Friday
2008-11-29, 18:45
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "fakeWGA" manually.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
If this guide was helpful to you, please consider donating towards this site (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=donate).
Threat Details:
Categories:
trojan
Description:
Disables the Windows firewall, adds itself and a services.exe in Windows\etc\ as services. Both run in background and are registered as autostarting services. They connect to various IPs and wait for incoming TCP and UDP connections.
Supposed Functionality:
supposed to be a part of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)
Removal Instructions:
Autorun:
Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd), RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.
Entries named "Microsoft (R) Windows Protected Content Restoration Service" and pointing to "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$WINDIR>\svchost.exe".
The file at "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\wgavn.exe".
A file with an unknown location named "wgavn.exe".
A file with an unknown location named "services.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If fakeWGA uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$WINDIR>\etc".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If fakeWGA uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify folders!
Registry:
You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
Delete the registry key "svchost" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\".
Delete the registry key "svchost" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\".
Delete the registry key "svchost" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>\svchost.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>\svchost.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>\svchost.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
Remove "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe" from registry value "Shell" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\".
Remove "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe" from registry value "Userinit" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\".
Delete the registry key "Tmp" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "ProtectedContentSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\".
Delete the registry key "wgavn" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\".
Delete the registry key "ProtectedContentSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\".
Delete the registry key "wgavn" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>etc\services.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
If fakeWGA uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=regalyzer), RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
Final Words:
If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,
Please read these instructions (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288) before requesting assistance,
Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
If this guide was helpful to you, please consider donating towards this site (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=donate).
Threat Details:
Categories:
trojan
Description:
Disables the Windows firewall, adds itself and a services.exe in Windows\etc\ as services. Both run in background and are registered as autostarting services. They connect to various IPs and wait for incoming TCP and UDP connections.
Supposed Functionality:
supposed to be a part of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)
Removal Instructions:
Autorun:
Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd), RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.
Entries named "Microsoft (R) Windows Protected Content Restoration Service" and pointing to "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$WINDIR>\svchost.exe".
The file at "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\wgavn.exe".
A file with an unknown location named "wgavn.exe".
A file with an unknown location named "services.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If fakeWGA uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$WINDIR>\etc".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If fakeWGA uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify folders!
Registry:
You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
Delete the registry key "svchost" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\".
Delete the registry key "svchost" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\".
Delete the registry key "svchost" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>\svchost.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>\svchost.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>\svchost.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
Remove "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe" from registry value "Shell" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\".
Remove "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe" from registry value "Userinit" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\".
Delete the registry key "Tmp" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "ProtectedContentSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\".
Delete the registry key "wgavn" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\".
Delete the registry key "ProtectedContentSvc" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\".
Delete the registry key "wgavn" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>\etc\services.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
Delete the registry value "<$WINDIR>etc\services.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\".
If fakeWGA uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=regalyzer), RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
Final Words:
If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,
Please read these instructions (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288) before requesting assistance,
Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.