Removal instructions for Soft cores

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Soft cores?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Soft cores is a Bitcoin miner. These miners are designed to earn cryptocurrency by using system resources.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Soft cores?

You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:

and this type of deeply nested Scheduled Task:

How did Soft cores get on my computer?

Trojans use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was installed by another trojan.

How do I remove Soft cores?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this trojan.

Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
Then click Finish.
Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
If another update of the definitions 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.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Soft cores?

This miner creates a scheduled task. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?

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

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Soft cores trojan. It would have warned you before the trojan could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 (Soft core) C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\FireFox\launcher\Systemcore.exe
 HKCU\...\Run: [core_i] => C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\FireFox\launcher\Systemcore.exe [4518912 2017-10-01] (Soft core)
 C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\FireFox

ssc 1.12 (HKLM-x32\...\ssc 1.12) (Version: 1.12 - Soft cores)
Task: {4D595699-3433-48AE-9BB1-FB0BD90B43AF} - System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\Wininet\sscore => 
Task: {C0990B5F-EB71-4C2D-8FB7-42573A9004A1} - System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c\d\e\f\g\h\i => C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\systembackup\backup\ssc.sfx.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\FireFox\launcher
       Adds the file libmySQL.dll"="8/21/2017 10:05 AM, 4002304 bytes, A
       Adds the file Systemcore.exe"="10/1/2017 10:29 PM, 4518912 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c\d\e\f\g\h
       Adds the file i"="10/19/2017 11:08 AM, 3624 bytes, A
    In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\Wininet
       Adds the file sscore"="10/19/2017 11:08 AM, 3542 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\ssc 1.12]
       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\FireFox\launcher\Uninstall.exe"
       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "ssc 1.12"
       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.12"
       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 8322
       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "mailto:[email protected]"
       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20171019"
       "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\FireFox\launcher\"
       "InstallSource"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\"
       "Language"="REG_DWORD", 1049
       "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Soft cores"
       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\FireFox\launcher\Uninstall.exe"
       "URLInfoAbout"="REG_SZ", "http://www.msdn.com/"
       "VersionMajor"="REG_DWORD", 1
       "VersionMinor"="REG_DWORD", 12
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
       "core_i"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\FireFox\launcher\Systemcore.exe"

Malwarebytes log:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 10/19/17
Scan Time: 1:53 PM
Log File: 25909b9d-b4c4-11e7-9519-080027750297.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.2.2.2018
Components Version: 1.0.212
Update Package Version: 1.0.3048
License: Premium

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

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 330587
Threats Detected: 29
Threats Quarantined: 29
Time Elapsed: 2 min, 11 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Detect
PUM: Detect

-Scan Details-
Process: 1
Trojan.BitCoinMiner.TskLnk, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\FIREFOX\LAUNCHER\SYSTEMCORE.EXE, Quarantined, [8795], [447435],1.0.3048

Module: 2
Trojan.BitCoinMiner.TskLnk, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\FIREFOX\LAUNCHER\SYSTEMCORE.EXE, Quarantined, [8795], [447435],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\FIREFOX\LAUNCHER\LIBMYSQL.DLL, Quarantined, [78], [447430],1.0.3048

Registry Key: 8
Trojan.BitCoinMiner.TskLnk, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree\Microsoft\Windows\Wininet\sscore, Delete-on-Reboot, [8795], [-1],0.0.0
Trojan.BitCoinMiner.TskLnk, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tasks\{37ED7276-9B08-4C31-A903-B6CECC613BD6}, Delete-on-Reboot, [8795], [-1],0.0.0
Trojan.BitCoinMiner.TskLnk, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Plain\{37ED7276-9B08-4C31-A903-B6CECC613BD6}, Delete-on-Reboot, [8795], [-1],0.0.0
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\WININET\sscore, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447921],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\ssc 1.12, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447432],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{37ED7276-9B08-4C31-A903-B6CECC613BD6}, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447923],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{F52788E1-EC0D-4F28-8A73-0F0722143641}, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447924],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\sysem, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447922],1.0.3048

Registry Value: 3
Trojan.BitCoinMiner.TskLnk, HKCU\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|core_i, Delete-on-Reboot, [8795], [447435],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{37ED7276-9B08-4C31-A903-B6CECC613BD6}|PATH, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447923],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{F52788E1-EC0D-4F28-8A73-0F0722143641}|PATH, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447924],1.0.3048

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 10
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c\d\e\f\g\h, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c\d\e\f\g, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c\d\e\f, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c\d\e, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c\d, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\SYSEM, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048

File: 5
Trojan.BitCoinMiner.TskLnk, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\FIREFOX\LAUNCHER\SYSTEMCORE.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [8795], [447435],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner.TskLnk, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\Microsoft\Windows\Wininet\sscore, Delete-on-Reboot, [8795], [-1],0.0.0
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\FIREFOX\LAUNCHER\LIBMYSQL.DLL, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447430],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\sysem\ssrec\a\b\c\d\e\f\g\h\i, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447912],1.0.3048
Trojan.BitCoinMiner, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\BCM SETUP.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [78], [447580],1.0.3048

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes 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 19 October 2017 - 06:04 AM

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Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: bitcoinminer

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