What is Cloud Protection?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Cloud Protection 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 Cloud Protection?
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 Cloud Protection get on my computer?
Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was offered as a movie with explicit content.
How do I remove Cloud Protection?
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 Cloud Protection?
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Cloud Protection 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 Cloud Protection rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Signs in a HijackThis log:
C:\DOCUME~1\{username}1\LOCALS~1\Temp\svhostu.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\kRFB8lEViWC.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nujQA5ymZtnLfLf8234A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\kRFB8lEViWC.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [rV7ikSCuQXym] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\svhostu.exe O4 - Startup: crss.exe
Note: some of the startup- and filenames are random
Alterations made by the installer:
File System =============== In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data Adds the file ldr.ini"="07:53 12/10/11 1207 bytes Adds the file svhostu.exe"="07:53 12/10/11 102912 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\hmPZ4gnLr Adds the file Cloud Protection.ico"="07:53 12/10/11 12878 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\K3rfbK2dU1sYqT9 Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\VcYHqxG9zF8l Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\xzRFBolD7kS6Q5 In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop Adds the file Cloud Protection.lnk"="07:53 12/10/11 1695 bytes In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp Adds the file 9.tmp"="07:53 12/10/11 5 bytes Adds the file svhostu.exe"="07:53 12/10/11 102912 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Cloud Protection Adds the file Cloud Protection.lnk"="07:53 12/10/11 1707 bytes In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup Adds the file crss.exe"="07:53 12/10/11 102912 bytes In the existing folder C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer Adds the file 8.tmp"="07:53 12/10/11 0 bytes In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32 Adds the file kRFB8lEViWC.exe"="07:53 12/10/11 1699840 bytes Registry =============== [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "nujQA5ymZtnLfLf8234A"="'C:\WINDOWS\system32\kRFB8lEViWC.exe'" "rV7ikSCuQXym"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\svhostu.exe'"
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.51.2.1300 www.malwarebytes.org Database version: 7926 Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702 10/12/2011 7:59:46 AM mbam-log-2011-10-12 (07-59-46).txt Scan type: Quick scan Objects scanned: 146557 Time elapsed: 1 minute(s), 1 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: 1 Files Infected: 7 Memory Processes Infected: c:\WINDOWS\system32\krfb8leviwc.exe (Backdoor.Bot) -> 312 -> Unloaded process successfully. Memory Modules Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Infected: (No malicious items detected) Registry Values Infected: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\nujQA5ymZtnLfLf8234A (Backdoor.Bot) -> Value: nujQA5ymZtnLfLf8234A -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\rV7ikSCuQXym (Backdoor.Bot) -> Value: rV7ikSCuQXym -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Data Items Infected: (No malicious items detected) Folders Infected: c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\cloud protection (Rogue.CloudProtection) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Files Infected: c:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\svhostu.exe (Backdoor.Bot) -> Delete on reboot. c:\WINDOWS\system32\krfb8leviwc.exe (Backdoor.Bot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. c:\documents and settings\{username}\application data\svhostu.exe (Backdoor.Bot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\Startup\crss.exe (Backdoor.Bot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\cloud protection\cloud protection.lnk (Rogue.CloudProtection) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. c:\documents and settings\{username}\Desktop\cloud protection.lnk (Rogue.CloudProtection) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. c:\documents and settings\{username}\application data\ldr.ini (Malware.Trace) -> 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