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Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Excel SA?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Excel SA is a Tech Support Scam. These so-called "Tech Support Scammers" try to trick you into calling their phone number for various reasons, all of which turn out to be fraudulent in the end.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Excel SA?

You may see this warning that covers your whole screen and refreshes every view seconds:



and this entry in your list of installed programs:



How did Excel SA get on my computer?

Tech Support Scammers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.

How do I remove Excel SA?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted application.
But due to the behaviour of the program you will have to reboot into Safe Mode with Networking first.

• Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to:
  Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• Once the program has loaded, select Scan Now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
• If an update is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
• When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
• Restart your computer when prompted to do so.

If you are unable to download, update or run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, another option is to manunally delete the file "C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel.exe" in Safe mode.



Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Excel SA?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Excel SA completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Tech Supprt Scam.

Technical details for experts

You may see these entries in FRST logs:

 HKCU\...\Run: [Microsoft Excel] => C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel.exe [616960 2016-06-27] ()
 C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel (HKLM-x32\...\Microsoft Excel) (Version: S.A - Microsoft Excel)

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel
       Adds the file Microsoft Excel.exe
       Adds the file Uninstall.exe"="7/8/2016 8:02 AM, 468026 bytes, A
       Adds the file Uninstall.ini"="7/8/2016 8:02 AM, 2575 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Microsoft Excel]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\Uninstall.exe"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Microsoft Excel"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "S.A"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 1060
       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20160708"
       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\"
       "InstallSource"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\"
       "Language"="REG_DWORD", 1033
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Microsoft Excel"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\Uninstall.exe"
       "VersionMajor"="REG_DWORD", 0
       "VersionMinor"="REG_DWORD", 0
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
       "Microsoft Excel"="REG_SZ", "C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel.exe"

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 7/5/2016
Scan Time: 11:30 AM
Logfile: mbamBuzzingDhol.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.2.1.1043
Malware Database: v2016.07.05.03
Rootkit Database: v2016.05.27.01
License: Premium
Malware Protection: Enabled
Malicious Website Protection: Enabled
Self-protection: Enabled

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {username}

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 314235
Time Elapsed: 7 min, 54 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 1
PUP.Optional.BuzzingDhol, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\Microsoft Excel, Quarantined, [02658f911f7b2214883f996762a2aa56], 

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 1
PUP.Optional.BuzzingDhol, C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel, Quarantined, [02658f911f7b2214883f996762a2aa56], 

Files: 3
PUP.Optional.BuzzingDhol, C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel.exe, Quarantined, [02658f911f7b2214883f996762a2aa56], 
PUP.Optional.BuzzingDhol, C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\Uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [02658f911f7b2214883f996762a2aa56], 
PUP.Optional.BuzzingDhol, C:\Windows\Microsoft Excel\Microsoft Excel\Uninstall.ini, Quarantined, [02658f911f7b2214883f996762a2aa56], 

Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(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.