Security Essentials 2010 is a rogue anti-spyware program
from the same family as Internet
Security 2010. This rogue is installed by Trojans that pretend to be a Flash
update that is required to view online videos. Instead of actually letting you
view the video, though, this Trojan will download and install other malware,
including Security Essentials 2010. One of the Trojans that will be installed
is C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe that hijacks your desktop with a security
warning, shows pop-ups stating that you are infected, and finally installs Security
Essentials 2010 on to your computer.
Once Security Essentials 2010 is installed, it will be configured to start
automatically when you log into Windows. Once started it will scan your computer,
and when done, state that there are numerous infections on your computer. If
you try to remove them using this program, though, it will tell you that you
first need to purchase it in order to remove anything. As the infections it
shows are all fake, and as this program is a scam, you should definitely not
purchase it.
Security Essentials 2010 screen shot
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 7 images you can view.
While running, Security Essentials will also protect itself by not allowing
you to run any executables on your computer. When you attempt to run an executable
it will display a message that states the executable is infected and will then
terminate the program. The exact message it will show is:
Application cannot be executed. The file is infected.
Please activate your antivirus software.
This alert is fake and should be ignored as your programs are not infected.
It is only performing this action this so that you cannot launch any programs
that will allow you to remove it from your computer.
While the program is running you will also see a constant barrage of security
alerts appear on your desktop. These alerts may be pop-up windows or little
balloon alerts from your Windows taskbar that state active infections have been
found, that private and personal data is at risk, or that your computer is under
attack. Some of the messages that you may see are:
Your computer is infected! Windows has detected an
infection of spyware! It is recommended to use special antispyware tools to
prevent data loss. Windows will now download and install the most up-to-date
antispyware for you.
Click here to protect your computer from spyware!
Attention! System detected a potential
hazard (TrojanSPM/LX) on your computer that may infect executable files. You
private information and PC safety is at risk. To get rid of unwanted spyware
and keep your computer safe you need update your current security software.
Click OK to download official intrusion detection system (IDS software)
ERROR
Application Error.The instruction at 0x009a6f9a referenced memory at 0x00000000.
The memory could not be written.Click on OK to terminate the program.
Security Warning!
Worm.Win32.NetSky detected on your machine.
This virus is distributed via the Internet through e-mail and Active-x objects.
The worm has its own SMTP engine which means it gathers e-mails from your
local computer and re-distributes itself.
In worst cases this worm can allow attachers to access your computer, stealing
passwords and personal data.
Viruses can damage your confidential data and work on your computer.
Continue working in unprotected mode is very dangerous.
System warning!
Continue working in unprotected mode is very dangerous. Viruses can damage
your confidential data and work on your computer. Click here to protect your
computer.
Critical Warning!
Critical System Warning! Your system is probably infected with a version of
Trojan-Spy.HTML.Visafraud.a. This may result in website access passwords being
stolen from Interner Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Outlook etc. Click Yes to
scan and remove threats. (recommended)
As you can see, Security Essentials 2010 does its best to try and trick you
into thinking that your computer has a security problem, when in fact it is
the actual infection. Therefore, please do not purchase this program for any
reason.
Without a doubt, this program was created to scare you into thinking you are
infected so that you will be scammed into purchasing the program. With that
said, you should definitely not purchase it, and if you have, you should contact
your credit card company and dispute the charges stating that the program is
a scam. Finally, to remove Security Essentials 2010 and any related malware
please use the removal guide below to remove it for free.
Threat Classification:
Advanced information:
View Security Essentials 2010 files.
View Security Essentials 2010 Registry Information.
Tools Needed for this fix:
Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [smss32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [smss32.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Security essentials 2010] C:\Program Files\Securityessentials2010\SE2010.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [FlashPlayerUpdate] C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil10c.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\helpers32.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\helpers32.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.buy-security-essentials.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.download-soft-package.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.download-software-package.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.get-key-se10.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.is-software-download.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.buy-security-essentials.com (HKLM)
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://*.get-key-se10.com (HKLM)
Guide Updates:
02/15/10 - Initial guide creation.
Automated Removal Instructions for Security Essentials 2010 using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware:
- Print out these instructions as we may need to close every window that is
open later in the fix.
- It is possible that the infection you are trying to remove will not allow
you to download files on the infected computer. If you find this is the case
when following these instructions, then you will need to download the requested
files in this guide to 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.
- Before we can do anything we must first end the processes that belong to
Security Essentials 2010
so that it does not interfere with the cleaning procedure. To do this, please
download RKill to your desktop from the following link.
RKill
Download Link - (Download page will open in a new tab or browser window.)
When at the download page, click on the Download Now button
labeled iExplore.exe download link. When you are prompted
where to save it, please save it on your desktop.
- Once it is downloaded, double-click on the iExplore.exe
icon in order to automatically attempt to stop any processes associated with
Security Essentials 2010
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
Security Essentials 2010
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
Security Essentials 2010
. 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. Do not reboot
your computer after running RKill as the malware programs will start again.
If you continue having problems running RKill, you can download
the other renamed versions of RKill from the RKill
download page. Both of these files are renamed copies of RKill, which
you can try instead. Please note that the download page will open in a new
browser window or tab.
- 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)
- When the file has finished downloading, look on your desktop for mbam-setup.exe
and right-click on it and select Rename. The title of the
program will now have a blinking cursor where you can edit the name. Please
change the name of the program to Explorer.exe.
- After you rename the mbam-setup.exe to Explorer.exe, close all your programs
and Windows on your computer, including this one.
- Double-click on the icon on your desktop named Explorer.exe.
This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.
- 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 and is at the last screen, make
sure you uncheck both of the Update Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
and Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware check
boxes. Then click on the Finish button. If Malwarebytes'
prompts you to reboot, please do not do so.
If you receive a code 2 error while installing Malwarebytes's, please press
the OK button to close these errors as we will resolve them
in future steps. The code 2 error will look similar to the image below.
- As this infection deletes a core executable of Malwarebytes', or does not
allow it to run, we will need to download a new copy of it and put it in the
C:\program files\Malwarebytes Anti-Malware\ folder. To download
the file please click on the following link:
Malwarebytes'
EXE Download
When your browser prompts you where to save it to, please save it to the C:\program
files\Malwarebytes Anti-Malware\ folder. When downloading the file,
it will have a random filename. Please leave the filename the way it is as
it is important that it is not changed. You may want to write down the name
of the file as you will need to know the name in the next step.
- Once the file has been downloaded, open the C:\program files\Malwarebytes'
Anti-Malware\ folder and double-click on the file you downloaded
in step 10. MBAM will now start and you will be at the main program screen
as shown below.
- Before you can perform a scan, you must first update the program. To do
this click on the Update tab, and that at the new screen
click on the Check for Updates button. Malwarebytes' will
now check for new updates and download and install them as necessary. When
the update is completed, you will be prompted with a message stating either
that you already have the latest updates or that they have been updated. Either
way, you should now click on the OK button to continue.
- Now click on the Scanner tab and make sure the the Perform
full scan option is selected. Then click on the Scan
button to start scanning your computer for
Security Essentials 2010
related files.
- 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.
- 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
Security Essentials 2010
removal process.
- You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should
click on the Show Results button.
- 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.
- 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.
- You can now exit the MBAM program.
- You can also delete the Explorer.exe program from your
desktop.
Your computer should now be free of the
Security Essentials 2010
program. You may want to consider purchasing
the PRO version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types
of threats in the future, as if you had the real-time protection component,
that comes with the paid for version, activated it would not have allowed this
infection to install.
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 Security Essentials 2010 Files:
c:\s
c:\Program Files\Securityessentials2010\
c:\Program Files\Securityessentials2010\SE2010.exe
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Security essentials 2010.lnk
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Security essentials 2010.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Security essentials 2010.lnk
c:\WINDOWS\system32\41.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\helpers32.dll
c:\WINDOWS\system32\smss32.exe
c:\WINDOWS\system32\warnings.html
c:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon32.exe
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/7/8, and c:\winnt\profiles\<Current User> for Windows NT.
Associated Security Essentials 2010 Windows Registry Information:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\buy-security-essentials.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\download-soft-package.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\download-software-package.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\get-key-se10.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\is-software-download.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SE2010
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\buy-security-essentials.com
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\get-key-se10.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop "NoChangingWallpaper" = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer "NoActiveDesktopChanges" = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer "NoSetActiveDesktop" = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Security essentials 2010"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "smss32.exe"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\ActiveDesktop "NoChangingWallpaper" = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer "NoActiveDesktopChanges" = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer "NoSetActiveDesktop" = "1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "smss32.exe"
This is a self-help guide. Use at your own risk.
BleepingComputer.com can not be held responsible for problems that may occur by using this information. If you would like help with any of these fixes, you can ask for malware removal assistance in our Virus, Trojan, Spyware, and Malware Removal Logs forum.
If you have any questions about this self-help guide then please post those questions in our Am I infected? What do I do? and someone will help you.
