Home Malware Programs Rogue Anti-Spyware Programs Windows Active HotSpot

Windows Active HotSpot

Posted: December 2, 2013

Threat Metric

Threat Level: 10/10
Infected PCs: 37
First Seen: December 2, 2013
Last Seen: January 8, 2020
OS(es) Affected: Windows

Windows Active HotSpot Screenshot 1Windows Active HotSpot is one of the newer rogue anti-malware scanners based on templates currently in use by the FakeVimes family. Although its identifying features are considered to be its fake system scans and equally inaccurate pop-up alerts that encourage you to spend money on registration, Windows Active HotSpot's most unreliable functions are related to blocking other applications and downgrading your browser's security settings. Despite its appearance of being a useful security product, malware experts consider Windows Active HotSpot a high-level threat to your computer's safety, and encourage the use of any necessary software or anti-malware strategies for removing Windows Active HotSpot immediately.

A Hotspot for Security Attacks Disguised as Security

With a new name for an old PC security hoax, Windows Active HotSpot acts as if Windows Active HotSpot is a completely separate product from the previous scamware Windows Active HotSpot is cloned from, but has no real major deviations from its all-too-numerous ancestors. Others based on the same family design include, among others Privacy Guard Pro, PrivacyGuard Pro 2.0, Extra Antivirus, Fast Antivirus 2009, Presto TuneUp, Windows Security Suite, Smart Virus Eliminator, Packed.Generic.245, Volcano Security Suite, Windows Enterprise Suite, Enterprise Suite, Additional Guard, Live PC Care, PC Live Guard, Live Enterprise Suite, Security Antivirus, My Security Wall, CleanUp Antivirus and Smart Security. Windows Active HotSpot and its relatives often are installed by specialized Trojan downloaders which may be distributed through compromised advertisement networks and toxic/hacked websites.

Unlike some payloads of Trojans, Windows Active HotSpot actually is quite simple to identify once Windows Active HotSpot is installed. Side effects that malware researchers consider being worth a warning about include:

  • Recurring fraudulent pop-ups for system updates, memory access errors, warnings about Trojan infections and other alerts.
  • Changes to Internet Explorer's settings that enable attacks to compromise your PC more easily than normal. In particular, IE may be allowed to load potentially unsafe EXE files without showing the standard warning prompt.
  • Search engine, homepage and error page hijacks that redirect you to Web pages promoting Windows Active HotSpot.
  • Other applications being blocked by Windows Active HotSpot. Default Windows security programs are more likely to be included in Windows Active HotSpot's blacklist than most software.

Deactivating a Hotspot Before It Burns Your PC

Windows Active HotSpot may be careful to keep its appearance conformed to the norms of a theoretical anti-malware scanner, but its functions clearly are more of a danger than a help to your computer. Based on past encounters with this family, malware experts especially would suggest avoiding unsafe download sources – such as advertisements prompting you to scan your computer with their recommended software – and using strong browser settings to prevent Windows Active HotSpot infections ever from occurring. Most rogue anti-malware products may use social engineering in their infection vectors to encourage you to install the payload intentionally, and have been known to disguise themselves as generic updates.

Windows Active HotSpot is harmful software that will do its level best to stop you from uninstalling Windows Active HotSpot, including blocking major security programs like Windows Defender. The most direct way to remove Windows Active HotSpot without running into this problem is to switch your PC to Safe Mode (or use alternative methods of disabling threats), followed by initiating a detailed anti-malware scan. This is important both for deleting Windows Active HotSpot and other threats that also may have been installed by the same method.

Windows Active HotSpot Screenshot 2Windows Active HotSpot Screenshot 3Windows Active HotSpot Screenshot 4Windows Active HotSpot Screenshot 5Windows Active HotSpot Screenshot 6Windows Active HotSpot Screenshot 7

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%\guard-xoin.exe File name: guard-xoin.exe
Size: 1.08 MB (1084272 bytes)
MD5: a4b7982a80cba4da8bc7bf69bc70deff
Detection count: 5
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 8, 2020
%AppData%\result1.db File name: %AppData%\result1.db
Mime Type: unknown/db
Group: Malware file
%AppData%\guard-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe File name: %AppData%\guard-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon "Shell"="C:\\Users\\User\\AppData\\Roaming\\guard-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "GuardSoftware" = "%AppData%\guard-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations "LowRiskFileTypes"=".zip;.rar;.nfo;.txt;.exe;.bat;.com;.cmd;.reg;.msi;.htm;.html;.gif;.bmp;.jpg;.avi;.mpg;.mpeg;.mov;.mp3;.m3u;.wav;"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments "SaveZoneInformation"=1HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msmpeng.exe "Debugger"="svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msseces.exe "Debugger"="svchost.exe"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "EnableLUA" = "0"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "ConsentPromptBehaviorUser" = "0"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin" = "0"HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings

Additional Information

The following messages's were detected:
# Message
1Error
Attempt to run a potentially dangerous script detected.
Full system scan is highly recommended.
2Error
System data security is at risk!
To prevent potential PC errors, run a full system scan.
3Firewall has blocked a program from accessing the Internet
c:\windows\system32\iexplore.exe
is suspected to have infected your PC.
This type of virus intercepts entered data and transmits them to a remote server.
4Warning! Identity theft attempt detected
Hidden connection IP: xx.xxx.xxx.xxx
Target: Microsoft Corporation keys
Your IP: 127.0.0.1

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