TROJ_FAKEALE.PH


 ALIASES:

Rogue:Win32/FakeRean (Microsoft); Generic Downloader.ky (McAfee); Trojan.Win32.FakeAV.oq (v) (Sunbelt); Gen:Variant.Kazy.46910 (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


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

File Size:

4,905,990 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

17 May 2012

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 copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\securityhelper.exe

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Security Monitor

(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.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} 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\Run
Security Monitor 2012 Security = "%User Profile%\Security Monitor\securitymanager.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan deletes the following files:

  • {malware path and file name}:zone.identifier
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\securityhelper.exe
  • %Temporary Internet Files%\Content.IE5\SMCZPN4M\ea[1].htm

(Note: %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %User Temp%\_1.tmpac7d.exe
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor\Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor\Activate Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor\How to Activate Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor\Help Security Monitor.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Quick Launch\Security Monitor.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\IcoActivate.ico
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\IcoHelp.ico
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\IcoUninstall.ico
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\Security Monitor.exe
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\securitymanager.exe

(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp 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.. %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.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name} on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name} on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

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\Run
    • Security Monitor 2012 Security = "%User Profile%\Security Monitor\securitymanager.exe"

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.
  • %User Temp%\_1.tmpac7d.exe
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Desktop%\Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor\Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor\Activate Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor\How to Activate Security Monitor.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor\Help Security Monitor.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Quick Launch\Security Monitor.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\IcoActivate.ico
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\IcoHelp.ico
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\IcoUninstall.ico
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\Security Monitor.exe
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\securitymanager.exe

Step 5

Search and delete these folders

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\Security Monitor
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Security Monitor

Step 6

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEALE.PH. 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.

Step 7

Restore this file from backup only Microsoft-related files will be restored. If this malware/grayware also deleted files related to programs that are not from Microsoft, please reinstall those programs on you computer again.

  • {malware path and file name}:zone.identifier
  • %User Profile%\Security Monitor\securityhelper.exe
  • %Temporary Internet Files%\Content.IE5\SMCZPN4M\ea[1].htm


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