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
