Win32/FakeRean is a family of rogue antivirus(fake scanners) that claim to scan your computer for malware, and display fake warnings of malicious files. They then inform you that you need to pay money to register the software in order to remove these non-existent threats. Different variants may modify various settings on your computer, terminate programs or system services, or block access to websites.

Symptoms vary among different subfamilies and variants of Win32/FakeRean; below are some common variants we see in the wild: 

• Privacy Protection
• Security Protection
• Antivirus Protection 2012
• XP Home Security 2012
• XP AntiSpyware 2009

Please see the relevant ecyclopedia entry for a list of specific infection symptoms.

Win32/FakeRean is a family of rogue malware - fake scanners - that claim to scan your computer for malware, and display fake warnings of malicious files. They then inform you that you need to pay money to register the software in order to remove these non-existent threats. Different variants may modify various settings on your computer, terminate programs or system services, or block access to websites.

In the wild, we have observed Win32/FakeRean being installed onto computers by exploit kits such as Blacole or Incognito, or by being downloaded and installed by other malware. Malware we have observed downloading FakeRean includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Win32/Bredolab
• Win32/Cbeplay (for example, TrojanDownloader:Win32/Cbeplay.I)
• Win32/Cutwail (see also Virus:Win32/Cutwail.J)
• TrojanDropper:Win32/Hiloti.gen!A
• Win32/Insebro (for example, TrojanDropper:Win32/Insebro.A)
• Win32/Karagany (for example, TrojanDownloader:Win32/Karagany.I)
• Win32/Oficla
• Win32/Opachki (for example, Trojan:Win32/Opachki.F)
• Win32/Rorpian
• Win32/Rugzip
• Win32/Stegvob
• Win32/Wantvi (for example, Win32/Wantvi.F)

Note that some of these malware families may no longer be active, or may no longer be downloading Win32/FakeRean.

For more details on protecting your computer from vulnerabilities being exploited by the Blacole exploit kit, or other exploit kits, please see the Blacole description elsewhere in the encyclopedia.

Earlier versions of FakeRean were also installed after users were tricked into downloading the malware, after visiting a webpage that displayed messages or graphics that led them to believe that their computer had a malware infection.

FakeRean brands

The Win32/FakeRean family covers a number of different brands of fake scanner. The details of how and where the malware is installed, or the other effects it has on the infected computer, will differ depending on the variant.

Each brand changes its name from time to time, but the appearance of the fake scanner and its behavior are very similar. It may change its installation directory, file names, or registry entry names to reflect the new name.

Privacy Protection / Security Protection

For example, one variant uses names such as Privacy Protection or Security Protection. Their fake scanners are similar apart from the name displayed.

Privacy Protection may be installed to %AppData%\privacy.exe. It creates the following registry entry to ensure that it runs at each Windows start:

In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Sets value: "Privacy Protection"
With data: %AppData%\privacy.exe

 Security Protection instead uses a file name of defender.exe and creates the following registry entry:

In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Sets value: "Security Protection"
With data: %AppData%\defender.exe

This variant may attempt to terminate certain processes. You can circumvent this by making a copy of the program you want to run, renaming it to svchost.exe, then running the renamed copy.

Note: Do not place this copy in the <system folder> directory.

Note: <system folder> refers to a variable location that is determined by the malware by querying the operating system. The default installation location for the System folder for Windows 2000 and NT is C:\Winnt\System32; and for XP, Vista, and 7 is C:\Windows\System32.

For more details of this variant, please visit the Privacy Protection or Security Protection descriptions elsewhere in the encyclopedia.

Other names that are being used by this variant at the time of publication include:

• Malware Protection
• Total PC Defender
• Internet Security

Antivirus Protection 2012

Antivirus Protection 2012's installer drops a number of files to a folder, such as %AppData%\Antivirus Protection 2012 or %AppData%\Antivirus Protection 2012 Tm.

It may also create the following files:

• IcoActivate.ico (icon file)
• IcoHelp.ico (icon file)
• IcoUninstall.ico (icon file)
• AntivirusProtection2012.exe (fake scanner)
• securitymanager.exe (monitors the installed file)
• securityhelper.exe (copy of the installer)

It adds a number of registry entries to ensure that its various components are run at each Windows start:

In subkey: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Sets value: "Antivirus Protection 2012"
With data: "%AppData%\Antivirus Protection 2012\AntivirusProtection2012.exe" /STARTUP
Sets value: "Antivirus Protection 2012 SM"
With data: "%AppData%\Antivirus Protection 2012\securitymanager.exe"
Sets value: "Antivirus Protection 2012 SH"
With data: "%AppData%\Antivirus Protection 2012\securityhelper.exe"

Along with creating files to add desktop shortcuts and start menu items.

This rogue may also disable certain services, and remove the registry entry which allows Windows Defender to run each time the computer starts.

For more details of this variant, please see the Antivirus Protection 2012 description elsewhere in the encyclopedia.

Other names that are being used by this variant at the time of publication include:

• AntiVirus 2010
• AntiVirus AntiSpyware 2011
• Antivirus Protection
• AntiVirus Studio 2010
• Antivirus System 2011
• AV Protection 2012
• Desktop Security
• Desktop Security 2010
• Security Monitor
• Security Monitor 2012
• Security Solution

XP Home Security 2012 (and others)

This variant of Win32/FakeRean has been distributed with many different names. The user interface and some other details vary to reflect each variant’s individual branding. These variants choose a name at random, from a number of possibilities determined by the operating system of the affected system. Please see below for all the possible combinations that may be used to brand the interface and associated content, including websites, etc. in recent variants:

The image below depicts the "XP Home Security 2012" branding.

When run, the malware copies itself to a location such as %AppData%\<three lowercase characters>.exe (for example, %AppData%\qkm.exe).

This variant may also modify security settings and block access to programs and websites. For more details, please see the XP Home Security 2012 description elsewhere in the encyclopedia.

XP Antispyware 2009

Earlier variants exhibited different behavior. Please see the XP AntiSpyware 2009 description elsewhere in the encyclopedia for more details.

Analysis by David Wood

Take the following steps to help prevent infection on your computer:

• Enable a firewall on your computer.
• Get the latest computer updates for all your installed software.
• Use up-to-date antivirus software.
• Limit user privileges on the computer.
• Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers.
• Use caution when clicking on links to webpages.
• Avoid downloading pirated software.
• Protect yourself against social engineering attacks.
• Use strong passwords.

Enable a firewall on your computer

Use a third-party firewall product or turn on the Microsoft Windows Internet Connection Firewall.

• How to turn on the Windows Firewall in Windows 7
• How to turn on the Windows Firewall in Windows Vista
• How to turn on the Windows firewall in Windows XP

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. Instructions on how to download the latest versions of some common software is available from the following:

• Microsoft Malware Protection Center - Updating Software

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.

• How to turn on Automatic Updates in Windows 7
• How to turn on Automatic Updates in Windows Vista
• How to turn on Automatic Updates in Windows XP

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, such as Microsoft Security Essentials, that is updated with the latest signature files. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/windows/antivirus-partners/.

Limit user privileges on the computer

Starting with Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft introduced User Account Control (UAC), which, when enabled, allowed users to run with least user privileges. This scenario limits the possibility of attacks by malware and other threats that require administrative privileges to run.

You can configure UAC in your computer to meet your preferences:

• User Account Control in Windows 7
• User Account Control in Windows Vista
• Applying the Principle of Least Privilege in Windows XP
• More on User Account Control

Use caution when opening attachments and accepting file transfers

Exercise caution with email 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 webpages

Exercise caution with links to webpages that you receive from unknown sources, especially if the links are to a webpage that you are not familiar with, unsure of the destination of, or suspicious of. Malicious software may be installed in your computer simply by visiting a webpage 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 to compromise a computer, they also attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in human behavior to do the same. When an attacker attempts to take advantage of human behavior 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 computer.

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 eight characters, and combines letters, numbers, and symbols. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/passwords-create.aspx.

To detect and remove this threat and other malicious software that may be installed on your computer, run a full-system scan with an appropriate, up-to-date, security solution. The following Microsoft products detect and remove this threat:

• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• Windows Defender
• Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

For more information on antivirus software, see http://www.microsoft.com/windows/antivirus-partners/.