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File Recovery

Posted: July 12, 2012

Threat Metric

Ranking: 16,775
Threat Level: 10/10
Infected PCs: 307
First Seen: July 12, 2012
Last Seen: October 16, 2023
OS(es) Affected: Windows

File Recovery Screenshot 1File Recovery is a rogue defragger that pretends to check for errors on your hard drive, while File Recovery creates fake lists of malfunctions and encourages you to spend money on a purchasable fix module to resolve these issues. File Recovery and other members of its family aren't able to find real hard drive errors or defragment your hard drive. This will not stop File Recovery from displaying varied types of fake system error messages, however; File Recovery may also attempt to block unrelated programs up to blocking everything else that you attempt to launch. The solution to this software barricade, as SpywareRemove.com malware researchers note, is to use standard anti-malware tactics to prevent File Recovery from starting and then removing File Recovery with a preferred anti-malware product (to ensure that all related PC threats are also deleted along with File Recovery).

File Recovery – When 'Recovery' Means Invisible and Disabled Software

As another member of FakeSysDef, File Recovery can only imitate the aesthetics of a defragger without providing any of the real error-checking functions of one. Some examples of File Recovery clones are System Defragmenter, Ultra Defragger, HDD Control, Win HDD, Win Defrag, Win Defragmenter, Disk Doctor, Hard Drive Diagnostic, HDD Diagnostic, HDD Plus, HDD Repair, HDD Rescue, Smart HDD, Defragmenter, HDD Tools, Disk Repair, Windows Optimization Center, Scanner, HDD Low and Hdd Fix. File Recovery can be installed by browser exploits or by other PC threats, and it's recommended that any attempt to delete File Recovery include anti-malware scans that can detect any other types of malicious software that may be related to its presence on your computer.

Scans from File Recovery, which File Recovery will tend initiate automatically, will always display fake contents that alert you to nonexistent hard drive and memory-related problems, such as low RAM, excessively high CPU temperature, unreadable HD space or corrupted files. These fake errors are used as File Recovery's way of making its services seem worthy of purchase, although SpywareRemove.com malware researchers can't see any justification for buying File Recovery, which has no true features that would help your PC.

SpywareRemove.com malware researchers also note that since File Recovery may be loaded into the memory space of other processes, you may not see a distinct memory process for File Recovery, and deleting File Recovery without deactivating File Recovery first may prove to be impracticably difficult.

Taking Your Files Back from a Fake File Recovery

In addition to its fake hard drive error-checking features, File Recovery infections can also involve a variety of Registry changes that harm your PC's security settings. Some common issues victims of File Recovery and related PC threats have been known to experience include:

  • Files failing to display due to being flagged as Hidden, with the related file-viewing settings changed to fail to display Hidden files.
  • Alterations to how your web browser handles non-encrypted data so File Recovery and related PC threats can steal passwords and similar types of sensitive information.
  • Locking your desktop to a fake warning message.
  • Unrelated programs being disabled – particularly the Windows Task Manager.

If you can't remove File Recovery using your anti-malware program while File Recovery is active in memory, booting your PC from a removable hard drive-based device can help to provide a safe environment for File Recovery's deletion. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers note that you may also need to restore the Registry from a backup or repair it before all related security setting changes are undone.

File Recovery Screenshot 2File Recovery Screenshot 3File Recovery Screenshot 4File Recovery Screenshot 5File Recovery Screenshot 6File Recovery Screenshot 7File Recovery Screenshot 8File Recovery Screenshot 9File Recovery Screenshot 10

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:



%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\whvaayta5ugfb2.exe File name: whvaayta5ugfb2.exe
Size: 249.34 KB (249344 bytes)
MD5: 870dea68b0b13e07a22b522072d96e75
Detection count: 83
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: July 13, 2012
%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM].exe File name: %CommonAppData%\[RANDOM].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
%Programs%\File Recovery\File Recovery.lnk File name: %Programs%\File Recovery\File Recovery.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%Programs%\File Recovery\Uninstall File Recovery.lnk File name: %Programs%\File Recovery\Uninstall File Recovery.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%DesktopDir%\File_Recovery.lnk File name: %DesktopDir%\File_Recovery.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\File_Recovery.lnk File name: %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\File_Recovery.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%Temp%\[RANDOM] File name: %Temp%\[RANDOM]
Group: Malware file
%Temp%\[RANDOM].exe File name: %Temp%\[RANDOM].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
%Temp%\[RANDOM].dll File name: %Temp%\[RANDOM].dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file
%UserProfile%\Desktop\File Recovery.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Desktop\File Recovery.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\dfrg File name: %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\dfrg
Group: Malware file
%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\dfrgr File name: %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\dfrgr
Group: Malware file
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\File Recovery\File Recovery.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\File Recovery\File Recovery.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\File Recovery\Uninstall File Recovery.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\File Recovery\Uninstall File Recovery.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

File name without pathFile_Recovery.lnkHKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = "0"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\..{RunKeys} HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "[RANDOM].exe" "%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM].exe"

Additional Information

The following directories were created:
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\File Recovery
The following messages's were detected:
# Message
1Critical Error A critical error has occurred while indexing data stored on hard drive. System restart required.
2Critical error Windows can't find disk space. Hard drive error.
3Hard Drive Boot Sector Reading Error During I/O system initialization, the boot device driver might have failed to initialize the boot device. File system initialization might have failed because it did not recognize the data on boot device.
4Hard drive boot sector reading error System blocks were not found Error 0×00000024 – NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM Error 0×00000078 – INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE Error 0×0000002E – DATA_BUS_ERROR Error 0×00000050 – PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA The DRM attribute value is too small before disk scan
5System Restore The system has been restored after a critical error. Data integrity and hard drive integrity verification required.
6System blocks were not found This is most likely occurred because of hard disk failure. This may also lead to a potential loss of data.
7The system has detected a problem with one or more installed IDE / SATA hard disks. It is recommended that you restart the system.
8Windows cannot find notepad. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.
9Windows detected a hard drive problem. A hard drive error occurred while starting the application.
10Windows – No Disk Exception Processing Message 0×0000013.

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