How to remove PFPortChecker

PFPortChecker

Last Updated on Saturday, 19 May 2012 08:15 Wednesday, 06 January 2010 05:03

The file names PFPortChecker.exe, server.exe, server_BIFROST.exe, PFPortChecker1[1].0.28.exe have appeared in an virus analysis report. You can see it on this link

It installs a component of backdoor Trojan Bifrose or BiFrost alongwith a legitimate application called PFPortChecker. It connects to remote hosts. It can download harmful files from the internet. A good firewall can detect harmful activities and prevent them. Some good freeware are ZoneAlarm Free Firewall, and Comodo Internet Security Free Edition (you can choose to install just the firewall from their security suite)

PFPortChecker.exe is a legitimate file belonging to an application called PFPortChecker. Its default location is C:\Program Files\PFPortChecker. This software is available from PortForward.com

It seems that the Bifrost virus has modified the installer of this program, if you have downloaded it from some unreliable sites. So you need to be careful. If you have installed PFPortChecker, then check your computer if there are other files listed in this article, and remove them if found.

If you have got an altered/infected installer of PFPortChecker, then uninstall it and remove all other files listed in this article, and then you can download this application from its website PortFoward.com

It infects Internet explorer browser. It attaches a keylogger with Internet Explorer. That will steal your user ID and passwords. So do not use Internet explorer until the virus is removed.

It creates the files PFPortChecker.exe, server.exe, server_BIFROST.exe, PFPortChecker1[1].0.28.exe on the infected computer that you need to search and delete. You should end running processes named PFPortChecker.exe, server.exe, server_BIFROST.exe, PFPortChecker1[1].0.28.exe from Task Manager. And also remove the file's entries from windows startup.

There are several variations in the EXE file names used by this virus. I have grouped them together in BiFrost Family

Statutory Warning: It is possible that some legitimate application may be using the same name as that of the virus. Use Windows Defender or SysInternal Process Explorer to differentiate between them.

Boot in safe mode

Sometimes you can not delete a file. You should boot in safe mode and then try to delete it.

How to boot in safe in windows XP

How to boot in safe mode in windows Vista

View Hidden Files

You need to enable to view hidden files and folders before searching.

How to Enable to View Hidden Files and Folders in Windows XP
- How to Enable to View Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Vista

Remove Processes from Task Manager

Press Ctrl Alt Del keys to open the Task Manager. Select Processes tab. You will see a list. Look for the names PFPortChecker.exe, server.exe, server_BIFROST.exe, PFPortChecker1[1].0.28.exe in it. Select if found and press the End Process button. It will ask for your confirmation to end that process. Select Yes. You can end one process at a time.

You can find out if a process in Task Manager is good or bad by using Windows Defender. It shows the path of a process and its publisher. Harmful processes may be shown under Unknown Publisher in windows defender.

How to use Windows Defender in windows XP

How to use Windows Defender in windows Vista

Or you can use Sysinternal's Process Explorer.

How to use Sysinternal's Process Explorer

Removing entry from windows startup

The system configuration can be started in xp and in vista by typing msconfig in the run box/ start menu search box. In xp by clicking on Start > run . The windows startup is reversible. You can check / uncheck any entry from windows startup any number of times.

Open system configuration window. Click on the Startup tab. You will see a list all the programs that are scheduled to start with windows. Expand the middle column using your mouse pointer. That will show you the full path of the program. Locate and uncheck "PFPortChecker.exe, server.exe, server_BIFROST.exe, PFPortChecker1[1].0.28.exe" (also look for any other suspicious names) Press Apply , Press Close/Ok , Select "restart" at the next prompt.

Deleting files

The computer will restart now. Delete the following files and folders. Boot in safe mode or boot in the dos prompt if needed. You can use windows search utility to search for PFPortChecker.exe, server.exe, server_BIFROST.exe, PFPortChecker1[1].0.28.exe and find out if there are any other instances of this file present elsewhere in the computer.

Files

%DesktopDir%\PFPortChecker.lnk
C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Application Data\Bifrost\server.exe
C:\Program Files\Bifrost\server.exe
C:\Windows\Help\Fucking\server_BIFROST.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Start Menu\Programs\Portforward.com\PFPortChecker\PFPortChecker.lnk
C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Start Menu\Programs\Portforward.com\PFPortChecker\Uninstall.lnk
C:\Program Files\PFPortChecker\PFPortChecker.exe
C:\Program Files\PFPortChecker\uninst.exe
C:\Windows\Help\Fucking\PFPortChecker1[1].0.28.exe

Folders
C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Application Data\Bifrost
C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Start Menu\Programs\Portforward.com
C:\Program Files\PFPortChecker
C:\Documents and Settings\[UserName]\Start Menu\Programs\Portforward.com\PFPortChecker
C:\Program Files\Bifrost
C:\Windows\Help\Fucking

Registry Keys

Some of the registry keys will be automatically removed if you run Registry menu of CCleaner. For others you can see the report mentioned at the beginning of this article .

Using CCleaner

You can easily remove the files in the temp folder by running CCleaner. You can set CCleaner to run automatically each time the computer starts. Do not forget to run CCleaner > Registry menu to remove the obsolete registry entries.