Rootkit.0access.H

Posted: March 7, 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:	40

First Seen:	March 7, 2012
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Rootkit.0access.H is an upgraded variant of the prolific ZeroAccess rootkit, a multi-component rootkit that modifies the victim's online searches to produce fraudulent Pay-Per-Click revenue. Because Rootkit.0access.H has been modified to enhance its ability to stay away from detection and removal, SpywareRemove.com malware analysts emphasize the importance of updating your anti-malware software so that it can find and remove Rootkit.0access.H and related PC threats. Other symptoms of a Rootkit.0access.H infection can include Blue Screens of Death, malfunctioning security applications and the presence of other forms of malicious software, such as Alureon Trojans. You should always consider Rootkit.0access.H a high-level danger to your PC and remove it with qualified anti-malware products, since Rootkit.0access.H has been known to avoid deletion by built-in security features like System Restore.

Getting to the Root of Problems with Rootkit.0access.H

Rootkit.0access.H doesn't have any benevolent functions for your PC and, like ZeroAccess, may be installed via drive-by-download exploits or by Trojans like Zlob. It's unlikely that you'll be able to see any signs of Rootkit.0access.H's initial installation, which lacks visible symptoms; although Rootkit.0access.H will make its presence more obvious than this once, Rootkit.0access.H begins its various attacks. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers have noted the following hostile functions, in rough order of visibility, that can originate from Rootkit.0access.H:

Browser hijacks that redirect your web searches and send you to unrelated and potentially harmful sites. Rootkit.0access.H's predecessor, ZeroAccess, uses these attacks for click-based revenue, although Rootkit.0access.H may also exploit them for other purposes.
Problems with your anti-malware and security programs that prevent you from scanning your PC or removing Rootkit.0access.H.
Windows's own (and very distinctive) blue error screen (AKA the 'Blue Screen of Death' or BSOD), which is likely to appear after an incomplete attempt to delete Rootkit.0access.H.
You may also notice unusual expenditure of system resources or a slowdown of Windows due to Rootkit.0access.H's activities.

Prying Up Rootkit.0access.H and Everything That's Attached to It

As an unpleasantly improved version of the ZeroAccess rootkit, Rootkit.0access.H is even more difficult to remove than a typical rootkit, and SpywareRemove.com malware experts have noted its ability to restore itself after a System Restore rollback. Rootkit.0access.H may also be stay active after a Safe Mode boot, and exceptional measures (such as launching Windows from an external drive) may be required to insure an ideal environment for Rootkit.0access.H's removal. Rootkit.0access.H also conceals many of its components in locations that are considered system critical by many types of anti-malware scanners, which makes it even more necessary than usual to update your security software, if updates are available.

Last of all, SpywareRemove.com malware research team warns Rootkit.0access.H may come with a small host of other PC threats that are installed with Rootkit.0access.H or by Rootkit.0access.H. PC threats that have been known to be linked to Rootkit.0access.H include Trojan:Win32/Alureon.FA, Trojan:Win32/Alureon.gen!G, Trojan:Win32/Alureon.EN, Trojan:WinNT/Alureon.AA, Trojan:Win64/Alureon.gen!I, TrojanDownloader:Java/OpenConnection.PK, TrojanDownloader:Java/OpenConnection.PI and TrojanDownloader:Java/OpenConnection.PH.

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:

%WINDOWS%\system32\avidstartup.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\avidstartup.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\System32\lxbu_device.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\System32\lxbu_device.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\system32\NCUSBw32.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\NCUSBw32.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\system32\amdk8.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\amdk8.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\system32\[RANDOM].dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\[RANDOM].dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\system32\p1131vid.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\p1131vid.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\system32\mail2ec.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\mail2ec.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\system32\o2flash.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\o2flash.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\system32\wdica.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\wdica.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\system32\tb2launch.dll

File name: %WINDOWS%\system32\tb2launch.dll
File type: Dynamic link library
Mime Type: unknown/dll
Group: Malware file

%WINDOWS%\ystem32\drivers\[RANDOM].sys

File name: %WINDOWS%\ystem32\drivers\[RANDOM].sys
File type: System file
Mime Type: unknown/sys
Group: Malware file

%Temp%\[RANDOM]

File name: %Temp%\[RANDOM]
Group: Malware file

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Use FormSuggest" = 'Yes'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "WarnonBadCertRecving" = '0'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "CertificateRevocation" = '0'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer "NoDesktop" = '1'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop "NoChangingWallPaper" = '1'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;.scr;'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments "SaveZoneInformation" = '1'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = '1'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced "Hidden" = '0'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced "ShowSuperHidden" = '0'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download "CheckExeSignatures" = 'no'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "DisableTaskMgr" = '1'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\..{RunKeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "[RANDOM].exe"