Friday
2008-11-29, 18:45
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "GoAstro.rtk" 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:
GoAstro.rtk secretly installs the same rootkit components like MessengerSkinner.rtk and MailSkinner.rtk. These components include files and a system start entry which are hidden from the Windows API. GoAstro.rtk also transmits data about the users computer.
Supposed Functionality:
supposed to be a free horoscope software
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 "go-astro" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\GoAstro.exe".
Installed Software List:
You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) to locate and get rid of these entries.
Products that have a key or property named "GoAstro".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$PROGRAMS>\GoAstro\GoAstro.lnk".
The file at "<$PROGRAMS>\GoAstro\Website.lnk".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\GoAstro.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\GoAstro.url".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\uninst.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources\appconfig.xml".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources\dailyHoroscope.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources\languages.xml".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources\userconfig.xml".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\classic.skn".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\scrolling.js".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\template.html".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\1.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\10.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\11.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\12.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\2.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\3.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\4.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\5.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\6.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\7.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\8.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\9.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\bar.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\bckg.jpg".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\down.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\up.gif".
The file at "<$DESKTOP>\GoAstro.lnk".
The file at "<$WINDIR>\pack.epk".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\nvs2.inf".
The file at "<$WINDIR>\Temp\Install_GA.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If GoAstro.rtk uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\GoAstro".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\updates".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If GoAstro.rtk 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 "GoAstro" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "GoAstro.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\".
If GoAstro.rtk 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:
GoAstro.rtk secretly installs the same rootkit components like MessengerSkinner.rtk and MailSkinner.rtk. These components include files and a system start entry which are hidden from the Windows API. GoAstro.rtk also transmits data about the users computer.
Supposed Functionality:
supposed to be a free horoscope software
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 "go-astro" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\GoAstro.exe".
Installed Software List:
You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) to locate and get rid of these entries.
Products that have a key or property named "GoAstro".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$PROGRAMS>\GoAstro\GoAstro.lnk".
The file at "<$PROGRAMS>\GoAstro\Website.lnk".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\GoAstro.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\GoAstro.url".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\uninst.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources\appconfig.xml".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources\dailyHoroscope.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources\languages.xml".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources\userconfig.xml".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\classic.skn".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\scrolling.js".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\template.html".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\1.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\10.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\11.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\12.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\2.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\3.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\4.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\5.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\6.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\7.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\8.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\9.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\bar.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\bckg.jpg".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\down.gif".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images\up.gif".
The file at "<$DESKTOP>\GoAstro.lnk".
The file at "<$WINDIR>\pack.epk".
The file at "<$SYSDIR>\nvs2.inf".
The file at "<$WINDIR>\Temp\Install_GA.exe".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If GoAstro.rtk uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\GoAstro".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\resources".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\skins\templates\images".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\GoAstro\updates".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If GoAstro.rtk 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 "GoAstro" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\".
Delete the registry key "GoAstro.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\".
If GoAstro.rtk 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.