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[Metallica]

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Antivirus Protection?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Antivirus 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 Antivirus 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 Antivirus Protection get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.

How do I remove Antivirus 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 Antivirus Protection?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Antivirus 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 Antivirus 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.

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\123.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securitymanager.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\AntivirusProtection2012.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [45cwseuwf8sk] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\123.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Antivirus Protection] "C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\AntivirusProtection2012.exe" /STARTUP
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Antivirus Protection 2012 SM] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securitymanager.exe

Note: some of the file- and startup-names are ranodm

Alterations made by the installer:

File System
===============
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection
Adds the file securitymanager.exe"="14:09 21/02/12 179200 bytes
Adds the file securityhelper.exe"="00:03 22/02/12 3985923 bytes
Adds the file IcoUninstall.ico"="14:01 21/02/12 894 bytes
Adds the file IcoHelp.ico"="14:01 21/02/12 894 bytes
Adds the file IcoActivate.ico"="14:01 21/02/12 894 bytes
Adds the file AntivirusProtection2012.exe"="14:09 21/02/12 2397696 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
Adds the file Antivirus Protection.lnk"="10:40 03/03/12 1949 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
Adds the file Antivirus Protection.lnk"="10:40 03/03/12 1971 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs
Adds the file Antivirus Protection.lnk"="10:40 03/03/12 1977 bytes
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus Protection
Adds the file How to Activate Antivirus Protection.lnk"="10:40 03/03/12 1172 bytes
Adds the file Help Antivirus Protection.lnk"="10:40 03/03/12 1146 bytes
Adds the file Antivirus Protection.lnk"="10:40 03/03/12 1983 bytes
Adds the file Activate Antivirus Protection.lnk"="10:40 03/03/12 1979 bytes

Registry
===============
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Antivirus Protection]
"LastUpdateDate"="'2012/2/11'"
"LastTimeStamp"="-28"
"InstNM"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\AntivirusProtection2012.exe'"
"tb"="..........(.0..."
"BackgroundScanTimeout"="1"
"BackgroundScan"="1"
"MinimizeOnStart"="0"
"AutomaticallyUpdates"="1"
"ScanSystemOnStartup"="1"
"SoftID"="'Antivirus Protection'"
"InstallDir"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection'"
"ADVid"="'390'"
"uninstaller"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securityhelper.exe'"
"(Default)"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection'"
"BuyUrl"="'A16C4BF1AB4B901DE2E2ECF026B1EEEAD492F8B40D00C504EA46103036F048C022CDCFEAC3A5A8DD9819FE9ADB8E52063'"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Antivirus Protection]
"DisplayIcon"="'"C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securityhelper.exe",1'"
"UninstallString"="'"C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securityhelper.exe" /UNINSTALL'"
"DisplayName"="'Antivirus Protection'"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\User Agent\Post Platform]
"(Default)"=""
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"45cwseuwf8sk"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\123.exe'"
"Antivirus Protection"="'"C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\AntivirusProtection2012.exe" /STARTUP'"
"Antivirus Protection 2012 SM"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securitymanager.exe'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.60.1.1000
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: v2012.03.03.03

Windows XP Service Pack 3 x86 NTFS
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702
{username} :: MBAM-D3E8C91ACC [administrator]

3/3/2012 10:50:15 AM
mbam-log-2012-03-03 (10-50-15).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Scan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUM
Scan options disabled: P2P
Objects scanned: 158626
Time elapsed: 51 second(s)

Memory Processes Detected: 3
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\123.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> 1352 -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securitymanager.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> 1712 -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\AntivirusProtection2012.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> 1860 -> Delete on reboot.

Memory Modules Detected: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Detected: 1
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Antivirus Protection (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Detected: 3
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run|45cwseuwf8sk (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Data: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\123.exe 
-> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run|Antivirus Protection 2012 SM (Trojan.FakeAlert) 
-> Data: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securitymanager.exe -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run|Antivirus Protection (Trojan.FakeAlert) 
-> Data: "C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\AntivirusProtection2012.exe" /STARTUP -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Folders Detected: 2
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus Protection (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Detected: 17
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\123.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securitymanager.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\AntivirusProtection2012.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\securityhelper.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Antivirus Protection.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusPro) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\ppddfcfux.exxe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\w32rim_mem.exe (Trojan.Downloader) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\wrfwe_di.exe (Trojan.Downloader) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp\dffuck.exe (Malware.Trace) -> Delete on reboot.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\IcoUninstall.ico (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\IcoActivate.ico (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Antivirus Protection\IcoHelp.ico (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus Protection\Activate Antivirus Protection.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) 
-> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus Protection\Antivirus Protection.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) 
-> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus Protection\Help Antivirus Protection.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) 
-> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus Protection\How to Activate Antivirus Protection.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) 
-> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Antivirus Protection.lnk (Rogue.AntiVirusProtection) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

(end)

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.