Removal instructions for WindowChecker

[Metallica]

What is WindowChecker?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that WindowChecker is a fake anti-malware application. These so-called "rogues" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have been compromised. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these threats. In extreme cases the false threats are actually the very trojans that advertise or even directly install the rogue. You are strongly advised to follow our removal instructions below.

How do I know if I am infected with WindowChecker?

This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:



You will find this icon in your taskbar:



And see these warnings:









How did WindowChecker get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was downloaded from their site.

How do I remove WindowChecker?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this rogue application.

• Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  
  
  • Update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
  • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
    

  
  [*]Then click Finish. [*]If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version. [*]Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan. [*]When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. [*]Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. Reboot your computer if prompted. [*]When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.
  

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of WindowChecker?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes WindowChecker completely.
  

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application has helped you eradicate this malicious software. If your current security solution let this infection through, you might please consider purchasing the FULL version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for additional protection.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the WindowChecker rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\Program Files\windowchecker\windowchecker.exeO23 - Service: windowchecker Service (windowcheckerService) - AKorea - C:\Program Files\windowchecker\windowcheckerse.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

File System===============Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\windowcheckerAdds the file windowchecker.lnk"="08:26 21/08/13 1823 bytesAdds the file windowchecker ����.lnk"="08:26 21/08/13 1875 bytesAdds the file Homepage.url"="08:26 21/08/13 191 bytesAdds the folder C:\Program Files\windowcheckerAdds the file windowcheckerU.exe"="08:25 21/08/13 79376 bytesAdds the file windowcheckerse.exe"="08:26 21/08/13 161304 bytesAdds the file windowchecker.exe"="08:26 21/08/13 646160 bytesAdds the file uninst_windowchecker.exe"="08:26 21/08/13 168992 bytesAdds the file M_flash.swf"="08:26 21/08/13 104566 bytesAdds the file bootflash.swf"="08:26 21/08/13 133890 bytesRegistry===============[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\windowchecker]"inspectDay"="'2013.08.21'""popup"="'1'""Today"="'20130821'""ver6"="'20130618'""ver5"="'20130618'""ver4"="'20130618'""ver3"="'20130618'""ver2"="'20130619'""ver1"="'20130618'""userselect"="0""autostart"="1""userid"="'{username}'""windowchecker_nic"="'08:00:27:31:D0:7C'""installmode"="'2'""code1"="'windowchecker'"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Application Compatibility]"wdwck"="'739833'"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\windowchecker]"NoRepair"="1""NoModify"="1""EstimatedSize"="949""Publisher"="'AKorea'""DisplayIcon"="'C:\Program Files\windowchecker\uninst_windowchecker.exe'""UninstallString"="'C:\Program Files\windowchecker\uninst_windowchecker.exe'""URLInfoAbout"="'http://www.windowchecker.co.kr'""HelpLink"="'http://www.windowchecker.co.kr'""DisplayVersion"="'1.2'""DisplayName"="'windowchecker'"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_WINDOWCHECKERSERVICE]"NextInstance"="1"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_WINDOWCHECKERSERVICE\0000]"DeviceDesc"="'windowchecker Service'""ClassGUID"="'{8ECC055D-047F-11D1-A537-0000F8753ED1}'""Class"="'LegacyDriver'""ConfigFlags"="0""Legacy"="1""Service"="'windowcheckerService'"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_WINDOWCHECKERSERVICE\0000\Control]"ActiveService"="'windowcheckerService'""*NewlyCreated*"="0"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\windowcheckerService]"ObjectName"="'LocalSystem'""DisplayName"="'windowchecker Service'""ImagePath"="C:\Program Files\windowchecker\windowcheckerse.exe.""ErrorControl"="1""Start"="2""Type"="16"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\windowcheckerService\Enum]"NextInstance"="1""Count"="1""0"="'Root\LEGACY_WINDOWCHECKERSERVICE\0000'"[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\windowcheckerService\Security]"Security"="................0.................................`......................................... ... ............................."

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.75.0.1300www.malwarebytes.orgDatabase version: v2013.08.21.01Windows XP Service Pack 3 x86 NTFSInternet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702{username} :: MBAM-D3E8C91ACC [administrator]8/21/2013 8:32:36 AMmbam-log-2013-08-21 (08-32-36).txtScan type: Quick scanScan options enabled: Memory | Startup | Registry | File System | Heuristics/Extra | Heuristics/Shuriken | PUP | PUMScan options disabled: P2PObjects scanned: 192686Time elapsed: 59 second(s)Memory Processes Detected: 1C:\Program Files\windowchecker\windowchecker.exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> 228 -> Delete on reboot.Memory Modules Detected: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys Detected: 3HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\windowcheckerService (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\windowchecker (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.HKLM\SOFTWARE\WINDOWCHECKER (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.Registry Values Detected: 4HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer|windowchecker_windowchecker (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Data: 1 -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\windowchecker|URLInfoAbout (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Data: http://www.windowchecker.co.kr -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.HKLM\SOFTWARE\windowchecker|windowchecker_nic (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Data: 08:00:27:31:D0:7C -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\windowcheckerService|ImagePath (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Data: C:\Program Files\windowchecker\windowcheckerse.exe -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.Registry Data Items Detected: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders Detected: 2C:\Program Files\windowchecker (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Delete on reboot.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\windowchecker (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.Files Detected: 14C:\Program Files\windowchecker\windowchecker.exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Delete on reboot.C:\Program Files\windowchecker\windowcheckerse.exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\windowcheckersetup.exe (Rogue.Korad) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\ISXPLGEB\windowchecker[1].exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\O92WEW06\uninst_windowchecker[1].exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\Q5PIP6JW\windowcheckerU[1].exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\Y3PH3C5T\windowcheckerse[1].exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Program Files\windowchecker\bootflash.swf (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Program Files\windowchecker\M_flash.swf (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Program Files\windowchecker\uninst_windowchecker.exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Program Files\windowchecker\windowcheckerU.exe (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\windowchecker\Homepage.url (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\windowchecker\windowchecker »èÁ¦.lnk (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\windowchecker\windowchecker.lnk (Rogue.WindowChecker) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.(end)

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
• Malware Execution Prevention
  

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.