W32.HLLW.Winevar - Removal

NOTES:

• These instructions are for all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.D
• Due to the destructive nature of W32.HLLW.Winevar, in most cases, neither the tool or the manual removal instructions will work if the infected computer has been restarted. Once the computer is restarted after infection, the file deletion payload is activated and critical system files may be deleted. In this situation, you will have to first restore the deleted files from a clean backup or reinstall them.

CAUTION: If you suspect that the computer is infected with this threat, do not turn off or restart the computer until you have removed W32.HLLW.Winevar

Removal using the removal tool
Symantec Security Response has provided a free tool to remove infections of W32.HLLW.Winevar and W32.Funlove.4099. This is the easiest way to do this. For complete instructions on how to obtain and use the W32.HLLW.Winevar/W32.Funlove.4099 Removal Tool, click here.


Manual removal

1. Update the virus definitions.
2. Run a full system scan, and delete all files that are detected as W32.HLLW.Winevar, W32.FunLove.4099, or JS.Exception.Exploit.
3. Reverse the changes that it made to the registry.

For details on how to do this, read the following instructions.

To update the virus definitions:
All virus definitions receive full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response before being posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

• Run LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions. These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually Wednesdays) unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, look at the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate) line at the top of this write-up.
• Download the definitions using the Intelligent Updater. Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). They must be downloaded from the Symantec Security Response Web site and installed manually. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, look at the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) line at the top of this write-up.
  
  Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available here. For detailed instructions on how to download and install the Intelligent Updater virus definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site, click here.

To scan for and delete the infected files:

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and make sure that it is configured to scan all files.
   • Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files.
   • Symantec enterprise antivirus products: Read the document How to verify a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan All Files.
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as infected with W32.HLLW.Winevar, W32.FunLove.4099, or JS.Exception.Exploit., click Delete.

To delete the values from the registry:

CAUTION: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before you make any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify only the keys that are specified. Read the document How to make a backup of the Windows registry for instructions.

1. Click Start, and click Run. The Run dialog box appears.
2. Type regedit and then click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
3. Navigate to each of these registry keys:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
   HKEY_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
4. Look for any of these (or similar) values and delete them if found:
   
   (Default) Win<several characters>.pif
   
   Win<several characters>  Win<several characters>.pif
   
5. Exit the Registry Editor.

Technical Details