1 reply to this topic

[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is PCommander?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PCommander 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 PCommander?

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



You will find these icons on your desktop and in your taskbar:



How did PCommander get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one poses as a flash-player.

How do I remove PCommander?

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 PCommander?

• In some cases you may need to follow the instructions posted below before you are able to do the above.

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 PCommander 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}\Application Data\PCommander\ccagent.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ccagent.exe] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\ccagent.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

File System
  ===============
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander
	  Adds the file uninstall.exe"="20:25 29/04/10 67085 bytes
	  Adds the file settings.ini"="20:32 29/04/10 199 bytes
	  Adds the file ccmain.exe"="01:44 27/04/10 2018816 bytes
	  Adds the file ccagent.exe"="01:40 27/04/10 550912 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq
	  Adds the file guide.html"="00:17 27/04/10 7890 bytes
	Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\images
	  Adds the file 10.png"="00:17 27/04/10 178919 bytes
	  Adds the file 09.png"="00:17 27/04/10 138334 bytes
	  Adds the file 08.png"="00:17 27/04/10 42753 bytes
	  Adds the file 07.png"="00:17 27/04/10 45779 bytes
	  Adds the file 06.png"="00:17 27/04/10 48347 bytes
	  Adds the file 05.png"="00:17 27/04/10 53967 bytes
	In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
	  Adds the file PCommander.lnk"="20:25 29/04/10 992 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PCommander]
	  "NoRepair"="1"
	  "NoModify"="1"
	  "UninstallString"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\uninstall.exe'"
	  "DisplayName"="'PCommander'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "ccagent.exe"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\ccagent.exe'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
	  "Shell"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\ccmain.exe'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 4052

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

4/29/2010 8:49:21 PM
mbam-log-2010-04-29 (20-49-21).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 103209
Time elapsed: 3 minute(s), 9 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 2
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 3
Files Infected: 12

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

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

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\ccagent.exe (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\shell (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\images (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\ccagent.exe (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\ccmain.exe (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\settings.ini (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\uninstall.exe (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\guide.html (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\images\05.png (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\images\06.png (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\images\07.png (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\images\08.png (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\images\09.png (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\PCommander\faq\images\10.png (Rogue.PCommander) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\PCommander.lnk (Rogue.PCommander) -> 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.

[Metallica]

In some cases rogues and other malware will stop processes like explorer from running to make removal more difficult.
One reboot after the infection, the user is left with the main screen of the rogue on an empty desktop and without a taskbar.



In this case it is enough to kill the rogues process to get the removal started.
Use Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up a choice screen like this:



Select the taskmanger and on the processes tab find the rogues process, here ccmain.exe
Select the process and click the End Process button.



This will bring up a prompt asking you to confirm the action. If you selected the correct process click End Process.



That will stop the rogue and you will have your hands free to remove it.
We will use task manager to start Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Click File and select New Task (Run)



This will open an explorer windows allowing you to browse for the program to start.



In this case we went to C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe



Select it and click OK in the prompt as shown below.



And after a short while, rescue is roaring to go.



Proceed with the procedure as described in the previous post.
Don't forget to get the latest updates!