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Published Sep 21, 2004 | Updated Sep 15, 2017

Worm:Win32/Spybot.AQ

Detected by Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Aliases: No associated aliases

Summary

Win32/SpyBot.AQ.worm is a network worm that targets certain versions of Microsoft Windows. The worm can spread to writeable network shares that have weak passwords. It can also spread by exploiting various Windows vulnerabilities. The worm opens a backdoor that allows attackers to control the computer over an IRC channel.
To manually recover from infection by Win32/SpyBot.AQ.worm, perform the following steps:
  1. Disconnect from the Internet.
  2. End the worm process.
  3. Delete the worm files from your computer. 
  4. Delete the worm registry entries.
  5. 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.

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 the process msnmsgs.exe, and click End Process.

Delete the worm files from your computer

To delete the worm files from your computer
  1. Click Start, and click Run.
  2. In the Open field, type %windir%\system32, for example, C:\Windows\system32.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Click Name to sort files by name.
  5. If the file msnmsgs.exe is in the list, delete it.
  6. On the Desktop, right-click the Recycle Bin and click Empty Recycle Bin.
  7. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
If deleting msnmsgs.exe fails, follow these steps to verify that the file is not running:
  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. Confirm that msnmsgs.exe is not in the list. 

Delete the worm registry entries

Win32/SpyBot.AQ.worm creates entries in the Windows registry that attempts to run the worm every time your computer restarts. These entries should be deleted.
To delete the worm registry entries
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open field, type regedit.
  3. Press Enter.
  4. In the left pane, navigate to the registry key:
    5. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OLE
  5. In the right pane, right-click the value MSN.
  6. Click Delete and click Yes to delete the value.
  7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 for each of the following registry keys:
    8. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Ole
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Lsa
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa
  8. Close the Registry Editor.

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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