➔
search
✕

TROJ_FAKEAV.SMP7

October 13, 2012
 ALIASES:

Rogue:Win32/Fakeinit (Microsoft); FakeAlert-BB (McAfee); AntiVirus2008, Trojan.FakeAV (Symantec); Trojan-FakeAV.Win32.AdvancedAntivirus.bp (Kaspersky); AdvancedVirusRemover (fs) (Sunbelt); Trojan.Fakeav.NV (FSecure)

 PLATFORM:

Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

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

  • Threat Type: Trojan

  • Destructiveness: No

  • Encrypted:

  • 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 deletes itself after execution.

  TECHNICAL DETAILS

File Size:

878,080 bytes

File Type:

EXE

Memory Resident:

Yes

Initial Samples Received Date:

16 Jun 2012

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:

  • %Program Files%\AdvancedVirusRemover\PAVRM.exe

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

It creates the following folders:

  • %Program Files%\AdvancedVirusRemover

(Note: %Program Files% is the default Program Files folder, usually C:\Program Files.)

Autostart Technique

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

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Advanced Virus Remover = "%Program Files%\AdvancedVirusRemover\PAVRM.exe"

Other System Modifications

This Trojan adds the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR

It adds the following registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR
LastVFC = "9"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR
VirList = "26102813162865623"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR
LastD = "4"

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR
LastScan = "04.01.2012 17:28"

Dropping Routine

This Trojan drops the following files:

  • %Desktop%\Advanced Virus Remover.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Advanced Virus Remover.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Quick Launch\Advanced Virus Remover.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.. %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.)

Other Details

This Trojan deletes itself after execution.

This report is generated via an automated analysis system.

  SOLUTION

Minimum Scan Engine:

9.200

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

[ Learn More ]

Step 3

Delete this registry key

[ 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
    • AVR

Step 4

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_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    • Advanced Virus Remover = "%Program Files%\AdvancedVirusRemover\PAVRM.exe"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR
    • LastVFC = "9"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR
    • VirList = "26102813162865623"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR
    • LastD = "4"
  • In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AVR
    • LastScan = "04.01.2012 17:28"

Step 5

Search and delete these files

[ Learn More ]
There may be some component 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.
  • %Desktop%\Advanced Virus Remover.lnk
  • %Start Menu%\Advanced Virus Remover.lnk
  • %User Profile%\Quick Launch\Advanced Virus Remover.lnk

Step 6

Search and delete this folder

[ Learn More ]
Please make sure you check the Search Hidden Files and Folders checkbox in the More advanced options option to include all hidden folders in the search result.
  • %Program Files%\AdvancedVirusRemover

Step 7

Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_FAKEAV.SMP7. 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.