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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is GreatDefender?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that GreatDefender 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 GreatDefender?

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 GreatDefender get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one is part of a bundled trojan.

How do I remove GreatDefender?

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 GreatDefender?

• The rogue replaces your hosts file, so you may have to restore the old one. You can find third-party hosts file alternatives at hpHosts or at mvps.org or you can simply reset the default hosts file as outlined here by Microsoft.

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 GreatDefender 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\GreatDefender Software\GreatDefender\GreatDefender.exe

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 4-open-davinci.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 securitysoftwarepayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 privatesecuredpayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure.privatesecuredpayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 getantivirusplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure-plus-payments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.getantivirusplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.secure-plus-payments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.getavplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 safebrowsing-cache.google.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 urs.microsoft.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.securesoftwarebill.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure.paysecuresystem.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 paysoftbillsolution.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 protected.maxisoftwaremart.com
O1 - Hosts: 67.215.245.21 www.google-analytics.com
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ae
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.as
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.at
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.az
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ba
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.be
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.bg
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.bs
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ca
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.cd
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.gh
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.hk
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.jm
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.mx
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.my
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.na
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.nf
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.ng
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ch
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.np
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.pr
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.qa
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.sg
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.tj
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.tw
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.dj
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.de
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.dk
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.dm
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ee
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.fi
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.fm
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.fr
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ge
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.gg
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.gm
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.gr
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ht
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ie
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.im
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.in
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.it
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ki
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.la
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.li
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.lv
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ma
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ms
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.mu
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.mw
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.nl
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.no
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.nr
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.nu
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.pl
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.pn
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.pt
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ro
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ru
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.rw
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.sc
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.se
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.sh
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.si
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.sm
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.sn
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.st
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.tl
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.tm
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.tt
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.us
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.vu
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ws
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.ck
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.id
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.il
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.in
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.jp
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.kr
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.ls
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.ma
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.nz
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.tz
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.ug
O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.uk

O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [GreatDefender.exe] C:\Program Files\GreatDefender Software\GreatDefender\GreatDefender.exe

Note: In some stages you may find another line starting the installer.
O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [setup.exe] …\setup.exe


Alterations made by the installer:

File System
  ===============
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
	  Adds the file GreatDefender.lnk"="17:39 31/12/09 853 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\GreatDefender
	  Adds the file 3 Uninstall.lnk"="17:39 31/12/09 1769 bytes
	  Adds the file 2 Homepage.lnk"="17:39 31/12/09 1212 bytes
	  Adds the file 1 GreatDefender.lnk"="17:39 31/12/09 1797 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\GreatDefender]
	  "Install_Dir"="'C:\Program Files\GreatDefender Software\GreatDefender'"
	  "Lang"="'English'"

	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\GreatDefender]
	  "NoRepair"="1"
	  "NoModify"="1"
	  "UninstallString"='"C:\Program Files\GreatDefender Software\GreatDefender\uninstall.exe"'
	  "DisplayName"="'GreatDefender'"

	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GreatDefender]
	  "AgentsSettings"="1"
	  "CurrentVersion"="'771eb5b6f272744584a5567cff88f8a7740716617be6063190ccd93c1e3e01956e270d829103
08c3a240c3a87affb8985a90b4b3c60ea310ef25b568dbffa63eaadbcbabb503a141ec82c7ea6a05
7
b672de93d64cd23ba18c85d707ca0bae00a9e6e9cb96a5371568c927c5264c7325c'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.43
Database version: 3462
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

12/31/2009 7:27:27 PM
mbam-log-2009-12-31 (19-27-27).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 95309
Time elapsed: 4 minute(s), 42 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 3
Registry Values Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 3
Files Infected: 6

Memory Processes Infected:
C:\Program Files\GreatDefender Software\GreatDefender\GreatDefender.exe (Rogue.Multiple) -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

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

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

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

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\GreatDefender Software\GreatDefender\GreatDefender.exe (Rogue.Multiple) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\greatdefender\1 GreatDefender.lnk (Rogue.GreatDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\greatdefender\2 Homepage.lnk (Rogue.GreatDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\greatdefender\3 Uninstall.lnk (Rogue.GreatDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\greatdefender Software\GreatDefender\uninstall.exe (Rogue.GreatDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\greatdefender.LNK (Rogue.GreatDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

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