Home Malware Programs Rogue Anti-Spyware Programs Windows Protection Master

Windows Protection Master

Posted: February 12, 2012

Threat Metric

Threat Level: 10/10
Infected PCs: 40
First Seen: February 12, 2012
Last Seen: January 8, 2020
OS(es) Affected: Windows

Windows Protection Master Screenshot 1Windows Protection Master holds membership in a broad group of fake anti-malware and debugging scanners that imitate Microsoft Security Essentials by providing fraudulent error reports. These reports are delivered as a way to scam victims into spending money on Windows Protection Master's complete version to fix nonexistent issues and should always be disregarded as irrelevant and deceptive in nature. Because rogue debuggers from Windows Protection Master's family have been noted for their ability to disable many types of security and system analysis applications, SpywareRemove.com malware research team recommends that you treat Windows Protection Master as a severe threat to your computer's security until you've removed all of Windows Protection Master's components, ideally with a competent anti-malware scanner.

Windows Protection Master: Scamware That's Protective Only for Itself

Windows Protection Master was first noted by many PC security companies in February of 2012, although Windows Protection Master's family has been in existence since early 2011. Some of the many clones from the same family as Windows Protection Master include 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. These applications use a combination of fake percentile-based ratings of your computer's safety and a feature set that imitates the appearance of the look of Microsoft Security Essentials to make you think that nonexistent attacks against your PC are occurring on an ongoing basis.

However, SpywareRemove.com malware analysts stress that Windows Protection Master, like other products from the FakeVimes group, isn't able to detect or eliminate real problems with your PC. Hence, if you see warning messages that resemble the following samples, you should ignore them as fraudulent examples of Windows Protection Master's scam:

System Security Warning
Attempt to modify register key entries is detected. Register entries analysis is recommended.

Warning!
Location: [Application file path]
Viruses: Backdoor.Win32.Rbot

Warning!
Name: [Application file name]
Name: [Application file path]
Application that seems to be a key-logger is detected. System information security is at risk. It is recommended to enable the security mode and run total System scanning.

Warning! Database update failed!
Database update failed!
Outdated viruses databases are not effective and can't [sic] guarantee adequate protection and security for your PC!
Click here to get the full version of the product and update the database!

Mastering a Defense Against Windows Protection Master's Attacks

Windows Protection Master and similar PC threats have also received attention for their ability to detect and close processes that they deem to be undesirable; in most cases, such processes are noted to be related to system security, analysis or the removal of malicious software like Windows Protection Master. SpywareRemove.com malware research team has found that some of the programs that Windows Protection Master may close include:

  • Windows monitoring tools like Task Manager that could detect or close malicious processes like Windows Protection Master's own memory process
  • Registry tools like the Registry Editor that could be used to remove Windows Protection Master's automatic startup entries.
  • Torrent and other types of mass-downloading applications.
  • Webcam utilities.
  • Photoshop-related applications and other types of Adobe programs.
  • Certain types of e-mail clients, including Outlook.
  • Some web browsers (such as Opera).
  • Popular brands of instant messaging clients.
  • Script packages such as Flash and Java.
  • Google-brand products.
  • iTunes.

Because Windows Protection Master may enumerate your memory processes on a constant basis, Windows Protection Master may also use up excessive system resources and cause performance issues. Nonetheless, although Windows Protection Master and its clones are able to attack a wide range of applications, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers also note that Windows Protection Master hasn't been found to attack most types of anti-malware scanners. Thus, a competent anti-malware program should be able to delete Windows Protection Master without encountering issues.

Windows Protection Master Screenshot 2Windows Protection Master Screenshot 3Windows Protection Master Screenshot 4Windows Protection Master Screenshot 5Windows Protection Master Screenshot 6Windows Protection Master Screenshot 7Windows Protection Master Screenshot 8Windows Protection Master Screenshot 9Windows Protection Master Screenshot 10Windows Protection Master Screenshot 11

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%\Inspector-svo.exe File name: Inspector-svo.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1985024 bytes)
MD5: 456d83a75d1e96a3787c0d92f10622c3
Detection count: 93
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 14, 2012
%APPDATA%\Inspector-cux.exe File name: Inspector-cux.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1985024 bytes)
MD5: de46e3c96422246c44304996eb4d80ed
Detection count: 73
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 14, 2012
%APPDATA%\Inspector-lbe.exe File name: Inspector-lbe.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1988096 bytes)
MD5: 4941fcc45213c87accaddb8303d66d0f
Detection count: 59
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 14, 2012
%APPDATA%\Inspector-trb.exe File name: Inspector-trb.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1989632 bytes)
MD5: 65126d03bfb1e03822330f5178ccafc3
Detection count: 11
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: February 14, 2012
%APPDATA%\Inspector-mhk.exe File name: Inspector-mhk.exe
Size: 1.98 MB (1989632 bytes)
MD5: 3a72fd214b076f343167b45633347061
Detection count: 5
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %APPDATA%
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 8, 2020
[RANDOM].exe File name: [RANDOM].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Protection Master\Windows Protection Master.lnk File name: %AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Protection Master\Windows Protection Master.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%AppData%\Inspector-[random three characters].exe File name: %AppData%\Inspector-[random three characters].exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
%AppData%\NPSWF32.dl File name: %AppData%\NPSWF32.dl
Mime Type: unknown/dl
Group: Malware file
%AppData%\result.db File name: %AppData%\result.db
Mime Type: unknown/db
Group: Malware file
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Windows Protection Master.lnk File name: %UserProfile%\Desktop\Windows Protection Master.lnk
File type: Shortcut
Mime Type: unknown/lnk
Group: Malware file
%StartMenu%\Programs\Windows Protection Master.lnk File name: %StartMenu%\Programs\Windows Protection Master.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\Windows Protection MasterHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "WarnOnHTTPSToHTTPRedirect" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableRegedit" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableRegistryTools" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Inspector"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\adaware.exe "Debugger"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\belt.exe "Debugger"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\deputy.exe "Debugger"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..{Uninstaller}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\[RANDOM]_is1
Loading...