Home Malware Programs Rogue Anti-Virus Programs OpenCloud AV

OpenCloud AV

Posted: October 2, 2011

Threat Metric

Ranking: 8,965
Threat Level: 8/10
Infected PCs: 1,230
First Seen: October 3, 2011
Last Seen: October 12, 2023
OS(es) Affected: Windows

OpenCloud AV is a fake anti-virus application that creates misleading alerts and hijackers your web browser to lead you to give up money for its fraudulent software activation process. Our malware experts strongly discourage you from spending money on OpenCloud AV even if it ceases its attacks. Since OpenCloud AV is incapable of performing any of typical anti-virus or security functions that you would expect from an anti-virus product, you shouldn't try to use OpenCloud AV's scanner or other aspects of its fake features, since these actions merely give OpenCloud AV the opportunity to expose you to other types of false warning messages.

OpenCloud AV - Not the Kind of Cloud You Want Your PC Plugged Into

OpenCloud AV exhibits the same type of harmful behavior that our malware researchers have also observed in other members of the FakeScanti family such as (among many other possible examples) Security Guard, Sysinternals Antivirus, WireShark Antivirus, Milestone Antivirus, BlueFlare Antivirus, Wolfram Antivirus, OpenCloud Antivirus, OpenCloud Security, Data Restore, Security Guard 2012, AV Guard Online, Cloud Protection, AV Protection Online, System Protection 2012, AV Security 2012, Sphere Security 2012, AV Protection 2011 and Super AV 2013. Although many of these functions may imitate the outer appearance of an anti-virus program, OpenCloud AV has no real virus detection or removal features, and you should never try to use OpenCloud AV in the same way that you'd use a legitimate anti-virus product. Standard OpenCloud AV attacks can include:

  • Pop-up messages that alert you about nonexistent infections or try to convince you that various PC components are damaged.
  • Browser hijacks that redirect you to OpenCloud AV's website or prevent PC security websites from loading. OpenCloud AV may attack your browser via the Hosts file or via proxy server settings; in the latter case, you may see an error like the following one frequently:

    "Proxy server is refusing connections"

  • Programs may be blocked by OpenCloud AV without case, especially security-related programs that could remove OpenCloud AV.

Getting Your PC Back to Sunny Days Without OpenCloud AV

OpenCloud AV should always be removed by appropriate anti-malware software whenever you have access to such software, since manual deletion attempts can cause damage Windows. Our malware researchers also recommend that you identify and learn to ignore OpenCloud AV's many fake alerts; these messages can contain a wide range of misleading and inaccurate information that can lead you to harm your PC unknowingly, as seen with these examples below:

svchost.exe
svchost.exe was replaced with unauthorized program.
It has encountered a problem and needs to close.
If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on might be lost.
Please tell Microsoft about this problem.
We have created an error report that you can send to us. We will treat this report as confidential and anonymous.

Security Warning
Your computer continues to be infected with harmful viruses. In order to prevent permanent loss of your information and credit card data theft please activate your antivirus software. Click here to enable protection.

Security Warning
There are critical system files on your computer that were modified by malicious software.
It may cause permanent data loss.
Click here to remove malicious software.

Security Warning
Malicious programs that may steal your private information and prevent your system from working properly are detected on your computer.
Click here to clean your PC immediately.

Windows Security Center
Serious security vulnerabilities were detected on this computer. Your privacy and personal data may be unsafe. Do you want to protect your PC?

Warning: Infection is Detected
Windows has found spyware infection on your computer!
Click here to update your Windows antivirus software

Warning: Spyware Detected
Windows has found spy programs running on your computer!
Click here to update your Windows antivirus software

Windows Security Alert
To help protect your computer, Windows Firewall has blocked some features of this program.
Do you want to keep blocking this program?
Name: Zeus Trojan
Publisher: Unauthorized

Warning! Infection found
Unwanted software (malware) or tracking cookies have been found during last scan. It is highly recommended to remove it from your computer.
Keylogger Zeus was detected and put in quarantine.
Keylogger Zeus is a very dangerous software used by criminals to steal personal data such as credit card information, access to banking accounts, passwords to social networks and e-mails.

Warning! Infection found
Unauthorized sending E-MAIL with subject "RE:" to was CANCELLED.

Safe Mode is considered the easiest-available method of disabling OpenCloud AV so that you can delete OpenCloud AV from your computer. If OpenCloud AV attacks persist in Safe Mode, you may want to attempt to fake an activation process with the following code: 'DB038748-B4659586-4A1071AF-32E768CD-36005B1B-F4520642-3000BF2A-04FC910B.'

Finally, you can rename security program files to use generic file names (such as explorer.exe) to prevent OpenCloud AV from blocking them. None of OpenCloud AV's attacks cause permanent harm to your software or Windows, so once you've removed OpenCloud AV properly your PC should return to top health.

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:



%AppData%\OpenCloud AV\ File name: %AppData%\OpenCloud AV\
Group: Malware file
%AppData%\OpenCloud AV\csrss.exe File name: %AppData%\OpenCloud AV\csrss.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
%AppData%\OpenCloud AV\ms.conf File name: %AppData%\OpenCloud AV\ms.conf
Mime Type: unknown/conf
Group: Malware file
%StartupFolder%\csrss.exe File name: %StartupFolder%\csrss.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
%StartMenu%\OpenCloud AV File name: %StartMenu%\OpenCloud AV
Group: Malware file
%StartMenu%\OpenCloud AV\OpenCloud AV.lnk File name: %StartMenu%\OpenCloud AV\OpenCloud AV.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%UserProfile%\Desktop\OpenCloud AV.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Desktop\OpenCloud AV.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer\Products\C0AB6693AB3202B4B9D95716ED5CE4A6\SourceListHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command "(Default)" = 'C:\Program Files\conhost.exe "%1" %*'

3 Comments

  • Michael B Boykin says:

    Id love to choke the lil basterds that came up with this... Hope i find them. I'll have my own fun with'em. Messed with the wrong poor person this time!

  • Joe says:

    The code did not work. Got a message that said it was invalid. I restarted my computer in SAFE mode, found the location of the file and deleted it. It took a while but I was able to get the Windows Firewall on again. However, I am still having trouble getting my virus software to work. I will be getting a new virus software as obviously 2012 Titanium Micro Internet Security that I recently purchased...sucks. Thanks for your help. Nice to have a second computer when the other one has a problem.

  • Mammoth Graveyard says:

    I accidentally went into yugioh.wikia.com and this open cloud AV started happening. I was actually looking for yugioh.wikia.org. Ackward, i think i should be more careful. Ok now it just sent me another message saying someone sent me an email with the subject f**k. You know what? I think id like to f**k these people too.

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