Analysis by: Roland Marco Dela Paz
ALIASES:

Mal/FakeAV-KG (Sophos)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 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 a .DLL file to perform all of their malicious routines to primarily avoid easy termination.

To get a one-glance comprehensive view of the behavior of this Trojan, refer to the Threat Diagram shown below.

This Trojan displays fake alerts that warn users of system infection and attempt to convince them to reveal sensitive financial information.

This Trojan may be dropped by other malware.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size: Varies
File Type: DLL
Initial Samples Received Date: 14 Apr 2011
Payload: Drops files, Displays graphics/image

Arrival Details

This Trojan may be dropped by other malware.

Installation

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

  • %USer Temp%\wrk{random number}.tmp

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan displays the following fake alerts:

NOTES:

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 the following websites asking for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers:

  • http://{BLOCKED}e.ce.ms/sw/l.php
  • http://{BLOCKED}r.ce.ms/sw/l.php

It also reports installation information to the aforementioned sites.

Below are the screenshots of the fake activation GUI and the FAKEAV website:

It is usually dropped by its main malware as %Program Files%\Internet Protection\Internet Protection.dll.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine: 8.900
VSAPI OPR PATTERN File: 8.109.00
VSAPI OPR PATTERN Date: 21 Apr 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

Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and note files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.BTV

Step 3

Restart in Safe Mode

[ Learn More ]

Step 4

Search and delete the file detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.BTV

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden files in the search result.

Step 5

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