What is Volcano Security Suite?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Volcano Security Suite 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 Volcano Security Suite?
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 Volcano Security Suite get on my computer?
Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.
How do I remove Volcano Security Suite?
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 Volcano Security Suite?
- 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 Volcano Security Suite 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\{username}\LOCALS~1\Temp\asp2009.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Volcano Security Suite] "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\aa3e2\VS172.exe" /s /d
Note: the filename is random, but will usually start with VS
Alterations made by the installer:
File System =============== Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\aa3e2 Adds the file VSS.ico"="13:54 06/03/10 4286 bytes Adds the file VS172.exe"="13:54 06/03/10 2556417 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VSQRVXPGS Adds the file VSXDBYKETRS.cfg"="13:56 06/03/10 16477 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Volcano Security Suite In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch Adds the file Volcano Security Suite.lnk"="13:54 06/03/10 1772 bytes In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop Adds the file Volcano Security Suite.lnk"="13:54 06/03/10 1754 bytes In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp Adds the file 83.mof"="13:54 06/03/10 342 bytes Adds the file asp2009.exe"="13:54 06/03/10 2556417 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\Quarantine Items Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\VSSSys Adds the file vd952342.bd"="13:54 06/03/10 11380 bytes In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu Adds the file Volcano Security Suite.lnk"="13:54 06/03/10 1754 bytes In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs Adds the file Volcano Security Suite.lnk"="13:54 06/03/10 1760 bytes In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc Alters the file hosts Registry =============== [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\asp2009.DocHostUIHandler] "(Default)"="'Implements DocHostUIHandler'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\asp2009.DocHostUIHandler\Clsid] "(Default)"="'{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}] "(Default)"="'Implements DocHostUIHandler'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\ProgID] "(Default)"="'asp2009.DocHostUIHandler'" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}\LocalServer32] "(Default)"="'C:\DOCUME~1\METALL~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\asp2009.exe'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "Volcano Security Suite"="'"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\aa3e2\VS172.exe" /s /d' [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options] "Debugger"="'svchost.exe'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\_avp32.exe] "Debugger"="'svchost.exe'" <snipped long list of IFEO hijacks> [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\zonealarm.exe "Debugger"="'svchost.exe' [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy \StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List] "C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\asp2009.exe"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\asp2009.exe:*:Enabled:Volcano Security Suite'"
Note: The CLSID {3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF} was used in a popular coding example, so could also be in use by legitimate applications.
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.44 Database version: 3828 Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180 3/6/2010 2:08:58 PM mbam-log-2010-03-06 (14-08-57).txt Scan type: Quick Scan Objects scanned: 103774 Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 33 second(s) Memory Processes Infected: 1 Memory Modules Infected: 0 Registry Keys Infected: 750 Registry Values Infected: 13 Registry Data Items Infected: 0 Folders Infected: 1 Files Infected: 5 Memory Processes Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\asp2009.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Unloaded process successfully. Memory Modules Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Infected: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\brastk.exe (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\asp2009.DocHostUIHandler (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AgentSvr.exe (Trojan.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. <snipped long list of removed IFEO hijacks> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\zonealarm.exe (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Values Infected: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\taskmgr.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Arrakis3.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\bdagent.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\bdreinit.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\bdsubwiz.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\bdtkexec.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\bdwizreg.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\livesrv.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\uiscan.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\upgrepl.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\vsserv.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\volcano security suite (Rogue.VolcanoSecuritySuite) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\seccenter.exe\debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Data Items Infected: (No malicious items detected) Folders Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Volcano Security Suite (Rogue.VolcanoSecuritySuite) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Files Infected: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\asp2009.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Volcano Security Suite.lnk (Rogue.VolcanoSecuritySuite) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Volcano Security Suite.lnk (Rogue.VolcanoSecuritySuite) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Volcano Security Suite.lnk (Rogue.VolcanoSecuritySuite) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Volcano Security Suite.lnk (Rogue.VolcanoSecuritySuite) -> 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