TROJ_FAKESYSD.MC

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 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 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. When users agree to buy the software, it connects to a certain URL.

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 file(s)/component(s):

• %Desktop%\Windows XP Recovery.lnk
• %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows XP Recovery\Uninstall Windows XP Recovery.lnk
• %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows XP Recovery\Windows XP Recovery.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.)

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

• %Application Data%\{random}.exe

(Note: %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Application Data on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003.)

It creates the following folders:

• %Start Menu%\Programs\Windows XP Recovery

(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.)

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\Run
{random} = %Application Data%\{random}.exe

Other System Modifications

This Trojan modifies the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
1601 = 0

(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)

Download Routine

This Trojan connects to the following malicious URLs:

• http://{BLOCKED}alphabet.org/404.php
• http://{BLOCKED}esmoines.org/404.php
• http://{BLOCKED}atom.org/404.php
• http://{BLOCKED}beginning.org/404.php
• http://{BLOCKED}am.org
• http://{BLOCKED}attention.org
• http://{BLOCKED}behind.org
• http://{BLOCKED}ant.org

Rogue Antivirus Routine

This Trojan displays the following fake alerts:

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.

When users agree to buy the software, it connects to the following URL to continue the purchase:

• http://{BLOCKED}am.org/customers/buy.php
• http://{BLOCKED}attention.org/customers/buy.php
• http://{BLOCKED}behind.org/customers/buy.php
• http://{BLOCKED}ant.org/customers/buy.php
• http://{BLOCKED}alphabet.org/customers/buy.php

NOTES:
It changes the attributes of the files on the affected system to Hidden. This is to trick the user that the system is seriously infected by a malware.