TROJ_FAKEAV.NIO
Mal/EncPk-AEJ (Sophos), a variant of Win32/Kryptik.AJCV trojan (ESET)
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
Downloaded from the Internet, Dropped by other malware
This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
393,216 bytes
EXE
Yes
30 Jul 2012
Terminates processes, Connects to URLs/IPs, Displays fake alerts
Arrival Details
This Trojan arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This Trojan drops the following files:
- %Desktop%\Live Security Platinum.lnk
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Live Security Platinum\Live Security Platinum.lnk
- {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}
- {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico
(Note: %Desktop% is the current user's desktop, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Desktop on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User Name}\Desktop on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.. %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe
It creates the following folders:
- {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Live Security Platinum
(Note: %Start Menu% is the current user's Start Menu folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu on Windows NT and C:\Windows\Start Menu or C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
{random file name} = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random key name}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Installer\Products\{random key name}
(Default) = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
DisplayName = "Live Security Platinum"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
ShortcutPath = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
UninstallString = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Live Security Platinum
DisplayIcon = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico,0"
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://{BLOCKED}.{BLOCKED}.178.189/api/stats/install/?ts={number}&affid={number}&ver={number}&group=liv
SOLUTION
9.200
9.294.02
30 Jul 2012
9.295.00
31 Jul 2012
Step 1
For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 users, before doing any scans, please make sure you disable System Restore to allow full scanning of your computer.
Step 2
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.NIO
Step 3
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 4
Delete this registry value
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\RunOnce
- {random file name} = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
- {random file name} = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\{random key name}
- (Default) = "1"
- (Default) = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Live Security Platinum
- DisplayName = "Live Security Platinum"
- DisplayName = "Live Security Platinum"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Live Security Platinum
- ShortcutPath = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"
- ShortcutPath = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Live Security Platinum
- UninstallString = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"
- UninstallString = ""{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.exe" -u"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Live Security Platinum
- DisplayIcon = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico,0"
- DisplayIcon = "{All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico,0"
Step 5
Delete this registry key
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
- Installer
- Installer
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- Live Security Platinum
- Live Security Platinum
Step 6
Search and delete these files
- %Desktop%\Live Security Platinum.lnk
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Live Security Platinum\Live Security Platinum.lnk
- {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}
- {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}\{random file name}.ico
Step 7
Search and delete these folders
- {All User's Profile}\Application Data\{random folder name}
- %Start Menu%\Programs\Live Security Platinum
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.NIO. 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.
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.