Windows PRO Scanner

Posted: February 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:	10/10
Infected PCs:	72

First Seen:	February 26, 2012
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Windows PRO Scanner is a variant of other versions of rogue anti-malware programs from the recently-defined FakeVimes family, and like its relatives, pretends to be a useful anti-malware application while avoiding possession of any real security features. SpywareRemove.com malware analysts have also found that Windows PRO Scanner infections are likely to include other types of ill effects on your computer that can range from browser redirect attacks to blocked applications. Since all information that Windows PRO Scanner dishes up is fake and only intended to make you spend money on its nonexistent security functions, it's recommended that you identify and ignore Windows PRO Scanner warning messages in the process of removing Windows PRO Scanner completely from your PC, preferably via legitimate anti-malware software.

A Quick Glance to Show How Empty Windows PRO Scanner's Promises of Safety Really Are

Windows PRO Scanner uses a Windows-friendly interface that tries to lull you into believing that Windows PRO Scanner can find or remove malicious software, but SpywareRemove.com malware experts have found that is only able to provide inaccurate information that isn't linked to genuine analyses of your PC. This is par for course with other members of the Rogue.VirusDoctor family that are identical to Windows PRO Scanner, such as 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. In all cases, you should ignore error messages, popups and other alerts coming from Windows PRO Scanner, which are just some of the fraudulent messages that Windows PRO Scanner may send your way:

Windows PRO Scanner will also attempt to create equally-fake system scans while it's active, which will be frequently due to Windows PRO Scanner's hooking its startup routine into that of Windows. This trait of Windows PRO Scanner is coordinated by Registry alterations that should be removed by security software or a suitably accomplished PC security expert, since improper changes to the Registry can cause further harm to your PC besides Windows PRO Scanner's own damage.

Side Effects That You May Not Know Are All Part of Windows PRO Scanner's Scam

Besides its typical fake security functions, Windows PRO Scanner and similar PC threats are also guilty of functions that skirt around your real security software, make web-browsing unsafe and even seek to control which programs you use on your own PC. SpywareRemove.com malware research team warns against the following intrusions alongside any Windows PRO Scanner infection:

Browser redirect attacks that force your browser to load Windows PRO Scanner's site or block anti-malware websites.
Unrelated applications being blocked, frequently with fake error messages about damage, corruption or infection.
A fake Windows PRO Scanner security window that replaces normal Windows utilities like the Registry Editor and Task Manager.

Since these attacks may make it difficult to delete Windows PRO Scanner appropriately, SpywareRemove.com malware experts recommend that you shut down Windows PRO Scanner by starting Windows in Safe Mode or booting from a removable drive device. This will let you scan your PC without Windows PRO Scanner being launched in the first place.

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%\Protector-smt.exe

File name: Protector-smt.exe
Size: 2.03 MB (2034176 bytes)
MD5: 163a2ae96f037d4ac9c42902bb930b2a
Detection count: 64
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 27, 2012

%AppData%\Protector-[RANDOM 3 CHARACTERS].exe

File name: %AppData%\Protector-[RANDOM 3 CHARACTERS].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

%AppData%\result.db

File name: %AppData%\result.db
Mime Type: unknown/db
Group: Malware file

%StartMenu%\Programs\Windows PRO Scanner.lnk

File name: %StartMenu%\Programs\Windows PRO Scanner.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

%Desktop%\Windows PRO Scanner.lnk

File name: %Desktop%\Windows PRO Scanner.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableRegedit" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableRegistryTools" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "WarnOnHTTPSToHTTPRedirect" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings "net" = 2012-2-25_1HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\_avp32.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\vir-help.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\rav7.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\beagle.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\jedi.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ashLogV.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\msa.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ntvdm.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\spoler.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\wupdt.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\..{RunKeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Inspector"

Additional Information

The following messages's were detected:

#	Message
1	Error Attempt to run a potentially dangerous script detected. Full system is highly recommended.
2	Error Software without a digital signature detected. Your system files are at risk. We strongly advise you to activate your protection.
3	Warning! Virus Detected Threat detected: FTP Server Infected file: C:\Windows\System32\dllcache\wmploc.dll