Jump to content

Removal instructions for MalwareDefense


Recommended Posts

  • Staff

What is Malware Defense?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Malware Defense 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 Malware Defense?

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

main.png

You will find these icons on your desktop and in your taskbar:

icons.png

And see this warning:

commercial.png

How did Malware Defense get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was offered as a fake flash player.

Note: this program will try to make you remove Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware if it finds it is installed. It does this by triggering our own uninstaller.

attack.png

Since it doesn't care what you do with the above prompt, please make sure to click "No" in the one that our uninstaller will show.

clickno.png

How do I remove Malware Defense?

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 Malware Defense?

  • No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Malware Defense 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 Malware Defense rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection.png

protection1.png

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\Program Files\Malware Defense\mdefense.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Malware Defense] "C:\Program Files\Malware Defense\mdefense.exe" -noscan

Alterations made by the installer:

  File System
===============
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
Adds the file Malware Defense.lnk"="11:25 20/12/09 619 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
Adds the file Malware Defense ReadMe.txt"="11:32 20/12/09 664 bytes
Adds the file Malware Defense Support.lnk"="11:25 20/12/09 1507 bytes
Adds the file Malware Defense.lnk"="11:25 20/12/09 601 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Local Settings\Temp
Adds the file av.dat"="11:50 20/12/09 128 bytes
Adds the file dv.dat"="11:50 20/12/09 136 bytes
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Malware Defense
Adds the file Malware Defense Support.lnk"="11:25 20/12/09 1519 bytes
Adds the file Uninstall Malware Defense.lnk"="11:25 20/12/09 618 bytes
Adds the file Malware Defense.lnk"="11:25 20/12/09 613 bytes
Adds the folder C:\Program Files\Malware Defense
Adds the file help.ico"="11:25 20/12/09 15086 bytes
Adds the file mdefense.exe"="11:25 20/12/09 1756088 bytes
Adds the file uninstall.exe"="11:25 20/12/09 49152 bytes
Adds the file mdext.dll"="11:25 20/12/09 37888 bytes
Adds the file md.db"="11:38 20/12/09 4546960 bytes

Registry
===============
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\SimpleShlExt]
"(Default)"="'{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}'"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}]
"(Default)"="'SimpleShlExt Class'"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}\InprocServer32]
"ThreadingModel"="'Apartment'"
"(Default)"="'C:\PROGRA~1\MALWAR~2\mdext.dll'"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\SimpleShlExt]
"(Default)"="'{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}'"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Malware Defense]
"RD"="1"
"Removed"="5"
"Deleted"="'C:\Program Files\Common Files\488815calc.exe,HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center|AntiVirusDisableNotify, 0,HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center|FirewallDisableNotify, 0,HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center|UpdatesDisableNotify, 0,HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\taskmgr.exe|Debugger'"
"LastUpdate"="1261305524"
"Infected"="5"
"LastScan"="1261305831"
"SecStatus_5"="0"
"SecStatus_4"="0"
"SecStatus_3"="0"
"dbsigns"="'67899'"
"dbver"="'1.3'"
"swver"="'1.1'"
"FA"="1"
"Email"="'donttrythis@home'"
"RV"="1"
"Settings_0"="0"
"Settings_2"="1"
"FD"="1"
"License"="'85108357713673677262162845570576027004153211'"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved]
"{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}"="'Malware Defense extension'"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Defense]
"UninstallString"="'C:\Program Files\Malware Defense\Uninstall.exe'"
"Publisher"="'Malware Defense Software'"
"DisplayVersion"="'1.0'"
"DisplayName"="'Malware Defense'"
"DisplayIcon"="'C:\Program Files\Malware Defense\mdefense.exe'"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"Malware Defense"="'"C:\Program Files\Malware Defense\mdefense.exe" -noscan'"

Note: {5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000} is a CLSID also used by legitimate software (ATI Catalyst).

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.42
Database version: 3396
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

12/20/2009 11:57:50 AM
mbam-log-2009-12-20 (11-57-50).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 95065
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 30 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 2
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 2
Files Infected: 12

Memory Processes Infected:
C:\Program Files\Malware Defense\mdefense.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\malware defense (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Malware Defense (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\malware defense (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
C:\Program Files\malware Defense (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\malware Defense (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\Malware Defense\mdefense.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\malware Defense\md.db (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\malware Defense\mdext.dll (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\malware Defense\uninstall.exe (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\malware Defense\help.ico (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\malware Defense\Malware Defense.lnk (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\malware Defense\Uninstall Malware Defense.lnk (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\malware Defense\Malware Defense Support.lnk (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Malware Defense.lnk (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Malware Defense Support.lnk (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop\Malware Defense ReadMe.txt (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Malware Defense.lnk (Rogue.Malware Defense) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

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):

  • IP-blocks
  • Execution protection

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
Back to top
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This site uses cookies - We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.