HKTL_SWITCHER
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
Threat Type: Hacking Tool
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This hacking tool 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
Arrival Details
This hacking tool 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 hacking tool creates the following folders:
- %User Temp%\wfps
(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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)
Other System Modifications
This hacking tool deletes the following files:
- %User Temp%\nsw1.tmp
- %User Temp%\wfps\sfc_os.dll
(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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)
Dropping Routine
This hacking tool drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\nsw3.tmp
- %User Temp%\wfps\osver.dat
- %User Temp%\wfps\disabled.dat
- %User Temp%\wfps\ws.exe
- %User Temp%\wfps\ws.exe.manifest
- %User Temp%\wfps\patched.dat
(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, or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista and 7.)
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
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
Search and delete these components
- %User Temp%\nsw3.tmp
- %User Temp%\wfps\osver.dat
- %User Temp%\wfps\disabled.dat
- %User Temp%\wfps\ws.exe
- %User Temp%\wfps\ws.exe.manifest
- %User Temp%\wfps\patched.dat
Step 3
Search and delete this folder
- %User Temp%\wfps
Step 4
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as HKTL_SWITCHER. 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 5
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.
- %User Temp%\nsw1.tmp
- %User Temp%\wfps\sfc_os.dll
Did this description help? Tell us how we did.