TROJ_FAKEAV.SMUX
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows 7
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Trojan may be dropped by other malware. It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
It lowers the security setting of Internet Explorer.
It connects to certain websites to send and receive information. It deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
It displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to a certain website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This Trojan may be dropped by other malware.
It may be unknowingly downloaded by a user while visiting malicious websites.
Installation
This Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random file name}.exe
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
It drops the following files:
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random file name}
(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\{OS Name} Restore
(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.)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
Use FormSuggest = "Yes"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnOnZoneCrossing = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnonBadCertRecving = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
CertificateRevocation = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
ActiveDesktop
NoChangingWallPaper = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Associations
LowRiskFileTypes = "/{hq:/s`s:/ogn:/uyu:/dyd:/c`u:/bnl:/ble:/sdf:/lrh:/iul:/iulm:/fhg:/clq:/kqf:/`wh:/lqf:/lqdf:/lnw:/lq2:/l2t:/v`w:/rbs:"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Attachments
SaveZoneInformation = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
System
DisableTaskMgr = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer
NoDesktop = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\
system
DisableTaskMgr = "1"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Download
CheckExeSignatures = "no"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is "yes".)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
Hidden = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowSuperHidden = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This Trojan lowers the security setting of Internet Explorer.
Dropping Routine
This Trojan drops the following files:
- %Desktop%\{OS Name} Restore.lnk
- %Start Menu%\Programs\{OS Name} Restore\{OS Name} Restore.lnk
- %Start Menu%\Programs\{OS Name} Restore\Uninstall {OS Name} Restore.lnk
(Note: %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.)
Other Details
This Trojan connects to the following website to send and receive information:
- http:\{BLOCKED}ugusta.org
- http:\{BLOCKED}ashington.org
- http:\{BLOCKED}reensboro.org
It deletes the initially executed copy of itself
Rogue Antivirus Routine
This Trojan displays fake alerts that warn users of infection. It also displays fake scanning results of the affected system. It then asks for users to purchase it once scanning is completed. If users decide to purchase the rogue product, users are directed to a certain website asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers.
NOTES:
It changes the attributes of the files on the affected system to Hidden. This is to trick the user that the system has serious hardware failure.
SOLUTION
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
Restart in Safe Mode
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\Internet Explorer\Main
- Use FormSuggest = "Yes"
- Use FormSuggest = "Yes"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
- WarnOnZoneCrossing = "0"
- WarnOnZoneCrossing = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
- WarnonBadCertRecving = "0"
- WarnonBadCertRecving = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
- CertificateRevocation = "0"
- CertificateRevocation = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop
- NoChangingWallPaper = "1"
- NoChangingWallPaper = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations
- LowRiskFileTypes = "/{hq:/s`s:/ogn:/uyu:/dyd:/c`u:/bnl:/ble:/sdf:/lrh:/iul:/iulm:/fhg:/clq:/kqf:/`wh:/lqf:/lqdf:/lnw:/lq2:/l2t:/v`w:/rbs:"
- LowRiskFileTypes = "/{hq:/s`s:/ogn:/uyu:/dyd:/c`u:/bnl:/ble:/sdf:/lrh:/iul:/iulm:/fhg:/clq:/kqf:/`wh:/lqf:/lqdf:/lnw:/lq2:/l2t:/v`w:/rbs:"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments
- SaveZoneInformation = "1"
- SaveZoneInformation = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
- DisableTaskMgr = "1"
- DisableTaskMgr = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- NoDesktop = "1"
- NoDesktop = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system
- DisableTaskMgr = "1"
- DisableTaskMgr = "1"
Step 4
Restore this modified 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\Internet Explorer\Download
- From: CheckExeSignatures = "no"
To: CheckExeSignatures = "yes"
- From: CheckExeSignatures = "no"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: Hidden = "0"
To: Hidden = "1"
- From: Hidden = "0"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
- From: ShowSuperHidden = "0"
To: ShowSuperHidden = "1"
- From: ShowSuperHidden = "0"
Step 5
Reset Internet security settings
Step 6
Search and delete these files
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{random file name}
- %Desktop%\{OS Name} Restore.lnk
Step 7
Search and delete this folder
- %Start Menu%\Programs\{OS Name} Restore
Step 8
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.SMUX. 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.
NOTES:
Restoring Malware Modified Files
This malware changes the attributes of files in the system to Hidden. For this, kindly change the attributes of the files manually using the Windows ATTRIB command.
Changing File Attributes Using ATTRIB Command
1. Go to Start Menu then click RUN. For Windows 7, type CMD in search box and press ENTER.
2. Type CMD and press ENTER.
3. In the CMD console, type the following: ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A ] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [+I | -I] [drive:][path][filename] [/S [/D] [/L]] Where:
+ Sets an attribute
- Clears an attribute
R Read-only file attribute
A Archive file attribute
S System file attribute
H Hidden file attribute
I Not content indexed file attribute
[drive:][path][filename]
Specifies a file or files for attrib to process
/S Processes matching files in the current folder and all subfolders
/D Processes folders
/L Work on the attributes of the Symbolic Link versus the target of the Symbolic Link
Example:
To unhide all files and folders (including subfolders) in drive D: ATTRIB –H D:\* /S /D
4. Repeat Step 3 for folders and files in other drives or directories.
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