Category: virus removal

Some current Threats in December

Paul

Win32/Mydoom.R

[ad#ad2-left]

Win32/Mydoom.R is an e-mail worm for Microsoft Windows systems. Its file is approximately 28 kilobytes long, compressed by UPX. After decompression, its size is about 40kB.

Upon execution the form copies itself in the %windir% using the name java.exe. It also saves a file called services.exe there. This file is a backdoor component, that operates on TCP port 1034.

The following Registry entries are set to point to worm executables:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACCHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\JavaVM
HKEY_LOCAL_MACCHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Services

The first entry contains path to java.exe, and the other points to services.exe.

According to the information on all the website in order to fix this you must use some anti-virus software.

[ad#ad2-right]

WORM_AGENT.AHQV [Trend Micro], Dropper/Xema.189952.B [AhnLab], Dropper.Small.LQ [AVG], Trojan.Crypt.Delf.AC [Bit Defender], Worm.W32.Agent-1 [ClamAV], IRC.W.W32.ClickIt.D [Otros], W32/Trojan3.AS [Authentium], I-Worm.Agent.ez [Quick Heal], Win32.HLLM.MyDoom.134 [Doctor Web], Trojan:W32/Agent.GCK [F-Secure], W32/Basine.C [Fortinet], Trojan.Crypt.Delf.AC [G DATA], Trojan.Crypt.Delf.AC [Ikarus], Email-Worm.Win32.Agent.js [K7 Computing], Email-Worm.Win32.Agent.js [Kaspersky], Worm:Win32/Mytob.SD [Microsoft], Win32/Injector.BZ [ESET], W32/P2PWorm.AAK [Norman], Trojan.Delfinject.Gen.3 [PC Tools], Backdoor.Win32.IRCbot.apj [Rising], Mal/Basine-C [Sophos], Dropper.Delf.26624.B [Hauri], Email-Worm.Win32.Agent.js [F-Secure], Backdoor/W32.IRCBot.28160.C [Otros], AGENT.ARQB [PerAntivirus]

According to the information on all the website in order to fix this you must use some anti-virus software. This one is a variant and should be dealt with as if it it the actual worm.  It seems to be spreading through P2p and Email fooling the person into running programs.  So be careful out there.


Got a Virus? Got Spyware? This gadget will fix it!!

Paul

31mvvvheoml_sl160_

PC Clean Machine Personal PC Concierge Service

  • Everything you need, including software, is on the thumb drive to get your own personal PC Concierge, a real person working for you. Click on the video to see how it works.

  • Use our anti-virus/anti-spyware and other tools, or we will work with any anti-virus or anti-spyware you already have.

  • PC Concierge will check your computer regularly to keep your data protected and your computer running at optimal levels. Protects both MAC and PC

  • Receive a detailed report explaining what was done to protect your PC and improve its performance

  • Your PC concierge will perform computer maintenance at a time that’s convenient for you

  • Includes ID Theft coverage whether computer related or not

  • Includes computer breakage coverage

  • Includes all security software: anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, anti-phishing, IM encryption, family network, protection, gamer mode, laptop mode, anti-spam, parental control, backup, tuneup, file vault, anti-adware.

This was found online and I thought about how much this could be for people in the field.  This is also good for people who have a system offline and don’t want to go online to get the software that is need to fix this.   I saw this and couldn’t wait to blog about this.  If you need to have security for when you have a virus this will help protect your for one Year.  I will say this is a very good deal get several programs for a real low price.  All the reviews for this product are good, check out the product for the reviews.  It cost 119.99 but I think it is worth it for people who don’t have enough security programs and need to protect yourself.

Signs of a Computer Infection!

Paul

So I was thinking this morning what I missed and I totally missed on how you might be able to tell if you have a computer virus. It does me no good to talk about a virus if you don’t know you’re infected. I was thinking of the times I had a client who had trouble but wasn’t what I thought.

So How do you know?

Some people would say it depends on factors but here are what I call clues that make me suspect a virus:[ad#ad2-right]

  1. Slow or Sluggish computers —  Here is what I know if the computer is really slowing down and have a dual core or quad core.  If you are running a system and sees a lot of hard drive activity even when the computer is idle then it might be a virus or it could be a program doing what it is supposed to be doing.  So this is somewhat of an indication but not always.

  2. Slow internet connection on the computer or on the network — Due to the fact that most people have a router that is connected to all the computers and if you internet connection on all your systems are slower than normal then you could have a virus.  I use Speed Test website to help determine this.

  3. Corrupt files or Missing files —  Sometimes you have a text documents or files that are missing and you have to pay to get them back.   It’s an old scheme and usually once your files have been encrypted you can’t get them unencrypted.  So this is why I added this one also because it varies from virus to virus.

  4. Programs don’t work like they used to —  This is also a very common association with a virus because virus makers don’t have time to test it out on a variety.   Most of the time if you get a call that a program is no longer working tat would be the first thing I’d look at, if not check to see what other programs have been installed lately.

  5. In some cases more files are the Hard drive —  This can be a indication of a virus because the virus might be using the system to host files or other such illegal activity.   Although this is happening less and less it can still be a possibility and should be checked out.   I like to use a graphical tree size program to determine if that is the truth.

  6. Pop ups or Browser redirects — this is a common thing along the way.  It’s always the same and saying something like “you have a virus” or “You unprotected and you might have a virus”.  The theme here is to scare the user into buying there product that does not do anything.   It sometimes even looks like a real anti-virus program or spyware program but in truth it is just a scam.  In some cases it will send you to a site because it keeps wanting you to buy the product.

  7. DNS Changes on you — Some hackers like to have you go through there server so they can watch everything you do online.  They are wanting to get the sensitive information of bank account, and other important accounts.  This is really the ones that need to get off your system asap.

[ad#ad2-left]These are the signs I’ve seen in the past that would indicate a virus but as with any problem.  You will need to check for all the possibilities.   It is always going to be an issue with people because most people don’t know about the signs, now you do and you can now be a better computer user.  It is you who can only fight viruses by knowing all the possible system and only you can defeat a virus.  In the next article I will talk about the tools to help you find and defeat a virus.   This will be a big blog post because I have so much to teach and explain.   If you like these post by all means leave a comment and help spread the word.

Uncovering a Virus/Trojan

Paul

Getting done with the first part really got my juices flowing. I was shopping looking and thinking about this next article. I came up to only one option turning this into a 3-5 length post due to all the content that I will have.  So where did we leave off?  Oh that is right figuring out if you have a virus/Trojan.  The instant I made a post about this 12 hours later someone make a comment and here is what he said:
[ad#ad2-right]

Rene Van Belzen

I can’t wait to read part two of this article. I always wondered how you’d know you’re infected if a virus don’t want to be detected and no virus definitions are yet available, because the virus is so new.

Now the truth is anytime a Virus does something it usually leaves a footprint somewhere and somehow.   Even the hardest working hacker can’t plan for all possibilities and that is where we begin.   I have been helping people for a while with viruses and know that no matter how hard the virus tries to hide you can usually find it relatively quickly and easily do to virus check here are the ways I’ve done to figure out if they may or may not have a virus/Trojan.

Now if this is a client’s computer and you don’t want to be rude to the client, there are a few indications of user error and installing a virus.   This is relatively simple, all you do is do a quick inventory of all the start menu programs.  You’d want to look for any P2P file sharing program, If they have Firefox Installed, and if they are using Window Mail and not Thunderbird.   You see 80% to 90% of virus downloaded are installed by the End USER.  They either downloading a game and installing a virus with [ad#ad2-left]a game, or not protecting themselves by using Internet Explorer or Using Windows Mail.  That is usually my first step due to the fact, I’ve got to be diplomatic about finding out about security ways.  Also make sure they are up to date on there Window updates, unless they are using a really old system then you will have to work even harder.  Also you can suspect a virus if the client is talking about having problem with a program recently although this isn’t always true it sometimes is the case due to the fact hackers don’t have a big chance to test these viruses/Trojans out before they set them into the wild.  So there are always going to be unplanned problems associated with them.

After the first initial search of desktop, you should really know the likely hood of a possible virus getting on the system and later we will talk about counter measures to prevent virus attacks in the future.   There are a few places a hacker likes to put commands.   Hackers love to put in the Registry to run a program every time Windows starts.  It usually in:

  • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

  • HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\

Usually 50% to 70% of virus like to make sure the program to runs.  This is a flaw in Windows because hackers can edit this without much effort but there isn’t many places a hacker can go to make sure a program is set to run when you boot.   So this is also a benifit to finding those little programs.

Now just like the Regisitry, Hackers also like to put programs in a few areas on the hard drive.   This is also kinda hard to hide because most of the time these are consider important to the system but if you know what to look for you can pretty much figure out if it is truelly a system file.  These areas of the hard drive are:

  • C:\WINDOWS\System32[ad#ad2-right]

  • C:\WINDOWS

  • %programfiles%\common files\microsoft shared

  • %windir%\temp\

These are just a few but if you look hard enough it can be found most of the time.   Most of the time I use the registry to tell me where these programs are so I can do a further check of the program.  Some of this is not needed with some of the programs that I recommend but this is for those who want to be a through job and make sure the virus is gone.

On my next post we will talk about some good tools for the trade to help get rid of a virus/Trojan.  This little step here is used to  better help identify a virus and also give you chance to google each name on the list of registry and the hard drive  to see if you can identify the virus.

Figuring out the Email-Worm Win32.Zafi.b

Paul

This is another just I just saw on the web and wanted to talk about what this little Worm does and what it’s known Aliases:

Email-Worm.Win32.Zafi.b (Kaspersky Lab) is also known as: I-Worm.Zafi.b (Kaspersky Lab), W32/Zafi.b@MM (McAfee), W32.Erkez.B@mm (Symantec), Win32.Hazafi.30720 (Doctor Web), W32/Zafi-B (Sophos), Win32/Zafi.B@mm (RAV), PE_ZAFI.B (Trend Micro), Worm/Zafi.B (H+BEDV), W32/Zafi.B@mm (FRISK), Win32:Zafi-B (ALWIL), I-Worm/Zafi.B (Grisoft), Win32.Zafi.B@mm (SOFTWIN), Worm.Zafi.B (ClamAV), W32/Zafi.B.worm (Panda), Win32/Zafi.B (Eset)

[ad#ad2-left]This worm spreads via the Internet as an attachment to infected messages, and also via local and file-sharing networks.
It is written in Assembler, and packed using FSG. It is 12800 bytes in packed form, and 33292 in unpacked form.

This Worm seems to be running through email and file sharing sites, One thing it tries to do is stop the process and deletes:
fvprotect.exe
winlogon.exe
jammer2nd.exe
services.exe

It attempts to detect antivirus program files on the computer and overwrite them with a copy of itself.

[ad#ad2-right]It also attempts to conduct DoS attacks on the following sites:

www.2f.hu
www.parlament.hu
www.virusbuster.hu
www.virushirado.hu

This seems to be a very big virus and can be removed with the use of Kapersky Virus removal tool for free for this type of virus. In order to prevent this virus in the future the user has to remember about not getting opening unknown documents or emails and not running any unkown program from an unknown file sharing.   Also remember you need to have an anti-virus  and also a firewall to protect yourself in the future.