TROJ_FAKESYS.WAD
Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Trojan
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted: Yes
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 deletes the initially executed copy of itself.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
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 copies of itself into the affected system and executes them:
- {All Users' profile}\Application Data\{random file name}.exe
It drops the following files:
- %Desktop%\SMART_HDD.lnk
- %Start Menu%\Programs\SMART HDD\SMART HDD.lnk
- %Start Menu%\Programs\SMART HDD\Uninstall SMART HDD.lnk
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\SMART_HDD.lnk
- {All Users' profile}\Application Data\{random file name}
- {All Users' profile}\Application Data\-{random file name}
- {All Users' profile}\Application Data\-{random file name}r
(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.. %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 creates the following folders:
- %Start Menu%\Programs\SMART HDD
(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.)
It terminates the execution of the copy it initially executed and executes the copy it drops instead.
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\{random file name}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\{random file name}\
DEBUG
It 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
CertificateRevocation = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnonBadCertRecving = "0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
WarnOnZoneCrossing = "0"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\{random file name}\
DEBUG
Trace Level = ""
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\WinTrust\
Trust Providers\Software Publishing
State = "23e00"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 23c00.)
Web Browser Home Page and Search Page Modification
This Trojan modifies the Internet Explorer Zone Settings.
Other Details
This Trojan deletes the initially executed copy of itself
NOTES:
Upon installation, this Trojan pretends to scan the system for disk errors. After doing the fake scan, it displays the following window:
Clicking the buttonRepair 7 Issues displays the following:
If user clicks on Buy license now, it connects to any of the following URLs to get user billing information:
- http://{BLOCKED}ons.com/
- http://{BLOCKED}velop.com/
- http://{BLOCKED}ing.com
- http://{BLOCKED}oneca.com/
- http://{BLOCKED}reator.com
- http://{BLOCKED}ingona.com/
It displays the following window which contains the form to get the user's billing information:
Users who bought the activation code sees the following upon clicking the I have an activation code button:
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
Identify and terminate files detected as TROJ_FAKESYS.WAD
- 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 3
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_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\ESENT\Process
- {random file name}
- {random file name}
Step 4
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
- CertificateRevocation = "0"
- CertificateRevocation = "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
- WarnOnZoneCrossing = "0"
- WarnOnZoneCrossing = "0"
Step 5
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\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinTrust\Trust Providers\Software Publishing
- From: State = "23e00"
To: State = "23c00"
- From: State = "23e00"
Step 6
Search and delete these files
- %Desktop%\SMART_HDD.lnk
- %User Profile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\SMART_HDD.lnk
- {All Users' profile}\Application Data\{random file name}
- {All Users' profile}\Application Data\-{random file name}
- {All Users' profile}\Application Data\-{random file name}r
Step 7
Search and delete this folder
- %Start Menu%\Programs\SMART HDD
Step 8
Reset Internet security settings
Step 9
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as TROJ_FAKESYS.WAD. 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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