Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen

Posted: April 12, 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.

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% 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:	18

First Seen:	April 12, 2012
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen is an alias for the Downadup worm, which is also known by the appellations Kido and Conficker. Like many other worms, Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen uses stealthy techniques to spread throughout local networks and through removable drive devices, which can allow Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen to spread to closely-associated computers rapidly if proper security procedures aren't in place. However, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers are even more worried about the rest of Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen's payload, which involves security-attacking risks that hijack your web browser, disable your ability to view Hidden files, disable anti-malware products, shut down the Windows Update service and even modifies System Restore point to make it ineffectual. While Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen has been in circulation for several years, recent reports have indicated that Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen is still one of the most thoroughly propagated types of PC threats as of March 2012, and it's encouraged for you to take appropriate safeguards specifically to protect your computer from Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen.

Why an Up-to-Date PC Means a PC without Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen

Although Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen is a recently distributed worm that's high on watch lists for attentive PC security companies, Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen's main propagation methods continue to use outdated exploits. This Windows-specific exploit, a svchost.exe vulnerability that allows Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen to execute remote code as long as file sharing is enabled, has since been patched, and SpywareRemove.com malware research team recommends that you install the relevant 'critical' patch for Windows if you haven't acquired it already. If you fail to take this safety measure, Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen may exploit your PC and turn it into another distribution point via the following methods:

Distributing itself through local networks to another PC that shares the same network connection.
Spreading through USB devices that are shared with multiple computers.
Spreading through Windows administrator accounts that are protected with weak passwords (Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen is coded to make account-cracking attempts with various types of passwords, including '123,' 'admin1' and 'Password,' for example).

Why Avoiding Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen is Much Simpler Than Deleting Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen

Although Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen can be used to download and install other PC threats, Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen's main claim to notoriety lies in the depth and breadth of its security-reducing attacks. Some Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen symptoms that SpywareRemove.com malware researchers have ranked high in importance include:

Windows settings that are changed to make hidden-flagged files undetectable.
Browser hijacks that block PC security websites or file downloads (based on the text strings, for example, Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen will try to block sites that reference popular anti-malware brands).
Disabled Windows utilities, including Windows Update and the Windows Error Reporting Service.
Disabled anti-malware and security programs (using the same strings-based method that Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen uses to block websites).

Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen's file name is semi-randomized and Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen will attempt to conceal itself, both with the methodology noted above as well as by selecting sensitive locations (such as your Windows folder). Taken together, these facts cause SpywareRemove.com malware experts to recommend only competent anti-malware software for removing Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen. Determined by the type of program that you use to detect Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen, Worm.Win32.Downad.Gen may also be identified by another alias, such as Worm:W32/Downadup.gen!A, W32.Downadup.B, W32/Conficker.worm.gen.a, Mal/Conficker-A, Net-Worm.Win32.Kido.ih or Worm:Win32/Conficker.B.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

psirsoor.com