What is AutoCleaner?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that AutoCleaner 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 AutoCleaner?
This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:
You will find this icon in your taskbar:
And see these warnings:
How did AutoCleaner get on my computer?
Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.
How do I remove AutoCleaner?
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 AutoCleaner?
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes AutoCleaner 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 AutoCleaner 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:
Running processes: C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\autocleaner.exe O23 - Service: autocleaner Service (autocleanerService) - UCF - C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\autocleanerse.exe
Alterations made by the installer:
File system details --------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner Adds the file autocleaner.exe"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 599048 bytes, A Adds the file autocleanerse.exe"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 161296 bytes, A Adds the file autocleanerU.exe"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 79376 bytes, A Adds the file bootflash.swf"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 30037 bytes, A Adds the file M_flash.swf"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 15225 bytes, A Adds the file uninst_autocleaner.exe"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 183832 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\Backup Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\autocleaner Adds the file autocleaner »čÁ¦.lnk"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 2526 bytes, A Adds the file autocleaner.lnk"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 2176 bytes, A Adds the file Homepage.url"="11/17/2013 3:07 AM, 195 bytes, A Registry details ------------------------------------------ [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\autocleaner] "autocleaner_nic"="REG_SZ, "08:00:27:B0:81:23" "autostart"="REG_DWORD, 1" "code1"="REG_SZ, "autocleaner" "installmode"="REG_SZ, "2" "popup"="REG_SZ, "1" "Today"="REG_SZ, "20131117" "userid"="REG_SZ, "{username}" "userselect"="REG_DWORD, 0" "ver1"="REG_SZ, "20131023" "ver2"="REG_SZ, "20131023" "ver3"="REG_SZ, "20131023" "ver4"="REG_SZ, "20131023" "ver5"="REG_SZ, "20131023" "ver6"="REG_SZ, "20131023" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\autocleaner] "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\uninst_autocleaner.exe" "DisplayName"="REG_SZ, "autocleaner" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ, "1.2" "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD, 949" "HelpLink"="REG_SZ, "http://www.autocleaner.co.kr" "NoModify"="REG_DWORD, 1" "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD, 1" "Publisher"="REG_SZ, "UCF" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\uninst_autocleaner.exe" "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ, "http://www.autocleaner.co.kr" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\autocleanerService] "DisplayName"="REG_SZ, "autocleaner Service" "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD, 1" "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\autocleanerse.exe" "ObjectName"="REG_SZ, "LocalSystem" "Start"="REG_DWORD, 2" "Type"="REG_DWORD, 16" "WOW64"="REG_DWORD, 1"
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (PRO) 1.75.0.1300 www.malwarebytes.org Database version: v2013.11.19.08 Windows 8 x64 NTFS Internet Explorer 10.0.9200.16660 {username} :: MBAM-VM [administrator] Protection: Disabled 11/19/2013 10:36:10 AM mbam-log-2013-11-19 (10-36-10).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: 197396 Time elapsed: 1 minute(s), 21 second(s) Memory Processes Detected: 1 C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\autocleaner.exe (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> 2856 -> Delete on reboot. Memory Modules Detected: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys Detected: 3 HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\autocleanerService (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\autocleaner (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKLM\SOFTWARE\AUTOCLEANER (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Registry Values Detected: 4 HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer|autocleaner_autocleaner (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Data: 1 -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\autocleaner|URLInfoAbout (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Data: http://www.autocleaner.co.kr -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKLM\SOFTWARE\autocleaner|autocleaner_nic (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Data: 08:00:27:B0:81:23 -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\autocleanerService|ImagePath (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Data: C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\autocleanerse.exe -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Folders Detected: 2 C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Delete on reboot. C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\autocleaner (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. Files Detected: 10 C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\autocleaner.exe (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Delete on reboot. C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\autocleanerse.exe (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\autocleanersetup.exe (Adware.CO.KR) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\bootflash.swf (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\autocleanerU.exe (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\M_flash.swf (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Program Files (x86)\autocleaner\uninst_autocleaner.exe (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\autocleaner\Homepage.url (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\autocleaner\autocleaner »čÁ¦.lnk (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully. C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\autocleaner\autocleaner.lnk (Rogue.AutoCleaner) -> 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