PUA_SYSTWEAK
Win32/Systweak.K potentially unwanted (ESET-NOD32), PUP/Systweak (Panda)
Windows
Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This potentially unwanted application may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component. It 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 potentially unwanted application may arrive bundled with malware packages as a malware component.
It 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 potentially unwanted application drops the following files:
- %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Programs\K9-PCFixer\K9-PCFixer.lnk
- %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Programs\K9-PCFixer\Register K9-PCFixer.lnk
- %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\Programs\K9-PCFixer\Uninstall K9-PCFixer.lnk
- %Application Data%\K9-PCFixer\backup6.bin
- %Application Data%\K9-PCFixer\eng_rcp.dat
- %Application Data%\K9-PCFixer\log_{date executed}.log
- %Desktop%\K9-PCFixer.lnk
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Chinese_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Chinese_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\CleanSchedule.exe
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Danish_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Danish_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Dutch_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Dutch_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\FileList.rcp
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Finnish_rcp_fi.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Finnish_uninst_fi.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\French_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\French_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\German_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\German_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Italian_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Italian_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Japanese_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Japanese_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\K9-PCFUninstall.exe
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\K9-PCFixer.exe
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Norwegian_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Norwegian_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Portuguese_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Portuguese_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\RegList.rcp
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Spanish_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Swedish_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\TPS.ico
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\TraditionalCn_rcp_zh-tw.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\Turkish_uninst_tr.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\eng_rcp.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\eng_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\greek_rcp_el.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\greek_uninst_el.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\install_left_image.bmp
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\isxdl.dll
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\k9schedule.exe
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\korean_rcp_ko.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\korean_uninst_ko.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\polish_rcp_pl.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\polish_uninst_pl.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\portugese_rcp_pt.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\portugese_uninst_pt.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\russian_rcp_ru.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\russian_uninst_ru.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\spanish_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\swedish_uninst.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\traditionalcn_uninst_zh-tw.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\turkish_rcp_tr.ini
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\unins000.dat
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\unins000.exe
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\unins000.msg
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\xmllite.dll
- %System%\roboot.exe
- %Windows%\Tasks\K9-PCFixer_DEFAULT.job
- %Windows%\Tasks\K9-PCFixer_UPDATES.job
(Note: %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Desktop% is the desktop folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Desktop in Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\Desktop in Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.. %Windows% is the Windows folder, where it usually is C:\Windows on all Windows operating system versions.)
It creates the following folders:
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer
- %Application Data%\K9-PCFixer
- %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\K9-PCFixer
(Note: %Program Files% is the Program Files folder, where it usually is C:\Program Files on all Windows operating system versions; C:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit applications running on Windows 64-bit operating systems.. %Application Data% is the Application Data folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.. %All Users Profile% is the All Users folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
Other System Modifications
This potentially unwanted application adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
K9 =
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
K9-PCFixer =
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
K9 =
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
K9-PCFixer =
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
K9Tools =
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
K9 PCFixer_is1 =
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
K9PCFReminder = "%Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\K9-PCFixer.exe -rem"
Other Details
This potentially unwanted application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- http://www.{BLOCKED}xer.com/getipaddress.asp
- http://{BLOCKED}k.{BLOCKOED}ak.com/tempfile/
- http://{BLOCKED}47sbf1ja.{BLOCKED}ront.net/k9pcp/k9pcp_default.exe
- http://{BLOCKED}bvum/
- http://{BLOCKED}qlx/
- http://{BLOCKED}qejw/
- http://{BLOCKED}47sbf1ja.{BLOCKED}ront.net/k9pcp/k9pcp_default.exe
- http://www.{BLOCKED}xer.com/favicon.ico
- http://{BLOCKED}bnl/
- http://{BLOCKED}irvd/
- http://{BLOCKED}vfto/
- http://{BLOCKED}cswl/
- http://{BLOCKED}wvkm/
- http://{BLOCKED}bopj/
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
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
Identify and terminate files detected as PUA_SYSTWEAK
- 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 4
Search and delete these folders
- %Program Files%\K9-PCFixer
- %Application Data%\K9-PCFixer
- %All Users Profile%\Start Menu\Programs\K9-PCFixer
Step 5
Search and delete this file
- %Desktop%\K9-PCFixer.lnk
- %System%\roboot.exe
- %Windows%\Tasks\K9-PCFixer_DEFAULT.job
- %Windows%\Tasks\K9-PCFixer_UPDATES.job
Step 6
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\Run
- K9PCFReminder = "%Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\K9-PCFixer.exe -rem"
- K9PCFReminder = "%Program Files%\K9-PCFixer\K9-PCFixer.exe -rem"
Step 7
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
- K9
- K9
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
- K9-PCFixer
- K9-PCFixer
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- K9
- K9
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- K9-PCFixer
- K9-PCFixer
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
- K9Tools
- K9Tools
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- K9 PCFixer_is1
- K9 PCFixer_is1
Step 8
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA_SYSTWEAK. 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.
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