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.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.
It does not have any information-stealing capability.
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 and executes the following files:
- %System%\Whelp.dll ← also detected as TROJ_FAKEWHELP.A
(Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
It drops the following non-malicious files:
- {malware path}\testtest.Log ← timelogs of its routine
Autostart Technique
This Trojan registers itself as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SvcHost
Whelp = "Whelp"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp
ImagePath = "%System%\svchost.exe -k Whelp"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp
DisplayName = "Whelp"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp
Description = "Provides Windows Help And Support."
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp
ObjectName = "LocalSystem"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp
Type = "32"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp
Start = "2"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp
ErrorControl = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp\Parameters
ServiceDll = "%System%\Whelp.dll"
It adds and runs the following services:
It registers as a system service to ensure its automatic execution at every system startup by adding the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\
Services\Whelp
Propagation
This Trojan does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This Trojan does not have any backdoor routine.
Dropping Routine
This Trojan drops the following files:
It executes the dropped file(s). As a result, malicious routines of the dropped files are exhibited on the affected system.
Information Theft
This Trojan does not have any information-stealing capability.
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
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Remove the malware/grayware file dropped/downloaded by TROJ_FAKEWHELP.A. (Note: Please skip this step if the threat(s) listed below have already been removed.)
Step 4
Restart in Safe Mode
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
• For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users
- Access the Charms bar by moving your mouse pointer to the upper right corner of the screen.
- Move your mouse pointer down and click Settings>Change your PC Settings.
- In the left panel, click General.
- In the right panel, scroll down to the bottom to find the Advanced startup section, then click the Restart now button and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Advanced Startup menu, click Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Startup Settings>Restart and wait for the system to restart.
- In the Startup Settings menu, press 4 to enable safe mode.
Step 5
Disable this malware service
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Disabling a Malware Service
To disable a service:
- Open a command prompt window:
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type cmd in the text box provided, and press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 2008 users, click the Start button, type cmd in the Search input field, and press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Command Prompt. - At the command prompt, type the following:
NET STOP - Press Enter. A message should indicate that the service has been stopped successfully.
- Close the command prompt window.
Step 6
Delete this registry key
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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. Before you could do this, you must restart in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to edit the system registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
To delete the registry key this malware/grayware/spyware created:
- Restart your computer in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page. If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to #2.
- Open Registry Editor. To do this:
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>Services - Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
Whelp - Close Registry Editor.
Step 7
Delete this registry value
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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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SvcHost
To delete the registry value this malware/grayware created:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 users, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
» For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>SvcHost - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
Whelp = "Whelp" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 8
Search and delete this file
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There may be some 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}\testtest.Log
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
• For Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003:
- Right-click Start then click Search....
- In the File name* input box, type the following:
- {malware path}\testtest.Log
- In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer then press Enter.
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: The file name input box title varies depending on the Windows version (e.g. Search for files or folders named or All or part of the file name.).
• For Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012:
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows Vista, 7, and Server 2008 users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, and Server 2012 users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- {malware path}\testtest.Log
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7.
Step 9
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEWHELP.A. 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.
