What is Windows AntiHazard Helper?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Windows AntiHazard Helper 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 Windows AntiHazard Helper?
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 Windows AntiHazard Helper get on my computer?
Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was offered as a movie.
How do I remove Windows AntiHazard Helper?
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 Windows AntiHazard Helper?
- No, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware removes Windows AntiHazard Helper 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 Windows AntiHazard Helper 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:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Inspector] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe
Alterations made by the installer:
File System =============== In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs Adds the file Windows AntiHazard Helper.lnk"="11:57 24/03/12 867 bytes In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data Adds the file Protector-edxh.exe"="11:57 24/03/12 2023424 bytes Adds the file result.db"="11:57 24/03/12 599 bytes Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Macromedia\Flash Player\macromedia.com\support\flashplayer\sys\#local Adds the file settings.sol"="11:57 24/03/12 102 bytes In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop Adds the file Windows AntiHazard Helper.lnk"="11:57 24/03/12 835 bytes In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32 Adds the file d3d9caps.dat"="11:57 24/03/12 664 bytes Registry =============== [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE ERROR PAGE BYPASS ZONE CHECK FOR HTTPS KB954312] "iexplore.exe"="1" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system] "ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin"="0" "ConsentPromptBehaviorUser"="0" "EnableLUA"="0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\_avp32.exe] "Debugger"="'svchost.exe'" < hundreds more of these > [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\regedit.exe] "Debugger"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe reg'" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\taskmgr.exe] "Debugger"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe task'" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings] "WarnOnHTTPSToHTTPRedirect"="0" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "Inspector"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe'"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.60.1.1000 www.malwarebytes.org Database version: v2012.03.23.05 Windows XP Service Pack 3 x86 NTFS Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702 {username} :: MBAM-D3E8C91ACC [administrator] 3/24/2012 12:04:35 PM mbam-log-2012-03-24 (12-04-35).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: 163029 Time elapsed: 58 second(s) Memory Processes Detected: 1 C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> 2780 -> Delete on reboot. Memory Modules Detected: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Detected: 759 HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\regedit.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\SETUP.EXE (Rogue.Installer.SFXGen1) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. < hundreds more of these > HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\~2.exe (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\IMAGE FILE EXECUTION OPTIONS\TASKMGR.EXE (Security.Hijack) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Values Detected: 2 HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run|Inspector (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Data: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\taskmgr.exe|Debugger (Security.Hijack) -> Data: C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe task -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Data Items Detected: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folders Detected: 0 (No malicious items detected) Files Detected: 4 C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Protector-edxh.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Delete on reboot. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\setup.exe (Rogue.Installer.SFXGen1) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Windows AntiHazard Helper.lnk (Rogue.WindowsAntiHazardHelper) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Windows AntiHazard Helper.lnk (Rogue.WindowsAntiHazardHelper) -> 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