ProtectPcs
Last Updated on Friday, 15 January 2010 12:33 Tuesday, 22 December 2009 08:57
ProtectPcs is reported to be a rogue application. There are several ways a fake/rogue application may enter into your computer. {slide=Ok Tell me more about it! } 1) You may have downloaded it knowingly or unknowingly mistaking it to be something else. Recently I have noticed that the malware authors are also keeping track of the removal instructions published on the internet. As soon as they think that the malware is exposed, they change the file/folder names and the locations where they are saved on the hard disk. So keeping this in mind you will require the latest information of the malware in order to be able to remove it. I have categorized this rogue application as nsProcess.dll group. You can see the original threat expert report on this link., and you can find information of other rogue applications belonging to this group on this link If you happen to have the rogue installer, you can submit it to threatexpert site and get it analyzed. That will help you to get the precise information about the virus. Files Associated These are the identifiable EXE file names that are used in this malware ProtectPcs.exe, uninstall.exe, nsProcess.dll and randomly generated names like m0suq8wt.exe The Installer The installers of this malware is 1.6 MB, and it may further download more installers. Some of them were located on [ProtectPcs.com] The Website Each rogue application in this group is equipped with a dedicated website. You can find more info about the owner of the site [ProtectPcs.com], when it was registered, who is the registrar, where is it currently hosted etc on this site {/slide}{slide=Can I get rid of it by just doing a system restore ?}
Trying system restore If you know the duration since your computer is infected, you can try to restore your computer at a prior date, that will work like a miracle in removing the infection
Most of the malware/rogue removal sites recommend using Malwarebytes Antimalware. Although if you try any antivirus program, installed on your computer or by scanning online , that could be equally helpful. I have listed them here for your convenience Special tools to remove a single virus or a family of virus, Free Online virus scanners and Fully functioning freeware antivirus/ antispyware programs
These are the steps to be taken, if you want to remove the infected files manually. You may not find all the files that are mentioned here on an infected computer. Don't be worried. Do as much as you can. Boot in safe mode Sometimes you will not be able to delete a file even if you find it, in that case you should boot in safe mode and then try to delete it/ them.
Remove Processes from Task Manager Press Ctrl Shift Esc to open Task Manager. See in the list of the processes for ProtectPcs.exe, uninstall.exe, and randomly generated names like m0suq8wt.exe . Select and press End Process button, Confirm to terminate the process and Close Task Manager. Alternately you can use Windows Defender to see the path of a currently running program/ process and its publisher, so as to differentiate malware processes from processes belonging to legitimate publishers. You may find such processes listed under Unknown Publisher in windows defender.
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, therefore you can check / uncheck any entry from windows startup any number of times. After the system configuration window is open, Click on the Startup tab, that will list all the programs that are scheduled to start with windows. Expand the middle column using your mouse pointer so that you can see the full path of the program. Locate and uncheck "ProtectPcs", "ProtectPcs Software" ProtectPcs.exe (look for any other suspicious names) Press Apply , Press Close/Ok , Select "restart" at the next prompt. View Hidden Files Before you could delete ProtectPcs and its associated files you need to search for them, and before doing that you need to enable to view hidden files and folders
Deleting files After restarting the computer, use the windows search utility to search for "ProtectPcs" and also search for the names that you found and removed in the task manager or in the startup list. This search should find all its folders on the hard disk , delete the folders from the hard disk. These are some folders that were found on an infected computer. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\ProtectPcs These are some files that were found on an infected computer.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\ProtectPcs.lnk (these two files seem to be common in this group) C:\Windows\System32\ntvdm.exe There are the additional files that the rogue attempts to download. If it succeeds, it saves these files in the C:\Windows directory . These are semi random named, you need to look inside the C:\Windows directoy and delete similar files if found. These names could be different on every infected computer, these filenames are in an incremental series, so the latest infections will begin with a higher number than the previous one. These files have OCX, BIN, CPL, EXE, DLL extentions. They will be approx 13-20 characters long. Will include letters and numbers. And some garbled text will be found inserted in between, such as not-a-virus, virus, hack, backdoor, worm , spambot and so on. These files are probably harmless and are primarily used to display them by the rogue application as fake viruses found on your computer. I do not expect to go after these files, because in the first place the virus may not have added them on your computer, and even if it does, they are probably harmless. Registry Modifications These are the registry keys created by this rogue application
(Most of the registry keys above can be automatically eliminated after deleting the files/ folders of the rogue application and then running the Registry menu of CCleaner program)
Run CCleaner After deleting ProtectPcs and its associated files , as there will be leftover entries in the windows regitry. CCleaner is a free temp files/registry cleaner, that will automatically clean the registry as well as remove the temp files . Click here to read more Edit Registry if you are comfortable in using the regedit command. You can find the registry modifications in any of the threatexpert analysis reports. One such link is provided in the above para.
If you are unable to open Task Manager, registry editor, system restore, Folder Options etc If the virus has disabled them. There are free tools and techniques to solve this problem. They are listed here. Tools for Windows XP Tools for Windows Vista Use the system file checker If you want to make sure that the windows system files are not altered by the virus, and in case if they are altered then to repair them.
Unable to access security related sites It can happen if your Hosts file has been altered. To repair/ edit the hosts file. Login as administrator. open the following file in notepadC:\ WINDOWS \system32 \drivers \etc \hosts remove anything other than 127.0.0.1 Localhost, and save and close the file. Using Firewall Check your firewall for any suspicious communication from your computer to the internet and block it using firewall. Communincates with the following sites
Sometimes the virus infects your computer so badly , that it becomes nearly impossible to practically clean the computer. In that case you sholud reinstall windows on your computer. There is no batter alternative. You need to copy or backup whatever is of any importance to you either using a CD/DVD writer, or an external hard disk, or an pen drive. If your computer is not responding at all, then you can take out the hard disk and connect it as an external hard disk/ or as a slave disk to another computer and then get the data copied. Of course you need to get help from someone to do all that if yo can't do it yourself. But I am explaining all the options you have. It is better to copy all the data from the hard disk, and then delete all the partitions and then repartition the hard disk, so that there are no chances of any trace of the virus. {/slide}{slide=Is there anything I can do so that I don't get into this situation again! } 1) You need to have a functioning antivirus, antispyware and a firewall, free or commercial. Please see the link elsewhere in this article for the list of freeware applications. 2) Use FireFox browser. It is safer than other browsers. You will require to install some browser plugins for better safety, some of them are WOT - a site advisor plugin from mywot.com. NOSCRIPT - a browser plugin that prevents the javascripts of sites, and allows upon your selection. 3) Use CCleaner - it is a freeware temp files and registry cleaner. Set it so that it runs everytime you start windows. That will save you the efforts to run it manually. It is your choice, you can either run it at the end of your browsing session, or before closing the computer. {/slide} {slide=My computer is infected, is there anything I should be worried about! } Reprinted with permission from ThreatExpert.com {/slide} |
Search within this site
Read in your language
Main Menu
| Home |
| ----Sections---- |
| Harmful Files |
| Virus Removal |
| Trojan Removal |
| Worms Removal |
| Rogues Removal |
| Unwanted Apps |
| Removal Tools |
| Current News |
| ----Articles---- |
| Warning/ Disclaimer |
| Common Folders |
| Preventive Measures |
| Removal Instructions |
| Video Tutorials |
| ----Site Info---- |
| Sitemap |
| About/Contact |
