Remove Windows Security Suite (Removal Instructions)

Posted by Grinler on July 6, 2009 @ 09:53 PM · Views: 32,435

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What this programs does:

Windows Security Suite is a rogue security program from the same family as Antivirus System Pro and Spyware Protect 2009. Like its predecessors, Windows Security Suite is installed through the use of malware. Once installed, the program will be configured to start automatically when Windows starts and when run, will perform a scan and then list a variety of infections that it states resides on your computer. It will not remove, though, any of these infections unless you purchase it. Do not be concerned by what Windows Security Suite states is running on your computer as the files it detects are actually harmless files created by the program itself. It only shows these fake infection files in order to trick you into thinking you are infected in the hope that you will then purchase their program. It goes without saying that you should not do so, and if you have already purchased this program, we suggest that you immediately contact your credit card company and dispute the charges as this is a fraudulent program.

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

When installed, Windows Security Suite will also create a new search tool in Internet Explorer, which impersonates Windows Live, and Firefox, which impersonates Google. Both of these search providers will perform searches that look like they are from Windows Live or Google, but are in fact coming from Search-gala.com. When the program is running your computer will also be constantly overtaken by fake security alerts, warnings, and nag screens about supposed security problems on your computer. What makes these alerts so bothersome is that when they are displayed you cannot perform any other tasks without first acknowledging them. This typically means wading through numerous "Are you sure?" type questions before being allowed access to your running applications. These fake alerts will display warnings that include programs accessing restricted memory or sending personal data to a remote machine. Two examples of the security alerts that will be shown can be seen below:

Unauthorized remote connection!
Your system is making an unauthorized personal data transfer to remote computer!

or

Windows Security Suite Process Control
An unidentified program is trying to access system process address space

Last but not least, in order to protect itself from legitimate anti-malware programs it sets numerous Windows Registry entries that make it impossible to run certain applications. Some of the programs that it disables with these Registry keys are:

• The Windows Command Prompt
• Kaspersky Antivirus
• Ad-Aware
• Avast Antivirus
• BlackIce
• eSafe
• DrWeb
• F-Prot
• McAfee
• Symantec
• Kerio Firewall
• Msconfig
• Outpost
• Panda
• Zone Alarm

From the above list, you can see that this program makes it difficult to run well-known security applications so that it becomes more difficult for you to remove it.

Without a doubt, Windows Security Suite is not a program that you want installed on your computer. If it is found, though, there is an easy fix, which can be found below, that will remove this program and any other associated malware that may have been installed with it.

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs & Scareware

Advanced information:

View Windows Security Suite files.
View Windows Security Suite Registry Information.

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

Note: Some of these entries may be random.

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 test1111.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 test1112.com
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 www.securesoftwarebill.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 test1111.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 test1112.com
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 www.securesoftwarebill.com
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Windows Security Suite] "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\WI345d.exe" /s /d

Guide Updates:

07/06/09 - Initial guide creation.

Automated Removal Instructions for Windows Security Suite 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 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 Windows Security Suite 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 Windows Security Suite 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 Windows Security Suite 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 Windows Security Suite Files:

Note: Some of these entries may be random.

c:\ADWARE_LOG
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\WINSSSys
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\WINSSSys
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\26.mof
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\WI345d.exe
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\WINSS.ico
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\working.log
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\345d567\WINSSSys\vd952342.bd
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\WINSSSys\winss.cfg
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Windows Security Suite.lnk
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Windows Security Suite
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Windows Security Suite\cookies.sqlite
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Windows Security Suite\Instructions.ini
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Windows Security Suite.lnk
%UserProfile%\Recent\ANTIGEN.drv
%UserProfile%\Recent\CLSV.exe
%UserProfile%\Recent\DBOLE.drv
%UserProfile%\Recent\dudl.sys
%UserProfile%\Recent\energy.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\grid.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\grid.sys
%UserProfile%\Recent\kernel32.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\PE.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\PE.tmp
%UserProfile%\Recent\runddl.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\SM.dll
%UserProfile%\Recent\snl2w.exe
%UserProfile%\Recent\std.exe
%UserProfile%\Recent\tempdoc.dll
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Windows Security Suite.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Security Suite.lnk
c:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins\search.xml

Associated Windows Security Suite Windows Registry Information:

Note: Some of these entries may be random.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WI345d.DocHostUIHandler
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\Post Platform "698909210803"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Windows Security Suite"