Removal instructions for GreatDefender

[Metallica]

What is GreatDefender?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that GreatDefender 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 GreatDefender?

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

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

And see these warnings:

How did GreatDefender get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one is part of a bundled trojan.

How do I remove GreatDefender?

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 GreatDefender?

• The rogue replaces 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.
  

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 GreatDefender 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\GreatDefender Software\GreatDefender\GreatDefender.exe

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 4-open-davinci.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 securitysoftwarepayments.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 privatesecuredpayments.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure.privatesecuredpayments.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 getantivirusplusnow.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure-plus-payments.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.getantivirusplusnow.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.secure-plus-payments.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.getavplusnow.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 safebrowsing-cache.google.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 urs.microsoft.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.securesoftwarebill.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure.paysecuresystem.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 paysoftbillsolution.com

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 protected.maxisoftwaremart.com

O1 - Hosts: 67.215.245.21 www.google-analytics.com

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ae

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.as

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.at

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.az

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ba

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.be

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.bg

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.bs

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ca

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.cd

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.gh

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.hk

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.jm

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.mx

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.my

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.na

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.nf

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.ng

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ch

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.np

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.pr

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.qa

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.sg

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.tj

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.com.tw

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.dj

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.de

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.dk

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.dm

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ee

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.fi

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.fm

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.fr

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ge

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.gg

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.gm

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.gr

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ht

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ie

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.im

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.in

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.it

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ki

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.la

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.li

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.lv

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ma

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ms

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.mu

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.mw

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.nl

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.no

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.nr

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.nu

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.pl

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.pn

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.pt

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ro

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ru

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.rw

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.sc

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.se

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.sh

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.si

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.sm

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.sn

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.st

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.tl

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.tm

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.tt

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.us

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.vu

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.ws

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.ck

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.id

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.il

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.in

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.jp

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.kr

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.ls

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.ma

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.nz

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.tz

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.ug

O1 - Hosts: 95.211.99.110 google.co.uk

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