F-Secure
Tools
Rogue:W32/SpyGuard
Summary
Dishonest antivirus or antispyware software which tricks users into buying or installing it, usually by infecting a user's computer, or by pretending the computer is infected.Additional Details
This is a typical rogueware family.
Member of this family pose as a legitimate antivirus or antispyware application, usually by copying the name and/or looks of a legitimate application.
Activity
Once installed, this program scans the computer system. It then displays fake alert messages indicating the system has been compromised. To fully use the product and/or to enable its disinfection functionality, the user is required to purchase a license.
A message notifying the user of the 'infections' will also frequently pop up from the System Tray.
Installation
A typical installation from this rogueware family installs component files in:
Where [Name of Application] is the name of the legitimate program that the rogueware is pretending to be, for example, Spyware Guard or System Guard.
At the same time, the following files are installed in %WinDir%:
These files are usually backups of clean system files. A file named winscenter.exe is also saved in the %System% folder.
Malicious components are then installed in :
Registry
A typical installation from this rogueware family will add the following registry key:
Member of this family pose as a legitimate antivirus or antispyware application, usually by copying the name and/or looks of a legitimate application.
Activity
Once installed, this program scans the computer system. It then displays fake alert messages indicating the system has been compromised. To fully use the product and/or to enable its disinfection functionality, the user is required to purchase a license.
A message notifying the user of the 'infections' will also frequently pop up from the System Tray.
Installation
A typical installation from this rogueware family installs component files in:
- %Program Files%\ [Name of Application]
Where [Name of Application] is the name of the legitimate program that the rogueware is pretending to be, for example, Spyware Guard or System Guard.
At the same time, the following files are installed in %WinDir%:
- reged.exe
- spoolsystem.exe
- sys.com
- syscert.exe
- sysexplorer.exe
- vmreg.dll
These files are usually backups of clean system files. A file named winscenter.exe is also saved in the %System% folder.
Malicious components are then installed in :
- %allusers%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Dlls
Registry
A typical installation from this rogueware family will add the following registry key:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Spyware Guard