Win32\ZAccess.EW

Posted: August 9, 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:	9/10
Infected PCs:	33

First Seen:	August 9, 2012
Last Seen:	April 19, 2022
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Win32\ZAccess.EW is a component of a ZeroAccess (also known as Sirefef or Max++) rootkit infection. Win32\ZAccess.EW attacks are often associated with disabled anti-malware programs and other forms of security hindrances, although the overall consequences of a ZeroAccess infection can extend to other issues – including the potential for irreparable damage to operating system files. Because SpywareRemove.com malware research team ranks most ZeroAccess-associated PC threats as potential high-level risks to your PC, Win32\ZAccess.EW should always be detected and deleted with haste and appropriate anti-malware applications. Symptoms of Win32\ZAccess.EW attacks are unlikely to be prominent and aren't guaranteed to be visible at all (other than as warnings from relevant security programs).

What Win32\ZAccess.EW's Trying to Access – and Why You Should Deny It

Under normal circumstances, Win32\ZAccess.EW is installed as one of multiple components in a ZeroAccess or Sirefef infection. Deleting Win32\ZAccess.EW without disabling and removing all related PC threats will prove to be ineffectual, since other components in a ZeroAccess infection will simply reintroduce Win32\ZAccess.EW's malicious code whenever its absence is detected. Because SpywareRemove.com malware experts have noted that Win32\ZAccess.EW displays traits indicative of injection into normal memory processes, you shouldn't expect to be able to identify Win32\ZAccess.EW as a separate memory process or file. Side effects of Win32\ZAccess.EW's behavior may cause anti-malware programs to alert you to Win32\ZAccess.EW attacks on a nigh-continuous basis.

Win32\ZAccess.EW has also, like other PC threats related to ZeroAccess rootkits, been linked to disrupted anti-malware and security programs. If you're unable to load your choice of anti-malware program to delete Win32\ZAccess.EW, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers suggest booting your PC from a USB flash drive. This may also be required before any functional brands of anti-malware scanners can detect all components of a ZeroAccess infection and remove them along with Win32\ZAccess.EW.

Turning Win32\ZAccess.EW into a Real Zero

Because other components of a ZeroAccess infection may create backdoor vulnerabilities, hijack your web browser, block unrelated applications or alter Windows settings without your consent, you should be prepare to do whatever is required to disinfect your PC after you've confirmed the presence of Win32\ZAccess.EW. Normally, disabling Win32\ZAccess.EW and related PC threats by the above method of system boot will allow your anti-malware programs to launch and delete all malicious software without further problems.

Win32\ZAccess.EW attacks are a recent phenomenon as of August 2012, and updates to your anti-malware programs may be necessary to guarantee accurate identification of a Win32\ZAccess.EW infection. Other components of a ZeroAccess infection, while older than Win32\ZAccess.EW, will also use rootkit techniques to conceal themselves and shouldn't be deleted by hand if other solutions are available.

Technical Details

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE/Classes/CLSID{89721a77-988b-43cb-81e4-89c101e44f15}InprocServer32