arrow_back
search
close

TROJ_FAKEAV.SM1A

October 13, 2013
 Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted: Yes

  • In the wild: Yes

  OVERVIEW


This Trojan uses icons similar to those of legitimate applications to entice a user to click them.

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

File Size:

Varies

File Type:

PE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

23 Feb 2011

Payload:

displays fake alerts

Installation

This Trojan drops the following copies of itself into the affected system:

  • %Application Data\{random}\{random}.exe

It drops the following non-malicious file:

  • %Current%\AdobeFlashPlayer_10

Autostart Technique

This Trojan adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
{random} = %Application Data\{random}\{random}.exe

Propagation

This Trojan uses icons similar to those of legitimate applications to entice a user to click them.

Other Details

This Trojan does the following:

  • It blocks execution of executable files.
  • It modifies the affected system's desktop wallpaper.

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.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

8.900

VSAPI OPR PATTERN File:

7.856.10

VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date:

24 Feb 2011

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

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry value

[ Learn More ]

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\RunOnce
    • {random} = %Application Data\{random}\{random}.exe

Step 4

Search and delete this file

[ Learn More ]
There may be some 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. %Current%\AdobeFlashPlayer_10

Step 5

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.SM1A. 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.


Did this description help? Tell us how we did.