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 files:
It adds the following processes:
- %User Temp%\setup.exe
- %System%\WScript.exe %User Temp%\mstsc.vbs
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %System% is the Windows system folder, where it usually is C:\Windows\System32 on all Windows operating system versions.)
Other System Modifications
This Trojan modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WinRAR SFX
{%System Root%}%%Users%{User Name}%AppData%Local%Temp = "%User Temp%"
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Identify and terminate files detected as Trojan.Win32.MALXMR.THHADBO
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- Windows Task Manager may not display all running processes. In this case, please use a third-party process viewer, preferably Process Explorer, to terminate the malware/grayware/spyware file. You may download the said tool here.
- If the detected file is displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer but you cannot delete it, restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, refer to this link for the complete steps.
- If the detected file is not displayed in either Windows Task Manager or Process Explorer, continue doing the next steps.
To terminate the malware/grayware/spyware process:
- Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product and take note of the name of the malware/grayware/spyware detected.
- Open Windows Task Manager. To do this, press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.
- View the list of all running programs. To do this:
• For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Processes tab.
• For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, click the Details tab. - In the list of running programs, locate a malware/grayware/spyware file detected earlier.
- Select the detected files, then press either the End Task or the End Process button, depending on the version of Windows you are using.
- Do the same for the remaining detected malware/grayware/spyware files in the list of running programs.
- To check if the malware/grayware/spyware process has been terminated, close Task Manager, and then open it again.
- Close Task Manager.
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\WinRAR SFX
- {%System Root%}%%Users%{User Name}%AppData%Local%Temp = %User Temp%
To restore the registry value this malware/grayware modified:
- Open Registry Editor.
» For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click the Start button, type regedit in the Search input field then press Enter.
» For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower left corner of the screen, click Run, type regedit in the text box provided, and then press Enter. - In the left panel, double-click the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>WinRAR SFX - In the right panel, locate the registry value:
{%System Root%}%%Users%{User Name}%AppData%Local%Temp = %User Temp% - Close Registry Editor.
Step 5
Search and delete this file
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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.
- %User Temp%\setup.exe
- %User Temp%\mstsc.vbs
To manually delete a malware/grayware file from an affected system:
•For Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 (R2), Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 (R2):
- Open a Windows Explorer window.
- For Windows 7 and Server 2008 (R2) users, click Start>Computer.
- For Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and Server 2012 (R2) users, right-click on the lower-left corner of the screen,then click File Explorer.
- In the Search Computer/This PC input box, type:
- %User Temp%\setup.exe
- %User Temp%\mstsc.vbs
- Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to delete it.
*Note: Read the following Microsoft page if these steps do not work on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 (R2).
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as Trojan.Win32.MALXMR.THHADBO. 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 the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
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