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Published Jul 28, 2004 | Updated Sep 19, 2006

Worm:Win32/Randex.Z

Detected by Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Aliases: W32.Randex.gen (Symantec) W32/Sdbot.worm.gen (McAfee)

Summary

Win32/Randex.Z is a network worm that targets computers running certain versions of Microsoft Windows. The worm attempts to spread by randomly scanning IP addresses for writeable network shares with weak passwords. The worm also has backdoor capabilities that allow attackers to control the infected computer through an IRC channel.
To manually recover from infection by Win32/Randex.Z, perform the following steps:
  1. Disconnect from the Internet.
  2. Restart the computer in safe mode.
  3. End the worm processes.
  4. Delete the worm files from the computer.
  5. Delete the worm registry entries.
  6. Restart the computer. 
  7. Scan network shares with an antivirus program. 
  8. Take steps to prevent re-infection.

Disconnect from the Internet

To help ensure that your computer is not actively infecting other computers, disconnect it from the Internet before proceeding. Print this Web page or save a copy on your computer; then unplug your network cable and disable your wireless connection. You can reconnect to the Internet after completing these steps.

Restart the computer in safe mode

To start your computer in safe mode
  1. Remove all floppy disks and CDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.
  2. When prompted, press F8. If Windows starts without displaying the Please select the operating system to start menu, restart your computer. Press F8 after the firmware POST process completes, but before Windows displays graphical output.
  3. From the Windows Advanced Options menu, select a safe mode option.

End the worm process

Ending the worm process will help stop your computer from infecting other computers as well as resolve the crashing, rebooting, and performance degradation issues caused by the worm.
To end the worm process
  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL once and click Task Manager.
  2. Click Processes and click Image Name to sort the running processes by name.
  3. Select process ntsys32.exe, and then click End Process. 
On Windows 9x, this worm registers itself as a service so that its process is hidden from the Task Manager. You may need to use a third party process viewer to terminate the worm process.

Delete the worm file from the computer

To delete the worm files from the computer
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open field, type %Windir%\system32
  3. Click OK.
  4. Click Name to sort files by name.
  5. If the file ntsys32.exe is in the list, delete it.
If deleting the file fails, use the following steps to verify that ntsys32.exe is not running:
  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL once and click Task Manager.
  2. Click the Processes tab.
  3. Confirm that ntsys32.exe is not in the list.

Delete the worm registry entries

Win32/Randex.Z creates several entries in the Windows registry that attempt to run the worm every time your computer restarts.
To delete the worm registry entry
  1. On the Start menu, click Run.
  2. Type regedit and click OK.
  3. In the left pane, navigate to the key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    In the right pane, right-click the value:
    Configuration = ntsys32.exe
  4. Select Delete and click Yes to delete the value.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each of the following registry keys: 
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  6. Close the Registry Editor.

Restart the computer

To restart the computer
  1. On the Start menu, click Shut Down.
  2. Select Restart from the drop-down list and click OK.

Scan network shares with an antivirus program

  1. On the Start menu, click Run.
  2. Type cmd and click OK.
  3. Type net share
  4. Run an antivirus program to scan the resource locations of listed shares.

Take steps to prevent re-infection

Do not reconnect your computer to the Internet until the computer is protected from re-infection. See the "Preventing Infection" section for more information. 
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