A program (or set of programs) that hides itself by subverting or evading the computer's security mechanisms, then allows remote users to silently control the computer's operating system.
Based on the settings of your F-Secure security product, it will either automatically delete, quarantine or rename the detected program or file, or ask you for a desired action.
As hidden items are often related to malware, we ask that you consider sending us a sample of the hidden files to F-Secure Labs via the Submit A Sample (SAS) page for further analysis.
Since the files are hidden, you might not be able to access them directly. To access the files, you might need to do one of the following:
Alternatively, if the hidden files are related to the Master Boot Record (MBR), you may use the following instructions:
Caution: Manual disinfection of the MBR is only advisable for advanced users.
Microsoft provides tools to replace an infected MBR with a copy of the original, clean MBR. To do so:
Note: For further information on use of the 'fixmbr' command, please refer to the relevant Microsoft documentation.
Find the latest advice in our Community Knowledge Base.
See the manual for your F-Secure product on the Help Center.
Submit a file or URL for further analysis.
A rootkit is usually a standalone software component that attempts to hide processes,files, registry data and network connections. Though rootkits are not malicious in themselves, numerous malware use a rootkit component to facilitate their malicious routines and to protect the malware from detection/deletion.
A rootkit can be either user-mode or kernel-mode. A user-mode rootkit is usually dropped as a DLL file, which the malware then loads to all running processes in order for the rootkit to run; a kernel-mode rootkit is usually dropped as a driver file, which is then loaded as part of the kernel, or the operating system's core components. In rare cases, the rootkit doesn't need any external files to operate.
Examples of pure rootkits are Hacker Defender and FU. Some spyware and adware programs (e.g., EliteToolbar, ProAgent and Probot SE) also use rootkit techiques, as well as some trojans (e.g., Haxdoor, Berbew/Padodor and Feutel/Hupigon), and worms.
Hidden processes, files and applications detected on the system are displayed as suspicious items. The presence of these items can indicate the following:
There are many malicious and non-malicious reasons why items can be hidden on the computer:
A detection name that uses the format "Rootkit.mbr.[variant] (boot image)" indicates the possible presence of a hidden component or program that affects the Master Boot Record (MBR), a dedicated area of a storage device - such as a hard drive or a floppy disk - that contains critical information for starting the main operating system (OS).