Removal instructions for CleanCatch

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is CleanCatch?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that CleanCatch 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 CleanCatch?

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

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

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And see these warnings:

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How did CleanCatch get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.

How do I remove CleanCatch?

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 CleanCatch?

The shortcut called CleanCatch on the desktop can be deleted if it belonged to the rogue.

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 CleanCatch rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

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Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\CleanCatch.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CleanCatchMain] "C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\CleanCatch.exe" /Boot

Alterations made by the installer:


  File System
  ===============
    In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
      Adds the file CleanCatch.lnk"="11:25 27/11/11 734 bytes
    In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
      Adds the file CleanCatch.lnk"="11:25 27/11/11 716 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\nsr2.tmp
      Adds the file stack.dll"="11:24 27/11/11 10240 bytes
    In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu
      Adds the file CleanCatch.lnk"="11:25 27/11/11 1590 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\CleanCatch
      Adds the file CleanCatch.lnk"="11:25 27/11/11 1602 bytes
      Adds the file CleanCatch ����.lnk"="11:25 27/11/11 1595 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CleanCatch
      Adds the file Uninstall.exe"="11:25 27/11/11 203118 bytes
      Adds the file SoCLUpdateServer.dat"="07:06 22/08/11 216 bytes
      Adds the file partner.ini"="11:25 27/11/11 23 bytes
      Adds the file Ep.dat"="05:53 03/11/11 1584 bytes
      Adds the file conf.ini"="11:28 27/11/11 225 bytes
      Adds the file CLUpdateServer.dat"="11:25 27/11/11 640 bytes
      Adds the file CLEngine.dll"="08:15 22/08/11 663552 bytes
      Adds the file CleanCatch.exe"="10:55 29/08/11 516096 bytes
      Adds the file CLAutoUpdate.exe"="08:20 22/08/11 462848 bytes
      Adds the file CAUpdateServer.dat"="08:05 01/09/11 568 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\update
      Adds the file 2011042100-00-.txt"="11:25 27/11/11 338 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\temp
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\skin
      Adds the file default.avs"="08:36 29/08/11 579505 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\etc
      Adds the file clReg.exe"="08:30 22/08/11 278528 bytes
      Adds the file CLmonRemote.dll"="08:24 22/08/11 225280 bytes
      Adds the file clMon.exe"="08:22 22/08/11 290816 bytes
      Adds the file CLFilterDriver.SYS"="06:47 19/08/11 42496 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\db
      Adds the file vsdb.dat"="08:59 25/08/11 172472 bytes
      Adds the file pwdb.dat"="02:46 01/09/11 380936 bytes
      Adds the file inter.dll"="08:59 25/08/11 231616 bytes
      Adds the file filter.dll"="08:59 25/08/11 232 bytes
      Adds the file avmon.dat"="08:59 25/08/11 226368 bytes
      Adds the file adtc.dat"="03:22 07/10/11 1024 bytes
      Adds the file adsub.dat"="11:25 27/11/11 230552 bytes
      Adds the file addb.dat"="08:59 25/08/11 907384 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\Lang
      Adds the file kr.xml"="08:36 25/08/11 8881 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CleanCatch]
      "Install_Dir"="'C:\Program Files\CleanCatch'"
      "ver"="'20110829'"
      "pid"="'home'"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility\{602C03FB-5FB9-47BB-B134-5B2767112E5F}]
      "Compatibility Flags"="1024"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
      "CleanCatchMain"="'"C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\CleanCatch.exe" /Boot'"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\CleanCatchMain]
      "INSTDATE"="'20111103'"
      "DisplayIcon"="'"C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\Uninstall.exe"'"
      "UninstallString"="'"C:\Program Files\CleanCatch\Uninstall.exe"'"
      "DisplayName"="'CleanCatch'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.51.2.1300
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 8251

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

11/27/2011 11:32:24 AM
mbam-log-2011-11-27 (11-32-24).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 141353
Time elapsed: 59 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 1
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 8
Files Infected: 28

Memory Processes Infected:
c:\program files\cleancatch\cleancatch.exe (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> 1412 -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
c:\program files\cleancatch\CLEngine.dll (Rogue.EbizNetwork) -> Delete on reboot.

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

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\CleanCatchMain (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Value: CleanCatchMain -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\cleancatch (Rogue.CleanCatch.K) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\etc (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\Lang (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\skin (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\temp (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\update (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
c:\program files\cleancatch\CLEngine.dll (Rogue.EbizNetwork) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\Desktop\cleancatch_setup.exe (Rogue.Ebiz.K) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\cleancatch\cleancatch.lnk (Rogue.CleanCatch.K) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\cleancatch\cleancatch ᦰ�.lnk (Rogue.CleanCatch.K) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\partner.ini (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\caupdateserver.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\clautoupdate.exe (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\cleancatch.exe (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\clupdateserver.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\conf.ini (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\Ep.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\soclupdateserver.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\uninstall.exe (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db\addb.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db\adsub.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db\adtc.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db\avmon.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db\filter.dll (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db\inter.dll (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db\pwdb.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\db\vsdb.dat (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\etc\clfilterdriver.sys (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\etc\clMon.exe (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\etc\clmonremote.dll (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\etc\clReg.exe (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\Lang\kr.xml (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\skin\default.avs (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\cleancatch\update\2011042100-00-.txt (Rogue.K.CleanCatch) -> 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.

#1
Metallica

Posted 27 November 2011 - 05:19 AM

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