Symantec.com > Security Response > Threats and Risks > Infostealer.Wowcraft.B

Infostealer.Wowcraft.B - Removal

Risk Level 1: Very Low

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Discovered: October 22, 2005
Updated: February 13, 2007 12:54:15 PM
Also Known As: Troj/WowPWS-A [Sophos], PWSteal.Wowcraft.B
Type: Trojan Horse
Systems Affected: Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP


The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.
  1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
  2. Update the virus definitions.
  3. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected.
  4. Delete any values added to the registry.
For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:
Note:
When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, reenable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.

For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article: Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder (Article ID: Q263455).

2. To update the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:
  • Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions: These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually on Wednesdays), unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, refer to Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate).
  • Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted daily. You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).

    The latest Intelligent Updater virus definitions can be obtained here: Intelligent Updater virus definitions. For detailed instructions read the document: How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater.


3. To scan for and delete the infected files
  1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
  2. Run a full system scan.
  3. If any files are detected, click Delete.

Important: If you are unable to start your Symantec antivirus product or the product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, you may need to stop the risk from running in order to remove it. To do this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, How to start the computer in Safe Mode. Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.

After the files are deleted, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.

Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, since the threat may not be fully removed at this point. You can ignore these messages and click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:

Title: [FILE PATH]
Message body: Windows cannot find [FILE NAME]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.


4. To delete the value from the registry
Important: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified subkeys only. For instructions refer to the document: How to make a backup of the Windows registry.
  1. Click Start > Run.
  2. Type regedit
  3. Click OK.

    Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to prevent access to the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then continue with the removal.

  4. Navigate to the subkeys:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUNSERVICES

  5. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "Torjan Program" = "C:\WINNT\smss.exe"

  6. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

  7. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "Shell" = "Explorer.exe 1"

  8. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\iexplore.exe\shell\open\command

  9. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.com" %1

  10. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Drive\shell\find\command

  11. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)"  = "%SystemRoot%\explorer.com"

  12. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\shell\open\command

  13. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.com" %1

  14. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\inffile\shell\install\command

  15. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = %systemroot%\System32\rundll32.com setupapi,InstallHinfSection, DefaultInstall 132 %1

  16. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\iexplore.pif\shell\open\command

  17. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "C:\Program Files\common~1\iexplore.pif"


  18. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew

  19. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "command" = "rundll32.com appwiz.cpl,NewLinkHere %1"

  20. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bfc\shellnew

  21. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "command" = "%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.com %SystemRoot%\system32\syncui.dll,Briefcase_Create %2!d! %1"

  22. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cplfile\shell\cplopen\command

  23. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "rundll32.com shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL %1,%*"

  24. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dunfile\shell\open\command

  25. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.com NETSHELL.DLL,InvokeDunFile %1"

  26. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\file\shell\open\command

  27. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "rundll32.com url.dll,FileProtocolHandler %l"

  28. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\print\command

  29. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = ""C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\msohtmed.exe" /p %1"

  30. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\inffile\shell\Install\command

  31. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "%SystemRoot%\System32\rundll32.com setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %1"

  32. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut\shell\open\command

  33. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "finder.com shdocvw.dll,OpenURL %l"

  34. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\scrfile\shell\install\command

  35. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "finder.com desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver %l"

  36. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\scriptletfile\Shell\Generate Typelib\command

  37. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = ""C:\WINNT\System32\finder.com" C:\WINNT\System32\scrobj.dll,GenerateTypeLib "%1""

  38. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\telnet\shell\open\command

  39. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "finder.com url.dll,TelnetProtocolHandler %l"

  40. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command

  41. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "%SystemRoot%\system32\finder.com %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1"

  42. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\dunfile\shell\open\command

  43. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.com NETSHELL.DLL,InvokeDunFile %1"

  44. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\InternetShortcut\shell\open\command

  45. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "finder.com shdocvw.dll,OpenURL %l"

  46. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\scrfile\shell\install\command

  47. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "finder.com desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver %l"

  48. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Unknown\shell\openas\command

  49. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "%SystemRoot%\system32\finder.com %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1"

  50. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSInfo\ToolSets\MSInfo\hdwwiz\

  51. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "command" = "C:\WINNT\System32\command.pif"

  52. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\opennew\command

  53. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = ""C:\Program Files\common~1\iexplore.pif""

  54. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command

  55. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = ""C:\Program Files\common~1\iexplore.pif" -nohome"

  56. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\http\shell\open\command

  57. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = ""C:\Program Files\common~1\iexplore.pif" -nohome"

  58. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\winfiles\defaulticon

  59. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "%1"

  60. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\winfiles\shell\open\command

  61. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "C:\WINNT\ExERoute.exe "%1" %*"

  62. Navigate to the subkey:

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe

  63. In the right pane, delete the value:

    "(Default)" = "winfiles"

  64. Exit the Registry Editor.


Writeup By: Hyun Choi
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