Analysis by: Kathleen Notario
ALIASES:

Trojan.FakeAV (Symantec); Trojan:Win32/FakeSysdef (Microsoft); Trojan.Win32.Jorik.Fraud.anw (Kaspersky); FakeAlert-SysDef.b (Mcafee); Mal/FakeAV-LS (Sophos)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: No

  • 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.

It modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

It connects to certain URLs. It may do this to remotely inform a malicious user of its installation. It may also do this to download possibly malicious files onto the computer, which puts the computer at a greater risk of infection by other threats.

It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: 320,000 bytes
File Type: EXE
Memory Resident: Yes
Initial Samples Received Date: 11 Aug 2011
Payload: Downloads files

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 files:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random filename}
  • %Desktop%\System Repair.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Repair\System Repair.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Repair\Uninstall System Repair.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\System Repair.lnk

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.. %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.. %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.)

It drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random filename}.exe

(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Start Menu%\Programs\System Repair

(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.)

Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification

This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.

Download Routine

This Trojan connects to the following malicious URLs:

  • {BLOCKED}ttract.org
  • {BLOCKED}void.org
  • {BLOCKED}became.org
  • {BLOCKED}egan.org
  • {BLOCKED}leach.org
  • {BLOCKED}reck.org
  • {BLOCKED}iggle.org
  • {BLOCKED}emselves.org
  • {BLOCKED}eory.org
  • {BLOCKED}ail.org
  • {BLOCKED}ansportation.org

Other Details

This Trojan deletes the initially executed copy of itself

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN FILE: 8.346.11
FIRST VSAPI PATTERN DATE: 11 Aug 2011

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

Identify and terminate files detected as TROJ_FAKEAL.DGG

[ Learn More ]
  1. 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.
  2. If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.

Step 3

Search and delete this folder

[ 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\System Repair

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ 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.
  • %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random filename}
  • %Desktop%\System Repair.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\System Repair.lnk

Step 5

Reset Internet security settings

[ Learn More ]

Step 6

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_FAKEAL.DGG. 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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