Windows Troublemakers Agent

Posted: March 10, 2011

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:	10/10
Infected PCs:	28

First Seen:	March 10, 2011
Last Seen:	January 8, 2020
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The hilariously accurately-named Windows Troublemakers Agent is a rogue security application that makes basic pretenses at being helpful when Windows Troublemakers Agent is actually attempting to defraud the user. Windows Troublemakers Agent usually infects new PCs by using a Trojan that imitates Windows errors and is identical to dozens of other rogue security applications delivered the same way. Symptoms of Windows Troublemakers Agent infection include crashing security and Windows maintenance programs, browser hijacks and unusual system alerts. Windows Troublemakers Agent will also try to frighten you into giving up your money by using scans that display fake infections. You should remove Windows Troublemakers Agent from your system through devoted anti-malware programs rather than go along with Windows Troublemakers Agent's scheme.

Why You Shouldn't Trust Every Time You See the 'Microsoft's Name

Just like the countless rogue security programs that came before it, Windows Troublemakers Agent uses a fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert Malware for propagation. This Trojan will try to get onto your computer secretly through drive-by downloads or by being bundled with other files on P2P networks and free software websites. The first sign of this Trojan is the below message:

Microsoft Security Essentials Alert
Potential Threat Details
Microsoft Security Essentials detected potential threats that might compromise your private or damage your computer. Your access to these items may be suspended until you take an action. Click 'show details' to learn more.

Don't believe it when the Trojan starts telling you that there's a Trojan.Horse.Win32.PAV.64.a infection on your computer; this alert is false and just an excuse to get malware dropped onto your PC. Remember that Microsoft will never ask you to download anti-malware products other than the standard Malicious Software Removal Tool that's available through the Windows Update interface!

After a reboot, unfortunate victims will find Windows Troublemakers Agent or another rogue anti-virus application burrowed deeply into the Windows Registry and as much as part of the startup process as the OS itself. Windows Troublemakers Agent usually opens up with an insistent scan request, but Windows Troublemakers Alerts scans always offer bad malware-full results, so you should skip past the event if it's possible.

Windows Troublemakers Agent is a Truly a Troublemaker's Little Helper

Windows Troublemakers Agent is an awful thing to have on your computer for the following reasons, common to rogue security products like Windows Troublemakers Agent but none the less damaging for their commonality:

Windows Troublemakers Agent can block programs, and is highly likely to prevent anti-malware programs and some Windows default applications from running. This may be covered up by a fake error message like this one:
Warning!
Name: [application executable name]
Name: [application executable 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.
Rogue anti-virus applications like Windows Troublemakers Agent will also create error messages without any prompting on your part. Standard errors used by all rogue security products from the same template include warnings about Registry modifications and threats of lsass.exe corruption.
Windows Troublemakers Agent will redirect you to Windows Troublemakers Agent's own malicious website for the purposes of stealing money and personal information. These redirects may be included in warnings or scan results but are just as likely to be embedded in your browser through proxy server exploitation. Misuse of proxy server settings also allows Windows Troublemakers Agent to change your search results and block helpful websites.

You should definitely delete Windows Troublemakers Agent if you want to have a safe PC again, but this is an arduous task based on accompanying infections and Registry alterations. Save removing Windows Troublemakers Agent for the anti-malware programs you trust, and use Safe Mode to stop any potential wrenches from being thrown in the gears.

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%\Microsoft\vygrvs.exe

File name: vygrvs.exe
Size: 2.65 MB (2659840 bytes)
MD5: ba4a48eec44853150bf49c1ce966ac27
Detection count: 52
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Path: %AppData%\Microsoft
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 8, 2020