Remove SaveKeep (Uninstall Guide)

Posted by Lawrence Abrams on August 17, 2009 @ 06:01 PM · Views: 3,646

 

What this infection does:

SaveKeep is a rogue anti-spyware program from the same family as WiniShield. This rogue, when installed, will configure itself to start automatically when you start Windows. The installer will also create numerous files on your computer that have random file names and locations. These files are all harmless, but will be classified as infections when SaveKeep scans your computer. The reason why it makes these files is so that there will be a file on the computer that matches what is displayed in the scan results. Examples of fake infections that are created are:

c:\WINDOWS\103215iruszef9.dll
c:\WINDOWS\104zsparse5925.exe
c:\WINDOWS\1052downloadzr32995.exe

While SaveKeep is running you will also be shown a constant stream of fake alerts and windows stating that there is something wrong with your computer. These alerts will range from remote computers attempting to hack you to active malware being present on your computer. You will also be shown a window that impersonates the legitimate Windows Security Center. This imposter, though, will recommend that you purchase SaveKeep to protect your computer.

 

SaveKeep screen shot
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 8 images you can view.

 

As you can see, SaveKeep is designed to scam you into purchasing it. It uses fake security alerts and fake infection files to attempt to convince you that are infected. Under no circumstances should you purchase this program. Instead please use the removal guide below to remove this infection for free.

 

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs & Scareware

 

Advanced information:

View SaveKeep files.
View SaveKeep Registry Information.

 

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

SaveKeep

 

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

 

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [mob8lo23.exe] C:\DOCUME~1\Bleeping\LOCALS~1\Temp\mob8lo23.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SaveKeep] C:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software\SaveKeep\SaveKeep.exe -min
O23 - Service: SaveKeep Security Service (SaveKeepSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software\SaveKeep\SaveKeepSvc.exe

 

Guide Updates:

08/17/09 - Initial guide creation.

 

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Automated Removal Instructions for SaveKeep 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 (Download page will open in a new window)
   
   


3. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.
   
   
4. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named 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 full scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for SaveKeep 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 SaveKeep 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. 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.
    
    
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 SaveKeep 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 SaveKeep Files:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\SaveKeep.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SaveKeep
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SaveKeep\1 SaveKeep.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SaveKeep\2 Homepage.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\SaveKeep\3 Uninstall.lnk
c:\Documents and Settings\Bleeping\Local Settings\Temp\0rmwtw4x.exe
c:\Documents and Settings\Bleeping\Local Settings\Temp\mob8lo23.exe
c:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software
c:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software\SaveKeep
c:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software\SaveKeep\data.bin
c:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software\SaveKeep\license.txt
c:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software\SaveKeep\SaveKeep.exe
c:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software\SaveKeep\SaveKeepSvc.exe
c:\Program Files\SaveKeep Software\SaveKeep\uninstall.exe
c:\WINDOWS\103215iruszef9.dll
c:\WINDOWS\104zsparse5925.exe
c:\WINDOWS\1052downloadzr32995.exe
c:\WINDOWS\10759virz5779.exe
c:\WINDOWS\10df5pyzar91105.bin
c:\WINDOWS\11145ziru95d.dll
c:\WINDOWS\111fsp5rsz1499.ocx
c:\WINDOWS\11567wo9m7z35.ocx

 

Associated SaveKeep Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SaveKeep
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{425882B0-B0BF-11CE-B59F-00AA006CB37D}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SaveKeep
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SaveKeep
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_SAVEKEEPSVC
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SaveKeepSvc
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "mob8lo23.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "SaveKeep"