Removal instructions for Web Guard

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What is Web Guard?

 

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Web Guard is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.

 

How do I know if my computer is affected by Web Guard?

 

You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:

 

and these warnings:

 

How did WebGuard get on my computer?

 

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.

 

How do I remove WebGuard?

 

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

• Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  • Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
  • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Scan now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
• When the scan is complete , make sure that everything is set to "Quarantine", and click Apply Actions.
• Reboot your computer if prompted.

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

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Web Guard completely.

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

 

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.  

 

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Web Guard hijacker.  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

 

You will see these signs in a HijackThis log:

O23 - Service: WebGuard - Interesting Solutions - C:\ProgramData\WebGuard\WebGuardService.exe

 

 

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details  ---------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\WebGuard       Adds the file info.dat"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 64 bytes, A       Adds the file uninstall.exe"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 666472 bytes, A       Adds the file uninstall.exe.config"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 168 bytes, A       Adds the file WebGuard.dll"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 1186152 bytes, A       Adds the file WebGuard.exe"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 50024 bytes, A       Adds the file WebGuard.exe.config"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 190 bytes, A       Adds the file WebGuard.ico"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 121672 bytes, A       Adds the file WebGuardService.exe"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 2319720 bytes, A       Adds the file WebGuardService.exe.config"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 189 bytes, A    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\WebGuard       Adds the file data2.dat"="10/1/2014 1:53 PM, 3072 bytes, ARegistry details  ------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}]       "id"="REG_SZ", "4505411d9c1c44908144439e86d80da3"       "p"="REG_SZ", "366"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{3f6acc4e-6099-2f2b-47eb-d7baeba78128}]       "ik"="REG_SZ", "{aa8fcf8a-f998-ff32-8588-0f6999254573}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{534daa42-de53-2824-7735-588962ddc8c9}]       "id"="REG_SZ", "4505411d9c1c44908144439e86d80da3"       "p"="REG_SZ", "366"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9C4EFBD5-1ADF-41E6-BE26-AF44326E30E4}]       "(Default)"="REG_DWORD", 1       "v"="REG_DWORD", 1       "vs"="REG_SZ", "1"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{A2970C7C-8392-4E6F-8B51-B763CF38E13C}]    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\WebGuardService_RASAPI32]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\WebGuardService_RASMANCS]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\WebGuard]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\ProgramData\WebGuard\WebGuard.ico"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "WebGuard"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "3.0.11"       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 5000       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.thewebguard.com/about.html"       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "10/1/2014"       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Interesting Solutions"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\WebGuard]       "DependOnService"="REG_MULTI_SZ, "Winmgmt CryptSvc "       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "WebGuard"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, <.....................       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\ProgramData\WebGuard\WebGuardService.exe""       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 10/1/2014Scan Time: 2:01:15 PMLogfile: mbamWebGuard.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.00.2.1012Malware Database: v2014.10.01.04Rootkit Database: v2014.09.19.01License: FreeMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: DisabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x86File System: NTFSUser: MalwarebytesScan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 266468Time Elapsed: 3 min, 5 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: DisabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 1PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, C:\ProgramData\WebGuard\WebGuardService.exe, 4788, Delete-on-Reboot, [5434c94606761b1bb7439037d52c956b]Modules: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys: 3PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\WebGuard, Quarantined, [5434c94606761b1bb7439037d52c956b], PUP.Optional.WebSteroids.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}, Quarantined, [a7e10a054d2feb4b3aa3f3a4709248b8], PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\WebGuard, Quarantined, [4444f619225aeb4bb941d6f17d840ef2], Registry Values: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 1PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\WebGuard, Quarantined, [f7918e810874f54129909277cf34b848], Files: 6PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, C:\ProgramData\WebGuard\WebGuardService.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [5434c94606761b1bb7439037d52c956b], PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, C:\ProgramData\WebGuard\uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [4444f619225aeb4bb941d6f17d840ef2], PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, C:\ProgramData\WebGuard\WebGuard.dll, Quarantined, [7a0e31de9fdd93a355584cb764a1a957], PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, C:\ProgramData\WebGuard\WebGuard.exe, Quarantined, [820635da6e0ea0966a90a6210bf6c53b], PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\Setup.exe, Quarantined, [fa8ee728136982b4ea10f2d5dc25d52b], PUP.Optional.WebGuard.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\WebGuard\data2.dat, Quarantined, [f7918e810874f54129909277cf34b848], Physical Sectors: 0(No malicious items detected)(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.