Name :	SpyAxe
Category:	Spyware
Type:	Spyware

SpyAxe is an anti-spyware application that may be distributed and installed without a user's knowledge or consent. The installed application functions up to the point when a user wants to remove a found infection, at which point the software requires purchase. The software may falsely alarm about infections, even prior to conducting a scan.

SpyAxe is an anti-spyware application sometimes installed without a user's knowledge or consent. A trojan already installed on a user's computer may show a fraudulent warning that the user may be infected. When the user clicks the message, the trojan will download and silently install SpyAxe. After installation, SpyAxe will detect the trojan that installed it, but without any details. The user will not be allowed to attempt cleaning of the trojan until paying for SpyAxe.



The trojan that has downloaded and installed Spyaxe is detected as Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Zlob. It has lately been masked as a Video Codec.

Spyaxe offers affiliates compensation for downloading and installing Spyaxe on users computers. Thereby the people behind Zlob can receive money for the unsolicited installations they distribute.

Removal tool
1. Download f-spyaxe.zip (last updated February 3rd, 2006)
http://www.f-secure.com/tools/f-spyaxe.zip
2. Unzip f-spyaxe.zip
3. Merge f-spyaxe.reg into the registry by double clicking the file
4. Reboot the machine

If there still is a problem, please look for these files on your system:

%WINDIR%\System32\mscornet.exe
%WINDIR%\System32\mssearch.exe
%WINDIR%\System32\nvctrl.exe
%WINDIR%\System32\ht*.tmp
%WINDIR%\System32\ld*.tmp
%WINDIR%\System32\replmap.dll

And submit them to us with the web form at:

http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/virusproblem/sample/index_sample.shtml