Windows Smart Warden
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Ranking: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
Threat Level: | 100 % (High) |
Infected Computers: | 6 |
First Seen: | February 20, 2012 |
OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
Although Windows Smart Warden pretends to be a legitimate security program, Windows Smart Warden belongs to a large family of fake security applications known as the FakePAV family of malware. Windows Smart Warden is designed to imitate the GUI (Graphic User Interface) of Microsoft Security Essentials. It is essential to understand that the resemblance between Windows Smart Warden and legitimate security programs like Microsoft Security Essentials is merely superficial. Underneath its authentic-looking interface, Windows Smart Warden is little more than a collection of malicious scripts and Trojans that make a coordinated attack on your computer system. The objective of a Windows Smart Warden attack is to convince its victim to purchase fake security programs in order to fix problems that are actually caused by Windows Smart Warden.
ESG security researchers recommend the use of an up-to-date anti-malware application to carry out an automatic removal of this malware threat. Usually, a computer system infected with Windows Smart Warden will have become infected with various other malware threats, including the Trojans used to deliver Windows Smart Warden itself (which will probably have been accompanied with other malware threats). While the FakeVimes family of rogue anti-malware programs can be distributed through any channels that would typically be used to deliver Trojans, these tend to be distributed using fake video codecs or media applications often found on pornographic websites or bundled along with popular movies or TV shows on file sharing websites.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Windows Smart Warden Scam
Windows Smart Warden has dozens of clones, all of which use the same scam in order to attempt to steal their victim's money. Some examples of rogue anti-virus programs that are clones of Windows Smart Warden include Virus Melt, Presto TuneUp, Fast Antivirus 2009, Extra Antivirus, Windows Security Suite, Smart Virus Eliminator, Packed.Generic.245, Volcano Security Suite, Windows Enterprise Suite, Enterprise Suite, Additional Guard, PC Live Guard, Live PC Care, Live Enterprise Suite, Security Antivirus, My Security Wall, CleanUp Antivirus, Smart Security, Windows Protection Suite, Windows Work Catalyst..
All of these fake security programs will take over the victim's computer and make changes to the Windows Registry that enable them to display error messages and pop-up notifications that seem to come from the victim's computer system. Windows Smart Warden will also run a fake scan and deliver a report claiming that the victim's computer is severely infected with malware. Windows Smart Warden will also try to direct its victim to the Windows Smart Warden website constantly in order to attempt to convince the victims to enter their credit card information into its web page in exchange for a useless 'full license' of Windows Smart Warden.
SpyHunter Detects & Remove Windows Smart Warden
Windows Smart Warden Video
Tip: Turn your sound ON and watch the video in Full Screen mode.
File System Details
# | File Name | MD5 |
Detections
Detections: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on
infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
|
---|---|---|---|
1. | Protector-mon.exe | ce2012c372eab62fc7167de9d40bd5fe | 3 |
2. | Protector-ykm.exe | e83facc398f92c8ef4bc71afdf7d41df | 1 |
3. | Protector-hch.exe | 7de2ee7e3d8e6c1f00d5559333397473 | 1 |
4. | Protector-vet.exe | 441b933e629c20d6b550fa8dafbd6cec | 1 |
5. | %AppData%\Inspector-[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe | ||
6. | %AppData%\Protector-oak.exe | ||
7. | %AppData%\NPSWF32.dll | ||
8. | %CommonPrograms%\Windows Smart Warden.lnk | ||
9. | %DesktopDir%\Windows Smart Warden.lnk |