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Removal instructions for Guard Online


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What is Guard Online?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Guard Online 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 Guard Online?

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 these warnings:

warning1.png

warning2.png

warning3.png

warning4.png

warning5.png

How did Guard Online get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was offered as a movie with explicit content.

How do I remove Guard Online?

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

  • Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from here
    If you are unable to do this from the infected computer directly, transfer the file from another computer.
  • Download the mbam-setup.exe to your desktop.
  • Now make sure extensions are shown. To do this, please look here
  • Then rename the mbam-setup.exe: mbamsetupexe.png to iexplore.exe
  • Then launch iexplore.exe in order to install Malwarebytes' Anti-malware
  • Once Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is installed, navigate to your Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware folder and locate the mbam.exe in there:
    mbamexe.png
    rename it to iexplore.exe
  • Now doubleclick iexplore.exe to launch Malwarebytes' Anti-malware.
  • Click the "Update" tab and click the "Check For updates" button.
  • Once the program has loaded and updates were downloaded, select "Perform Quick Scan", then click Scan.
  • The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient.
  • When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
  • Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
  • When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart, so please allow MBAM to restart.
  • The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.

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

  • The rogue deletes your hosts file, so you may have to restore the old one. You can find third-party hosts file alternatives at hpHosts or at mvps.org or you can simply reset the default hosts file as outlined here by Microsoft.
  • The shortcut called Guard Online on the desktop can be deleted if it belonged to the rogue.

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 Guard Online rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

protection1.png

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\hikWS6uQXymZg3b.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ping.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [N2edvJ1sY0aT9R88234A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hikWS6uQXymZg3b.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Policies\Explorer\Run: [Sysinternals] C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\csrss.exe

Note: the startup- and filenames are (semi-)random.

Alterations made by the installer:



File System
===============
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data
Adds the file csrss.exe"="14:10 09/02/09 27648 bytes
Adds the file ldr.ini"="10:25 09/10/11 1213 bytes
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\GYH0qxTNpRBpFoD
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\KIK2evU1sY0aGpF
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\kolED7iWCuQ
Adds the file Guard Online .ico"="10:25 09/10/11 12878 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Desktop
Adds the file Guard Online .lnk"="10:25 09/10/11 1717 bytes
Adds the folder C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Start Menu\Programs\Guard Online
In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32
In the existing folder C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer
Adds the file B.tmp"="10:25 09/10/11 291 bytes
Adds the file rasadhlp.dll"="10:25 09/10/11 66560 bytes
In the existing folder C:\Program Files\Outlook Express
Adds the file rasadhlp.dll"="10:25 09/10/11 66560 bytes
Adds the file hikWS6uQXymZg3b.exe"="10:25 09/10/11 3037184 bytes
In the existing folder C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
(-)(FILE) hosts"="14:00 28/02/06 734 bytes


Registry
===============
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"N2edvJ1sY0aT9R88234A"="'C:\WINDOWS\system32\hikWS6uQXymZg3b.exe'"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run]
"Sysinternals"="'C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\csrss.exe'"


Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.51.2.1300
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 7907

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

10/9/2011 10:35:13 AM
mbam-log-2011-10-09 (10-35-13).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 147420
Time elapsed: 1 minute(s), 0 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 2
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 8

Memory Processes Infected:
c:\WINDOWS\system32\hikws6uqxymzg3b.exe (Backdoor.Bot) -> 1860 -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\N2edvJ1sY0aT9R88234A (Backdoor.Bot) -> Value: N2edvJ1sY0aT9R88234A -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run\Sysinternals (Spyware.Passwords.XGen) -> Value: Sysinternals -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
c:\WINDOWS\system32\hikws6uqxymzg3b.exe (Backdoor.Bot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\application data\csrss.exe (Spyware.Passwords.XGen) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\Desktop\mature_porn_movie_162.mpeg.exe (Spyware.Passwords.XGen) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\internet explorer\rasadhlp.dll (Spyware.Password) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\program files\outlook express\rasadhlp.dll (Spyware.Password) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\local settings\Temp\10.tmp (Rootkit.TDSS) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\local settings\Temp\9.tmp (Spyware.Password) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
c:\documents and settings\{username}\application data\ldr.ini (Malware.Trace) -> 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.

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