TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN

Posted: December 11, 2012

Threat Metric

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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.

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% 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:	9/10
Infected PCs:	33

First Seen:	December 11, 2012
Last Seen:	June 7, 2021
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN is a malicious RTF file that abuses a Microsoft Office vulnerability to install a backdoor Trojan (a Trojan that compromises your PC's security to allow criminals to induce other attacks). SpywareRemove.com malware researchers have identified TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN's main infection vector as a series of malicious e-mail messages that purport to be invitations to a Christmas office party. Although the accompanying file, TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN, does display a text document, TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN also installs malicious software without any symptoms or your consent. In the event that the standard e-mail security measures fail to protect your PC, you should use anti-malware programs as appropriate to remove TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN's payload, which is proficient enough to cause significant harm to your computer.

Don't Accept TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN's Invitation to Computer Infection

Criminals who distribute malware usually are more than happy to jump on any holiday as an excuse to release specially-crafted distribution methods, and TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN is one sample of what's awaiting PC users in their e-mail boxes this Christmas. E-mail spam that carry TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN will portray themselves as messages regarding upcoming office parties, but the enclosed 'text document,' TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN, also uses the CVE-2012-0158 vulnerability to install BKDR_GAMFRIC.A.

BKDR_GAMFRIC.A has the basic feature set of a typical backdoor Trojan, including code-injection into unrelated memory processes, information-harvesting capabilities, malware download/installation attacks and the ability to modify your browser's web content. Amongst its other functions, BKDR_GAMFRIC.A also is able to gather information about your operating system, memory processes, networks and other general system data that could be used to launch other future attacks against your computer or those associated with BKDR_GAMFRIC.A.

In spite of the many functions at BKDR_GAMFRIC.A's disposal, there aren't any symptoms associated with these attacks. Additionally, once BKDR_GAMFRIC.A is opened, TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN will appear to be a normal text document without showing any signs of the vulnerability-exploitation and malware installation that's going on behind the scenes. This may leave victims unaware of any problems until they start experiencing the consequences of TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN's attacks.

Tearing Up TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN's Bad Party Invite

TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN and BKDR_GAMFRIC.A will not show obvious signs of their attacks, and SpywareRemove.com malware experts recommend that you use anti-malware scanners to detect either of them if you feel that it's possible that your PC has been compromised. Patching relevant software (such as Microsoft Office) also can be useful, as well as, of course, deleting spam e-mail messages instead of opening file attachments trustingly.

Because TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN's payload uses several methods (such as code injection) to hide itself, SpywareRemove.com malware analysts discourage any efforts to treat such infections without appropriate anti-malware programs. However, neither TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN nor BKDR_GAMFRIC.A have been found to be especially resistant to deletion from competent anti-malware products, and, as such, should be removed by such methods ASAP.

SpywareRemove.com malware experts have concluded that both BKDR_GAMFRIC.A and TROJ_ARTIEF.RTN are only able to attack Windows PCs. As usual, several versions of Windows, from old to new, are vulnerable to these attacks.

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:

PROPOSED CHRISTMAS PARTY 2012.doc

File name: PROPOSED CHRISTMAS PARTY 2012.doc
Mime Type: unknown/doc
Group: Malware file

temp.doc

File name: temp.doc
Mime Type: unknown/doc
Group: Malware file