File Rescue

Posted: October 25, 2012

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	2/10
Infected PCs:	46

First Seen:	October 25, 2012
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

File Rescue is a member of or FakeHDD, a grouping of similar rogue defragmenters and file cleaners that display fake hard drive information and request money to fix imaginary problems. While there are many different names for variants of Fakesysdef, File Rescue and its relatives are consistent in their repetitive usage of warnings about RAM, misallocated files, overheated CPUs, bad HD sectors and other hardware problems that aren't based in reality. Any attempts to use File Rescue to fix these fake errors will result in File Rescue requesting money, which SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend against spending – since File Rescue doesn't have any functional features that would benefit your computer. File Rescue, like many PC threats, uses changes to the Registry and code injection techniques as part of its installation, and the usage of anti-malware software is recommended to delete File Rescue without any unwanted side effects.

Don't Let Your PC Be the Damsel that File Rescue Swoops in to Save

File Rescue can be installed by various means, although prominent infection vectors include fake online scanners (that request that you download File Rescue to fix problems that appear to be detected in their fake scans) and media downloads that install File Rescue while pretending to be movie player updates. File Rescue's installation uses common exploits to allow File Rescue to launch automatically with Windows. Additionally, malicious DLL components of File Rescue are injected into normal system files, which complicate the removal of File Rescue. The installation of File Rescue also may force your computer to reboot and display File Rescue immediately.

File Rescue uses a range of fake system error-related pop-ups, as well as fake hard drive scans, to make your computer look as though it's experiencing severe hardware problems. Many of the errors that File Rescue claims to detect are highly improbable and, in some cases, even impossible to occur without causing your PC to crash. Naturally, File Rescue doesn't have any actual error-detecting functions, and these attacks don't serve any purpose except to incite victims into throwing money away on an 'advanced module' for File Rescue.

SpywareRemove.com malware research team has analyzed many PC threats related to File Rescue that practice similar behavior. Some examples include Many, but not all of these fake defraggers will use interfaces identical to that of File Rescue's, excepting the brand name.

Saving Yourself from File Rescue's HD Salvation

The attributes essential to File Rescue's identity as a fake file-repairing utility may be its pop-up alerts and scans, but SpywareRemove.com malware experts have expressed more concern about its other attacks, which are unrelated to File Rescue's scamware disguise. Issues that may plague File Rescue-infected computers include:

Internet Explorer settings that are modified to make web-browsing risky (with respect to contact with malicious content or compromised transfers of confidential data).
Programs may be blocked by File Rescue without cause, even if File Rescue claims that blocked programs are damaged or infected.
File Rescue also may be used to connect to a remote server. This backdoor vulnerability can be used to launch other attacks against your computer.

With all of these traits, File Rescue should be considered a meaningful security threat, and SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend using anti-malware software to delete File Rescue and its relatives if you see any signs of them on your computer.

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:

%Programs%\File Rescue\File Rescue.lnk

File name: %Programs%\File Rescue\File Rescue.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%Programs%\File Rescue\Uninstall File Rescue.lnk

File name: %Programs%\File Rescue\Uninstall File Rescue.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%Desktopdir%\File_Rescue.lnk

File name: %Desktopdir%\File_Rescue.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\File_Rescue.lnk

File name: %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\File_Rescue.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%CommonAppiData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS_1].exe

File name: %CommonAppiData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS_1].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS_0].exe

File name: %CommonAppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS_0].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS_1]

File name: %CommonAppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS_1]
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system\DisableTaskMgr 0HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\[RANDOM CHARACTERS_0].exe %CommonAppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS_0].exe