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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is PC Defender?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PC Defender 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 PC Defender?

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 PC Defender get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one uses a double extension to pose as an AVI-file.



How do I remove PC Defender?

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 PC Defender?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes PC Defender 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 PC Defender 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\Def Group\PC Defender\Antispyware.exe
C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\proccheck.exe

F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,"C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\Antispyware.exe"

Alterations made by the installer:

File System
  ===============
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
	  Adds the file PC Defender.lnk"="10:55 21/02/10 1912 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PC Defender
	  Adds the file PC Defender.lnk"="10:55 21/02/10 1912 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender
	  Adds the file proccheck.exe"="15:01 18/02/10 58880 bytes
	  Adds the file hook.dll"="15:01 18/02/10 42496 bytes
	  Adds the file Antispyware.exe"="15:01 18/02/10 1165312 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\Installer
	  Adds the file ce643.msi"="10:55 21/02/10 104448 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282}
	  Adds the file _CA0C60B59429097775F735.exe"="10:55 21/02/10 21630 bytes
	  Adds the file _3467E2797B9EACCFA5D298.exe"="10:55 21/02/10 21630 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Features\E8CBA2CF517323A48B5B5539084F2528]
	  "DefaultFeature"=""
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\E8CBA2CF517323A48B5B5539084F2528_]
	  "Clients"=":.."
	  "AuthorizedLUAApp"="0"
	  "InstanceType"="0"
	  "AdvertiseFlags"="388"
	  "Assignment"="1"
	  "Version"="16777216"
	  "Language"="1033"
	  "PackageCode"="'439B6AC376B402040B9E7A264574B5C7'"
	  "ProductName"="'PC Defender'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\E8CBA2CF517323A48B5B5539084F2528\InstallProperties]
	  "DisplayName"="'PC Defender'"
	  "Language"="1033"
	  "Version"="16777216"
	  "WindowsInstaller"="1"
	  "VersionMinor"="0"
	  "VersionMajor"="1"
	  "URLUpdateInfo"=""
	  "URLInfoAbout"=""
	  "UninstallString"="MsiExec.exe /X{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282}."
	  "EstimatedSize"="1232"
	  "Size"=""
	  "Readme"=""
	  "Publisher"="'Def Group'"
	  "NoModify"="1"
	  "ModifyPath"="MsiExec.exe /X{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282}."
	  "InstallSource"="'C:\DOCUME~1\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\RarSFX0\'"
	  "InstallLocation"=""
	  "InstallDate"="'20100221'"
	  "HelpTelephone"=""
	  "HelpLink"=""
	  "DisplayVersion"="'1.0.0'"
	  "Contact"="'Def Group'"
	  "Comments"=""
	  "AuthorizedCDFPrefix"=""
	  "LocalPackage"="'C:\WINDOWS\Installer\ce643.msi'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\E8CBA2CF517323A48B5B5539084F2528\Features]
	  "DefaultFeature"="'%3.g-v(aF^+=(WNz}0O]*H7&tK(-=A&0FrJrO{fWp])XQfMY3*_oqZ]m{Q-1EGw&zFDzp?%&%FWs8BtQ'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282}]
	  "DisplayName"="'PC Defender'"
	  "Language"="1033"
	  "Version"="16777216"
	  "WindowsInstaller"="1"
	  "VersionMinor"="0"
	  "VersionMajor"="1"
	  "URLUpdateInfo"=""
	  "URLInfoAbout"=""
	  "UninstallString"="MsiExec.exe /X{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282}."
	  "EstimatedSize"="1232"
	  "Size"=""
	  "Readme"=""
	  "Publisher"="'Def Group'"
	  "NoModify"="1"
	  "ModifyPath"="MsiExec.exe /X{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282}."
	  "InstallSource"="'C:\DOCUME~1\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\RarSFX0\'"
	  "InstallLocation"=""
	  "InstallDate"="'20100221'"
	  "HelpTelephone"=""
	  "HelpLink"=""
	  "DisplayVersion"="'1.0.0'"
	  "Contact"="'Def Group'"
	  "Comments"=""
	  "AuthorizedCDFPrefix"=""
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
	  "Userinit"="C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,"C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\Antispyware.exe"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.44
Database version: 3769
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

2/21/2010 11:05:52 AM
mbam-log-2010-02-21 (11-05-52).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 101259
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 26 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 2
Memory Modules Infected: 1
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 2
Folders Infected: 3
Files Infected: 7

Memory Processes Infected:
C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\Antispyware.exe (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Unloaded process successfully.
C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\proccheck.exe (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\hook.dll (Trojan.Agent.Gen) -> Delete on reboot.

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282} (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Data: c:\program files\def group\pc defender\antispyware.exe -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit (Hijack.UserInit) -> Bad: (C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,"C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\Antispyware.exe") Good: (userinit.exe) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Folders Infected:
C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PC Defender (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282} (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\Antispyware.exe (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\hook.dll (Trojan.Agent.Gen) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\Def Group\PC Defender\proccheck.exe (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\PC Defender\PC Defender.lnk (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282}\_3467E2797B9EACCFA5D298.exe (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{FC2ABC8E-3715-4A32-B8B5-559380F45282}\_CA0C60B59429097775F735.exe (Rogue.PCDefender) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\PC Defender.lnk (Rogue.PCDefender) -> 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.

[Dannz]

Thank you so much! I panicked when i first got the virus but i knew exactly where to come after i got infected and you guys already had the solution to it! You guys are the best. Keep up the good work guys!

[Metallica]

Glad we could help.