Remove Data Protection (Uninstall Guide)

Posted by Lawrence Abrams on May 6, 2010 @ 11:57 AM · Views: 30,561

 

What this infection does:

Data Protection is a rogue anti-spyware program from the same family as Digital Protection. This rogue is installed through the use of Trojans that pretend to be software updates or codecs required to view online videos. When the Trojan is run, it will install Data Protection on to your computer without your knowledge or consent. The rogue will then be configured to start automatically when Windows starts. When installed, the installer will also attempt to remove various anti-virus & anti-malware programs that are installed on your computer in order to protect itself from being removed. Some of the legitimate programs it attempts to uninstall are:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• F-Secure
• Norton Internet Security
• NOD32
• Avira AntiVir
• Agnitum Outpost Security Suite
• McAfee
• AVG8
• AntiVir
• avast!

When Data Protection is run it will automatically scan your computer and list a variety of infections, but will not allow you to remove any of them until you first purchase the program. The files it states are infections, though, either do not exist or are legitimate Microsoft files that are required for the proper operation of Windows. Therefore, do not manually delete any of the files it states are infections as you may cause problems with your computer.

 

Data Protection screen shot
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 12 images you can view.

 

While Data Protection is running it will also display a variety of fake alerts and screens that are devised to make you think that your computer has a security problem. One of the screens it will display is a fake Windows Security Center window that looks exactly like the legitimate one, but instead suggests that you purchase Data Protection to protect yourself. The program will also display a constant stream of of fake alerts and pop-ups stating that your computer is under attack, that malware has been found, or that you are sending private and sensitive information to the Internet. The text of some of these alerts are:

Danger!
Unauthosrized <sic> access to your computer! Click on the message to install up-to-date antivirus software.

Danger!
A security threat detected on your computer. TrojanASPX.JS.Win32. It strongly recommended to remove this threat right now. Click on the message to remove it.

Danger!
It is strongly recommended to protect your computer against security threats. Click on the message to ensure the protection of your computer.

Warning! Network attack detected!
Network intrusion detected!
Your computer is being attacked from a remove PC.
Attach from <ip address>:<port #>
Process is trying to steal your passwords listed below. It is highly recommended to block this threat now.

Warning! Adware detected!
Adware module detected on your PC!
Zlob.Porn.Ad adware has been detected. This adware module advertises websites with explicit content. Be advised of such content being possibly illegal. Please click the button below to locate and remove this threat now.

Antivirus Alert - Critical threat detected
Warning
Network attack detected
Network attack has been detected. Process is attempting to access your private data.

Data Protection will also randomly state that a program is infected when you attempt to run it. The alert you will see is:

Warning! Virus threat detected!
Virus activity detected!
Trojan-Downloader.VBS adware has been detected. This adware module advertises websites with explicitly content. Be advised of such content being possibly illegal. Please click the button below to locate and remove this threat now.

Just like the fake scan results, all of these security warnings are being created to scare you into thinking your computer has a problem. Therefore please do not purchase this software based on any alerts it may display. Last, but not least, this infection will also create shortcuts to the the porn sites called youporn.com, nudetube.com, and pornotube.com and place them on your Windows Desktop.

Without a doubt, Data Protection was created for one reason; to convince you that you have a security problem so that you will then be scared into purchasing the program. It goes without saying that you should definitely not purchase this program, and if you have, you should contact your credit card company and dispute the charges stating it is a scam. Last, but not least, to remove this infection and any related malware, please use the removal guide below.

 

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs & Scareware

 

Advanced information:

View Data Protection files.
View Data Protection Registry Information.

 

Entries for this program found in the Add or Remove Programs control panel:

Data Protection

 

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

 

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Data Protection] "C:\Program Files\Data Protection\datprot.exe" -noscan

 

Guide Updates:

05/06/10 - Initial guide creation

 

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Automated Removal Instructions for Data Protection 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. Reboot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking. To do this, turn your computer off and then back on and immediately when you see anything on the screen, start tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Eventually you will be brought to a menu similar to the one below:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, select Safe Mode with Networking and press Enter on your keyboard. If you are having trouble entering safe mode, then please use the following tutorial: How to start Windows in Safe Mode
   
   Windows will now boot into safe mode with networking and prompt you to login as a user. Please login as the same user you were previously logged in with in the normal Windows mode. Then proceed with the rest of the steps.
   
   
3. Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop:
   
   http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/malwarebytes/mbam-setup.exe - Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Download Link (Download page will open in a new window)
   
   
4. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.
   
   
5. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.
   
   
6. 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.
   
   
7. 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.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. 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 Data Protection related files.
   
   
9. 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.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. 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 Data Protection removal process.
    
    
11. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.
    
    
12. 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.
    
    
13. 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.
    
    
14. You can now exit the MBAM program.
    
    
15. As many rogues and other malware are installed through vulnerabilities found in out-dated and insecure programs, it is strongly suggested that you use Secunia PSI to scan for vulnerable programs on your computer. A tutorial on how to use Secunia PSI to scan for vulnerable programs can be found here:
    
    How to detect vulnerable and out-dated programs using Secunia Personal Software Inspector

Your computer should now be free of the Data Protection 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

 

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Associated Data Protection Files:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\fiosejgfse.dll
%Temp%\4otjesjty.mof
%Temp%\MSWINSCK.exe
%Temp%\wscsvc32.exe
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Data Protection.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Data Protection Support.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Data Protection.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\spam001.exe
%UserProfile%\Desktop\spam002.exe
%UserProfile%\Desktop\spam003.exe
%UserProfile%\Desktop\troj000.exe
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection\About.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection\Activate.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection\Buy.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection\Data Protection Support.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection\Data Protection.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection\Scan.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection\Settings.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Data Protection\Update.lnk
c:\Program Files\Data Protection
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\about.ico
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\activate.ico
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\buy.ico
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\dat.db
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\datext.dll
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\dathook.dll
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\datprot.exe
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\help.ico
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\scan.ico
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\settings.ico
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\splash.mp3
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\Uninstall.exe
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\update.ico
c:\Program Files\Data Protection\virus.mp3

File Location Notes:

%UserProfile% refers to the current user's profile folder. By default, this is C:\Documents and Settings\<Current User> for Windows 2000/XP, C:\Users\<Current User> for Windows Vista/7, and c:\winnt\profiles\<Current User> for Windows NT.

%Temp% refers to the Windows Temp folder. By default, this is C:\Windows\Temp for Windows 95/98/ME, C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\<Current User>\LOCAL SETTINGS\Temp for Windows 2000/XP, and C:\Users\<Current User>\AppData\Local\Temp for Windows Vista and Windows 7.

 

Associated Data Protection Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Malware Defense
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Paladin Antivirus
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Data Protection
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Malware Defense
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Data Protection
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Paladin Antivirus
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Program Groups
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Data Protection"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "DisableTaskMgr" = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved "{5E2121EE-0300-11D4-8D3B-444553540000}"