Windows Work Catalyst

Posted: May 13, 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:	55

First Seen:	June 8, 2011
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Like most rogue security programs, Windows Work Catalyst will attack your PC with fake infection pop-ups and other system threat alerts while pretending to be a good anti-virus program. New infections of Windows Work Catalyst are primarily spread through a Trojan that imitates a Microsoft Security Essentials Alert. Infections by Windows Work Catalyst can coincide with other attacks like disrupted application use or browser hijacks that redirect you to malicious websites. Because of these threats to your PC security, it's strongly urged that you remove Windows Work Catalyst through the use of Safe Mode and a good anti-malware program.

The Trojan Catalyst for Windows Work Catalyst

Windows Work Catalyst is delivered by the hard-working Fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert, which spreads many different types of rogue security programs, most of them related to Windows Work Catalyst in one way or another. Some other related threats that belong to the FakeVimes family and also infect computers through this method include 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 Fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert usually infects computers through malicious scripts that allow drive-by downloads to occur without any visible traces; after that, the Trojan will create a fake warning about a 'Win32/Trojan' infection. The Fake Microsoft Security Essentials Alert Trojan can choose many different rogue security programs to infect your computer, and one of the many possibilities is Windows Work Catalyst.

After Windows Work Catalyst is installed, your PC will reboot. This is to give Windows Work Catalyst the chance to start up with Windows – which, thanks to some Windows Registry alterations, Windows Work Catalyst will do every single time by default.

Windows Work Catalyst's Triple Threat to Your Computer

After launching, Windows Work Catalyst will pretend to scan your system and find large amounts of infections that aren't actually on your hard drive. Windows Work Catalyst will bundle this threat with various pop-ups that may show text like the following:

System Security Warning
Attempt to modify register key entries is detected. Register entries analysis is recommended.

Warning! Running trial version!
The security of your computer has been compromised!
Now running trial version of the software!
Click here to purchase the full version of the software and get full protection for your PC!

Warning! Database update failed!
Database update failed!
Outdated viruses databases are not effective and can't [sic] guarantee adequate protection and security for your PC!
Click here to get the full version of the product and update the database!

Warning!
Name: [application file name]
Name: [application 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.

Fortunately, these pop-ups are fake and don't indicate any real problems with your PC. Unfortunately, Windows Work Catalyst will also cause some problems of Windows Work Catalyst's own by attempting to hijack your web browser and prevent you from using a number of different applications. You may see fake messages that tell you that basic security or Windows maintenance programs are infected, or browser-based errors that stop you from visiting certain websites.

You can stop Windows Work Catalyst from interfering with your PC by using a Safe Mode, a non-Windows OS, or a Windows OS loaded from a CD or other removable storage device. This will let you run any of the anti-malware applications required to get rid of Windows Work Catalyst and get back to a secure computer environment.

File System Modifications

The following files were created in the system:

# File Name

1 %AppData%\Microsoft\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe

#	File Name
1	%AppData%\Microsoft\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:
HKEY..\..\..\..{Subkeys}HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell "%AppData%\Microsoft\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe"