Windows Performance Adviser

Posted: April 24, 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:	51

First Seen:	April 24, 2012
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Windows Performance Adviser is a new version of scamware from the Win32/FakeVimes family. Because Windows Performance Adviser and its kin all copy the appearance of an outdated version of Windows Security Center, you may initially be fooled into thinking that they're anti-virus products, but SpywareRemove.com malware researchers have thoroughly confirmed that Windows Performance Adviser is a rogue AV program without any real security functions to offer. Like closely associated types of fake anti-virus applications, Windows Performance Adviser may even attack your real security features and programs by blocking application usage, redirecting your online searches and disabling various Windows security benefits. The strong probability of any of these attacks occurring necessitates Windows Performance Adviser's immediate removal with a real anti-malware scanner, even though you may also need to shut Windows Performance Adviser down before you can launch appropriate software.

Windows Performance Adviser – No Better an Advisory Than Any Wicked Chancellor of Myth

Windows Performance Adviser pretends to be an anti-virus scanner that also includes an entire smorgasbord of other functions for your computer's security, such as a memory processes monitor and an anti-phishing utility, but these functions are, at their core, entirely fake and can only harm your PC if you take their advice. Fraudulent security information from Windows Performance Adviser can include fake virus alerts, scanner results that display nonexistent infections, warnings about unauthorized network activity that isn't actually occurring and even fake threats about malicious scripts and other types of live attacks against your PC. Since this information isn't linked to your computer's real health or to reality in any way, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers strongly recommend that you do your best to ignore Windows Performance Adviser's pop-ups and other fake data.

The FakeVimes family is a group that also plays host to such members 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.

The entire purpose of this carefully orchestrated fraud is to encourage you to spend money on Windows Performance Adviser's registration key, which is entirely unnecessary. Not only is there a completely free version of Windows Performance Adviser's registration key available to register Windows Performance Adviser without cost (the code '0W000-000B0-00T00-E0020,' which is sometimes useful in the process of removing Windows Performance Adviser), but SpywareRemove.com malware analysts stress that even the purchased version of Windows Performance Adviser doesn't have any security benefits for your computer.

The Stumbling Blocks That Windows Performance Adviser Puts Between You and Its Deletion

Besides its fraudulent security functions, Windows Performance Adviser may also include other attacks that are typical to the FakeVimes group of rogue anti-virus scanners. SpywareRemove.com malware research team has found that these attacks are used to make it exceptionally difficult to delete Windows Performance Adviser, to make your PC more vulnerable to other attacks, and, upon occasion, to create extra profit via browser hijacks, as noted below:

Your online searches may be redirected to unusual search engines and potentially hostile sites. Because Windows Performance Adviser's browser hijacks utilize Hosts file changes, they can function effectively in any type of web browser.
Windows Performance Adviser may also disable User Access Control, a Windows feature that requests confirmation before unusual changes are made to your PC.
Windows Performance Adviser can alter the default Windows Firewall to allow Windows Performance Adviser to access the Internet for the purposes of sending and receiving data without your permission.
Most importantly, Windows Performance Adviser can disable various brands of Windows security products, as well as some types of other rogue AV applications. This final attack causes SpywareRemove.com malware experts to suggest disabling Windows Performance Adviser (with Safe Mode or other methods of your preference) before you delete Windows Performance Adviser, ideally with anti-malware software.

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-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe

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

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

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

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\{Value}HKEY_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\Internet Settings "WarnOnHTTPSToHTTPRedirect" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableRegedit" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings "UID" = "rudbxijemb"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings "ID" = 0HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Settings "net" = "2012-2-17_2"HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Inspector"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_ERROR_PAGE_BYPASS_ZONE_CHECK_FOR_HTTPS_KB954312HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\divx.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\mostat.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\_avp32.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\_avpcc.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ashDisp.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\zapsetup3001.exe HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\platin.exeHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\tapinstall.exe

Additional Information

The following messages's were detected:

#	Message
1	Error Attempt to modify Registry key entries detected. Registry entry analysis recommended.
2	Error Attempt to modify Registry key entries detected. Registry entry analysis recommended.
3	Error Keylogger activity detected. System information security is at risk. It is recommended to activate protection and run a full system scan.
4	Warning Firewall has blocked a program from accessing the Internet C:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe is suspected to have infected your PC. This type of virus intercepts entered data and transmits them to a remote server.
5	Warning Firewall has blocked a program from accessing the Internet C:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe is suspected to have infected your PC. This type of virus intercepts entered data and transmits them to a remote server.
6	Warning Firewall has blocked a program from accessing the Internet. Windows Media Player Resources C:\Windows\system32\dllcache\wmploc.dll C:\Windows\system32\dllcache\wmploc.dll is suspected to have infected your PC. This type of virus intercepts entered data and transmits them to a remote server.
7	Warning! Spambot detected! Attention! A spambot sending viruses from your e-mail has been detected on your PC.
8	Warning! Spambot detected! Attention! A spambot sending viruses from your e-mail has been detected on your PC.