Remove Cleanup Antivirus (Uninstall Guide)

Posted by Grinler on March 10, 2010 @ 11:24 AM · Views: 92,236

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What this infection does:

Cleanup Antivirus is a rogue from the same family as Virus Doctor. This rogue is promoted through the use of Trojans and fake online anti-malware scanners. When installed Cleanup Antivirus will be configured to start automatically when you log into Windows. When Cleanup Antivirus is installed it will also create numerous fake malware that will be detected as malware when the program scans your computer. The list of fake malware files that it installs include:

%UserProfile%\Recent\cb.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\CLSV.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\DBOLE.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\DBOLE.sys
%UserProfile%\Recent\eb.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\exec.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\FS.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\grid.exe
%UserProfile%\Recent\pal.drv
%UserProfile%\Recent\pal.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\PE.exe
%UserProfile%\Recent\tempdoc.drv
%UserProfile%\Recent\tempdoc.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\tjd.sys
%UserProfile%\Recent\tjd.tmp

When Cleanup Antivirus scans your computer it will find the above files it created in the first place and state that they are infections. It will not, though, allow you to remove any of them until you first purchase the program. In reality, the above files are harmless and can cause no harm to your computer. They are only being created to try and convince you that the Cleanup Antivirus scan results are legitimate. As these infections are all fake, please do not purchase the program based upon anything that this program displays.

Cleanup Antivirus screen shot
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 4 images you can view.

While the program is running it will also display numerous security warnings and alerts. These alerts will state that your computer is under attack, sending SPAM, or that your personal data is at risk. Some of the alerts that you may see are:

An unauthorized program has been prevented from accessing your PC remotely. #Port:433 from 75.32.121.16
An unauthorized software C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Iexplore.exe which is potentially malicious and able to modify system files has been prevented from being installed on your PC.

Cleanup Antivirus has detected potentially harmful software in your system. It is strongly recommended that you register Cleanup Antivirus to remove all found threats immediately.

Potentially harmful programs have been detected in your system and need to be dealt with immediately. Click here to remove them using Cleanup Antivirus.
Your PC may still be infected with dangerous viruses. Cleanup Antivirus protection is needed to prevent data loss and avoid theft of your personal data and credit card details. Click here to activate protection.

Suspicious software which may be malicious has been detected on your PC. Click here to remove this threat immediately using Cleanup Antivirus.
Click here to remove all potentially harmful programs found immediately using Cleanup Antivirus.

Malicious applications, which may contain Trojans, were found on your computer and are to be removed immediately. Click here to remove these potentially harmful items using Cleanup Antivirus.
No real-time malware, spyware and virus protection was found. Click here to activate.

Just like the scan results, these fake warnings should be ignored as they are just another attempt to make you think your computer has a security problem. This infection will also hijack your web browser's default search engine and set it to findgala.com. Last, but not least, this infection will add entries to your HOSTS file so that when you visit certain sites such as Google or Bing, you will be redirected to a site under the control of the malware developers.

As you can see, you should not purchase this program regardless of what it may state. If you have already purchased the program, then please contact your credit card company and dispute the charges. Finally, please use the guide below to remove this infection and any related malware for free.

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs & Scareware

Advanced information:

View Cleanup Antivirus files.
View Cleanup Antivirus Registry Information.

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 4-open-davinci.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 securitysoftwarepayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 privatesecuredpayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure.privatesecuredpayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 getantivirusplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure-plus-payments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.getantivirusplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.secure-plus-payments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.getavplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 safebrowsing-cache.google.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 urs.microsoft.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.securesoftwarebill.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure.paysecuresystem.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 paysoftbillsolution.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 protected.maxisoftwaremart.com
O1 - Hosts: 217.23.15.126 www.google.com
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CleanUp Antivirus] "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\CU345d.exe" /s /d

Guide Updates:

03/10/10 - Initial guide creation.

Automated Removal Instructions for Cleanup Antivirus using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:

1. Print out these instructions as we may need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
   
   
2. It is possible that the infection you are trying to remove will not allow you to download files on the infected computer. If this is the case, then you will need to download the files requested in this guide on another computer and then transfer them to the infected computer. You can transfer the files via a CD/DVD, external drive, or USB flash drive.
   
   
3. Before we can do anything we must first end the processes that belong to Cleanup Antivirus so that it does not interfere with the cleaning procedure. To do this, download the following file to your desktop.
   
   rkill.com Download Link
   
   
4. Once it is downloaded, double-click on the rkill.com in order to automatically attempt to stop any processes associated with Cleanup Antivirus and other Rogue programs. Please be patient while the program looks for various malware programs and ends them. When it has finished, the black window will automatically close and you can continue with the next step. If you get a message that rkill is an infection, do not be concerned. This message is just a fake warning given by Cleanup Antivirus when it terminates programs that may potentially remove it. If you run into these infections warnings that close Rkill, a trick is to leave the warning on the screen and then run Rkill again. By not closing the warning, this typically will allow you to bypass the malware trying to protect itself so that rkill can terminate Cleanup Antivirus . So, please try running Rkill until the malware is no longer running. You will then be able to proceed with the rest of the guide. If you continue having problems running rkill.com, you can download iExplore.exe or eXplorer.exe, which are renamed copies of rkill.com, and try them instead.
   
   Do not reboot your computer after running rkill as the malware programs will start again.
   
   
5. Now you should download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop:
   
   Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Download Link (Download page will open in a new window)
   
   


6. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.
   
   
7. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.
   
   
8. 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. If MalwareBytes' prompts you to reboot, please do not do so.
   
   
9. 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.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform full scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for Cleanup Antivirus related files.
    
    
11. 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.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. 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 Cleanup Antivirus removal process.
    
    
13. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.
    
    
14. 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. When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. Once your computer has rebooted, and you are logged in, please continue with the rest of the steps.
    
    
15. 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.
    
    
16. You can now exit the MBAM program.
    
    
17. As this infection also changes your Windows HOSTS file, we want to replace this file with the default version for your operating system. Please note that if you or your company has added custom entries to your HOSTS file then you will need to add them again after restoring the default HOSTS file. In order to protect itself, Cleanup Antivirus changes the permissions of the HOSTS file so you can't edit or delete it. To fix these permissions please download the following batch file and save it to your desktop:
    

    Hostsperm.bat Download Link

    When the file has finished downloading, double-click on the hostsperm.bat file that is now on your desktop. If Windows asks if you if you are sure you want to run it, please allow it to run. Once it starts you will see a small black window that opens and then quickly goes away. This is normal and is nothing to be worried about. You should now be able to access your HOSTS file.
    
    
18. We now need to delete the C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\HOSTS file. Once it is deleted, download the following HOSTS file that corresponds to your version of Windows and save it in the C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc folder. If the contents of the HOSTS file opens in your browser when you click on a link below then right-click on the appropriate link and select Save Target As..., if in Internet Explorer, or Save Link As.., if in Firefox, to download the file.
    

    Windows XP HOSTS File Download Link
    Windows Vista HOSTS File Download Link
    Windows 2003 Server HOSTS File Download Link
    Windows 2008 Server HOSTS File Download Link
    Windows 7 HOSTS File Download Link

    Your Windows HOSTS file should now be back to the default one from when Windows was first installed.
    
    
19. Now reboot your computer.

Your computer should now be free of the Cleanup Antivirus 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 Using Malware Removal Tools and Requesting Help

Associated Cleanup Antivirus Files:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\46.mof
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\CU345d.exe
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\CUA.ico
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\mozcrt19.dll
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\sqlite3.dll
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\BackUp\
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\CUASys\
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\CUASys\vd952342.bd
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\Quarantine Items
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CUCAISTUA\
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\CUCAISTUA\CUEWA.cfg
c:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins\search.xml
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CleanUp Antivirus
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CleanUp Antivirus\cookies.sqlite
%UserProfile%\Application Data\CleanUp Antivirus\Instructions.ini
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\CleanUp Antivirus.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\CleanUp Antivirus.lnk
%UserProfile%\Recent\cb.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\CLSV.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\DBOLE.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\DBOLE.sys
%UserProfile%\Recent\eb.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\exec.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\FS.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\grid.exe
%UserProfile%\Recent\pal.drv
%UserProfile%\Recent\pal.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\PE.exe
%UserProfile%\Recent\tempdoc.drv
%UserProfile%\Recent\tempdoc.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\tjd.sys
%UserProfile%\Recent\tjd.tmp
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\CleanUp Antivirus.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\CleanUp Antivirus.lnk

Associated Cleanup Antivirus Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\3
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CU345d.DocHostUIHandler
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes "URL" = "http://findgala.com/?&uid=195&q={searchTerms}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes "URL" = "http://findgala.com/?&uid=195&q={searchTerms}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer "PRS" = "http://127.0.0.1:27777/?inj=%ORIGINAL%"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download "RunInvalidSignatures" = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\Post Platform "Library1.00195"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "CleanUp Antivirus"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes "URL" = "http://findgala.com/?&uid=195&q={searchTerms}"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\CU345d.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\CU345d.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download "CheckExeSignatures" = "no"