How to Remove AntiSpyware XP 2008 (Uninstall Instructions)

Posted by Grinler on August 9, 2008 @ 11:08 PM · Views: 32,562

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What this programs does:

A clone of the rogue anti-spyware program AntiVirus XP 2008 has been released using the very original name of AntiSpyware XP 2008. This rogue uses false advertising on web sites so that the sites appear to be a malware scanner running on your computer and detecting malware. It then states that in order to remove the malware you need to download and install AntiSpyware XP 2008. If you decide to download and install the program, it will bet set to automatically run each time your computer starts, and when started, will automatically scan your computer for malware. When this scan is complete, the program will tell you that it has detected a variety of malware on your computer that cannot be removed unless you first purchase the software. The truth, though, is that none of these found risks actually exist and they are only stating they are there in order to scare you into purchasing the software.

AntiSpyware XP 2008 will also occasionally pop-up a fake alert from your Windows taskbar. These fake alerts state that your computer is at risk from problems ranging from incoming attacks, malware running on the computer, or programs trying to connect to remote hosts. These alerts are, once again, just another tactic to scare you into purchasing the software and can be safely ignored.

Screen shot of AntiSpyware XP 2008
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 4 images you can view.

This guide will walk you through uninstalling AntiSpyware XP 2008 rogue and any related malware.

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs

Advanced information:

View AntiSpyware XP 2008 files.
View AntiSpyware XP 2008 Registry Information.

Add/Remove Programs control panel entry:

Enhancement Browser Tools Mxlivemedia

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

O2 - BHO: mxlivemedia browser optimizer - {b490e197-5462-d053-2074-9c1b379764a1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\gfeyixakrmxoci.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{072cf246-6968-ff78-a8f9-637c932c434c}] C:\WINDOWS\System32\Rundll32.exe "C:\WINDOWS\system32\gfeyixakrmxoci.dll" DllStart
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [s9201] "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP\as2008xp.exe" /autorun

Guide Updates:

08/09/08 - Initial guide creation.

Automated Removal Instructions for AntiSpyware XP 2008 using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:

1. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
   
   
2. Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop:
   
   Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Download Link
   
   


3. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.
   
   
4. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named Download_mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.
   
   
5. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button.
   
   
6. MBAM will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. As MBAM will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main program as shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform quick scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for AntiSpyware XP 2008 related files.
   
   
8. MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so we suggest you go and do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan. When MBAM is scanning it will look like the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. When the scan is finished a message box will appear as shown in the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You should click on the OK button to close the message box and continue with the AntiSpyware XP 2008 removal process.
   
   
10. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.
    
    
11. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown as seen in the image below. Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine.
    
    
12. When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.
    
    
13. You can now exit the MBAM program.
    

Your computer should now be free of the AntiSpyware XP 2008 program. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future.

If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below:

Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log

Associated AntiSpyware XP 2008 Files:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\services
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\services\services.dll
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP\as2008xp.exe
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP\BASE
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP\DELETED
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP\LOG
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP\LOG\20080809230049250.log
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP\SAVED
c:\WINDOWS\system32\gfeyixakrmxoci.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\jjeslllkqjkxo.exe

Associated AntiSpyware XP 2008 Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{A7613760-93C2-5C8D-E8C1-C34B9C0F5602}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Secure Solutions\Antispyware 2008 XP
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{b490e197-5462-d053-2074-9c1b379764a1}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{b490e197-5462-d053-2074-9c1b379764a1}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\mxlivemedia
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "s9201"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "{072cf246-6968-ff78-a8f9-637c932c434c}"