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 component file(s):
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{reversed filename}.pad
(Note: %System Root% is the root folder, which is usually C:\. It is also where the operating system is located.)
Autostart Technique
This Trojan drops the following file(s) in the Windows User Startup folder to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
- %User Startup%\ctfmon.lnk
(Note: %User Startup% is the current user's Startup folder, which is usually C:\Windows\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows 98 and ME, C:\WINNT\Profiles\{user name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup on Windows NT, and C:\Documents and Settings\{User name}\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\Main
NoProtectedModeBanner = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\0
2500 = "3"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
2500 = "3"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\2
2500 = "3"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
2500 = "3"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
2500 = "3"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\0
1609 = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\1
1609 = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\2
1609 = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\3
1609 = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\
Zones\4
1609 = "0"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 1.)
NOTES:
It displays any of the following fake messages which locks the desktop of the affected user:
It asks the user to pay the fine in the form of Green Dot MoneyPak, Ukash or PaySafeCard in order to unlock the blocked desktop. The code is then sent to the IP address {BLOCKED}2.{BLOCKED}2.88.13, using port 80.
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
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To restart in Safe Mode:
• For Windows 2000 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 when you see the Starting Windows bar at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows XP users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting then pressing F8 several times when the POST screen appears.
- Choose the Safe Mode option from the Windows Advanced Options menu then press Enter.
• For Windows Server 2003 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after Windows starts up. If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, try restarting again and pressing F8 several times afterward.
- On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode then press Enter.
• For Windows Vista and Windows 7 users
- Restart your computer.
- Press F8 after the Power-On Self Test (POST) routine is done. If the Advanced Boot Options menu does not appear, try restarting and then pressing F8 several times after the POST screen is displayed.
- On the Advanced Boot Options menu, use the arrow keys to select the Safe Mode option, and then press Enter.
Step 3
Delete this registry value
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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
- NoProtectedModeBanner = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\2
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
To delete the registry value this malware created:
- Open Registry Editor. To do this, click Start>Run, type regedit in the text box provided, then press Enter.
- In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Internet Explorer>Main - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
NoProtectedModeBanner = "1" - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>0 - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
2500 = "3" - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>1 - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
2500 = "3" - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>2 - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
2500 = "3" - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>3 - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
2500 = "3" - In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>4 - In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
2500 = "3" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 4
Restore this modified registry value
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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\Internet Settings\Zones\0
- From: 1609 = "0"
To: 1609 = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1
- From: 1609 = "0"
To: 1609 = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\2
- From: 1609 = "0"
To: 1609 = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3
- From: 1609 = "0"
To: 1609 = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\4
- From: 1609 = "0"
To: 1609 = "1"
To restore the registry value this malware/grayware modified:
- Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT in the text box provided, and then press Enter.
- In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>0 - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
1609 = "0" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
1609 = "1" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>1 - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
1609 = "0" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
1609 = "1" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>2 - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
1609 = "0" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
1609 = "1" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>3 - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
1609 = "0" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
1609 = "1" - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings>Zones>4 - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
1609 = "0" - Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
1609 = "1" - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Search and delete these files
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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.
- %User Startup%\ctfmon.lnk
- %System Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{reversed file name}.pad
To delete malware/grayware component files:
- Search for the following files:
- %User Startup%\ctfmon.lnk
- %System
Root%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\{reversed file
name}.pad
Note: To do a search for the following files, right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running. For each file to be deleted, type its file name in the Named input box. In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter. - Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the file.
- Repeat the said steps for all files listed.
Step 6
Restart in normal mode and scan your computer with your Trend Micro product for files detected as TROJ_RANSOM.SMAC. 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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