No replies to this topic

[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Antivirus Plus

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Antivirus Plus 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 Antivirus Plus

This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:



And see these warnings:







And in your security center:



How did Antivirus Plus get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one posed as a fake online scanner.

How do I remove Antivirus Plus

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 Antivirus Plus

• 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 Antivirus Plus 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:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe

O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.com.br
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.es
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.com.au
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.nl
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.co.jp
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.no
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.at
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 uk.search.yahoo.com
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.com.mx
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.fi
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.it
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.com
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.dk
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.ch
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.ca
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.de
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.co.za
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.gr
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.fr
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 us.search.yahoo.com
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.se
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 search.yahoo.com
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.pt
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.be
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.ie
O1 - Hosts: 212.94.49.93 www.google.co.uk
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AntiVirus Plus] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AntiVirus Plus] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe
O4 - Startup: AntiVirus Plus.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe
O4 - Global Startup: AntiVirus Plus.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe

Another path seen often is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus

Alterations made by the installer:

File System
  ===============
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus
	  Adds the file EULA.url"="20:41 11/02/10 64 bytes
	  Adds the file AntiVirus Plus.lnk"="20:41 11/02/10 549 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
	  Adds the file AntiVirus Plus.lnk"="20:41 11/02/10 549 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\AntiVirus Plus
	  Adds the file AntiVirus Plus.55555.dll"="20:32 11/02/10 2380667 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
	  Adds the file AntiVirus Plus.lnk"="20:41 11/02/10 529 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
	  Adds the file AntiVirus Plus.lnk"="20:41 11/02/10 493 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus
	  Adds the file EULA.url"="20:41 11/02/10 64 bytes
	  Adds the file AntiVirus Plus.lnk"="20:41 11/02/10 523 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
	  Adds the file AntiVirus Plus.lnk"="20:41 11/02/10 523 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
	  Alters the file hosts
		13:00 28/02/06 734 bytes ==> 20:46 11/02/10 767 bytes

  Registry
  ===============

	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "AntiVirus Plus"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "AntiVirus Plus"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.44
Database version: 3726
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

2/11/2010 8:51:11 PM
mbam-log-2010-02-11 (20-51-11).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 100451
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 20 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 2
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 3
Files Infected: 10

Memory Processes Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\antivirus plus (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\antivirus plus (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\AntiVirus Plus (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirusplus\avplus.exe (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus\EULA.url (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\AntiVirus Plus\EULA.url (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\AntiVirus Plus\AntiVirus Plus.55555.dll (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\AntiVirus Plus.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\AntiVirus Plus.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\AntiVirus Plus.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\AntiVirus Plus.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusPlus) -> 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.