Windows Active Defender Description

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A large number of fake security programs in the FakeVimes family are wreaking havoc on computer systems all around the world. Windows Active Defender is one of the many bogus security applications belonging to this recent batch of malware in the FakeVimes family. Unlike previous versions of malware in this family, Windows Active Defender and its clones have been known to include malicious components that make them a considerable threat to an infected computer system.

Why Windows Active Defender is More Dangerous than Previous FakeVimes Malware

Since this family of malware has been around since 2009, most legitimate security programs have few problems removing a FakeVimes-related malware infection. However, Windows Active Defender and other fake security programs in this family released in 2012 will include a rootkit component that greatly interferes with removal. This rootkit component, a variant of the Sirefef or ZeroAccess family of rootkits will often require a specialized anti-rootkit tool or an advanced anti-malware program with anti-rootkit technology. Examples of malware in the FakeVimes family belonging to the same nasty batch as Windows Active Defender include fake security programs like Windows Trojans Inspector, Windows Malware Firewall and Windows Instant Scanner.

Protecting Yourself from the Windows Active Defender Scam

The rogue security software scam is one of the most common online scams and has been around for several years. Windows Active Defender carries out a typical version of this con. Basically, Windows Active Defender will claim that your computer is severely infected with malware. Windows Active Defender is disguised as a legitimate security program and, among its many tactics, Windows Active Defender will display fake system scans and a large number of error messages urging the victim to fix these nonexistent problems. However, if you try to fix any of these supposed infections on your computer system, Windows Active Defender will claim that you need to upgrade to an expensive ‘full version’ of this fake security application. Of course, since Windows Active Defender has absolutely no way of removing malware and is part of a malware attack itself, ESG security analysts definitely advise against paying for this bogus security program.

The registration code 0W000-000B0-00T00-E0020 has been proven effective as a way of stopping error messages and other symptoms associated with malware in the FakeVimes family of malware. However, this code will not remove a Windows Active Defender infection from your computer. To do that, you will still need to use a reliable anti-malware program.

Type: Rogue AntiSpyware Programs

How Can You Detect Windows Active Defender?

‘How Windows Active Defender Infects Your Computer’ Video

Windows Active Defender Removal Details

Windows Active Defender has typically the following processes in memory:

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

Windows Active Defender creates the following registry entries:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\About.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\ackwin32.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\agent.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AlphaAV\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\alogserv.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AAWTray.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\aAvgApi.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AdwarePrj.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\advxdwin.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\alevir.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\alertsvc.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Inspector = %AppData%\Protector-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\a.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\Ad-Aware.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\agentsvr.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\AlphaAV.exe\Debugger = svchost.exe
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\agentw.exe\”Debugger” = “svchost.exe”

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