Trojan:Win32/FakeVimes is a family of programs that claims to scan for malware and displays fake warnings of “malicious programs and viruses”. They then inform the user that they need to pay money to register the software in order to remove these non-existent threats.
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 may display product names or logos in an apparently unlawful attempt to impersonate Microsoft products.
Trojan:Win32/Fakevimes
is a family of programs that claims to scan for malware and displays fake warnings of “malicious programs and viruses”. They then inform the user that they need to pay money to register the software in order to remove these non-existent threats. It is known to be downloaded by TrojanDownloader:Win32/FakeVimes.
Installation
Members of the Win32/FakeVimes family use various filenames and system modifications that can differ from one variant to the next. Win32/FakeVimes has been distributed with several different names. The user interface and some other details vary to reflect each variant’s individual branding.
Trojan:Win32/Fakevimes is known to be download and installed by TrojanDownloader:Win32/FakeVimes.
The downloaded file is saved to the following location with a filename that differs according to distribution:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\<random value>\<Rogue Name.exe>
For example:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ff3ce05\UA2009.exe.
Please see the
TrojanDownloader:Win32/FakeVimes description elsewhere in our encyclopedia for additional information on how
Trojan:Win32/Fakevimes may be downloaded and installed.
Payload
Redirects search results
Variants of Win32/Fakevimes may modify the Host file to redirect search domains to a specific IP address. In the wild, this trojan was observed to make the following change to the Hosts file:
206.53.61.77 search.msn.com
206.53.61.77 search.live.com
206.53.61.77 google.com
206.53.61.77 search.yahoo.com
The Hosts file is commonly stored as the following:
%windir%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.
Disables User Access Control (UAC)
The trojan attempts to disable UAC prompts by modifying the registry within the subkey:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Displays fake alerts and misleading dialogs
Trojan:Win32/Fakevimes attempts to masquerade as the Windows Security Center in order to convince affected users of its legitimacy. See below for examples of this subterfuge:
When executed the trojan displays the fake Security Center dialog, prompting the user to run a scan.
If the users clicks the 'Scan NOW' button the trojan appears to perform a scan of the system.
The trojan then displays a list of malware supposedly found on the affected system.
The trojan prompts the user to protect themselves with a popup;
as well as fake error messages and fake authorization system prompts.
Should a user click on any of the "protection" buttons the trojan informs the user that it is a trial version which requires registration.
The user is then directed to a remote site to 'register' the trojan - this normally involves paying a fee.
Contacts remote host
Trojan:Win32/FakeVimes reports successful installations and other information regarding the affected computer's settings to the following remote host:
Analysis by Ray Roberts
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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Avoid downloading pirated software.
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Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
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Use strong passwords.
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, unsure of the destination of, or 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, see '
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, see '
What is social engineering?'.
Use Strong Passwords
Attackers may try to gain access to your Windows account by guessing your password. It is therefore important that you use a strong password – one that cannot be easily guessed by an attacker. A strong password is one that has at least 8 characters, and combines letters, numbers, and symbols. For more information, see
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/create.mspx.
To recreate a clean HOSTS file:
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Click Start, and click Run.
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Open the Hosts file, according to operating system:
On Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME systems:
In the Open field, type: notepad %windir%\hosts
On Windows NT-based operating systems, such as Windows 2000 or Windows XP:
In the Open field, type: notepad<system folder>\drivers\etc\hosts
-- for example, on Windows 2000:
In the Open field, type: notepad C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
-- or on Windows XP:
In the Open field, type: notepad C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
On Windows Vista:
Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Notepad, and then click Run as administrator
Click File, click Open, type: %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts, and then click Open
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On the first line of the HOSTS file, type:
127.0.0.1 localhost as in the following example after modifying a default 'hosts' file:
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Save the file to the same location you opened it from.
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Close Notepad.
