WM97/ExeDrop-G

Posted: December 19, 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.

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:	8/10
Infected PCs:	21

First Seen:	December 19, 2012
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

WM97/ExeDrop-G is a malicious spreadsheet that uses a macro delivery system to install a Trojan, Troj/DwnLdr-KLI, onto your computer. WM97/ExeDrop-G is disguised as a fully-functional Sudoku generator that must have macros enabled to function, which makes victims vulnerable to WM97/ExeDrop-G's attack without ever letting them know of what WM97/ExeDrop-G is doing while they're adding numbers to a Sudoku grid. The resulting attack gathers information about your PC that's most likely exploited in other attacks that are coordinated through a remote server. Since there are plentiful sources of malware-free Sudoku puzzles for mathematical enthusiasts to enjoy, SpywareRemove.com malware analysts recommend that WM97/ExeDrop-G and Troj/DwnLdr-KLI be deleted with appropriate anti-malware software ASAP.

How WM97/ExeDrop-G Uses a Game to Hide Incoming Pain

WM97/ExeDrop-G is a simple but effective Trojan dropper that makes used to Windows Office features (as opposed to unintentional vulnerabilities) to install a second Trojan onto your PC. WM97/ExeDrop-G's macro-based method of attacking your computer is one that has a history of popular usage against Windows PCs – up until the time that Windows disabled Office macros by default. However, SpywareRemove.com malware experts stress that any PC users who intentionally enable macros are vulnerable to WM97/ExeDrop-G's payload.

Even though most Trojans are happy to pretend to be a different type of program in a superficial fashion, WM97/ExeDrop-G is a completely functional Sudoku program that generates Sudoku fields in the Microsoft Excel program. However, to enable this content, you also have to enable the macro feature – which allows WM97/ExeDrop-G the opportunity WM97/ExeDrop-G needs to install Troj/DwnLdr-KLI. This attack doesn't show symptoms or impede the functionality of the Sudoku feature, which causes SpywareRemove.com malware researchers to emphasize the importance of having automated anti-malware security whenever you're interacting with EXE files from suspicious sources.

What Happens When WM97/ExeDrop-G Gets the Drop on You

WM97/ExeDrop-G's part on this sordid cyber attack ends with the installation of Troj/DwnLdr-KLI, but while you're busy being distracted by Sudoku, Troj/DwnLdr-KLI continues its own attacks. Troj/DwnLdr-KLI gathers basic system information (such as which programs you have on your PC and what operating system is installed) that's transmitted to a remote address. This vulnerability can be used to launch additional attacks on your PC, of which SpywareRemove.com malware experts consider theft of private information and the installation of other malware to be the most probable consequences.

Troj/DwnLdr-KLI, in a philosophical split from its Trojan dropper WM97/ExeDrop-G, is designed to conceal itself and will not show any indications of its attacks. To remove WM97/ExeDrop-G and Troj/DwnLdr-KLI both, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend using suitable anti-malware programs that can identify all of the nuances that are associated with the attack. The faster you can peel your eyes away from mathematical gaming to do this, the less chance Troj/DwnLdr-KLI has of harming your PC.

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:

Will the world end in 2012.msg

File name: Will the world end in 2012.msg
Size: 4.16 MB (4166656 bytes)
MD5: fffd66c0983950ba6c866f446924b587
Detection count: 34
Mime Type: unknown/msg
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 7, 2013

Will the World End in 2012.pps

File name: Will the World End in 2012.pps
Size: 4.04 MB (4048896 bytes)
MD5: 7df5da710c7f9a3533350fa331908494
Detection count: 32
Mime Type: unknown/pps
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: January 7, 2013