9d3cf193-58e5-40d5-ba60-233f4c216e37} (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\UpgradeCodes\50e90ec4ec063d44bb935a0d02415732 (Rogue.MalwareBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel\NameSpace\{9d3cf193-58e5-40d5-ba60-233f4c216e37} (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UpgradeCodes\50e90ec4ec063d44bb935a0d02415732 (Rogue.MalwareBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\1f26a7a704abd8f4f8801f37167d691f (Rogue.MalwareBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\aa02c0f5889834c42886c1a98ea53266 (Rogue.MalwareBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\b575e3c1288dd9e4a83e9e064562cdc1 (Rogue.MalwareBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\d37f1f5d110c2ea4c85ec64e702394b9 (Rogue.MalwareBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MalwareRemovalBot (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Values Infected: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\malwareremovalbot (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folders\c:\program files\malwareremovalbot\(default) (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folders\c:\documents and settings\all users\start menu\programs\malwareremovalbot\(default) (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\securelogin (Rogue.InternetAV) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Folders Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot\Log (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot\Settings (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\MalwareRemovalBot (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\MalwareRemovalBot (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Files Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot\rs.dat (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot\Log\2009 Dec 13 - 01_53_56 PM_512.log (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\MalwareRemovalBot\Settings\ScanResults.pie (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\MalwareRemovalBot\DataBase.ref (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot.exe (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\MalwareRemovalBot\vistaCPtasks.xml (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot.url (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot.lnk (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\MalwareRemovalBot\MalwareRemovalBot on the Web.lnk (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\MalwareRemovalBot.lnk (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\MalwareRemovalBot Scheduled Scan.job (Rogue.MalwareRemovalBot) -> 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