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TROJ_FAKEAV.EAQ

February 16, 2010
 Analysis by: adel
 PLATFORM:

Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW

This Trojan has received attention from independent media sources and/or other security firms.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Trojan, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

This Trojan may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

It deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

1,327,104 bytes

File Type:

PE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

15 Feb 2010

Payload:

Drops files, Displays windows

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be downloaded by other malware/grayware/spyware from remote sites.

It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.

Installation

This Trojan adds the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\Total PC Defender
  • C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Total PC Defender

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Program Files%\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It drops the following files:

  • C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Total PC Defender.lnk
  • C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Total PC Defender.lnk
  • C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\ Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.lnk

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Total PC Defender = %Program Files%\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\
LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Security Center
UACDisableNotify = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
DisableTaskMgr = 1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
EnableLUA = 0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
DisableCAD = 1

It adds the following registry keys as part of its installation routine:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Total PC Defender
(Default) =  

Other Details

This Trojan deletes itself after execution.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE:

6.902.06

FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE:

08 Feb 2010

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

6.903.00

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

16 Feb 2010

Step 1

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 2

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

 
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    • DisableTaskMgr = 1
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy Objects\LocalUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
    • DisableTaskMgr = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center
    • UACDisableNotify = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
    • EnableLUA = 0
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
    • DisableCAD = 1
  • In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Total PC Defender = %Program Files%\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.exe

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ Learn More ]

Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.

  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
    • Total PC Defender

Step 4

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.
  • C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Total PC Defender.ln
  • C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Total PC Defender.ln
  • C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Total PC Defender\Total PC Defender.ln

Step 5

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.EAQ. 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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