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CRCK_ACTIVATE

March 21, 2013
 ALIASES:

Trojan:Win32/Meredrop (Microsoft), probably a variant of Win32/HackKMS.B application (Eset)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit, 64-bit)

 OVERALL RISK RATING:
 DAMAGE POTENTIAL:
 DISTRIBUTION POTENTIAL:
 REPORTED INFECTION:

  • Threat Type: Cracking Application

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This cracking application may be manually installed by a user.

This routine allows users to break the registration and protection techniques of applications, allowing them to use a fully-registered version of applications.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,924,096 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

No

Initial Samples Received Date:

22 Mar 2012

Arrival Details

This cracking application may be manually installed by a user.

Installation

This cracking application adds the following possibly malicious files or file components:

  • %Windows%\Tasks\AutoKMS.job
  • {Malware Path}\AutoKMS.ini
  • {Malware Path}\AutoKMS.log

(Note: %Windows% is the Windows folder, which is usually C:\Windows.)

Autostart Technique

The scheduled task executes the malware every:

  • 1 Day (24 hours)

Cracker Routine

This routine allows users to break the registration and protection techniques of applications, allowing them to use a fully-registered version of applications.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.300

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

1.273.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

22 Mar 2012

Step 1

Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.

Step 2

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component files that are hidden. Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files and folders in the search result.  
  • {Malware Path}\AutoKMS.ini
  • {Malware Path}\AutoKMS.log
  • %Windows%\Tasks\AutoKMS.job

Step 3

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as CRCK_ACTIVATE. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.


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