Trojan.Win32.MALREP.THOABAAI
Trojan.MalPack.GS (Malwarebytes), W32/Kryptik.GPMP!tr (Fortinet), Trojan-Ransom.Downloader.Stop (Ikarus)
Windows
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: No
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Trojan may be downloaded from remote sites by other malware.
It adds certain registry entries to disable the Task Manager. This action prevents users from terminating the malware process, which can usually be done via the Task Manager.
It modifies the affected system's HOSTS files. This prevents users from accessing certain websites.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This Trojan may be downloaded from remote site(s) by the following malware:
Installation
This Trojan drops and executes the following files:
- %AppDataLocal%/script.ps1 ← powershell scripts
- %User Temp%/delself.bat ← batch file to remove itself in the system.
(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It adds the following processes:
- powershell -Command Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser RemoteSigned
- powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "& {Start-Process PowerShell -ArgumentList '-NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File ""C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\script.ps1""' -Verb RunAs}"
- "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\mpcmdrun.exe" -removedefinitions -all
- cmd.exe /C "%UserTemp%\delfself.bat"
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry entries to disable the Task Manager:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskmgr = 1
HOSTS File Modification
This Trojan modifies the affected system's HOSTS files to prevent a user from accessing the following websites:
- ds.download.windowsupdate.com
- www.update.microsoft.com
- download.windowsupdate.com
- fe2.update.microsoft.com
- whoer.net
- www.whoer.net
- windowsupdate.com
- www.windowsupdate.com
- microsoft.com
- www.microsoft.com
- www.windowsupdate.com
- windowsupdate.com
- www.microsoft.com
- www.360totalsecurity.com
- 360totalsecurity.com
- www.gratissoftwaresite.com
- gratissoftwaresite.com
- tweakers.net
- www.tweakers.net
- www.avg.com
- avg.com
- www.bestevirusscanner.net
- bestevirusscanner.net
- www.consumentenbond.nl
- consumentenbond.nl
- cheaplicensing.com
- www.cheaplicensing.com
- global.ahnlab.com
- www.global.ahnlab.com
- www.ahnlab.com
- ahnlab.com
- downloads.tomsguide.com
- www.downloads.tomsguide.com
- www.download82.com
- download82.com
- download.cnet.com
- www.download.cnet.com
- www.avast.com
- avast.com
- support.avast.com
- www.support.avast.com
- www.consumentenbond.com
- consumentenbond.com
- www.goedkoopsteantivirus.com
- goedkoopsteantivirus.com
- www.toptenreviews.com
- toptenreviews.com
- www.antivirus.nl
- antivirus.nl
- www.bol.com
- bol.com
- www.avira.com
- avira.com
- www.bitdefender.com
- bitdefender.com
- licentie2go.com
- www.licentie2go.com
- www.bullguard.com
- bullguard.com
- www.kpn.com
- kpn.com
- virusscanner.software
- www.virusscanner.software
- www.comodo.com
- comodo.com
- www.drweb.com
- drweb.com
- download.drweb.com
- www.download.drweb.com
- vms.drweb.com
- www.vms.drweb.com
- alternativeto.ne
- www.alternativeto.ne
- softonic.com
- www.softonic.com
- www.softpedia.com
- softpedia.com
- www.flipkart.com
- flipkart.com
- virustotal.com
- www.virustotal.com
- www.emsisoft.com
- emsisoft.com
- www.antimalwaresoftware.com
- antimalwaresoftware.com
- www.pcwebplus.com
- pcwebplus.com
- www.pcmag.com
- pcmag.com
- www.eset.com
- eset.com
- www.surfspot.com
- surfspot.com
- www.topantivirus.com
- topantivirus.com
- www.techzine.com
- techzine.com
- www.eset.com
- eset.com
- www.fortinet.com
- fortinet.com
- fortiguard.com
- www.fortiguard.com
- forticlient.com
- www.forticlient.com
- www.kpn.com
- kpn.com
- www.kaspersky.com
- kaspersky.com
- www.consumentenbond.com
- consumentenbond.com
- www.surfspot.com
- surfspot.com
- www.topreviews.com
- topreviews.com
- www.amecomputers.com
- amecomputers.com
- www.instantsoftware.com
- instantsoftware.com
- www.malwarebytes.com
- malwarebytes.com
- www.malwarebytes.org
- malwarebytes.org
- download.cnet.com
- www.download.cnet.com
- www.bleepingcomputer.com
- bleepingcomputer.com
- www.majorgeeks.com
- majorgeeks.com
- www.seniorweb.com
- seniorweb.com
- www.amazon.com
- amazon.com
- www.techspot.com
- techspot.com
- filehippo.com
- www.filehippo.com
- www.idealsoftware.com
- idealsoftware.com
- uptodown.com
- www.uptodown.com
- www.mcafee.com
- mcafee.com
- home.mcafee.com
- www.home.mcafee.com
- www.coolblue.com
- coolblue.com
- www.pcmag.com
- pcmag.com
- www.sky.com
- sky.com
- norton.com
- www.norton.com
- www.kieskeurig.com
- kieskeurig.com
- internetsecurity.xfinity.com
- www.internetsecurity.xfinity.com
- www.symantec.com
- symantec.com
- www.campusshop.com
- campusshop.com
- www.pandasecurity.com
- pandasecurity.com
- www.paradigit.com
- paradigit.com
- www.sophos.com
- sophos.com
- home.sophos.com
- www.home.sophos.com
- sophos.virtualsecurity.com
- www.sophos.virtualsecurity.com
- www.gratissoftware.com
- gratissoftware.com
- www.seniorweb.com
- seniorweb.com
- www.softwareadvice.com
- softwareadvice.com
- www.symantec.com
- symantec.com
- hostedendpoint.spn.com
- www.hostedendpoint.spn.com
- www.g2crowd.com
- g2crowd.com
- www.trendmicro.com
- trendmicro.com
- www.goedkoopsteantivirus.com
- goedkoopsteantivirus.com
- download.cnet.com
- www.download.cnet.com
- www.ign.com
- ign.com
- www.trusteer.com
- trusteer.com
- my.webrootanywhere.com
- www.my.webrootanywhere.com
- www.webroot.com
- webroot.com
- www.techradar.com
- techradar.com
- support.microsoft.com
- www.support.microsoft.com
- www.microsoft.com
- microsoft.com
- pulse.microsoft.com
- www.pulse.microsoft.com
- pcmweb.com
- www.pcmweb.com
- www.security.com
- security.com
- ccm.net
- www.ccm.net
- www.enigmasoftware.com
- enigmasoftware.com
- howtoremove.guide
- www.howtoremove.guide
- www.2-viruses.com
- 2-viruses.com
- www.2-spyware.com
- 2-spyware.com
- sensorstechforum.com
- www.sensorstechforum.com
- greatis.com
- www.greatis.com
- www.pchubs.com
- pchubs.com
- www.pcrisk.com
- pcrisk.com
- www.malware-board.com
- malware-board.com
- pcthreatskiller.com
- www.pcthreatskiller.com
- pcfixhelp.net
- www.pcfixhelp.net
- stepsforkillingthreats.com
- www.stepsforkillingthreats.com
- www.removemalwarevirus.com
- removemalwarevirus.com
- spyware-techie.com
- www.spyware-techie.com
- anti-spyware-101.com
- www.anti-spyware-101.com
- www.removeallvirus.com
- removeallvirus.com
- www.pcthreat.com
- pcthreat.com
- www.pcinfectionsupport.com
- pcinfectionsupport.com
- www.howtouninstallpcmalware.com
- howtouninstallpcmalware.com
- computerprotectionpro.com
- www.computerprotectionpro.com
Other Details
This Trojan displays the following images:
- fake Windows update
SOLUTION
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 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
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\Policies\System
- DisableTaskmgr = 1
- DisableTaskmgr = 1
Step 4
Identify and terminate files detected as Trojan.Win32.MALREP.THOABAAI
- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
Step 5
Remove these strings added by the malware/grayware/spyware in the HOSTS file
- ds.download.windowsupdate.com
- www.update.microsoft.com
- download.windowsupdate.com
- fe2.update.microsoft.com
- whoer.net
- www.whoer.net
- windowsupdate.com
- www.windowsupdate.com
- microsoft.com
- www.microsoft.com
- www.windowsupdate.com
- windowsupdate.com
- www.microsoft.com
- www.360totalsecurity.com
- 360totalsecurity.com
- www.gratissoftwaresite.com
- gratissoftwaresite.com
- tweakers.net
- www.tweakers.net
- www.avg.com
- avg.com
- www.bestevirusscanner.net
- bestevirusscanner.net
- www.consumentenbond.nl
- consumentenbond.nl
- cheaplicensing.com
- www.cheaplicensing.com
- global.ahnlab.com
- www.global.ahnlab.com
- www.ahnlab.com
- ahnlab.com
- downloads.tomsguide.com
- www.downloads.tomsguide.com
- www.download82.com
- download82.com
- download.cnet.com
- www.download.cnet.com
- www.avast.com
- avast.com
- support.avast.com
- www.support.avast.com
- www.consumentenbond.com
- consumentenbond.com
- www.goedkoopsteantivirus.com
- goedkoopsteantivirus.com
- www.toptenreviews.com
- toptenreviews.com
- www.antivirus.nl
- antivirus.nl
- www.bol.com
- bol.com
- www.avira.com
- avira.com
- www.bitdefender.com
- bitdefender.com
- licentie2go.com
- www.licentie2go.com
- www.bullguard.com
- bullguard.com
- www.kpn.com
- kpn.com
- virusscanner.software
- www.virusscanner.software
- www.comodo.com
- comodo.com
- www.drweb.com
- drweb.com
- download.drweb.com
- www.download.drweb.com
- vms.drweb.com
- www.vms.drweb.com
- alternativeto.ne
- www.alternativeto.ne
- softonic.com
- www.softonic.com
- www.softpedia.com
- softpedia.com
- www.flipkart.com
- flipkart.com
- virustotal.com
- www.virustotal.com
- www.emsisoft.com
- emsisoft.com
- www.antimalwaresoftware.com
- antimalwaresoftware.com
- www.pcwebplus.com
- pcwebplus.com
- www.pcmag.com
- pcmag.com
- www.eset.com
- eset.com
- www.surfspot.com
- surfspot.com
- www.topantivirus.com
- topantivirus.com
- www.techzine.com
- techzine.com
- www.eset.com
- eset.com
- www.fortinet.com
- fortinet.com
- fortiguard.com
- www.fortiguard.com
- forticlient.com
- www.forticlient.com
- www.kpn.com
- kpn.com
- www.kaspersky.com
- kaspersky.com
- www.consumentenbond.com
- consumentenbond.com
- www.surfspot.com
- surfspot.com
- www.topreviews.com
- topreviews.com
- www.amecomputers.com
- amecomputers.com
- www.instantsoftware.com
- instantsoftware.com
- www.malwarebytes.com
- malwarebytes.com
- www.malwarebytes.org
- malwarebytes.org
- download.cnet.com
- www.download.cnet.com
- www.bleepingcomputer.com
- bleepingcomputer.com
- www.majorgeeks.com
- majorgeeks.com
- www.seniorweb.com
- seniorweb.com
- www.amazon.com
- amazon.com
- www.techspot.com
- techspot.com
- filehippo.com
- www.filehippo.com
- www.idealsoftware.com
- idealsoftware.com
- uptodown.com
- www.uptodown.com
- www.mcafee.com
- mcafee.com
- home.mcafee.com
- www.home.mcafee.com
- www.coolblue.com
- coolblue.com
- www.pcmag.com
- pcmag.com
- www.sky.com
- sky.com
- norton.com
- www.norton.com
- www.kieskeurig.com
- kieskeurig.com
- internetsecurity.xfinity.com
- www.internetsecurity.xfinity.com
- www.symantec.com
- symantec.com
- www.campusshop.com
- campusshop.com
- www.pandasecurity.com
- pandasecurity.com
- www.paradigit.com
- paradigit.com
- www.sophos.com
- sophos.com
- home.sophos.com
- www.home.sophos.com
- sophos.virtualsecurity.com
- www.sophos.virtualsecurity.com
- www.gratissoftware.com
- gratissoftware.com
- www.seniorweb.com
- seniorweb.com
- www.softwareadvice.com
- softwareadvice.com
- www.symantec.com
- symantec.com
- hostedendpoint.spn.com
- www.hostedendpoint.spn.com
- www.g2crowd.com
- g2crowd.com
- www.trendmicro.com
- trendmicro.com
- www.goedkoopsteantivirus.com
- goedkoopsteantivirus.com
- download.cnet.com
- www.download.cnet.com
- www.ign.com
- ign.com
- www.trusteer.com
- trusteer.com
- my.webrootanywhere.com
- www.my.webrootanywhere.com
- www.webroot.com
- webroot.com
- www.techradar.com
- techradar.com
- support.microsoft.com
- www.support.microsoft.com
- www.microsoft.com
- microsoft.com
- pulse.microsoft.com
- www.pulse.microsoft.com
- pcmweb.com
- www.pcmweb.com
- www.security.com
- security.com
- ccm.net
- www.ccm.net
- www.enigmasoftware.com
- enigmasoftware.com
- howtoremove.guide
- www.howtoremove.guide
- www.2-viruses.com
- 2-viruses.com
- www.2-spyware.com
- 2-spyware.com
- sensorstechforum.com
- www.sensorstechforum.com
- greatis.com
- www.greatis.com
- www.pchubs.com
- pchubs.com
- www.pcrisk.com
- pcrisk.com
- www.malware-board.com
- malware-board.com
- pcthreatskiller.com
- www.pcthreatskiller.com
- pcfixhelp.net
- www.pcfixhelp.net
- stepsforkillingthreats.com
- www.stepsforkillingthreats.com
- www.removemalwarevirus.com
- removemalwarevirus.com
- spyware-techie.com
- www.spyware-techie.com
- anti-spyware-101.com
- www.anti-spyware-101.com
- www.removeallvirus.com
- removeallvirus.com
- www.pcthreat.com
- pcthreat.com
- www.pcinfectionsupport.com
- pcinfectionsupport.com
- www.howtouninstallpcmalware.com
- howtouninstallpcmalware.com
- computerprotectionpro.com
- www.computerprotectionpro.com
Step 6
Search and delete these files
- %AppDataLocal%\script.ps1
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.Win32.MALREP.THOABAAI. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
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