Removal instructions for HomeClean

[Metallica]

What is HomeClean?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that HomeClean 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 HomeClean?

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

You will find this icon in your taskbar:

How did HomeClean get on my computer?

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

How do I remove HomeClean?

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 HomeClean?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes HomeClean 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 HomeClean 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\HomeClean\HomeClean.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [HomeClean] C:\Program Files\HomeClean\HomeCleanLaunch.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

  File System
  ===============
    Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\HomeClean
      Adds the file ???????.lnk"="11:04 03/04/11 1560 bytes
      Adds the file HomeClean.lnk"="11:04 03/04/11 557 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\HomeClean
      Adds the file uninst.exe"="11:04 03/04/11 62283 bytes
      Adds the file HomeCleanUp.exe"="05:04 14/03/11 339968 bytes
      Adds the file HomeCleanLaunch.exe"="05:04 14/03/11 155648 bytes
      Adds the file HomeClean.url"="11:04 03/04/11 52 bytes
      Adds the file HomeClean.exe"="05:04 14/03/11 1728512 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\HomeClean\log
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\HomeClean\log\201104030001
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\HomeClean\log\201104030001\found
      Adds the file reg.log"="11:18 03/04/11 597 bytes
      Adds the file name.log"="11:18 03/04/11 708 bytes
      Adds the file file.log"="11:18 03/04/11 390 bytes
    Adds the folder C:\Program Files\HomeClean\data
      Adds the file dt.cab"="05:04 14/03/11 1721064 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\HomeCleanUp.exe]
      "(Default)"="'C:\Program Files\HomeClean\HomeCleanUp.exe'"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\HomeClean]
      "Publisher"="'HomeClean'"
      "URLInfoAbout"="'http://www.homeclean.pe.kr'"
      "DisplayVersion"="'1.0'"
      "DisplayIcon"="'C:\Program Files\HomeClean\HomeCleanUp.exe'"
      "UninstallString"="'C:\Program Files\HomeClean\uninst.exe'"
      "DisplayName"="'HomeClean 1.0'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\HomeClean]
      "countdate"="'20110403'"
      "ud"="'1'"
      "partner"="'partner1'"
      "uselog"="'y'"
      "usebackup"="'y'"
      "autosearch"="'y'"
      "realtime"="'Y'"
      "instdir"="'C:\Program Files\HomeClean'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\HomeClean\files]
      "dt.cab"="'1.7'"
      "HomeClean.exe"="'1.3'"
      "HomeCleanUp.exe"="'1.0'"
      "HomeCleanLaunch.exe"="'1.0'"
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
      "HomeClean"="'C:\Program Files\HomeClean\HomeCleanLaunch.exe'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 6253

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

4/3/2011 1:20:54 PM
mbam-log-2011-04-03 (13-20-54).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 129825
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 40 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 2
Registry Values Infected: 2
Folders Infected: 6
Files Infected: 12

Memory Processes Infected:
c:\program files\homeclean\homeclean.exe (Rogue.HomeClean) -> 2504 -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\HomeCleanUp.exe (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\HOMECLEAN (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\HomeClean (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Value: HomeClean -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\HomeClean\URLInfoAbout (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Value: URLInfoAbout -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Folders Infected:
c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\homeclean (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\data (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\log (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\log\201104030001 (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\log\201104030001\found (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
c:\program files\homeclean\homeclean.exe (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\homecleanlaunch.exe (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\Desktop\homecleansetup.exe (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\homeclean\homeclean.lnk (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\start menu\Programs\homeclean\???????.lnk (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\homeclean.url (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\homecleanup.exe (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\uninst.exe (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\data\dt.cab (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\log\201104030001\found\file.log (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\log\201104030001\found\name.log (Rogue.HomeClean) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\homeclean\log\201104030001\found\reg.log (Rogue.HomeClean) -> 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):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
  
• Malware Execution Prevention
  

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.