Program:Win32/FakeRednefed is a program that imitates Microsoft Security Center and displays false and misleading alerts regarding malware, in order to convince users to purchase rogue security software.
Special Note:
Reports of rogue Antivirus programs have been more prevalent as of late. These are programs that generate misleading alerts and false detections in order to convince users to purchase illegitimate security software. Some of these programs, such as this threat and
Trojan:Win32/Antivirusxp, may display product names or logos in an apparently unlawful attempt to impersonate Microsoft products. These products may represent themselves as “Antivirus XP”, “AntivirusXP 2008”, “WinDefender 2008”, “XP Antivirus”, or similar.
System Changes
The following system changes may indicate the presence of Program:Win32/FakeRednefed:
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The presence of the following files:
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Fwhookdrv.sys
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Hook.exe
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Manual.url
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\HOSTS.hst
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Rules
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Reserve.dat
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Svo.scf
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Support.url
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Web.url
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\WDefDemo.exe
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Vfile
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Uninstall.exe
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Siren.wav
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Rules.txt
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Proglib.dll
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Options.xml
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Seccenter.exe
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered\Support.lnk
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered\Launch windefender 2008.lnk
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered\On the web.lnk
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered\Uninstall windefender 2008.lnk
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The presence of the following registry values and data:
Value: FwHookDrv
With data: "%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\fwhookdrv.sys"
In subkey: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
Value: "Windows applications server"
With data: "<system folder>\seccenter.exe"
In subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Value: "WinDefender 2008"
With data: "%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\wdefdemo.exe"
In subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
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The display of the following false and misleading alerts:
Program:Win32/FakeRednefed is a program that imitates Microsoft Security Center and displays false and misleading alerts regarding malware, in order to convince users to purchase rogue security software.
Installation
FakeRednefed is installable as an installer downloaded from a Web site and/or by social engineering from third party Web sites. When installed, Win32/FakeRednefed creates following folders:
%APPDATA%\win defender 2008
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered
The installer creates the following files:
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Fwhookdrv.sys
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Hook.exe
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Manual.url
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\HOSTS.hst
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Rules
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Reserve.dat
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Svo.scf
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Support.url
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Web.url
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\WDefDemo.exe
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Vfile
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Uninstall.exe
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Siren.wav
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Rules.txt
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Proglib.dll
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Options.xml
%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\Seccenter.exe
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered\Support.lnk
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered\Launch windefender 2008.lnk
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered\On the web.lnk
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\windefender 2008 unregistered\Uninstall windefender 2008.lnk
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\delwdef2008.bat
<system folder>\seccenter.exe
An application shortcut named Launch WinDefender 2008 is created on the desktop
The installer may create the following registry subkey:
HKCU\Software\WinDefender 2008
The registry is modified to execute components of Win32/FakeRednefed at each Windows start.
Adds value: FwHookDrv
With data: "%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\fwhookdrv.sys"
To subkey: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services
Adds value: "Windows applications server"
With data: "<system folder>\seccenter.exe"
To subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Adds value: "WinDefender 2008"
With data: "%ProgramFiles%\windefender 2008\wdefdemo.exe"
To subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
The installer may add an entry in "Add or Remove Applications" called "WinDefender 2008" by adding associated registry value and data.
Adds value: "WinDefender 2008"
With data: "%ProgramFiles%\WinDefender 2008\Uninstall --uninstall"
To subkey: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
The registry is modified to execute the dropped batch file 'delwdef2008.bat' at next Windows start.
Adds value: "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\delwdef2008.bat"
With data: "%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp\delwdef2008.bat"
To subkey HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
This batch script deletes the original installer for Program:Win32/FakeRednefed.
Additional information
Program:Win32/FakeRednefed displays false and misleading warnings such as the following:
Clicking the "Remove All" button results in displaying a "Registration" dialog such as the following:
Program:Win32/FakeRednefed imitates Windows Security Center as in the following graphic:
The entire graphic is a link to a registration window for FakeRednefed. If the user clicks on any portion of the displayed graphic such as "Resources", "Security Settings" and even "privacy statement" hyperlink at the bottom of the image, the user is presented with a registration window.
Periodically Win32/Fakerednefed will darken the entire desktop and force Windows focus on a fictional warning window displaying current threats detected by the program.
Analysis by Subratam Biswas
Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your system:
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Enable a firewall on your computer.
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Get the latest computer updates for all your installed software.
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Use up-to-date antivirus software.
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Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers.
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Use caution when clicking on links to web pages.
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Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
Enable a firewall on your computer
Use a third-party firewall product or turn on the Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Firewall.
To turn on the Windows Firewall in Windows Vista
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Click Start, and click Control Panel.
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Click Security.
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Click Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
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Select On.
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Click OK.
To turn on the Internet Connection Firewall in Windows XP
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Click Start, and click Control Panel.
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Click Network and Internet Connections. If you do not see Network and Internet Connections, click Switch to Category View.
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Click Change Windows Firewall Settings.
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Select On.
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Click OK.
Get the latest computer updates
Updates help protect your computer from viruses, worms, and other threats as they are discovered. It is important to install updates for all the software that is installed in your computer. These are usually available from vendor websites.
You can use the Automatic Updates feature in Windows to automatically download future Microsoft security updates while your computer is on and connected to the Internet.
To turn on Automatic Updates in Windows Vista
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Click Start, and click Control Panel.
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Click System and Maintainance.
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Click Windows Updates.
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Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Install updates automatically and choose a time that is convenient for you. If you do not choose Automatic, but you choose to be notified when updates are ready, a notification balloon appears when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates.
To turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP
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Click Start, and click Control Panel.
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Click System.
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Click Automatic Updates.
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Select a setting. Microsoft recommends selecting Automatic. If you do not choose Automatic, but you choose to be notified when updates are ready, a notification balloon appears when new downloads are available to install. Click the notification balloon to review and install the updates.
Use up-to-date antivirus software
Most antivirus software can detect and prevent infection by known malicious software. To help protect you from infection, you should always run antivirus software that is updated with the latest signature files. Antivirus software is available from several sources. For more information,
see http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/vista.mspx.
Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers
Exercise caution with e-mail and attachments received from unknown sources, or received unexpectedly from known sources. Use extreme caution when accepting file transfers from known or unknown sources.
Use caution when clicking on links to web pages
Exercise caution with links to web pages that you receive from unknown sources, especially if the links are to a web page that you are not familiar with or are suspicious of. Malicious software may be installed in your system simply by visiting a web page with harmful content.
Avoid downloading pirated software
Threats may also be bundled with software and files that are available for download on various torrent sites. Downloading "cracked" or "pirated" software from these sites carries not only the risk of being infected with malware, but is also illegal. For more information. please see our article '
The risks of obtaining and using pirated software'.
Protect yourself from social engineering attacks
While attackers may attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in hardware or software in order to compromise a system, they also attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in human behavior in order to do the same. When an attacker attempts to take advantage of human behavior in order to persuade the affected user to perform an action of the attacker's choice, it is known as 'social engineering'. Essentially, social engineering is an attack against the human interface of the targeted system. For more information, please see our article '
What is social engineering?'.
