Removal instructions for Win Antispyware Center

[Metallica]

What is Win Antispyware Center?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Win Antispyware Center 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 Win Antispyware Center?

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 Win Antispyware Center get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one pretends to be a movie file.

How do I remove Win Antispyware Center?

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 Win Antispyware Center?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Win Antispyware Center 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 Win Antispyware Center 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\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Win Antispyware Center] C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Win Antispyware Center] C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

  File System
  ===============
	Adds the folder C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter
	  Adds the file av.exe"="22:46 22/05/10 303120 bytes

  Registry
  ===============
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile]
	  "Content Type"="'application/x-msdownload'"
	  "(Default)"="'Application'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\start\command]
	  "IsolatedCommand"="'"%1" %*'"
	  "(Default)"="'"%1" %*'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\runas\command]
	  "IsolatedCommand"="'"%1" %*'"
	  "(Default)"="'"%1" %*'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\open\command]
	  "IsolatedCommand"="'"%1" %*'"
	  "(Default)"="'"C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe" /START "%1" %*'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\DefaultIcon]
	  "(Default)"="'%1'"
	[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command]
	  "IsolatedCommand"="'"%1" %*'"
	  "(Default)"="'"C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe" /START "%1" %*'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command]
	  "(Default)"=""C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe" /START "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe"'"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "Win Antispyware Center"="'C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Win Antispyware Center]
	  "defaultCfg"="'C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\OfflineCache\Professional_32#0409\hHfuNmAqv.exe;-6; C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\System\panels\DwWeUlnvEYDL.sys; -1;C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\System\scripts\DrJsjdMpI.H; 5002;C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\ZKUdUmwq.A;4;C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\qXkglLNRj.aM;-6; C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\mUbEaEPnpZaV.xe;5001; C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\VTKICuktmBI.ln;5001'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command]
	  "IsolatedCommand"="'"%1" %*'"
	  "(Default)"="'"C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe" /START "%1" %*'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile]
	  "Content Type"="'application/x-msdownload'"
	  "(Default)"="'Application'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\start\command]
	  "IsolatedCommand"="'"%1" %*'"
	  "(Default)"="'"%1" %*'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\runas\command]
	  "IsolatedCommand"="'"%1" %*'"
	  "(Default)"="'"%1" %*'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open\command]
	  "IsolatedCommand"="'"%1" %*'"
	  "(Default)"="'"C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe" /START "%1" %*'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\DefaultIcon]
	  "(Default)"="'%1'"
	[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	  "Win Antispyware Center"="'C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe'"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 4152

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180

5/28/2010 9:29:24 PM
mbam-log-2010-05-28 (21-29-24).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 107396
Time elapsed: 2 minute(s), 51 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 4
Registry Data Items Infected: 4
Folders Infected: 1
Files Infected: 1

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Win Antispyware Center (Rogue.WinAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\win antispyware center (Rogue.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\win antispyware center (Rogue.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command\(default) (Hijack.ExeFile) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile\shell\open\command\(default) (Rogue.MultipleAV) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\AntiVirusDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\FirewallDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\UpdatesDisableNotify (Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command\(default) (Hijack.StartMenuInternet) -> Bad: ("C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe" /START "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe") Good: (iexplore.exe) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Folders Infected:
C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter (Rogue.WinAntiSpyware) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\WinAntispywareCenter\av.exe (Rogue.Agent) -> 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.

[Metallica]

In some cases rogues and other malware will stop processes like explorer from running to make removal more difficult.

One reboot after the infection the user is left with the main screen of the rogue on an empty desktop and without a taskbar.

In this case it is enough to kill the rogues process to get the removal started.

Use Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up a choice screen like this:

Select the taskmanger and on the processes tab find the rogues process, here av.exe

Select the process and click the End Process button.

This will bring up a prompt asking you to confirm the action. If you selected the correct process click End Process.

That will stop the rogue and you will have your hands free to remove it.

We will use task manager to start Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Click File and select New Task (Run)

This will open an explorer windows allowing you to browse for the program to start.

In this case we went to C:\Program Files\Malwarebyte'Anti-Malware\mbam.exe

Select it and click OK in the prompt as shown below.

And after a short while rescue is roaring to go.

Proceed with the procedure as described in the previous post.

Don't forget to get the latest updates!