How to remove appconf32.exe

appconf32.exe

Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 November 2011 17:26 Monday, 04 October 2010 03:45

The file name appconf32.exe has appeared in a virus analysis report. You can see it on this link

The installer is of about 45 KB. It is detected by Antivirus programs as
Trojan-Banker.Win32.MultiBanker.agm [Kaspersky Lab]
Generic.dx!uzq [McAfee]
TrojanSpy:Win32/Banker.RN [Microsoft]
Trojan-Banker.Win32.MultiBanker [Ikarus]
Win-Trojan/Xema.46520 [AhnLab]
It has a keylogger component that can capture all user keystrokes (including confidential details such username, password, credit card number, etc.)

It may download harmful files from the internet.
You have to keep this in mind that there could be more virus files on your computer than mentioned in this article.

It creates appconf32.exe and other files on the infected computer that you need to search and delete. You should end running processes named appconf32.exe from Task Manager. And also remove the file's entries from windows startup.

Warning: It is possible that some legitimate software may be using the same file names as that of the virus files. You do not have to delete these files, if they belong to some legitimate program installed on your computer. Use Windows Defender or SysInternals Process Explorer to differentiate between them. This article is based on available information on the internet. In case of dispute, please send me a note by adding a comment at the end of this page, or mail me on support(at)comprolive.com

You can also use one of the Free online Virus scanning and removal services listed on this link

Using 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 be an easy way to undo the changes done by the virus

Using system restore in windows XP
Using system restore in windows Vista
Using system restore in windows7

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
How to boot in safe mode in windows7

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
- How to Enable to View Hidden Files and Folders in Windows7

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 appconf32.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 in XP and Vista. It shows the path of a process and its publisher. Harmful processes may be shown under Unknown Publisher in windows defender. Whereas in Windows7 you can find that out from the task manager itself

How to use Windows Defender in windows XP
How to use Windows Defender in windows Vista
How to use Windows Defender in windows7

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 the boxes in front of these names "appconf32.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 appconf32.exe

Files
C:\Windows\System32\appconf32.exe
[file and pathname of the sample #1]

(We do not know the name or the location of sample #1, it could be in your default download location or on the desktop or in a Temp folder. The files and folders in the Temp folder can be automatically removed, if you use disk cleanup utility in windows, Start > All Programs > Accessories> System Tools > Disk Cleanup. Or a freeware temp files/ registry cleaner software like CCleaner)

Folders
C:\Windows\System32\cock
C:\Windows\System32\xmldm

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.

If nothing works

More often a virus makes it difficult to remove its files while you are logged in windows. It may do one of the following

1) You may see the suspicious virus process running in the task manager but can not remove it.

2) Even if you delete a virus file/ or terminate the process, the process may spawn again.

3) The virus may disable system restore, registry tools, task manager, safe boot etc.

If any of these or other things done by the virus make you think/ feel that you are not able to remove the virus files then do as follows

1) Download a Knoppix Boot only CD ISO image from in your language from one of the download links from this website.

2) Burn the ISO image on a blank CD

3) Put the Knoppix Boot disk in your computer's CD drive and boot from the CD

At the beginning of boot process you will see a prompt as boot:

Type
knoppix screen=1280x1024
knoppix screen=1024x728 or any suitable resolution that your computer supports.
If you do not specify screen resolution, the knoppix will boot with minimal resolution and you may have to use command line options which is inconvenient for a windows user.

Once the knoppix window opens, click on the folder icon in the bottom left of the screen to open the PCMan file manager. It is a graphical file manager in Knoppix. It has two panels. In the left panel you should see the partitions of your hard disk. Select the partition in which windows is installed and you will instantly see all the folders. Now you can access the contents of your folders and delete suspicious files and folders just as you would do in the windows explorer.

When you are finished. Click on Log off. Now you can Turn Off or restart. Take out the knoppix CD from your drive and you can normally boot in windows.

Reprinted with permission from Threatexpert.com

Sanjay C Rajure